<ARTICLE> 5 <MULTIPLIER> 1 <CURRENCY> U.S. DOLLARS <PERIOD-TYPE> 9-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1996 <PERIOD-START> JAN-1-1996 <PERIOD-END> SEP-30-1996 <EXCHANGE-RATE> 1 <CASH> 81,987 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 27,510,754 <ALLOWANCES> 310,000 <INVENTORY> 11,547,904 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 40,394,050 <PP&E> 21,087,401 <DEPRECIATION> 10,177,195 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 55,542,404 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 25,368,542 <BONDS> 11,360,686 <COMMON> 4,590,757 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <OTHER-SE> 17,487,392 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 22,078,159 <SALES> 51,735,622 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 52,448,312 <CGS> 45,015,982 <TOTAL-COSTS> 45,015,982 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 0 <LOSS-PROVISION> 75,000 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 1,214,470 <INCOME-PRETAX> 1,200,317 <INCOME-TAX> 484,000 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 716,317 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 716,317 <EPS-PRIMARY> .36 <EPS-DILUTED> .36