<ARTICLE> 5 <LEGEND> THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM FORM 10-Q FOR THE QUARTER ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1997 AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. </LEGEND> <PERIOD-TYPE> 9-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> MAR-31-1998 <PERIOD-START> APR-01-1997 <PERIOD-END> DEC-31-1997 <CASH> 505,627 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 8,734,627 <ALLOWANCES> 127,000 <INVENTORY> 10,353,747 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 20,200,063 <PP&E> 27,957,933 <DEPRECIATION> 7,175,418 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 43,984,500 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 11,798,283 <BONDS> 24,055,992 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 19,368 <OTHER-SE> 7,522,857 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 43,984,500 <SALES> 60,128,008 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 60,202,586 <CGS> 50,720,850 <TOTAL-COSTS> 50,720,850 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 5,143,561 <LOSS-PROVISION> 31,812 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 1,160,324 <INCOME-PRETAX> 3,177,851 <INCOME-TAX> 1,490,200 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 1,687,651 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> (211,651) <NET-INCOME> 1,476,000 <EPS-PRIMARY> .91 <EPS-DILUTED> .91