<ARTICLE> 5 <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <CURRENCY> U.S. DOLLARS <PERIOD-TYPE> 3-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> SEP-30-1998 <PERIOD-START> OCT-01-1997 <PERIOD-END> DEC-31-1997 <EXCHANGE-RATE> 1 <CASH> 2,381 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 18,681 <ALLOWANCES> 0 <INVENTORY> 17,502 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 42,054 <PP&E> 42,368 <DEPRECIATION> 25,001 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 17,367 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 22,677 <BONDS> 14,337 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 192 <OTHER-SE> 33,428 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 74,622 <SALES> 31,623 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 31,623 <CGS> 13,039 <TOTAL-COSTS> 13,039 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 3,927 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 315 <INCOME-PRETAX> 1,636 <INCOME-TAX> 540 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 1,096 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 1,096 <EPS-PRIMARY> .14 <EPS-DILUTED> .14