<ARTICLE> 5 <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <CURRENCY> U.S. DOLLARS <PERIOD-TYPE> YEAR <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1997 <PERIOD-START> JAN-01-1997 <PERIOD-END> DEC-31-1997 <EXCHANGE-RATE> 1 <CASH> 3,403 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 68,869 <ALLOWANCES> 3,000 <INVENTORY> 82,174 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 160,115 <PP&E> 63,215 <DEPRECIATION> 27,238 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 200,318 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 42,404 <BONDS> 83,353 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 825 <OTHER-SE> 71,468 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 200,318 <SALES> 356,841 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 356,841 <CGS> 238,392 <TOTAL-COSTS> 238,392 <OTHER-EXPENSES> (2,806) <LOSS-PROVISION> 818 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 4,749 <INCOME-PRETAX> 14,140 <INCOME-TAX> 5,515 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 8,625 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 8,625 <EPS-PRIMARY> 1.06 <EPS-DILUTED> 1.02