<ARTICLE> 5 <MULTIPLIER> 1 <CURRENCY> U.S. DOLLARS <PERIOD-TYPE> 12-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1996 <PERIOD-START> JAN-01-1996 <PERIOD-END> DEC-31-1996 <EXCHANGE-RATE> 1 <CASH> 1,298,741 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 25,164,350 <ALLOWANCES> 0 <INVENTORY> 15,644,157 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 48,010,027 <PP&E> 23,356,025 <DEPRECIATION> 0 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 86,688,456 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 24,804,450 <BONDS> 24,696,509 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 89,926 <OTHER-SE> 37,097,571 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 86,688,456 <SALES> 65,761,957 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 65,761,957 <CGS> 55,239,176 <TOTAL-COSTS> 55,239,176 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 19,748,851 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 2,324,896 <INCOME-PRETAX> (11,550,966) <INCOME-TAX> (4,741,000) <INCOME-CONTINUING> (6,809,966) <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> (3,239,948) <NET-INCOME> (10,049,914) <EPS-PRIMARY> (1.12) <EPS-DILUTED> 0