<ARTICLE> 5 <MULTIPLIER> 1 <CURRENCY> U.S. DOLLARS <PERIOD-TYPE> 3-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1997 <PERIOD-START> JUL-01-1997 <PERIOD-END> SEP-30-1997 <EXCHANGE-RATE> 1 <CASH> 7,553,228 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 31,391,477 <ALLOWANCES> 0 <INVENTORY> 26,463,292 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 70,419,841 <PP&E> 27,120,614 <DEPRECIATION> 0 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 116,760,720 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 21,637,271 <BONDS> 49,412,149 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 98,490 <OTHER-SE> 45,612,810 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 116,760,720 <SALES> 23,642,745 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 23,642,745 <CGS> 20,255,231 <TOTAL-COSTS> 20,255,231 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 5,825,363 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 1,640,336 <INCOME-PRETAX> (3,976,010) <INCOME-TAX> 1,591,000 <INCOME-CONTINUING> (2,385,010) <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> (2,385,010) <EPS-PRIMARY> (.26) <EPS-DILUTED> 0