<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM (A) THE
REGISTRANT'S CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE QUARTER ENDED DECEMBER
31, 1999 FILED AS PART OF THE REGISTRANTS FORM 10-Q FOR THE QUARTER ENDED
DECEMBER 31, 1999 AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH (B) FORM
10-Q.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
<CURRENCY>  U.S. Dollars

                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          SEP-30-2000
<PERIOD-START>                             OCT-01-1999
<PERIOD-END>                               DEC-31-1999
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                            1.000
<CASH>                                          29,430
<SECURITIES>                                         0
<RECEIVABLES>                                  465,576
<ALLOWANCES>                                     3,348
<INVENTORY>                                    399,730
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                     0
<PP&E>                                         345,698
<DEPRECIATION>                                  94,318
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               1,323,835
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                          364,126
<BONDS>                                        347,980
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                        23,562
<OTHER-SE>                                     485,361
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                 1,323,835
<SALES>                                        297,494
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                               323,452
<CGS>                                          236,249
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                  333,817
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                     0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                   760
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                              12,830
<INCOME-PRETAX>                               (23,955)
<INCOME-TAX>                                   (9,103)
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                           (14,852)
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                  (14,852)
<EPS-BASIC>                                      (.32)
<EPS-DILUTED>                                    (.32)