<ARTICLE>                     5
<LEGEND>
     THE SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM 10-Q
     AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER>                                   1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                              SEP-30-1998
<PERIOD-START>                                 OCT-01-1997
<PERIOD-END>                                   JUN-30-1998
<CASH>                                         1,506
<SECURITIES>                                   0
<RECEIVABLES>                                  23,330
<ALLOWANCES>                                   8,146
<INVENTORY>                                    30,163
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                               61,777
<PP&E>                                         28,261
<DEPRECIATION>                                 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 107,217
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                          29,587
<BONDS>                                        8,210
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                          0
<PREFERRED>                                    0
<COMMON>                                       72
<OTHER-SE>                                     42,201
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   107,217
<SALES>                                        122,266
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                               122,266
<CGS>                                          98,624
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                  98,624
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                               19,801
<LOSS-PROVISION>                               0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                             2,983
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                1,286
<INCOME-TAX>                                   298
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                            988
<DISCONTINUED>                                 0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                0
<CHANGES>                                      0
<NET-INCOME>                                   988
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                  .14
<EPS-DILUTED>                                  .13