<ARTICLE>                     5
<LEGEND>
     This schedule  contains summary financial  information  extracted from Form
10-Q for the quarterly  period ended  September 30, 1998 and is qualified in its
entirety by reference to such financial statements.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER>        1,000
<CURRENCY>          USD

       
                           
<PERIOD-TYPE>                 9-Mos
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>             Dec-30-1998
<PERIOD-START>                Jan-01-1998
<PERIOD-END>                  Sep-30-1998
<EXCHANGE-RATE>               1
<CASH>                         76,790
<SECURITIES>                        0
<RECEIVABLES>                  40,278
<ALLOWANCES>                    1,535
<INVENTORY>                     7,085
<CURRENT-ASSETS>              124,764
<PP&E>                         35,896
<DEPRECIATION>                 14,631
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                261,970
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>          44,866
<BONDS>                       178,550
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>               0
<PREFERRED>                         0
<COMMON>                         (65)
<OTHER-SE>                     38,619
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>  261,970
<SALES>                       237,006
<TOTAL-REVENUES>              237,006
<CGS>                         218,482
<TOTAL-COSTS>                 218,482
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                    0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                    0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>              8,433
<INCOME-PRETAX>               (26,800)
<INCOME-TAX>                      110
<INCOME-CONTINUING>           (26,910)
<DISCONTINUED>                      0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                     0
<CHANGES>                           0
<NET-INCOME>                 (26,910)
<EPS-PRIMARY>                  (2.97)
<EPS-DILUTED>                  (2.97)