<ARTICLE> 5
       
                                                                    
 <PERIOD-TYPE>                                   9-MOS               9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1998         DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               SEP-30-1998         SEP-30-1997
<CASH>                                          15,604              32,858
<SECURITIES>                                         0                   0
<RECEIVABLES>                                  174,046             155,759
<ALLOWANCES>                                     9,123               6,933
<INVENTORY>                                    109,970             106,129
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                               321,215             321,142
<PP&E>                                         284,772             268,308
<DEPRECIATION>                                  55,976              34,827
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 764,221             768,275
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                          269,316             255,441
<BONDS>                                              0                   0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0                   0
<PREFERRED>                                          0                   0
<COMMON>                                           384                  25
<OTHER-SE>                                      42,520            (36,286)
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   764,221             768,177
<SALES>                                        669,747             633,743
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                               669,747             633,743
<CGS>                                          374,594             359,080
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                  374,594             359,080
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                               241,801             264,945
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                 1,649                 867
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                              17,153              28,199
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                 34,550            (19,348)
<INCOME-TAX>                                    13,552               7,296
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                             20,765            (27,019)
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0                   0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0             (9,552)
<CHANGES>                                            0                   0
<NET-INCOME>                                    20,765            (36,571)
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     0.54              (1.19)
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     0.51              (1.19)
<FN>
Depreciation represents accumulated depreciation and not depreciation expense in
EDGAR filing terminology.
</FN>