<ARTICLE> 5 <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 9-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1997 <PERIOD-END> SEP-30-1997 <CASH> 11,095 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 103,748 <ALLOWANCES> 4,180 <INVENTORY> 93,021 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 215,206 <PP&E> 55,430 <DEPRECIATION> 27,217 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 319,222 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 135,178 <BONDS> 178,116 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 55 <OTHER-SE> (3,055) <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 319,222 <SALES> 1,790,006 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 1,790,006 <CGS> 1,656,290 <TOTAL-COSTS> 110,696 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 0 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 13,635 <INCOME-PRETAX> 8,262 <INCOME-TAX> 3,635 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 4,627 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 4,627 <EPS-PRIMARY> 0 <EPS-DILUTED> 0