<ARTICLE> 5 <LEGEND> THE REGISTRANT'S CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AS OF AND FOR THE SIX MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 1998. </LEGEND> <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 6-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> SEP-30-1998 <PERIOD-END> MAR-31-1998 <CASH> 3,918 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 26,804 <ALLOWANCES> 946 <INVENTORY> 16,466 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 51,282 <PP&E> 21,684 <DEPRECIATION> 10,752 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 71,753 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 32,956 <BONDS> 107,000 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 49 <OTHER-SE> 43,741 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 71,753 <SALES> 71,279 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 71,279 <CGS> 30,546 <TOTAL-COSTS> 62,526 <OTHER-EXPENSES> (156) <LOSS-PROVISION> 144 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 5,947 <INCOME-PRETAX> 2,759 <INCOME-TAX> 1,104 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 1,655 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 1,655 <EPS-PRIMARY> 0.34 <EPS-DILUTED> 0.32