<TABLE> <S> <C>

<PAGE>
 
<ARTICLE> 5
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
<S>                           <C>                   <C>                    <C>                     <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                 6-MOS                 9-MOS                   YEAR                     YEAR                     
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                      DEC-31-1997             DEC-31-1997             DEC-31-1997             DEC-31-1996    
<PERIOD-START>                         JAN-01-1997             JAN-01-1997             JAN-01-1997             JAN-01-1996    
<PERIOD-END>                           JUN-30-1997             SEP-30-1997             DEC-31-1997             DEC-31-1996    
<CASH>                                       3,020                   9,080                  45,439                  23,398    
<SECURITIES>                                     0                       0                       0                       0    
<RECEIVABLES>                              141,395                 119,707                 103,302                 128,625    
<ALLOWANCES>                                 5,531                   4,351                   4,409                   5,623    
<INVENTORY>                                151,405                 142,370                 155,534                 149,419    
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                           316,649                 278,884                 320,020                 319,758    
<PP&E>                                     347,987                 336,244                 340,695                 332,047    
<DEPRECIATION>                              61,113                  72,026                  65,205                  40,961    
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                           1,760,292               1,696,103               1,736,956               1,768,845    
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                      302,025                 288,796                 257,533                 308,590    
<BONDS>                                    965,175                 883,387                 924,805               1,010,962    
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                       57,398                  58,690                  60,010                  54,900    
<PREFERRED>                                      0                       0                       0                       0    
<COMMON>                                     1,000                   1,000                   1,000                   1,000    
<OTHER-SE>                                 245,253                 265,368                 264,660                 217,815    
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>             1,760,292               1,696,103               1,736,956               1,768,845    
<SALES>                                    642,985                 951,990               1,258,189               1,106,812    
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                           642,985                 951,990               1,258,189               1,106,812    
<CGS>                                      489,472<F1>             726,494<F1>             963,750<F1>             891,072<F1>    
<TOTAL-COSTS>                              489,472                 726,494                 963,750                 891,072    
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                             8,674<F1>              12,646<F1>              17,650<F1>              20,307<F1>    
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                 0                       0                       0                       0    
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                          16,838                  25,874                  30,988                  41,877    
<INCOME-PRETAX>                             65,515                  95,776                 118,220                  55,885    
<INCOME-TAX>                                27,414                  36,474                  46,267                  30,259    
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                         38,101                  59,302                  71,953                  25,626    
<DISCONTINUED>                                   0                       0                       0                       0    
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                  0                       0                  12,255                       0    
<CHANGES>                                        0                       0                       0                       0    
<NET-INCOME>                                38,101                  59,302                  59,698                  25,626    
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                  .36                     .56                     .55                     .21    
<EPS-DILUTED>                                  .36                     .56                     .55                     .21    
        
<FN>
<F1> FINANCIAL DATA SCHEDULES PREVIOUSLY FILED FOR THE REPORTING PERIODS ENDED
JUN-30-1997 AND SEP-30-1997 AND FOR YEARS ENDED DEC-31-1997 AND DEC-31-1996 ARE
BEING RECLASSIFIED TO BE CONSISTENT WITH THE DECEMBER 31, 1998 FULL YEAR
PRESENTATION. THE RECLASSIFICATIONS ARE TO COST OF SALES FROM DEPRECIATION AND
AMORTIZATION SELLING, GENERAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSE, AND OTHER-EXPENSE.
</FN>

</TABLE>