<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE>               5
<LEGEND>                                                                        
     This schedule contains  summary  financial  information  extracted from the
consolidated financial statements of the Company  for the period ended September
30, 1998 and is qualified in its entirety by reference to such financial
statements.
</LEGEND>                                        
                     
<MULTIPLIER>                                                               1,000
<CURRENCY>                                                          U.S. Dollars
                                                                       
<S>                                                                             <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                                                        9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                                                               DEC-31-1998
<PERIOD-START>                                                                  JAN-01-1998                                         
<PERIOD-END>                                                                    SEP-30-1998
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                                                                        1.0                                          
<CASH>                                                                              21,509
<SECURITIES>                                                                             0
<RECEIVABLES>                                                                       47,558
<ALLOWANCES>                                                                        11,651
<INVENTORY>                                                                         31,704
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                                                    93,168
<PP&E>                                                                              39,787
<DEPRECIATION>                                                                       5,505
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                                                     300,862
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                                                               96,230
<BONDS>                                                                            100,377
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                                                    0
<PREFERRED>                                                                              0
<COMMON>                                                                               150
<OTHER-SE>                                                                          82,903
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                                                       300,862
<SALES>                                                                            105,534
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                                                   105,534
<CGS>                                                                               58,436
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                                                       58,436
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                                                         0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                                                       634
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                                                   9,633
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                                                     27,218
<INCOME-TAX>                                                                       (11,015)
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                                                 14,551
<DISCONTINUED>                                                                           0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                                                       (933)
<CHANGES>                                                                                0
<NET-INCOME>                                                                        13,618
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                                                           0.91
<EPS-DILUTED>                                                                         0.91
        
 

</TABLE>