<TABLE> <S> <C>

<PAGE>

<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE
COMPANY'S CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED) FOR THE THREE AND SIX
MONTH PERIODS ENDED APRIL 2, 2000 AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE
TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000

<S>                             <C>                     <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS                   6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          OCT-01-2000             OCT-01-2000
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-03-2000             OCT-04-1999
<PERIOD-END>                               APR-02-2000             APR-02-2000
<CASH>                                             199                     199
<SECURITIES>                                         0                       0
<RECEIVABLES>                                   50,118                  50,118
<ALLOWANCES>                                       604                     604
<INVENTORY>                                     57,527                  57,527
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                               126,291                 126,291
<PP&E>                                         192,027                 192,027
<DEPRECIATION>                                  52,192                  52,192
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 361,449                 361,449
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                           92,992                  92,992
<BONDS>                                        157,300                 157,300
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0                       0
<PREFERRED>                                          0                       0
<COMMON>                                            99                      99
<OTHER-SE>                                      79,370                  79,370
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   361,449                 361,449
<SALES>                                        119,729                 226,468
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                               119,729                 226,468
<CGS>                                          102,361                 197,763
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                  112,793                 217,596
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                 5,866                   5,685
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                     0                       0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                               4,327                   8,217
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                 (3,257)                 (5,030)
<INCOME-TAX>                                    (1,934)                 (2,741)
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                             (1,323)                 (2,289)
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0                       0
<CHANGES>                                            0                       0
<NET-INCOME>                                    (1,323)                 (2,289)
<EPS-BASIC>                                       (.14)                   (.25)
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     (.14)                   (.25)


</TABLE>