Net sales were $331.3 million, with an increase driven by sustained growth across all three of OM Group's operating segments, including a full quarter of sales and strong demand within the battery technologies segment, higher cobalt volume in the advanced materials segment, and volume growth for semiconductor and printed circuit board end markets in the specialty chemicals segment. "We are pleased to report that we are picking up in 2011 where we left off in 2010, as demand remains strong across most of our global end markets," said Joseph Scaminace, chairman and chief executive officer. In OM Group's Advanced Materials segment, net sales were US$180.1 million, up 6%, with product sales volumes rising 2% as growth in powder metallurgy, ceramics and chemical offset a decrease in battery materials. "Strength in industrial production and an initial recovery in construction should benefit our powder metallurgy and coatings end markets, respectively,” Scaminace said. "That said, we continue to closely monitor several issues that could meaningfully impact our results in the second quarter or the balance of the year, including the industrial recovery in Japan following the natural disasters."
