Alamo Group (NYSE: ALG) today reported results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2012.

Net sales for the first quarter were $155.9 million compared to net sales of $140.7 million for the first quarter of 2011, an increase of 11%. Net income for the quarter was $6.8 million, or $0.56 per diluted share, compared to net income of $5.7 million, or $0.47 per diluted share, for the first quarter of 2011, a 19% increase. The Company’s 2012 results include the effect of the acquisition of Tenco, which was completed in October 2011. Tenco contributed $9.4 million to net sales in the first quarter of 2012 and $0.5 million to net income. The 2012 net sales and net income levels were both records for Alamo for a first quarter as the Company benefited from strong growth particularly in its North American Industrial Division.

Net sales in the Industrial Division for the first quarter of 2012 were $64.7 million, a 32% increase compared to net sales of $49.0 million in the first quarter of 2011. The results include the contributions of Tenco outlined above. The Division also benefited from increased sales of its mowing products and vacuum trucks.

Alamo’s North American Agricultural Division recorded net sales of $48.3 million in the first quarter of 2012, a 3% decrease compared to net sales of $49.7 million in the prior year’s first quarter. The decrease reflected slower growth in the overall U.S. agricultural market and slightly lower preseason sales, which generally make up the majority of this Division’s first quarter revenue.

The Company’s European Division net sales in the first quarter of 2012 were $42.9 million, an increase of 2% versus $41.9 million in the first quarter of 2011. The Division’s sales remained steady despite the continuing economic slowdown affecting many of the Company’s markets in Europe.

Ron Robinson, Alamo Group’s President and Chief Executive Officer, commented, “Following a record year in 2011, we are pleased to start 2012 with another strong quarter. Supported by the acquisition of Tenco, our Industrial Division led the way with solid year-over-year growth. Within this Division, our vegetation maintenance products continued to perform well, aided by recent new product introductions. The Company’s snow removal equipment also did well despite the mild winter conditions, and our vacuum trucks and sweepers further contributed to the sales growth in the first quarter.”

“Our Agricultural Division experienced some softening as the rate of growth in the overall U.S. agriculture market slowed compared to stronger levels experienced in 2010 and 2011. For this Division, the first quarter of each year is generally made up of preseason sales of stocking orders from our dealers, and these sales were below the previous year’s level as dealers ended 2011 with higher levels of inventory than in recent years. While it is still too early to tell how the season will develop, we expect to benefit from strong commodity prices and healthy levels of farm income as the year progresses. In addition, the drought conditions that have affected parts of Texas and other states in the southeast for the last several years have moderated over recent months.”

“Our European Division also held up well even in challenging economic conditions. Governmental markets continue to be affected by budget constraints and the agricultural sector is experiencing slower growth, similar to our U.S. markets. Yet, we benefited from steady demand for our type of maintenance products which was further helped by increased export sales.”

Mr. Robinson concluded, “Our strong results, during what is one of our seasonally weaker quarters, provide confirmation we are successfully executing on our growth strategies while keeping our costs under control. Our industrial markets should benefit from steady demand for our type of infrastructure maintenance products, despite ongoing governmental budget limitations. And, growing levels of demand for food globally should continue to provide strength to our agricultural markets over the longer term. As a result, we feel good about our prospects for the future.”

Alamo Group is a leader in the design, manufacture, distribution and service of high quality equipment for right-of-way maintenance and agriculture. Our products include truck and tractor mounted mowing and other vegetation maintenance equipment, street sweepers, snow removal equipment, pothole patchers, excavators, vacuum trucks, agricultural implements and related after market parts and services. The Company, founded in 1969, had approximately 2,460 employees and operates eighteen plants in North America and Europe as of March 31, 2012. The corporate offices of Alamo Group Inc. are located in Seguin, Texas and the headquarters for the Company’s European operations are located in Salford Priors, England.