PITTSBURGH— MSA announced Monday it had its strongest quarter ever.

Net sales for the third quarter were $285.9 million compared with $247.7 million for the third quarter of 2007, an increase of $38.2 million, or 15 percent. Net income for the third quarter of 2008 was $17.9 million, or 50 cents per basic share, an increase of $1.2 million, or 7 percent.

MSA has plant in Callery.

"I am pleased to report the strongest third quarter sales in MSA history," said William M. Lambert, MSA president and CEO, in a news release. "This performance is especially satisfying in the current economic environment and is the result of our continuing focus on our core business and our ongoing efforts to expand our geographic market reach, particularly in the European and International segments."

Self-contained breathing apparatus sales were up $15.3 million, primarily because of $13.2 million in shipments to the U.S. Air Force.