-Utility Solutions Group (USG)
In the third quarter of 2019, net sales of $52.9 million were $2.6 million, or 4.7%, lower than the $55.5 million in the third quarter of 2018. In the first nine months of 2019, net sales of $157.6 million were $0.3 million lower than the $157.9 million in the first nine months of 2018. The decrease in the third quarter and first nine months of 2019 compared to the corresponding periods of 2018 was mainly due to lower sales at NRG due to continued softness in the renewable energy market.
-Technical Packaging
In the third quarter of 2019, net sales of $21.5 million were $0.5 million, or 2.3%, lower than the $22.0 million in the third quarter of 2018. In the first nine months of 2019, net sales of $63.4 million were $0.3 million lower than the $63.7 million in the first nine months of 2018. The decrease in the third quarter and first nine months of 2019 compared to the corresponding periods of 2018 was primarily due to the decrease in net sales from Plastique due to timing of projects.
ORDERS AND BACKLOG
Backlog was $432.5 million at June 30, 2019 compared with $382.8 million at September 30, 2018. The Company received new orders totaling $196.2 million in the third quarter of 2019 compared to $201.1 million in the third quarter of 2018. Of the new orders received in the third quarter of 2019, $71.2 million related to Filtration products, $44.1 million related to Test products, $55.4 million related to USG products, and $25.4 million related to Technical Packaging products. Of the new orders received in the third quarter of 2018, $85.9 million related to Filtration products, $37.9 million related to Test products, $57.8 million related to USG products, and $19.5 million related to Technical Packaging products.
The Company received new orders totaling $626.0 million in the first nine months of 2019 compared to $588.9 million in the first nine months of 2018. Of the new orders received in the first nine months of 2019, $255.7 million related to Filtration products, $147.1 million related to Test products, $158.5 million related to USG products, and $64.7 million related to Technical Packaging products. Of the new orders received in the first nine months of 2018, $219.1 million related to Filtration products, $144.2 million related to Test products, $168.0 million related to USG products, and $57.6 million related to Technical Packaging products.
SELLING, GENERAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES
Selling, general and administrative (SG&A) expenses for the third quarter of 2019 were $43.4 million (21.7% of net sales), compared with $39.9 million (20.8% of net sales) for the third quarter of 2018. For the first nine months of 2019, SG&A expenses were $126.1 million (21.9% of net sales) compared to $122.8 million (22.7% of net sales) for the first nine months of 2018. The increase in SG&A in the third quarter and first nine months of 2019 compared to the corresponding periods of 2018 was mainly due to an increase in the USG segment due to higher sales commissions including additional sales and marketing expenses to support future revenue growth.
AMORTIZATION OF INTANGIBLE ASSETS
Amortization of intangible assets was $4.7 million and $14.0 million for the third quarter and first nine months of 2019, respectively, compared to $4.6 million and $13.6 million for the corresponding periods of 2018. Amortization expenses consist of amortization of acquired intangible assets from acquisitions and other identifiable intangible assets (primarily software). The increase in amortization expense in the first nine months of 2019 compared to the first nine months of 2018 was mainly due to an increase in amortization of intangibles related to the Manta acquisition.
OTHER EXPENSES (INCOME), NET
Other expenses, net, was $2.6 million in the third quarter of 2019 compared to other income, net, of $0.7 million in the third quarter of 2018. The principal components in other expenses, net, in the third quarter of 2019 were $1.2 million of restructuring charges related to the closure of Plastique’s headquarters in Tunbridge Wells, UK; the consolidation of