Illinois Tool Works Inc. (NYSE: ITW), Glenview, IL, reported second-quarter 2012 sales growth of 0.9 percent to $4.65 billion. Organic growth was 2.3 percent, with North American revenues growing 5.3 percent and international organic revenues falling 0.8 percent.

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European organic revenues for the quarter were down 1.7 percent. Asia Pacific organic revenues were up 1.8 percent. China organic revenues were down 0.5 percent.

Operating income of $770 million grew 8.3 percent. Margins improved in part due to favorable raw material price/cost dynamics. Profit was $881 million.

Total revenues for the Power Systems and Electronics segment increased 7.7 percent. Segment organic revenues grew 5.2 percent based on continuing strength in the worldwide welding businesses and improvement in the electronics assembly businesses. Worldwide welding's organic revenues grew 8.8 percent, with North American and international growing 11.4 percent and 2.1 percent, respectively.

"Despite slowing in a variety of international end-markets and significant currency translation headwinds, we were very pleased with our second-quarter operating performance," said David B. Speer, CEO.

Revenue for the first half of the year was $9.2 billion, up from $8.9 billion in the prior-year period. Profit was $1.1 billion.

ITW is a global diversified industrial manufacturer of value-added consumables and specialty equipment with related service businesses.