Maintenance repair and operations (MRO) supplier MSC Industrial Direct is off to a good start for the year: For its first quarter of fiscal 2006, which ended Nov. 26, the Melville, NY-based MSC’s net sales rose 12% to $295.9 million, compared with $263.3 million last year. Net income increased 23% to $31.9 million, compared with $26 million last year. “Demand for our products remained strong during the quarter, and MSC continued to deliver on its value proposition to its customers, resulting in solid revenue and market share growth during the period,” said president/CEO David Sandler in a statement.