Property, Plant And Equipment

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2011

Property, Plant And Equipment [Abstract]

Note 7: Property, Plant and Equipment

Property, plant and equipment were as follows (in thousands):


	December 31,						Useful Lives (in years)
	2011			2010			Useful Lives (in years)
Land	$	4,024		$	4,924
Buildings and improvements		9,422			8,270			21-30
Machinery and equipment		93,894			86,830			2-10
Computer equipment and software		72,324			59,609			3-5

Total property, plant and equipment, at cost		179,664			159,633
Less: accumulated depreciation		(132,578	)		(123,313	)

Total property, plant and equipment, net	$	47,086		$	36,320

Depreciation expense from continuing operations was $16.2, $14.1, and $14.9 million for the years ended December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009, respectively. Depreciation is calculated principally on the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the assets.

Various properties we own that are not used for operations are classified as other assets with a total carrying value of $0.9 million and $0.9 million as of December 31, 2011 and 2010, respectively.

In 2011, a $0.9 million impairment charge was recorded associated with land held for sale included in property, plant and equipment, net, on the Consolidated Balance Sheet and a $3.0 million impairment charge was recorded in 2010 associated with a real estate asset.

As of December 31, 2011 and 2010, we had remaining deferred gains of $1.6 and $2.0 million, respectively, related to sale-leaseback transactions. These deferred gains were being amortized straight-line over the terms of the related leases.

- Definition

The entire disclosure for long-lived, physical assets that are used in the normal conduct of business to produce goods and services and not intended for resale. Examples include land, buildings, machinery and equipment, and other types of furniture and equipment including, but not limited to, office equipment, furniture and fixtures, and computer equipment and software. This disclosure may include property plant and equipment accounting policies and methodology, a schedule of property, plant and equipment gross, additions, deletions, transfers and other changes, depreciation, depletion and amortization expense, net, accumulated depreciation, depletion and amortization expense and useful lives, income statement disclosures, assets held for sale and public utility disclosures.

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