Restructuring

On an ongoing basis, the Company evaluates its business and objectives to ensure that it is properly configured and sized based on changing market conditions. Accordingly, the Company has implemented several restructuring initiatives, including closure or consolidation of facilities throughout the world and the reorganization of its operating structure.

In January 2015, the Company announced its intention to further restructure its European manufacturing footprint based on anticipated market demands. This initiative will be substantially complete by December 31, 2018. The estimated cost of this initiative is $119,000 to $124,000, of which approximately $108,000 has been incurred to date. We expect to incur total employee separation costs of approximately $61,000 to $64,000, other related exit costs of approximately $57,000 to $59,000 and non-cash asset impairments related to restructuring activities of approximately $500.

The Company’s restructuring charges consist of severance, retention and outplacement services, and severance-related postemployment benefits (collectively, “employee separation costs”), other related exit costs and asset impairments related to restructuring activities.

Restructuring expense by segment for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015 was as follows:



	Year Ended December 31,
	2017		2016		2015
North America	$	5,963	$	1,680	$	5,232
Europe	25,862		42,008		47,868
Asia Pacific	2,324		2,343		744
South America	988		—		—
Total	$	35,137	$	46,031	$	53,844

Restructuring activity for all restructuring initiatives for the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016 was as follows:



	Employee Separation Costs			Other Exit Costs			Total
Balance as of December 31, 2015	$	32,707		$	1,768		$	34,475
Expense	18,017			28,014			46,031
Cash payments	(28,665		)	(27,434		)	(56,099		)
Foreign exchange translation and other	(132		)	(37		)	(169		)
Balance as of December 31, 2016	$	21,927		$	2,311		$	24,238
Expense	16,245			18,892			35,137
Cash payments	(25,077		)	(14,473		)	(39,550		)
Foreign exchange translation and other	1,996			514			2,510
Balance as of December 31, 2017	$	15,091		$	7,244		$	22,335