| Intangible Assets Disclosure [Text Block] |
INTANGIBLE ASSETS
Our intangible assets are as follows: | | | | | | | | (in thousands) | September 30, 2017 | December 31, 2016 | Definite-lived intangible assets | | | Customer relationships | $ | 59,683 |
| $ | 47,892 |
| Unpatented technology | 19,941 |
| 18,461 |
| Patented technology | 6,560 |
| 2,499 |
| Tradename | 22,818 |
| 18,774 |
| Backlog | 30,088 |
| 28,170 |
| All other | 7,550 |
| 7,429 |
| Gross value of definite-lived intangible assets | 146,640 |
| 123,225 |
| Customer relationships amortization | (21,931 | ) | (17,519 | ) | Unpatented technology amortization | (4,443 | ) | (2,864 | ) | Patented technology amortization | (2,043 | ) | (1,532 | ) | Tradename amortization | (4,749 | ) | (3,826 | ) | Acquired backlog amortization | (27,814 | ) | (21,776 | ) | All other amortization | (6,965 | ) | (5,974 | ) | Accumulated amortization | (67,945 | ) | (53,491 | ) | Net definite-lived intangible assets | $ | 78,695 |
| $ | 69,734 |
| | | | Indefinite-lived intangible assets: | | | Trademarks and trade names | $ | 1,305 |
| $ | 1,305 |
| Total indefinite-lived intangible assets | $ | 1,305 |
| $ | 1,305 |
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The following summarizes the changes in the carrying amount of intangible assets: | | | | | | | | | Nine months ended September 30, | (in thousands) | 2017 | 2016 | Balance at beginning of period | $ | 71,039 |
| $ | 37,844 |
| Business acquisitions | 19,500 |
| 55,438 |
| Amortization expense | (14,455 | ) | (11,904 | ) | Currency translation adjustments and other | 3,916 |
| 647 |
| Balance at end of the period | $ | 80,000 |
| $ | 82,025 |
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The January 11, 2017 acquisition of Universal resulted in an increase in our intangible asset amortization expense during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017 of $0.5 million and $2.6 million, respectively.
The July 1, 2016 acquisition of SPIG, S.p.A. resulted in an increase in our intangible asset amortization expense during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017 of $1.9 million and $7.3 million, respectively, and $7.1 million of intangible asset amortization expense during the three months ended September 30, 2016.
Amortization of intangible assets is included in cost of operations in our condensed consolidated statement of operations, but it is not allocated to segment results.
Estimated future intangible asset amortization expense, including the increase in amortization expense resulting from the January 11, 2017 acquisition of Universal, is as follows (in thousands): | | | | | Period ending | Amortization expense | Three months ending December 31, 2017 | $ | 3,582 |
| Twelve months ending December 31, 2018 | $ | 12,444 |
| Twelve months ending December 31, 2019 | $ | 10,342 |
| Twelve months ending December 31, 2020 | $ | 9,042 |
| Twelve months ending December 31, 2021 | $ | 8,782 |
| Twelve months ending December 31, 2022 | $ | 7,205 |
| Thereafter | $ | 27,298 |
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