PROPERTY, PLANT, AND EQUIPMENT

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2013

Property, Plant and Equipment [Abstract]

6. PROPERTY, PLANT, AND EQUIPMENT

The composition of property, plant, and equipment is as follows as of December 31:



(In thousands)	2013			2012
Land	$	24,250		$	23,252
Buildings and improvements	218,551			205,306
Machinery, equipment, and other	800,573			725,558
Property, plant, and equipment, at cost	1,043,374			954,116
Less: Accumulated depreciation	(527,656		)	(464,523		)
Property, plant, and equipment, net	$	515,718		$	489,593

Depreciation expense for the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012, and 2011 was $71.6 million, $62.8 million, and $59.5 million, respectively.

The net property, plant, and equipment balance at December 31, 2013, included $17.7 million related to the Corporation’s 2013 acquisitions.

- Definition

The entire disclosure for long-lived, physical assets used in the normal conduct of business and not intended for resale. Includes, but is not limited to, accounting policies and methodology, roll forwards, depreciation, depletion and amortization expense, including composite depreciation, accumulated depreciation, depletion and amortization expense, useful lives and method used, income statement disclosures, assets held for sale and public utility disclosures.

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