Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2023	Sep. 30, 2022	Sep. 30, 2023	Sep. 30, 2022
Total net sales	$ 145,345	$ 130,015	$ 408,867	$ 360,324
Total cost of sales	117,121	106,918	325,100	297,487
Gross profit	28,224	23,097	83,767	62,837
Selling and administrative expenses	24,160	22,618	70,111	59,310
Amortization expense	1,379	1,599	4,119	4,454
Operating profit (loss)	2,685	(1,120)	9,537	(927)
Interest expense - net	1,442	993	4,404	1,747
Other expense (income) - net	917	168	3,463	(1,096)
Income (loss) before income taxes	326	(2,281)	1,670	(1,578)
Income tax (benefit) expense	(121)	(176)	(99)	137
Net income (loss)	447	(2,105)	1,769	(1,715)
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interest	(68)	(28)	(125)	(82)
Net income (loss) attributable to L.B. Foster Company	$ 515	$ (2,077)	$ 1,894	$ (1,633)
Basic earnings (loss) per common share (usd per share)	$ 0.05	$ (0.20)	$ 0.18	$ (0.16)
Diluted earnings (loss) per common share (usd per share)	$ 0.05	$ (0.20)	$ 0.17	$ (0.16)
Sales of goods
Total net sales	$ 131,065	$ 117,302	$ 361,770	$ 318,307
Total cost of sales	103,061	93,737	282,195	258,913
Sales of services
Total net sales	14,280	12,713	47,097	42,017
Total cost of sales	$ 14,060	$ 13,181	$ 42,905	$ 38,574