Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2023
Accounting Policies [Abstract]
Organization, operations, and basis of consolidation	Organization, operations, and basis of consolidation The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of L.B. Foster Company and its wholly-owned subsidiaries, joint ventures, and partnerships in which a controlling interest is held. Inter-company transactions and accounts have been eliminated. The Company utilizes the equity method of accounting for companies where its ownership is less than or equal to 50% and significant influence exists. L.B. Foster Company (together with its subsidiaries, the “Company”) is a global technology solutions provider of engineered, manufactured products and services that builds and supports infrastructure. The Company’s innovative engineering and product development solutions address the safety, reliability, and performance needs of its customers’ most challenging requirements. The Company maintains locations in North America, South America, Europe, and Asia. Effective for the quarter and year ended December 31, 2023, the Company implemented operational changes in how its Chief Operating Decision Maker (“CODM”) manages its businesses, including resource allocation and operating decisions. As a result of these changes, the Company now has two (previously three) operating segments, representing the individual businesses that are run separately under the new structure: Rail, Technologies, and Services (“Rail”) and Infrastructure Solutions (“Infrastructure”). The Rail segment is comprised of several manufacturing and distribution businesses that provide a variety of products and services for freight and passenger railroads and industrial companies throughout the world. The Infrastructure segment is composed of nine operating facilities across the US providing engineered precast concrete solutions, as well as fabricated bridge, protective pipe coating, and pipe threading offerings across North America. On November 17, 2023, the Company acquired the operating assets of Cougar Mountain Precast, LLC (“Cougar”), located in Caldwell, Idaho, which is a licensed manufacturer of Redi-Rock and natural concrete products for $1,644, subject to working capital adjustments and hold back payments, to be paid over the next twelve months or utilized to satisfy post-close working capital adjustments or indemnity claims. Cougar has been included in the Infrastructure segment.
Use of estimates	Use of estimates The preparation of financial statements in conformity with US generally accepted accounting principles (“US GAAP”) requires management to make estimates, judgements, and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the financial statements and accompanying notes. Actual results could differ from those estimates and changes in these estimates are recorded when known.
Cash and cash equivalents	Cash and cash equivalents The Company considers cash and other instruments with maturities of three months or less when purchased to be cash and cash equivalents. The Company invests available funds in a manner to preserve investment principal and maintain liquidity. Cash and cash equivalents held in non-domestic accounts were $2,193 and $2,012 as of December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively.
Accounts Receivable	Accounts Receivable Trade receivables are carried at their estimated collectible amounts. Trade credit is generally extended on a short-term basis; thus trade receivables do not bear interest. Credit is extended based upon an evaluation of the customer’s financial condition and, while collateral is not required, the Company periodically receives surety bonds that guarantee payment. Credit terms are consistent with industry standards and practices.
Inventory	Inventory Inventory is valued at the lower of average cost or net realizable value. Slow-moving inventory is reviewed and adjusted regularly, based upon product knowledge, physical inventory observation, inventory turnover, and the age of the inventory. Inventory costs include materials, direct labor, manufacturing overhead, and other direct costs.
Property, plant and equipment	Property, plant, and equipment Depreciation and amortization are provided on a straight-line basis over the estimated useful lives of 10 to 41 years for buildings and 2 to 50 years for machinery and equipment. Leasehold improvements are amortized over 4 to 19 years, which represent the lives of the respective leases or the lives of the improvements, whichever is shorter. Depreciation expense is recorded within “Cost of goods sold,” “Cost of services sold,” and “Selling and administrative expenses” on the Consolidated Statements of Operations based upon the particular asset’s use. The Company reviews a long-lived asset for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of the asset may not be recoverable. The Company recognizes an impairment loss if the carrying amount of a long-lived asset is not recoverable and exceeds its fair value. There were no material property, plant, and equipment impairments recorded for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022. Maintenance, repairs, and minor renewals are charged to operations as incurred. Major renewals and betterments that substantially extend the useful life of the property are capitalized at cost. Upon the sale or other disposition of assets, the costs and related accumulated depreciation and amortization are removed from the accounts and the resulting gain or loss, if any, is reflected in “Other expense (income) - net” in the Consolidated Statements of Operations.
Allowance for credit losses	Allowance for credit losses The Company established the allowance for credit losses by calculating the amount to reserve based on the age of a given trade receivable and considering historical collection patterns, bad debt expense experience, expected future trends of collections, current and expected market conditions, and any other relevant subjective adjustments as needed. Management maintains high-quality credit review practices and positive customer relationships that mitigate credit risks. The Company’s reserves are regularly reviewed and revised as necessary. Reserves for uncollectible accounts are recorded as part of “Selling and administrative expenses” in the Consolidated Statements of Operations. The Company has also established policies regarding allowance for credit losses associated with contract assets, which includes standalone reserve assessments for its long term, complex contracts as needed as well as detailed regular review and updates to contract margins, progress, and value. A standard reserve threshold is applied to contract assets related to short term, less complex contracts. Management also regularly reviews collection patterns and future expected collections and makes necessary revisions to allowance for credit losses related to contract assets.
Goodwill and other intangible assets	Goodwill and other intangible assets Goodwill is the cost of an acquisition less the fair value of the identifiable net assets of the acquired business. Goodwill is tested annually for impairment or more often if there are indicators of impairment within a reporting unit. A reporting unit is an operating segment or a component of an operating segment for which discrete financial information is available and reviewed by management on a regular basis. There was no change to the reporting units as a result of the 2023 change in reporting segments. The goodwill impairment test involves comparing the fair value of a reporting unit to its carrying value, including goodwill. If the carrying amount of the reporting unit exceeds its fair value, an impairment loss equal to the excess amount up to the goodwill balance is recorded as a component of operations. The Company performs its annual impairment tests in the fourth quarter. The Company’s fourth quarter 2023 annual test included the assessment of a quantitative analysis to determine whether it was more likely than not that the fair value of each reporting unit is less than its carrying value. The quantitative assessment considers fair value as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. The Company’s quantitative analysis considered and evaluated each of the three traditional approaches to value: the income approach, the market approach, and the asset approach. The Company uses a combination of a discounted cash flow method and a market approach to determine the fair values of the reporting units. Any impairment charges are based on both historic and future expected business results that no longer support the carrying value of the reporting unit. The Company also monitors the recoverability of the long-lived assets associated with the asset groups of the Company and the long-term financial projections of the businesses to assess for asset impairment. The Company has no indefinite-lived intangible assets. The Company reviews a long-lived intangible asset for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of the asset may not be recoverable. All intangible assets are amortized over their estimated useful lives.
Environmental remediation and compliance	Environmental remediation and compliance Environmental remediation costs are accrued when a liability is probable and costs are estimable. Environmental compliance costs, which principally include the disposal of waste generated by routine operations, are expensed as incurred. Reserves are not reduced by potential claims for recovery and are not discounted. Claims for recovery are recognized as agreements are reached with third parties or as amounts are received. Reserves are periodically reviewed throughout the year and adjusted to reflect current remediation progress, prospective estimates of required activity, and other factors that may be relevant, including changes in technology or regulations.
Revenue recognition	Revenue recognition The Company’s revenues are comprised of product and service sales, including products and services provided under long-term agreements with its customers. All revenue is recognized when the Company satisfies its performance obligations under the respective contract, either implicit or explicit, by transferring the promised product or rendering a service to its customer either when or as its customer obtains control of the product or the service is rendered. Deferred revenue consists of customer billings or payments received for which the revenue recognition criteria have not yet been met as well as contract liabilities (billings in excess of costs) on over time contracts. Advance payments from customers typically relate to contracts for which the Company has significantly fulfilled its obligations, but due to the Company’s continuing involvement with the project, revenue is precluded from being recognized until the performance obligation is met for the customer.
Product warranty	Product warranty The Company maintains a current warranty liability for the repair or replacement of defective products. For certain manufactured products, an accrual is made on a monthly basis as a percentage of cost of sales based upon historical experience. For long-lived construction products, a warranty is established when the claim is known and quantifiable. The product warranty accrual is periodically adjusted based on the identification or resolution of known individual product warranty claims or due to changes in the Company’s historical warranty experience.
Income taxes	Income taxes Income taxes are accounted for under the asset and liability method. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the future tax consequences attributable to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases. Deferred taxes are measured using enacted tax laws and rates expected to be in effect when such differences are recovered or settled. The effect of a change in tax rates on deferred taxes is recognized in income in the period that includes the enactment date of the change. The Company has also elected to record income taxes associated with global intangible low-taxed income (“GILTI”) as period costs if and when incurred. The Company makes judgments regarding the recognition of deferred tax assets and the future realization of these assets. As prescribed by the FASB’s ASC 740, “Income Taxes” and applicable guidance, valuation allowances must be provided for those deferred tax assets for which it is more likely than not (a likelihood of more than 50%) that some portion or all of the deferred tax assets will not be realized. The guidance requires the Company to evaluate positive and negative evidence regarding the recoverability of deferred tax assets. The determination of whether the positive evidence outweighs the negative evidence and quantification of the valuation allowance requires the Company to make estimates and judgments of future financial results. The Company has concluded that for purposes of quantifying valuation allowances, it would be appropriate to consider the reversal of taxable temporary differences related to indefinite-lived intangible assets when assessing the realizability of deferred tax assets that upon reversal, would give rise to operating losses that do not expire. The Company evaluates all tax positions taken on its federal, state, and foreign tax filings to determine if the position is more likely than not to be sustained upon examination. For positions that meet the more likely than not to be sustained criteria, the largest amount of benefit to be realized upon ultimate settlement is determined on a cumulative probability basis. A previously recognized tax position is derecognized when it is subsequently determined that a tax position no longer meets the more likely than not threshold to be sustained. The evaluation of the sustainability of a tax position and the expected tax benefit is based on judgment, historical experience, and various other assumptions. Actual results could differ from those estimates upon subsequent resolution of identified matters. The Company accrues interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits in its provision for income taxes.
Foreign currency translation	Foreign currency translation The assets and liabilities of the Company’s foreign subsidiaries are measured using the local currency as the functional currency and are translated into US dollars at exchange rates as of the balance sheet date. Income statement amounts are translated at the weighted-average rates of exchange during the year. The translation adjustment is accumulated as a separate component of “Accumulated other comprehensive loss” within the Consolidated Balance Sheets.
Research and development	Research and development The Company expenses research and development costs as costs are incurred.
Reclassifications	Reclassifications Certain accounts in the prior year consolidated financial statements have been reclassified for comparative purposes principally to conform to the presentation in the current year period, including the changes in business segments.
Recently issued accounting guidance	Recently issued accounting guidance In November 2023, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update 2023-07, “Segment Reporting (Topic 280): Improvements to Reportable Segment Disclosures” (“ASU 2023-07”), which requires enhanced disclosures regarding significant segment expenses that are regularly reviewed by the chief operating decision maker (“CODM”) and included in each reported measure of segment profit or loss, including an amount for “other segment items” by reportable segment and a description of its composition. ASU 2023-07 also requires entities to disclose the title and position of the CODM and an explanation of how the CODM uses reported measures of segment profit or loss to assess performance and allocate resources. The amendments are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2023, and interim periods within fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2024 with early adoption permitted. The Company did not identify any material impact from the provision of ASU 2023-07 on its financial condition, results of operations, and cash flows. In December 2023, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update 2023-09, Income Taxes (Topic 740): Improvements to Income Tax Disclosures (“ASU 2023-09”). ASU 2023-09 requires entities to disclose additional information with respect to the effective tax rate reconciliation and disaggregation of income tax expense and income taxes paid by jurisdiction. ASU 2023-09 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2024, with early adoption permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of ASU 2023-09, but does not expect this standard to have a material effect on its financial condition, results of operations, and cash flows.

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2023

Organization, operations, and basis of consolidation

The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of L.B. Foster Company and its wholly-owned subsidiaries, joint ventures, and partnerships in which a controlling interest is held. Inter-company transactions and accounts have been eliminated. The Company utilizes the equity method of accounting for companies where its ownership is less than or equal to 50% and significant influence exists.

L.B. Foster Company (together with its subsidiaries, the “Company”) is a global technology solutions provider of engineered, manufactured products and services that builds and supports infrastructure. The Company’s innovative engineering and product development solutions address the safety, reliability, and performance needs of its customers’ most challenging requirements. The Company maintains locations in North America, South America, Europe, and Asia. Effective for the quarter and year ended December 31, 2023, the Company implemented operational changes in how its Chief Operating Decision Maker (“CODM”) manages its businesses, including resource allocation and operating decisions. As a result of these changes, the Company now has two (previously three) operating segments, representing the individual businesses that are run separately under the new structure: Rail, Technologies, and Services (“Rail”) and Infrastructure Solutions (“Infrastructure”). The Rail segment is comprised of several manufacturing and distribution businesses that provide a variety of products and services for freight and passenger railroads and industrial companies throughout the world. The Infrastructure segment is composed of nine operating facilities across the US providing engineered precast concrete solutions, as well as fabricated bridge, protective pipe coating, and pipe threading offerings across North America.

On November 17, 2023, the Company acquired the operating assets of Cougar Mountain Precast, LLC (“Cougar”), located in Caldwell, Idaho, which is a licensed manufacturer of Redi-Rock and natural concrete products for $1,644, subject to working capital adjustments and hold back payments, to be paid over the next twelve months or utilized to satisfy post-close working capital adjustments or indemnity claims. Cougar has been included in the Infrastructure segment.

Use of estimates

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with US generally accepted accounting principles (“US GAAP”) requires management to make estimates, judgements, and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the financial statements and accompanying notes. Actual results could differ from those estimates and changes in these estimates are recorded when known.

Cash and cash equivalents

The Company considers cash and other instruments with maturities of three months or less when purchased to be cash and cash equivalents. The Company invests available funds in a manner to preserve investment principal and maintain liquidity. Cash and cash equivalents held in non-domestic accounts were $2,193 and $2,012 as of December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively.

Accounts Receivable

Trade receivables are carried at their estimated collectible amounts. Trade credit is generally extended on a short-term basis; thus trade receivables do not bear interest. Credit is extended based upon an evaluation of the customer’s financial condition and, while collateral is not required, the Company periodically receives surety bonds that guarantee payment. Credit terms are consistent with industry standards and practices.

Inventory

Inventory is valued at the lower of average cost or net realizable value. Slow-moving inventory is reviewed and adjusted regularly, based upon product knowledge, physical inventory observation, inventory turnover, and the age of the inventory. Inventory costs include materials, direct labor, manufacturing overhead, and other direct costs.

Property, plant and equipment

Property, plant, and equipment

Depreciation and amortization are provided on a straight-line basis over the estimated useful lives of 10 to 41 years for buildings and 2 to 50 years for machinery and equipment. Leasehold improvements are amortized over 4 to 19 years, which represent the lives of the respective leases or the lives of the improvements, whichever is shorter. Depreciation expense is recorded within “Cost of goods sold,” “Cost of services sold,” and “Selling and administrative expenses” on the Consolidated Statements of Operations based upon the particular asset’s use. The Company reviews a long-lived asset for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of the asset may not be recoverable. The Company recognizes an impairment loss if the carrying amount of a long-lived asset is not recoverable and exceeds its fair value. There were no material property, plant, and equipment impairments recorded for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022.

Maintenance, repairs, and minor renewals are charged to operations as incurred. Major renewals and betterments that substantially extend the useful life of the property are capitalized at cost. Upon the sale or other disposition of assets, the costs and related accumulated depreciation and amortization are removed from the accounts and the resulting gain or loss, if any, is reflected in “Other expense (income) - net” in the Consolidated Statements of Operations.

Allowance for credit losses

The Company established the allowance for credit losses by calculating the amount to reserve based on the age of a given trade receivable and considering historical collection patterns, bad debt expense experience, expected future trends of collections, current and expected market conditions, and any other relevant subjective adjustments as needed. Management maintains high-quality credit review practices and positive customer relationships that mitigate credit risks. The Company’s reserves are regularly reviewed and revised as necessary. Reserves for uncollectible accounts are recorded as part of “Selling and administrative expenses” in the Consolidated Statements of Operations.

The Company has also established policies regarding allowance for credit losses associated with contract assets, which includes standalone reserve assessments for its long term, complex contracts as needed as well as detailed regular review and updates to contract margins, progress, and value. A standard reserve threshold is applied to contract assets related to short term, less complex contracts. Management also regularly reviews collection patterns and future expected collections and makes necessary revisions to allowance for credit losses related to contract assets.

Goodwill and other intangible assets

Goodwill is the cost of an acquisition less the fair value of the identifiable net assets of the acquired business. Goodwill is tested annually for impairment or more often if there are indicators of impairment within a reporting unit. A reporting unit is an operating segment or a component of an operating segment for which discrete financial information is available and reviewed by management on a regular basis. There was no change to the reporting units as a result of the 2023 change in reporting segments. The goodwill impairment test involves comparing the fair value of a reporting unit to its carrying value, including goodwill. If the carrying amount of the reporting unit exceeds its fair value, an impairment loss equal to the excess amount up to the goodwill balance is recorded as a component of operations. The Company performs its annual impairment tests in the fourth quarter.

The Company’s fourth quarter 2023 annual test included the assessment of a quantitative analysis to determine whether it was more likely than not that the fair value of each reporting unit is less than its carrying value. The quantitative assessment considers fair value as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. The Company’s quantitative analysis considered and evaluated each of the three traditional approaches to value: the income approach, the market approach, and the asset approach. The Company uses a combination of a discounted cash flow method and a market approach to determine the fair values of the reporting units. Any impairment charges are based on both historic and future expected business results that no longer support the carrying value of the reporting unit. The Company also monitors the recoverability of the long-lived assets associated with the asset groups of the Company and the long-term financial projections of the businesses to assess for asset impairment.

The Company has no indefinite-lived intangible assets. The Company reviews a long-lived intangible asset for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of the asset may not be recoverable. All intangible assets are amortized over their estimated useful lives.

Environmental remediation and compliance

Environmental remediation costs are accrued when a liability is probable and costs are estimable. Environmental compliance costs, which principally include the disposal of waste generated by routine operations, are expensed as incurred. Reserves are not reduced by potential claims for recovery and are not discounted. Claims for recovery are recognized as agreements are reached with third parties or as amounts are received. Reserves are periodically reviewed throughout the year and adjusted to reflect current remediation progress, prospective estimates of required activity, and other factors that may be relevant, including changes in technology or regulations.

Revenue recognition

The Company’s revenues are comprised of product and service sales, including products and services provided under long-term agreements with its customers. All revenue is recognized when the Company satisfies its performance obligations under the respective contract, either implicit or explicit, by transferring the promised product or rendering a service to its customer either when or as its customer obtains control of the product or the service is rendered. Deferred revenue consists of customer billings or payments received for which the revenue recognition criteria have not yet been met as well as contract liabilities (billings in excess of costs) on over time contracts. Advance payments from customers typically relate to contracts for which the Company has significantly fulfilled its obligations, but due to the Company’s continuing involvement with the project, revenue is precluded from being recognized until the performance obligation is met for the customer.

Product warranty

The Company maintains a current warranty liability for the repair or replacement of defective products. For certain manufactured products, an accrual is made on a monthly basis as a percentage of cost of sales based upon historical experience. For long-lived construction products, a warranty is established when the claim is known and quantifiable. The product warranty accrual is periodically adjusted based on the identification or resolution of known individual product warranty claims or due to changes in the Company’s historical warranty experience.

Income taxes

Income taxes are accounted for under the asset and liability method. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the future tax consequences attributable to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases. Deferred taxes are measured using enacted tax laws and rates expected to be in effect when such differences are recovered or settled. The effect of a change in tax rates on deferred taxes is recognized in income in the period that includes the enactment date of the change. The Company has also elected to record income taxes associated with global intangible low-taxed income (“GILTI”) as period costs if and when incurred.

The Company makes judgments regarding the recognition of deferred tax assets and the future realization of these assets. As prescribed by the FASB’s ASC 740, “Income Taxes” and applicable guidance, valuation allowances must be provided for those deferred tax assets for which it is more likely than not (a likelihood of more than 50%) that some portion or all of the deferred tax assets will not be realized. The guidance requires the Company to evaluate positive and negative evidence regarding the recoverability of deferred tax assets. The determination of whether the positive evidence outweighs the negative evidence and quantification of the valuation allowance requires the Company to make estimates and judgments of future financial results. The Company has concluded that for purposes of quantifying valuation allowances, it would be appropriate to consider the reversal of taxable temporary differences related to indefinite-lived intangible assets when assessing the realizability of deferred tax assets that upon reversal, would give rise to operating losses that do not expire.

The Company evaluates all tax positions taken on its federal, state, and foreign tax filings to determine if the position is more likely than not to be sustained upon examination. For positions that meet the more likely than not to be sustained criteria, the largest amount of benefit to be realized upon ultimate settlement is determined on a cumulative probability basis. A previously recognized tax position is derecognized when it is subsequently determined that a tax position no longer meets the more likely than not threshold to be sustained. The evaluation of the sustainability of a tax position and the expected tax benefit is based on judgment, historical experience, and various other assumptions. Actual results could differ from those estimates upon subsequent resolution of identified matters. The Company accrues interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits in its provision for income taxes.

Foreign currency translation

The assets and liabilities of the Company’s foreign subsidiaries are measured using the local currency as the functional currency and are translated into US dollars at exchange rates as of the balance sheet date. Income statement amounts are translated at the weighted-average rates of exchange during the year. The translation adjustment is accumulated as a separate component of “Accumulated other comprehensive loss” within the Consolidated Balance Sheets.

Research and development

The Company expenses research and development costs as costs are incurred.

Reclassifications

Certain accounts in the prior year consolidated financial statements have been reclassified for comparative purposes principally to conform to the presentation in the current year period, including the changes in business segments.

Recently issued accounting guidance

In November 2023, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update 2023-07, “Segment Reporting (Topic 280): Improvements to Reportable Segment Disclosures” (“ASU 2023-07”), which requires enhanced disclosures regarding significant segment expenses that are regularly reviewed by the chief operating decision maker (“CODM”) and included in each reported measure of segment profit or loss, including an amount for “other segment items” by reportable segment and a description of its composition. ASU 2023-07 also requires entities to disclose the title and position of the CODM and an explanation of how the CODM uses reported measures of segment profit or loss to assess performance and allocate resources. The amendments are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2023, and interim periods within fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2024 with early adoption permitted. The Company did not identify any material impact from the provision of ASU 2023-07 on its financial condition, results of operations, and cash flows.

In December 2023, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update 2023-09, Income Taxes (Topic 740): Improvements to Income Tax Disclosures (“ASU 2023-09”). ASU 2023-09 requires entities to disclose additional information with respect to the effective tax rate reconciliation and disaggregation of income tax expense and income taxes paid by jurisdiction. ASU 2023-09 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2024, with early adoption permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of ASU 2023-09, but does not expect this standard to have a material effect on its financial condition, results of operations, and cash flows.