Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets (Tables)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2012

Goodwill and Intangible Assets Disclosure [Abstract]

Schedule of changes in carrying amounts of goodwill by segment

The following table reflects the changes in carrying amounts of goodwill by segment (there is no goodwill associated with the Harsco Industrial Segment) for the nine months endedSeptember 30, 2012:

(In thousands)	Harsco Metals  & Minerals Segment		Harsco Infrastructure Segment			Harsco Rail Segment		Consolidated Totals
Balance at December 31, 2011	$	411,876	$	259,715		$	9,310	$	680,901
Changes to goodwill (a)	—		(2,304		)	—		(2,304		)
Foreign currency translation	6,688		6,093			—		12,781
Balance at September 30, 2012	$	418,564	$	263,504		$	9,310	$	691,378

(a) Changes to goodwill relate principally to the allocation of goodwill, in accordance with U.S. GAAP, to components of the Harsco Infrastructure Segment that were disposed of as part of the 2011/2012 Restructuring Program.

Schedule of intangible assets by class

Intangible assets by class consist of the following:

	September 30, 2012				December 31, 2011
(In thousands)	Gross Carrying Amount		Accumulated Amortization		Gross Carrying Amount		Accumulated Amortization
Customer related	$	185,128	$	128,844	$	183,576	$	119,708
Non-compete agreements	1,347		1,307		1,353		1,301
Patents	6,899		5,419		6,884		5,145
Technology related	29,609		16,808		29,497		14,614
Trade names	18,654		10,871		18,538		8,379
Other	10,846		7,577		10,749		7,949
Total	$	252,483	$	170,826	$	250,597	$	157,096

Schedule of amortization expense

Amortization expense for intangible assets was as follows:

	Three Months Ended				Nine Months Ended
	September 30				September 30
(In thousands)	2012		2011		2012		2011
Amortization expense for intangible assets	$	4,111	$	7,898	$	13,518	$	23,690

Schedule of estimated amortization expense

The estimated amortization expense for the next five fiscal years based on current intangible assets and excluding the potential effect of future foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations is as follows:

(In thousands)	2012		2013		2014		2015		2016
Estimated amortization expense	$	17,500	$	15,750	$	13,500	$	8,750	$	7,500