Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2012

Goodwill and Intangible Assets Disclosure [Abstract]

Schedule of Goodwill

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 years ended December 31, 2012 and 2011:

(In thousands)	Harsco Metals & Minerals Segment			Harsco Infrastructure Segment			Harsco Rail Segment		Consolidated Totals
Balance at December 31, 2010	$	418,276		$	263,212		$	9,299	$	690,787
Changes to goodwill	—			(115		)	11		(104		)
Foreign currency translation	(6,400		)	(3,382		)	—		(9,782		)
Balance at December 31, 2011	411,876			259,715			9,310		680,901
Changes to goodwill (a)	—			(2,295		)	—		(2,295		)
Goodwill impairment	—			(265,038		)	—		(265,038		)
Foreign currency translation	8,012			7,618			—		15,630
Balance at December 31, 2012	$	419,888		$	—		$	9,310	$	429,198

(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 Acquired Finite-Lived Intangible Assets by Major Class

The following table reflects these intangible assets by major category:

	December 31, 2012				December 31, 2011
(In thousands)	Gross Carrying Amount		Accumulated Amortization		Gross Carrying Amount		Accumulated Amortization
Customer related	$	183,862	$	129,904	$	183,576	$	119,708
Non-compete agreements	1,347		1,310		1,353		1,301
Patents	6,909		5,503		6,884		5,145
Technology related	29,588		17,551		29,497		14,614
Trade names	18,685		11,688		18,538		8,379
Other	9,947		6,656		10,749		7,949
Total	$	250,338	$	172,612	$	250,597	$	157,096

Schedule of Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Future Amortization Expense

The following table shows the estimated amortization expense for the next five fiscal years based on current intangible assets.

(In thousands)	2013		2014		2015		2016		2017
Estimated amortization expense (a)	$	16,500	$	14,250	$	9,750	$	8,000	$	4,250

(a) These estimated amortization expense amounts do not reflect the potential effect of future foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations.