Other Financial Data

12 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2014

14.

Other Financial Data

Items charged to continuing operations during the years ended September 30, 2014, 2013 and 2012 included the following:

(Dollars in thousands)		2014		2013		2012
Salaries and wages (including fringes)	$	158,333		151,805		138,192
Maintenance and repairs		4,638		4,368		4,248
Research and development (R&D) costs:
Company-sponsored		16,880		12,704		14,293
Customer-sponsored		11,586		15,014		9,171
Total R&D		28,466		27,718		23,464
Other engineering costs		12,484		7,715		12,217
Total R&D and other engineering costs	$	40,950		35,433		35,681
As a % of net sales		7.7	%	7.2	%	7.5	%

A reconciliation of the changes in accrued product warranty liability for the years ended September 30, 2014, 2013 and 2012 is as follows:

(Dollars in thousands)	2014		2013	2012
Balance as of October 1,	$	1,880	1,536	2,120
Additions charged to expense		239	1,048	197
Deductions		(639)	(704)	(781)
Balance as of September 30,	$	1,480	1,880	1,536