Impairment charges - USD ($)
$ in Thousands

3 Months Ended

9 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2017

Dec. 31, 2016

Dec. 31, 2017

Dec. 31, 2016

Property, Plant and Equipment [Abstract]

(Gain) Loss on Write Down and Disposal of Long-Lived Assets [Text Block]

(Gain) Loss on Write Down and Disposal of Long-Lived Assets

In the nine-month period endedDecember 31, 2017, KEMET recorded a net gain on disposal of long-lived assets of $0.9 million primarily related to the sale of equipment from KEMET Foil Manufacturing, LLC (“KFM”) which was shut down in fiscal year 2017. The gain is recorded on the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations line item “(Gain) loss on write down and disposal of long-lived assets”.

In the nine-month period endedDecember 31, 2016 KEMET recorded charges of $6.5 million which was comprised of $0.3 million of disposals of long-lived assets and $6.2 million of write downs due to the following two actions:

On August 31, 2016, KEC made the decision to shut-down operations of its wholly-owned subsidiary, KFM. Operations at KFM’s Knoxville, Tennessee plant ceased as of October 31, 2016. KFM supplied formed foil to the Company’s Film and Electrolytic segment (“Film and Electrolytic”), as well as to certain third party customers. The Company anticipated that Film and Electrolytic would achieve raw material cost savings by purchasing its formed foil from suppliers that have the advantage of lower utility costs. During the second fiscal quarter ending September 30, 2016, Film and Electrolytic recorded impairment charges totaling $4.1 million comprised of $3.0 million for the write down of property plant and equipment and $1.1 million for the write down of intangible assets. The impairment charges are recorded on the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations line item “(Gain) loss on write down and disposal of long-lived assets”.

Solid Capacitors initiated a plan to relocate its K-Salt operations from a leased facility to its existing Matamoros, Mexico facility. Impairment charges of approximately $2.1 million are recorded on the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations line item “(Gain) loss on write down and disposal of long-lived assets”.

(Gain) loss on write down and disposal of long-lived assets

$ (902)

$ 132

$ (922)

$ 6,500