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Segment Information
 12 Months Ended
Dec. 26, 2020
Segment Reporting [Abstract]  
Segment Information Segment Information
The Company’s reportable segments are Piping Systems, Industrial Metals, and Climate.  Each of the reportable segments is composed of certain operating segments that are aggregated primarily by the nature of products offered as follows:

Piping Systems

Piping Systems is composed of the following operating segments: Domestic Piping Systems Group, Great Lakes Copper, Heatlink Group, Die-Mold, European Operations, Trading Group, and Jungwoo-Mueller (the Company’s South Korean joint venture).  The Domestic Piping Systems Group manufactures and distributes copper tube, fittings, and line sets.  These products are manufactured in the U.S., sold in the U.S., and exported to markets worldwide.  Outside the U.S., Great Lakes Copper manufactures copper tube and line sets in Canada and sells the products primarily in the U.S. and Canada. Heatlink Group produces a complete line of products for PEX plumbing and radiant systems in Canada and sells these products in Canada and the U.S. Die-Mold manufactures PEX and other plumbing-related fittings and plastic injection tooling in Canada and sells these products in Canada and the U.S. European Operations manufacture copper tube in the U.K. which is sold primarily in Europe.  The Trading Group manufactures pipe nipples and resells brass and plastic plumbing valves, malleable iron fittings, faucets, and plumbing specialty products in the U.S. and Mexico.  Jungwoo-Mueller manufactures copper-based joining products that are sold worldwide.  The Piping Systems segment’s products are sold primarily to plumbing, refrigeration, and air-conditioning wholesalers, hardware wholesalers and co-ops, building product retailers, and air-conditioning OEMs.

During 2020, the segment recognized fixed asset impairment charges for certain manufacturing equipment of $3.8 million.

During 2019, the segment recognized a gain of $1.2 million on the sale of real property.

During 2018, the segment recognized a gain of $1.4 million on the sale of real property and a gain of $0.7 million on the sale of manufacturing equipment.

Industrial Metals

Industrial Metals is composed of the following operating segments: Brass Rod & Copper Bar Products, Impacts & Micro Gauge, and Brass Value-Added Products.  These businesses manufacture brass rod, impact extrusions, and forgings, as well as a wide variety of end products including plumbing brass, automotive components, valves, fittings, and gas assemblies.  These products are manufactured in the U.S. and sold primarily to OEMs in the U.S., many of which are in the industrial, transportation, construction, heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning, plumbing, refrigeration, and energy markets.

During 2019, the segment recognized a loss of $0.3 million on the sale of real property and an insurance recovery gain of $0.5 million related to the losses incurred due to the 2017 fire at the brass rod mill in Port Huron, Michigan.

During 2018, the segment recognized a gain of $1.3 million on the sale of real property and an insurance recovery gain of $3.7 million related to the losses incurred due to the 2017 fire at the brass rod mill in Port Huron, Michigan.
Climate

Climate is composed of the following operating segments: Refrigeration Products, Fabricated Tube Products, Westermeyer, Turbotec, ATCO, Linesets, Inc. and Shoals.  These domestic businesses manufacture and fabricate valves, assemblies, high pressure components, coaxial heat exchangers, insulated HVAC flexible duct systems, line sets, brazed manifolds, headers, and distributor assemblies primarily for the heating, ventilation, air-conditioning, and refrigeration markets in the U.S.

Performance of segments is generally evaluated by their operating income.  Summarized product line, geographic, and segment information is shown in the following tables.  Geographic sales data indicates the location from which products are shipped.  Unallocated expenses include general corporate expenses, plus certain charges or credits not included in segment activity.

During 2020, 2019, and 2018, no single customer exceeded 10 percent of worldwide sales.

The following tables represent a disaggregation of revenue from contracts with customers, along with the reportable segment for each category:
 For the Year Ended December 26, 2020
(In thousands)Piping SystemsIndustrial MetalsClimateTotal
Tube and fittings$1,232,724 $— $— $1,232,724 
Brass rod and forgings— 356,547 — 356,547 
OEM components, tube & assemblies56,176 42,127 138,551 236,854 
Valves and plumbing specialties294,102 — — 294,102 
Other— 73,485 231,580 305,065 
$1,583,002 $472,159 $370,131 $2,425,292 
Intersegment sales(27,249)
Net sales$2,398,043 

 For the Year Ended December 28, 2019
(In thousands)Piping SystemsIndustrial MetalsClimateTotal
Tube and fittings$1,271,558 $— $— $1,271,558 
Brass rod and forgings— 425,573 — 425,573 
OEM components, tube & assemblies29,103 48,104 133,651 210,858 
Valves and plumbing specialties241,795 — — 241,795 
Other— 80,695 222,565 303,260 
$1,542,456 $554,372 $356,216 $2,453,044 
Intersegment sales(22,428)
Net sales$2,430,616 
Disaggregation of revenue from contracts with customers (continued):

 For the Year Ended December 29, 2018
(In thousands)Piping SystemsIndustrial MetalsClimateTotal
Tube and fittings$1,352,875 $— $— $1,352,875 
Brass rod and forgings— 501,472 — 501,472 
OEM components, tube & assemblies29,578 53,581 139,113 222,272 
Valves and plumbing specialties263,180 — — 263,180 
Other— 96,008 89,956 185,964 
$1,645,633 $651,061 $229,069 $2,525,763 
Intersegment sales(17,885)
Net sales$2,507,878 

Summarized segment information is as follows:

 For the Year Ended December 26, 2020
(In thousands)Piping SystemsIndustrial MetalsClimateCorporate and EliminationsTotal
Net sales$1,583,002 $472,159 $370,131 $(27,249)$2,398,043 
Cost of goods sold1,311,697 398,000 276,274 (19,810)1,966,161 
Depreciation and amortization23,071 7,528 10,249 3,995 44,843 
Selling, general, and administrative expense78,744 12,566 26,806 41,367 159,483 
Litigation settlement, net— — — (22,053)(22,053)
Impairment charges3,771 — — — 3,771 
Operating income165,719 54,065 56,802 (30,748)245,838 
Interest expense    (19,247)
Pension plan termination expense(17,835)
Environmental expense(4,454)
Other income, net    4,887 
Income before income taxes    $209,189 
Segment information (continued):

 For the Year Ended December 28, 2019
(In thousands)Piping SystemsIndustrial MetalsClimateCorporate and EliminationsTotal
Net sales$1,542,456 $554,372 $356,216 $(22,428)$2,430,616 
Cost of goods sold1,313,980 473,010 273,850 (25,230)2,035,610 
Depreciation and amortization22,621 7,489 9,298 3,285 42,693 
Selling, general, and administrative expense75,170 12,359 30,385 44,444 162,358 
 (Gain) loss on sale of assets, net(1,194)275 (44)— (963)
Insurance recovery— (485)— — (485)
Operating income131,879 61,724 42,727 (44,927)191,403 
Interest expense    (25,683)
Environmental expense(1,321)
Other income, net    1,684 
Income before income taxes    $166,083 

 For the Year Ended December 29, 2018
(In thousands)Piping SystemsIndustrial MetalsClimateCorporate and EliminationsTotal
Net sales$1,645,633 $651,061 $229,069 $(17,885)$2,507,878 
Cost of goods sold1,426,729 559,367 182,456 (18,152)2,150,400 
Depreciation and amortization23,304 7,568 5,569 3,114 39,555 
Selling, general, and administrative expense74,864 13,501 16,926 43,597 148,888 
Gain on sale of assets, net(2,093)(1,301)— 3,141 (253)
Insurance recovery— (3,681)— — (3,681)
Operating income122,829 75,607 24,118 (49,585)172,969 
Interest expense    (25,199)
Environmental expense(1,320)
Other income, net    3,967 
Income before income taxes    $150,417 
Summarized geographic information is as follows:

(In thousands)202020192018
Net sales:   
United States$1,765,810 $1,775,321 $1,820,857 
United Kingdom207,754 230,791 245,458 
Canada293,776 285,720 292,798 
Asia58,256 64,363 59,730 
Mexico72,447 74,421 89,035 
 $2,398,043 $2,430,616 $2,507,878 

(In thousands)202020192018
Long-lived assets:   
United States$289,508 $286,727 $295,735 
United Kingdom30,872 18,776 16,313 
Canada29,582 31,429 33,144 
Asia26,107 25,637 24,930 
Mexico503 559 511 
 $376,572 $363,128 $370,633 

(In thousands)202020192018
Expenditures for long-lived assets (including those resulting from business acquisitions):
   
Piping Systems$39,209 $15,505 $31,362 
Industrial Metals5,968 9,101 8,066 
Climate5,521 3,845 85,471 
General Corporate448 2,711 37 
 $51,146 $31,162 $124,936 

Segment assets:   
Piping Systems$977,937 $796,262 $818,303 
Industrial Metals152,683 161,904 173,725 
Climate258,668 249,853 246,851 
General Corporate139,280 162,921 130,670 
 $1,528,568 $1,370,940 $1,369,549