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Warranty Accruals
3 Months Ended
Nov. 30, 2012
Warranty Accruals

Note 6 – Warranty Accruals

Warranty costs are estimated and charged to operations to cover a defined warranty period. The estimated warranty cost is based on the history of warranty claims for each particular product type. For new product types without a warranty history, preliminary estimates are based on historical information for similar product types. The warranty accruals, included in Accounts payable and accrued liabilities on the Consolidated Balance Sheets, are reviewed periodically and updated based on warranty trends and expirations of warranty periods.

Warranty accrual activity:

 

     Three Months Ended
November 30,
 
(In thousands)    2012     2011  

Balance at beginning of period

   $ 9,221      $ 8,645   

Charged to cost of revenue, net

     1,585        906   

Payments

     (801     (408

Currency translation effect

     97        (200
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Balance at end of period

   $ 10,102      $ 8,943