XML 29 R13.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT
v3.3.1.900

ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE | 12 Months Ended
--- | ---
Jan. 31, 2016
ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE. |
ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE | NOTE 7 — ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE Amounts retained by project owners under construction contracts and included in accounts receivable at January 31, 2016 and 2015 were $44,626,000 and $26,100,000, respectively (see also Note 19). Such retainage amounts represent funds withheld by construction project owners until a defined phase of a contract or project has been completed and accepted by the project owner. Retention amounts and the lengths of retention periods may vary. Most of the amounts outstanding as of January 31, 2016 should be collected over the next two to three quarters. Retainage amounts related to active contracts are classified as current assets regardless of the term of the applicable contract and amounts are generally collected by the completion of the applicable contract. The Company conducts business and may extend credit to customers based on an evaluation of the customers’ financial condition, generally without requiring collateral. Exposure to losses on accounts receivable is expected to differ by customer due to the varying financial condition of each customer. The Company monitors its exposure to credit losses and maintains an allowance for anticipated losses considered necessary under the circumstances based on historical experience with uncollected accounts and a review of its currently outstanding accounts receivable. There were no provisions for accounts receivable losses recorded during the years ended January 31, 2016 or 2015. The amount of the provision for accounts receivable losses for the year ended January 31, 2014 was not material. The amount of the allowance for doubtful accounts at January 31, 2015 was $5,500,000. In fiscal year 2010, the balance of the accounts receivable from the owner of a partially completed construction project was written down to $5,500,000, the amount of the net proceeds remaining from a public bankruptcy auction of the facility. At that time, the amount that the Company expected ultimately to receive in a distribution of the auction proceeds, if any, was not known and the accounts receivable balance was fully reserved. During the current fiscal year, the parties with claims on the auction proceeds agreed to a distribution plan pursuant to which the Company received a cash payment of $1,600,000 (see Note 14) with the amount recorded in revenues. The Company’s accounting for the resolution of this matter included the elimination of the uncollectible accounts receivable balance and the corresponding allowance amount.

X
- Definition The disclosure for claims held for amounts due a entity, excluding financing receivables. Examples include trade accounts receivables. Includes disclosure for allowance for credit losses. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | agx_TradeAndOtherReceivablesDisclosureTextBlock
Namespace Prefix: | agx_
Data Type: | nonnum:textBlockItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- References No definition available. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_ReceivablesAbstract
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration