| PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT |
5. PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT | | Property, plant and equipment are comprised of the following (in thousands): | | | | | | | | | | | | At | | | | | December 30, | | December 31, | | | | 2011 | | 2010 | | | Manufacturing machinery and equipment | $ | 149,136 | | $ | 135,108 | | | Buildings and building improvements | | 75,229 | | | 71,160 | | | Information technology hardware and software | | 33,881 | | | 32,700 | | | Leasehold improvements | | 17,426 | | | 17,282 | | | Furniture and fixtures | | 11,282 | | | 10,475 | | | Land and land improvements | | 11,075 | | | 10,332 | | | Construction work in process | | 13,302 | | | 11,639 | | | Other | | 993 | | | 808 | | | | | 312,324 | | | 289,504 | | | Accumulated depreciation | | (166,518) | | | (143,124) | | | Total | $ | 145,806 | | $ | 146,380 |
| | Depreciation expense for property, plant and equipment was as follows (in thousands): | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Year Ended | | | | | | December 30, | | December 31, | | January 1, | | | | | | 2011 | | 2010 | | 2010 | | | | Depreciation expense | $ | 25,672 | | $ | 26,104 | | $ | 27,059 | |
Construction work in process at December 30, 2011 primarily relates to the construction of the Company's Orthopaedic manufacturing facility in Allen County, IN. See Note 12 for a description of the Company's significant capital investment projects. |