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Retirement Plans (Narrative) (Details) $ in Thousands | 12 Months Ended
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Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($) agreement
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items] |
General Discussion of Pension and Other Postretirement Benefits | The Company has seven retirement plans which cover its hourly and salaried employees in the United States: three defined benefit plans (one active / two frozen) and four defined contribution plans. Employees are eligible to participate in the appropriate plan based on employment classification. The Company's contributions to the defined benefit and defined contribution plans are governed by the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 ("ERISA"), policy and investment guidelines of the applicable plan. The Company's policy is to contribute at least the minimum in accordance with the funding standards of ERISA.The Company's subsidiary, L.B. Foster Rail Technologies ("Rail Technologies"), maintains two defined contribution plans for its employees in Canada, as well as a post-retirement benefit plan. In the United Kingdom, Rail Technologies maintains two defined contribution plans and a defined benefit plan. These plans are discussed in further detail below
Description of Postemployment Benefits | The Company sponsors eight defined contribution plans for hourly and salaried employees across our domestic and international facilities. The following table summarizes the expense associated with the contributions made to these plans.
UNITED STATES |
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items] |
Defined Benefit Plan, Future Amortization of Gain (Loss) | $ | $ 276
Defined Benefit Plan, Estimated Future Employer Contributions in Next Fiscal Year | $ | $ 0
Number of retirement plans | 7
Defined Benefit Plan Number | 3
Active Defined Benefit Plan Number | 1
Inactive Defined Benefit Plan Number | 2
Defined Contribution Plan Number | 4
CANADA |
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items] |
Defined Contribution Plan Number | 2
Post-retirement benefit plan number | 1
UNITED KINGDOM |
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items] |
General Discussion of Pension and Other Postretirement Benefits | The Portec Rail Products (UK) Limited Pension Plan covers certain current employees, former employees, and retirees. The plan has been frozen to new entrants since April 1, 1997 and also covers the former employees of a merged plan after January 2002. Benefits under the plan were based on years of service and eligible compensation during defined periods of service. Our funding policy for the plan is to make minimum annual contributions required by applicable regulations
Defined Benefit Plan, Estimated Future Employer Contributions in Next Fiscal Year | $ | $ 271
Defined Benefit Plan Number | 1
Defined Contribution Plan Number | 2

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- Definition Number of inactive defined benefit plans offered by the company. + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition Number of retirement plans offered by the company. + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition Number of post-retirement benefit plans offered by the company. + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition Amount included in accumulated other comprehensive income (AOCI) related to gain (loss) expected to be recognized as components of net periodic benefit cost for the fiscal year that follows the most recent annual statement of financial position. + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition Description of benefits provided to former or inactive employees, their beneficiaries, and covered dependents after employment but before retirement, except for: a) benefits provided through a pension or postretirement benefit plan, b) individual deferred compensation arrangements, c) termination benefits pertaining to exit or disposal activities, and d) stock compensation plans. Benefits may be provided in cash or in kind and may be paid as a result of disability, layoff, death, or other event. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 712 -SubTopic 10 -Section 15 -Paragraph 3 -Subparagraph (b) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6410066&loc=d3e79194-111664 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Glossary Nonretirement Postemployment Benefits -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6518940 + Details
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