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Retirement plans | 12 Months Ended
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Jan. 31, 2013
Retirement Plans [Abstract] |
Retirement plans [Text Block] | Note 8 - Retirement plans Pension plan The Winchester filtration hourly rated employees are covered by a defined benefit plan. The benefits are based on fixed amounts multiplied by years of service of retired participants. The Company engages outside actuaries to calculate its obligations and costs. The funding policy is to contribute such amounts as are necessary to provide for benefits attributed to service to date and those expected to be earned in the future. The amounts contributed to the plan are sufficient to meet the minimum funding requirements set forth in the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974. The Company may contribute additional amounts at its discretion. Asset allocation
Plan assets | Market Value |
Vanguard balanced index fund | $5,554
Vanguard inflation protected fund | 279 |
Fifth Third Banksafe Trust | 106 |
Vanguard REIT index fund | 126 |
Total at January 31, 2013 |  | $6,065 |
The plans hold no securities of MFRI, Inc. 100% of the assets are held for benefits under the plan. The fair value of the major categories of the pension plans' investments are presented below. The FASB has established a fair value hierarchy that distinguishes between (1) market participant assumptions developed based on market data obtained from independent sources (observable inputs) and (2) an entity's own assumptions about market participant assumptions developed based on the best information available in the circumstances (unobservable inputs). The fair value hierarchy consists of three broad levels, which gives the highest priority to unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets and liabilities (Level 1) and the lowest priority to unobservable inputs (Level 3). The three levels of the fair value hierarchy are described below: Level 1 - Unadjusted quoted prices in active markets that are accessible at the measurement date for identical, unrestricted assets or liabilities. Level 2 - Inputs other than quoted prices included within Level 1 that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly, including quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in active markets; quoted prices for identical or similar assets or liabilities in markets that are not active; inputs other than quoted prices that are observable for the asset or liability (e.g., interest rates); and inputs that are derived principally from or corroborated by observable market data by correlation or other means. Level 3 - Inputs that are both significant to the fair value measurement and unobservable.
Level 1 market value of plan assets | 2012 | 2011
Equity securities | $3,343 | $3,018
U.S. bond market | 2,183 | 1,968
High-quality inflation-indexed bonds issued by the U.S. Treasury and government agencies as well as domestic corporations | 279 | 268
Real estate securities | 126 | 110
Subtotal | 5,931 | 5,364
Level 2 significant other observable inputs |  |
Money market fund | 134 | 138
Total | $6,065 | $5,502
At January 31, 2013, plan assets were held 55% in mutual funds, 41% in bond funds, 2% in real estate securities and 2% in a money market fund. The target asset allocation was 95%to 100% mutual funds. The investment policy is to invest all funds not needed to pay benefits and investment expenses for the year, with target asset allocations of 60% equities (plus or minus 10%) and 40% fixed income (plus or minus 10%), diversified across a variety of sub-asset classes and investment styles, following a flexible asset allocation approach that will allow the plan to participate in market opportunities as they become available. The expected long-term rate of return on assets is based on historical long-term rates of equity and fixed income investments and the asset mix objective of the funds. Investment market conditions in 2012 resulted in $574 thousand actual return on plan assets as presented below, which increased the fair value of plan assets at year end. The Company did not change its 8% expected return on plan assets used in determining cost and benefit obligations, the return that the Company has assumed during every profitable and unprofitable investment year since 1991. The plan's investments are intended to earn long-term returns to fund long-term obligations, and investment portfolios with asset allocations similar to those of the plan's investment policy have attained such returns over several decades. Future contributions that may be necessary to maintain funding requirements are not expected to materially affect the Company's liquidity.
Reconciliation of benefit obligations, plan assets and funded status of plan | 2012 |  | 2011 |
Accumulated benefit obligations |  |
Vested benefits | $6,650 | $6,576
Accumulated benefits | $7,240 | $7,186
Change in benefit obligation |  |
Benefit obligation - beginning of year | $7,186 | $5,570
Service cost | 171 |  | 126 |
Interest cost | 299 |  | 313 |
Actuarial (gain) loss | (113 | ) | 1,380 |
Benefits paid | (303 | ) | (203 | )
Benefit obligation - end of year | $7,240 | $7,186
Change in plan assets |  |
Fair value of plan assets - beginning of year | $5,502 | $5,089
Actual gain on plan assets | 574 |  | 342 |
Company contributions | 292 |  | 274 |
Benefits paid | (303 | ) | (203 | )
Fair value of plan assets - end of year | $6,065 | $5,502
Unfunded status | $(1,175) | $(1,684)
Balance sheet classification |  |
Prepaid expenses and other current assets | $328 | $305
Other assets | 1,304 |  | 1,261 |
Other long-term liabilities | (2,807 | ) | (3,250 | )
Net amount recognized | $(1,175) | $(1,684)
Amounts recognized in accumulated other comprehensive income |  |
Unrecognized actuarial loss | $2,206 | $2,623
Unamortized prior service cost | 273 |  | 322 |
Net amount recognized | $2,479 | $2,945
The amount of unamortized prior service cost and net loss to be amortized in the year ended January 31, 2014 is $50 thousand.
Weighted-average assumptions used to determine net cost and benefit obligations | 2012 |  | 2011 |
End of year benefit obligation | 4.00 | % | 4.25 | %
Service cost discount rate | 4.25 | % | 5.78 | %
Expected return on plan assets | 8.00 | % | 8.00 | %
Rate of compensation increase | N/A |  | N/A |
The discount rate was based on a Citigroup pension discount curve of high quality fixed income investments with cash flows matching the plans' expected benefit payments. The Company determines the expected long-term rate of return on plan assets by performing a detailed analysis of historical and expected returns based on the strategic asset allocation approved by the Board of Directors and the underlying return fundamentals of each asset class. The Company's historical experience with the pension fund asset performance is also considered.
Components of net periodic benefit cost | 2012 | 2011
Service cost | $171 | $126
Interest cost | 299 | 313
Expected return on plan assets | (444) | (405)
Amortization of prior service cost | 50 | 127
Recognized actuarial loss | 173 | 62
Net periodic benefit cost | $249 | $223
Amounts recognized in other comprehensive income |  |
Actuarial gain (loss) on obligation | $113 | $(1,380)
Actual gain (loss) on plan assets | 303 |  | (1 | )
Reclassify prior service cost | 50 |  | 127 |
Total in other comprehensive income (loss) | $466 | $(1,254)
Cash flows |  |
Expected employer contributions for 2013 [fiscal year ending 1/31/2014] |  | $300
Expected employee contributions for 2013 [fiscal year ending 1/31/2014] |  | — |
Estimated future benefit payments reflecting expected future service for the fiscal year(s) ending January 31,: |  |
2014 |  | 328 |
2015 |  | 337 |
2016 |  | 351 |
2017 |  | 356 |
2018 |  | 380 |
2019 - 2023 |  | $1,989
401(k) plan The domestic employees of the Company participate in the MFRI, Inc. Employee Savings and Protection Plan, which is applicable to all employees except employees covered by collective bargaining agreement benefits. The plan allows employee pretax payroll contributions of up to 16% of total compensation. The Company matches 50% of each participant's contribution, up to a maximum of 3% of each participant's salary. Contributions to the 401(k) plan were $560 thousand and $558 thousand for the years ended January 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively. Deferred compensation plan The Company has deferred compensation agreements with key employees. Vesting is based on years of service. Life insurance contracts have been purchased which may be used to fund the Company's obligation under these agreements. Participants receive distributions from the plan at the later of age 65 or six months after termination of employment. Distributions can be lump sum or annual payments over a specified number of years based on elections made when the participant enters the plan. Multi-employer plans The Company contributes to a multi-employer plan for certain collective bargaining U.S. employees and for foreign employees according to their countries requirements. The risks of participating in this multi-employer plan are different from a single employer plan in the following aspects:
• | Assets contributed to the multi-employer plans by one employer may be used to provide benefits to employees of other participating employers.
• | If a participating employer ceases contributing to the plan, the unfunded obligations of the plan may be inherited by the remaining participating employers.
• | If the Company chooses to stop participating in the multi-employer plan, the Company may be required to pay those plans an amount based on the underfunded status of the plan, referred to as a withdrawal liability.
The Company has assessed and determined that the multi-employer plans to which it contributes are not significant to the Company's consolidated financial statements. The Company does not expect to incur a withdrawal liability or expect to significantly increase its contribution over the remainder of the contract period. The Company made contributions to the bargaining unit supported multi-employer pension plans resulting in expense of approximately $1.9 million and $2.6 million for the years ended January 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively.

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- Definition The entire disclosure for pension and other postretirement benefits. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 158 -Paragraph 7, 21, 22 -LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy. Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name FASB Staff Position (FSP) -Number FAS106-2 -Paragraph 20, 21, 22 -LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy. Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Implementation Guide (Q and A) -Number FAS88 -Paragraph 63 -LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy. Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 106 -Paragraph 518 -LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy. Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 715 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/topic&trid=2235017 Reference 6: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 132R -Paragraph 5, 6, 7, 8 -LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy. Reference 7: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 132R -Paragraph 5 -Subparagraph b -LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy. Reference 8: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 132R -Paragraph 8 -Subparagraph m -LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy. Reference 9: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 87 -Paragraph 264 -LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy. Reference 10: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher AICPA -Name Accounting Principles Board Opinion (APB) -Number 30 -Paragraph 26 -LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy. Reference 11: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Emerging Issues Task Force (EITF) -Number 03-2 -Paragraph 8 -LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy. Reference 12: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 132R -Paragraph 5 -Subparagraph h -LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy. Reference 13: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 132R -Paragraph 5 -Subparagraph a -LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy. Reference 14: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 132R -Paragraph 5 -Subparagraph q -LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy. + Details
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