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Business and segment information
 12 Months Ended
Jan. 31, 2015
Business and segment information [Abstract]  
Business and segment information [Text Block]
Note 1 - Business and segment information

MFRI, Inc. ("MFRI", the "Company", or the "Registrant") was incorporated in Delaware on October 12, 1993. MFRI is engaged in the manufacture and sale of products in two distinct segments: Piping Systems and Filtration Products.

Fiscal year. The Company's fiscal year ends on January 31. Years and balances described as 2014 and 2013 are the fiscal years ended January 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively.

Nature of business. Piping Systems engineers, designs, manufactures and sells specialty piping and leak detection and location systems. This segment's specialty piping systems include (i) industrial and secondary containment piping systems for transporting chemicals, hazardous fluids and petroleum products, (ii) insulated and jacketed district heating and cooling piping systems for efficient energy distribution to multiple locations from central energy plants, and (iii) oil and gas gathering flow and long lines for oil and mineral transportation. Piping Systems' leak detection and location systems are sold with many of its piping systems and on a stand-alone basis, to monitor areas where fluid intrusion may contaminate the environment, endanger personal safety, cause a fire hazard, impair essential services or damage equipment or property. Filtration Products manufactures and sells a wide variety of filter elements for use in industrial air filtration systems and particulate collection systems. Air filtration systems are used in a wide variety of industries to limit particulate emissions, primarily to comply with environmental regulations. Filtration Products markets air filtration related products and accessories, and provides maintenance services, consisting primarily of dust collector inspection, filter cleaning and filter replacement.

MFRI's reportable segments are strategic businesses that offer different products and services. Each is managed separately based on fundamental operating differences. Each strategic business was acquired as a unit and management at the time of acquisition was retained. The Company evaluates performance based on gross profit and income or loss from operations.


Segment information was as follows:
 
2014
2013
Net sales
 
 
Piping Systems
$126,923
$158,422
Filtration Products
67,934
68,413
Total net sales
$194,857
$226,835
Gross profit
 
 
Piping Systems
$30,676
$43,273
Filtration Products
7,854
8,942
Total gross profit
$38,530
$52,215
Income (loss) from operations
 
 
Piping Systems
$12,665
$24,213
Filtration Products
(3,565)
(1,629)
Corporate
(6,894)
(9,501)
Total income (loss) from operations
$2,206
$13,083
 
 
 
Segment assets
 
 
Piping Systems
$99,993
$109,154
Filtration Products
42,335
41,765
Corporate
6,210
12,350
Total segment assets
$148,538
$163,269
Capital expenditures
 
 
Piping Systems
$3,953
$2,425
Filtration Products
1,440
294
Corporate
485
42
Total capital expenditures
$5,878
$2,761
Depreciation and amortization
 
 
Piping Systems
$3,635
$3,489
Filtration Products
1,710
1,729
Corporate
552
567
Total depreciation and amortization
$5,897
$5,785
 
 
 


Geographic information. Net sales are attributed to a geographic area based on the destination of the product shipment. Sales to foreign customers was 44% in 2014 compared to 57% in 2013. Long-lived assets are based on the physical location of the assets and consist of property, plant and equipment used in the generation of revenues in the geographic area.
 
2014
2013
Net sales
 
 
  United States
$109,257
$97,311
  Middle East
52,292
94,500
  Europe
14,482
14,933
  Canada
4,160
7,591
  India
5,469
773
  Other Americas
5,627
6,915
  Other
3,570
4,812
Total net sales
$194,857
$226,835
 
 
 
Property, plant and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation
 
 
  United States
$26,747
$25,260
  Middle East
11,608
12,751
  Denmark
3,274
4,020
  India
391
510
Total
$42,020
$42,541