4. PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2017

Property, Plant and Equipment [Abstract]

PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT

Property, plant and equipment consisted of the following:

	December 31, 2017			December 31, 2016			Range of Asset Lives
Buildings and improvements	$	285		$	5			7 - 36 years
Leasehold improvements		908			908			2 - 5 years
Equipment		18,933			16,360			2 - 30 years
Furniture, computers and office equipment		1,245			1,274			2 - 8 years
Construction in progress		2,127			586			–
Total property, plant and equipment		23,498			19,133
Less: Accumulated depreciation and amortization		(11,146	)		(11,195	)
Property, plant and equipment, net	$	12,352		$	7,938

Depreciation expense excluded from cost of sales in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations was $234 and $134 for the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively. Depreciation expense included in cost of sales in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations was $1,077 and $1,335 for the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively.

Construction in progress represents assets that are not ready for service or are in the construction stage. Assets begin being depreciated once they are placed in service.