Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2023

Accounting Policies [Abstract]

Use of Estimates, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Management’s Use of Estimates

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the U.S. (“GAAP”) requires management to make certain estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and the disclosure of contingent liabilities as of the date of the financial statements and reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reported period. Significant estimates, among others, include inventory reserves, warranty reserves, impairment of long-lived assets, allowance for doubtful accounts, and valuation allowances on deferred taxes. Although these estimates are based upon management’s best knowledge of current events and actions that the Company may undertake in the future, actual results could differ from these estimates. 

Cash, Cash Equivalents and Short Term Investments [Policy Text Block]

Cash 

As of December 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, cash totaled $1,099 and $12,732, respectively. For the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, interest income was $8 and $0, respectively.

Revenue from Contract with Customer [Policy Text Block]

Revenue Recognition

Revenues are recognized when control of the promised goods or services is transferred to customers, in an amount that reflects the consideration the Company expects to be entitled to in exchange for those goods or services. Customer deposits, deferred revenue and other receipts are deferred and recognized when the revenue is realized and earned. Cash payments to customers are presumed to be classified as reductions of revenue in the Company’s statement of operations.

For substantially all tower sales within the Company’s Heavy Fabrications segment, as well as certain 2023 sales within our Gearing segment, products are sold under terms included in bill and hold sales arrangements that result in different timing for revenue recognition versus shipment. The Company recognizes revenue under these arrangements only when there is a substantive reason for the agreement, the ordered goods are identified separately as belonging to the customer and not available to fill other orders, the goods are currently ready for physical transfer to the customer, and the Company does not have the ability to use the product or to direct it to another customer. Assuming these required revenue recognition criteria are met, revenue is recognized upon completion of product manufacture and customer acceptance.

During 2023 and 2022, the Company also recognized revenue over time, versus point in time, when products in the Heavy Fabrications segments had no alternative use to the Company and the Company had an enforceable right to payment, including profit, upon termination of the contract by the customer. Since the projects are labor intensive, the Company uses labor hours as the input measure of progress for the contract. Contract assets are recorded when performance obligations are satisfied but the Company is not yet entitled to payment. The Company recognizes contract assets associated with this revenue which represents its rights to consideration for work completed but not billed at the end of the period. 

Cost of Goods and Service [Policy Text Block]

Cost of Sales

Cost of sales represents all direct and indirect costs associated with the production of products for sale to customers. These costs include operation, repair and maintenance of equipment, materials, direct and indirect labor and benefit costs, rent and utilities, maintenance, insurance, equipment rentals, freight, and depreciation. AMP credits and related discounts and administrative fees are also recognized in cost of sales. See “AMP Credits” discussion below in this “Summary of Significant Accounting Policies” for further details. 

Selling, General and Administrative Expenses, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Selling, General and Administrative Expenses

Selling, general and administrative (“SG&A”) expenses include all corporate and administrative functions such as sales and marketing, legal, human resource management, finance, investor and public relations, information technology and senior management. These functions serve to support the Company’s current and future operations and provide an infrastructure to support future growth. Major expense items in this category include management and staff wages and benefits, share-based compensation and professional services.

Receivable [Policy Text Block]

Accounts Receivable (A/R)

The Company generally grants uncollateralized credit to customers on an individual basis based upon the customer’s financial condition and credit history. Credit is typically on net 30 day terms and customer deposits are frequently required at various stages of the production process to finance customized products and minimize credit risk.

Historically, the Company’s A/R is highly concentrated with a select number of customers. During the year ended December 31, 2023, the Company’s five largest customers accounted for 65% of its consolidated revenues and 27% of outstanding A/R balances, compared to the year ended December 31, 2022 when the Company’s five largest customers accounted for 69% of its consolidated revenues and 43% of its outstanding A/R balances.

Receivables, Trade and Other Accounts Receivable, Allowance for Doubtful Accounts, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Allowance for Doubtful Accounts

 Beginning January 1, 2023, the Company assessed and recorded an allowance for credit losses using the current expected credit loss (“CECL”) model. The adjustment for credit losses to management’s current estimate is recorded in net income as credit loss expense. All credit losses were on trade receivables and/or contract assets arising from the Company’s contracts with customers.  

The Company selected a loss-rate method for the CECL model based on the relationship between historical write-offs of receivables and the underlying sales by major customers. Utilizing this model, a historical loss-rate is applied against the amortized cost of applicable assets, at the time the asset is established. The loss rate reflects the Company’s current estimate of the risk of loss (even when that risk is remote) over the expected remaining contractual life of the assets. The Company’s policy is to deduct write-offs from the allowance for credit losses account in the period in which the financial assets are deemed uncollectible. The adjustment for credit losses using this CECL model on accounts receivable and contract assets during the year ended December 31, 2023 was not material.  

The allowance for credit losses for prior periods was prepared in accordance with legacy GAAP. Based upon past experience and judgment, the Company established an allowance for doubtful accounts with respect to accounts receivable. The Company’s standard allowance estimation methodology considered a number of factors that, based on its collections experience, the Company believed would have an impact on its credit risk and the collectability of its accounts receivable. These factors included individual customer circumstances, history with the Company, the length of the time period during which the account receivable had been past due and other relevant criteria.  

The Company monitors its collections and write-off experience to assess whether or not adjustments to its allowance estimates are necessary. Changes in trends in any of the factors that the Company believes may impact the collectability of its accounts receivable, as noted above, or modifications to its credit standards, collection practices and other related policies may impact the Company’s allowance for doubtful accounts and its financial results.

Government Assistance [Policy Text Block]

AMP Credits

The Company accounts for government assistance that is not subject to the scope of ASC 740 using a grant accounting model, by analogy to International Accounting Standards 20, Accounting for Government Grants and Disclosure of Government Assistance, and recognizes such grants when it has reasonable assurance that it will comply with the grant’s conditions and that the grant will be received. Income-based grants are initially recognized as “AMP credit receivable” and as a reduction to cost of sales. The Company recognizes grants expected to be received directly from a government entity at their stated value. When the Company expects to transfer grants to a third party, it recognizes the grants at, or adjusts their carrying value to, the amount expected to be received from the transaction. Proceeds received from income-based grants are presented as cash inflows from operating activities.

Inventory, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Inventories

Inventories are stated at the lower of cost or net realizable value. Net realizable value is the value that can be realized upon the sale of the inventory less a reasonable estimate of selling costs. Cost is determined either based on the first-in, first-out (“FIFO”) method, or on a standard cost basis that approximates the FIFO method. Any excess of cost over net realizable value is included in the Company’s inventory allowance. Net realizable value of inventory, and management’s judgment of the need for reserves, encompasses consideration of other business factors including physical condition, inventory holding period, contract terms and usefulness.

Inventories consist of raw materials, work-in-process and finished goods. Raw materials consist of components and parts for general production use. Work-in-process consists of labor and overhead, processing costs, purchased subcomponents and materials purchased for specific customer orders. Finished goods consist of components purchased from third parties as well as components manufactured by the Company that will be used to produce final customer products.

Property, Plant and Equipment, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Long-Lived Assets

Property and equipment are stated at cost less accumulated depreciation and amortization. Depreciation and amortization of property and equipment is recognized using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the related assets for financial reporting purposes, and generally using an accelerated method for income tax reporting purposes. Depreciation expense related to property and equipment for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022 was $5,719 and $5,335, respectively. Expenditures for additions and improvements are capitalized, while replacements, maintenance and repairs that do not improve or extend the useful lives of the respective assets are expensed as incurred.  Property or equipment sold or disposed of is removed from the respective property accounts, with any corresponding gains and losses recorded within the operating results of the Company’s consolidated statement of operations.

The Company reviews property and equipment and other long-lived assets (“long-lived assets”) for impairment whenever events or circumstances indicate that carrying amounts may not be recoverable. Asset recoverability is first measured by comparing the assets’ carrying amounts to their expected future undiscounted net cash flows to determine if the assets are impaired.

In evaluating the recoverability of long-lived assets, the Company must make assumptions regarding estimated future cash flows and other factors to determine the fair value of such assets. If the Company’s fair value estimates or related assumptions change in the future, the Company may be required to record impairment charges related to property and equipment and other long-lived assets. If such assets are considered to be impaired, the impairment recognized is measured based on the amount by which the carrying amount of the assets exceeds the fair value. See Note 8, “Long-Lived Assets” of these consolidated financial statements for further discussion of long-lived assets.

Lessee, Leases [Policy Text Block]

Leases

The Company leases various property and equipment under operating lease arrangements. The Company recognizes operating lease assets and liabilities on the balance sheet. Rent expense for these types of leases is recognized on a straight-line basis over the lease term. In addition, the Company has entered into finance lease arrangements to finance property and equipment and assumed finance lease obligations in connection with certain acquisitions. The cost basis and accumulated amortization of assets recorded under finance leases are included in property and equipment, while the liabilities are included in finance lease obligations.

Standard Product Warranty, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Warranty Liability

The Company provides warranty terms that generally range from one to five years for various products and services relating to workmanship and materials supplied by the Company. In certain contracts, the Company has recourse provisions for items that would enable the Company to pursue recovery from third parties for amounts paid to customers under warranty provisions. Warranty liability is recorded in accrued liabilities within the consolidated balance sheet. The Company estimates the warranty accrual based on various factors, including historical warranty costs, current trends, product mix and sales. The changes in the carrying amount of the Company’s total product warranty liability for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022 were as follows:

	As of December 31,
	2023			2022
Balance, beginning of period	$	149		$	125
Increase of warranty reserve		206			23
Warranty claims		(19	)		—
Other adjustments		(14	)		1
Balance, end of period	$	322		$	149

Income Tax, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Income Taxes

The Company accounts for income taxes based upon an asset and liability approach. Deferred tax assets and liabilities represent the future tax consequences of the differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of assets and liabilities versus the tax basis of assets and liabilities. Under this method, deferred tax assets are recognized for deductible temporary differences, and operating loss and tax credit carryforwards. Deferred tax liabilities are recognized for taxable temporary differences. Deferred tax assets are reduced by a valuation allowance when, in the opinion of management, it is more likely than not that some portion or all of the deferred tax assets will not be realized. The impact of tax rate changes on deferred tax assets and liabilities is recognized in the year that the change is enacted.

In connection with the preparation of its consolidated financial statements, the Company is required to estimate its income tax liability for each of the tax jurisdictions in which the Company operates. This process involves estimating the Company’s actual current income tax expense and assessing temporary differences resulting from differing treatment of certain income or expense items for income tax reporting and financial reporting purposes. The Company also recognizes as deferred income tax assets the expected future income tax benefits of net operating loss (“NOL”) carryforwards. In evaluating the realizability of deferred income tax assets associated with NOL carryforwards, the Company considers, among other things, expected future taxable income, the expected timing of the reversals of existing temporary reporting differences and the expected impact of tax planning strategies that may be implemented to prevent the potential loss of future income tax benefits. Changes in, among other things, income tax legislation, statutory income tax rates or future taxable income levels could materially impact the Company’s valuation of income tax assets and liabilities and could cause its income tax provision to vary significantly among financial reporting periods.

The Company also accounts for the uncertainty in income taxes related to the recognition and measurement of a tax position taken or expected to be taken in an income tax return. The Company follows the applicable pronouncement guidance on derecognition, classification, interest and penalties, accounting in interim periods, disclosure and transition related to the uncertainty in these income tax positions.

Share-Based Payment Arrangement [Policy Text Block]

Share-Based Compensation

The Company grants incentive stock options, restricted stock units (“RSUs”) and/or performance awards (“PSUs”) to certain officers, directors, and employees. The Company accounts for share-based compensation related to these awards based on the estimated fair value of the equity award and recognizes expense ratably over the required vesting term of the award. The expense associated with PSUs is also based on the probability of achieving embedded targets. Awards that are based on a fixed number of shares are treated as equity while awards that are based on a fixed amount of dollars are treated as liabilities. See Note 15 “Share-Based Compensation” of these consolidated financial statements for further discussion of the Company’s share-based compensation plans, the nature of share-based awards issued and the Company’s accounting for share-based compensation.

Earnings Per Share, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Net Income Per Share

The Company presents both basic and diluted net income (loss) per share. Basic net income (loss) per share is based solely upon the weighted average number of common shares outstanding and excludes any dilutive effects of restricted stock, options, warrants and convertible securities. Diluted net income (loss) per share is based upon the weighted average number of common shares and common-share equivalents outstanding during the year excluding those common-share equivalents where the impact to basic net income (loss) per share would be anti-dilutive.