Plant and Equipment, Net

12 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2018

Property, Plant and Equipment [Abstract]

Plant and Equipment, Net

8.PLANT AND EQUIPMENT, NET

The major classes of plant and equipment are as follows:

	September 30,
	Useful Life in years	2018		2017
(In millions, except useful life)
Land		$	22.1	$	21.8
Buildings	30	168.6		149.3
Machinery and Equipment
Production facilities	10 to 15	467.4		479.9
Distribution and other(A)	5 to 25	347.8		252.1
Total machinery and equipment		815.2		732.0
Construction in progress		66.2		52.1
Plant and equipment, at cost		1,072.1		955.2
Less: accumulated depreciation		667.0		624.9
Plant and equipment, net		$	405.1	$	330.3

^(A)  The depreciable lives for various types of distribution equipment are 10 to 25 years for cylinders, depending on the nature and properties of the product, and generally 20 years for other distribution equipment such as tanks and trailers.

Depreciation expense was $43.6 million, $38.4 million, and $39.4 million in 2018, 2017, and 2016, respectively.

In January 2016, we sold two onsite ammonia plants for $17.1 million, which resulted in a before-tax gain of $1.4 million during the second quarter of 2016. This gain is reflected in business separation, restructuring and cost reduction actions on our income statement. The income tax provision includes an expense of $1.5 million as a result of the sale.