XML 30 R17.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT v3.3.1.900
Concentrations
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2015
Concentrations [Abstract]  
Concentrations

J.   CONCENTRATIONS:

In the Housewares/Small Appliance segment, one customer accounted for 10% of consolidated net sales for the years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014.    No customers in the Housewares/Small Appliance or Absorbent Products segments accounted for more than 10% of consolidated net sales for the year ended December 31, 2013.

 

The Company sources most of its housewares/small appliances from vendors in the Orient and, as a result, risks deliveries from the Orient being disrupted by labor or supply problems at the vendors, or transportation delays.  Should such problems or delays materialize, products might not be available in sufficient quantities during the prime selling period.  The Company has made and will continue to make every reasonable effort to prevent these problems; however, there is no assurance that its efforts will be totally effective.  As the majority of the Housewares/Small Appliance segment’s suppliers are located in China, periodic changes in the U.S. dollar and Chinese Renminbi (RMB) exchange rates do have an impact on the segment’s product costs.  To date, any material impact from fluctuations in the exchange rate has been to the cost of products secured via purchase orders issued subsequent to the currency value change. Foreign transaction gains/losses are immaterial to the financial statements for all years presented.

 

The Company's Defense segment manufactures products primarily for the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) and DOD prime contractors.  As a consequence, this segment's future business essentially depends on the product needs and governmental funding of the DOD.  During 2015, 2014, and 2013, almost all of the work performed by this segment directly or indirectly for the DOD was performed on a fixed-price basis.  Under fixed-price contracts, the price paid to the contractor is awarded based on competition at the outset of the contract and therefore, with the exception of limited escalation provisions on specific materials, is generally not subject to any adjustments reflecting the actual costs incurred by the contractor. In addition, in the case of the 40mm systems contract, key components and services are provided by third party subcontractors, several of which the segment is required to work with by government edict.   Under the contract, the segment is responsible for the performance of those subcontractors, many of which it does not control.  The Defense segment's contracts and subcontracts contain the customary provision permitting termination at any time for the convenience of the government, with payment for any work completed, associated profit, and inventory/work in process at the time of termination.  Materials used in the Defense segment are available from multiple sources.  As of December 31, 2015, 196 employees of Amron, or 18% of the Company’s and its subsidiaries’ total workforce, are members of the United Steel Workers union.  The most recent contract between Amron and the union is effective through February 29, 2020.

 

Raw materials for the Absorbent Products segment are commodities that are typically available from multiple sources.