Business Segments

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2016

Business Segments [Abstract]

Business Segments

L.   BUSINESS SEGMENTS:

The Company operates in two business segments.  The Company identifies its segments based on the Company's organization structure, which is primarily by principal products.  The principal product groups are Housewares/Small Appliance andDefense.  Sales for both segments are primarily to customers in North America.  On January 3, 2017, the Company and its wholly-owned subsidiary, Presto Absorbent Products, Inc. (“PAPI”), entered into an asset purchase agreement wherein substantially all PAPI assets were sold and certain liabilities were assigned to Drylock Technologies, LTD.As a result of this transaction, effective in the fourth quarter of 2016, the Company classified its results of operations for all periods presented to reflect its Absorbent Products business as a discontinued operation and classified the assets and liabilities of its Absorbent Products business as held for sale. The operations of PAPI previously comprised the Company’s Absorbent Products segment.  See Note R for further discussion.

The Housewares/Small Appliance segment designs, markets, and distributes housewares and small appliances.  These products are sold primarily in the United States and Canada directly to retail outlets and also through independent distributors.  As more fully described in Note J, the Company primarily sources its Housewares/Small Appliance products from non-affiliated suppliers located in the Orient.  Sales are seasonal, with the normal peak sales period occurring in the fourth quarter of the year prior to the holiday season.

The Defense segment was started in 2001 with the acquisition of AMTEC Corporation, which manufactures precision mechanical and electromechanical assemblies for the U.S. Government and prime contractors.  During 2005, and again during 2010, AMTEC Corporation was one of two prime contractors selected by the Army to supply all requirements for the 40mm family of practice and tactical ammunition cartridges for a period of five years.  AMTEC's manufacturing plant is located in Janesville, Wisconsin.  Since the inception of the Defense segment in 2001, the Company has expanded the segment by making several strategic business acquisitions, and has additional facilities located in East Camden, Arkansas; Antigo, Wisconsin; Perry, Florida; and Clear Lake, South Dakota.  During 2003, this segment was expanded with the acquisition of Spectra Technologies, LLC of East Camden, Arkansas.  This facility performs Load, Assemble, and Pack (LAP) operations on ordnance-related products for the U.S. Government and prime contractors.  During 2006, the segment was expanded with the acquisition of certain assets of Amron, LLC of Antigo, Wisconsin, which primarily manufactures cartridge cases used in medium caliber (20-40mm) ammunition.  In 2011 the segment was further augmented with the purchase of certain assets of ALS Technologies, Inc. of Bull Shoals, Arkansas, which manufactures less lethal ammunitions.  The Company subsequently relocated this operation to Perry, Florida.  During 2014, the Company continued the expansion of the Defense segment with the purchase of substantially all of the assets of Chemring Energetic Devices, Inc. located in Clear Lake, South Dakota, and all of the real property owned by Technical Ordnance Realty, LLC. The Clear Lake facility manufactures detonators, booster pellets, release cartridges, lead azide, and other military energetic devices and materials.  See Note P for further discussion of the Clear Lake acquisition.  The Defense segment’s collection of facilities enables the Company to deliver in virtually all aspects of the manufacture of medium caliber training and tactical rounds and less lethal ammunition.  They include the fuze, the metal parts including the cartridge case, the load, assemble and pack of the final round, and the detonator.     

In the following summary, operating profit represents earnings (loss) before other income (loss), principally interest income, and income taxes.  The Company's segments operate discretely from each other with no shared manufacturing facilities.  Costs associated with corporate activities (such as cash and marketable securities management) and the assets associated with such activities are included within the Housewares/Small Appliance segment for all periods presented.

	(in thousands)
	Housewares / Small Appliance		Defense		Assets Held for Sale		Total
Year ended December 31, 2016
External net sales	$	108,128	$	233,777			$	341,905
Gross profit		20,963		64,699				85,662
Operating profit		9,677		52,835				62,512
Total assets		200,639		158,062	$	58,893		417,594
Depreciation and amortization		1,045		7,830				8,875
Capital expenditures		1,351		3,473				4,824
Year ended December 31, 2015
External net sales	$	125,944	$	229,705			$	355,649
Gross profit		27,455		61,978				89,433
Operating profit		16,106		46,419				62,525
Total assets		184,385		143,189	$	59,810		387,384
Depreciation and amortization		923		7,905				8,828
Capital expenditures		3,955		121				4,076
Year ended December 31, 2014
External net sales	$	125,653	$	221,545			$	347,198
Gross profit		24,097		57,209				81,306
Operating profit		13,513		32,317				45,830
Total assets		161,812		149,466	$	62,793		374,071
Depreciation and amortization		954		14,555				15,509
Capital expenditures		571		1,165				1,736