Research and Development Costs

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2012

Research and Development [Abstract]

Research and development costs

RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT COSTS

The Company's net Research & Development ("R&D") expenditures are included in selling, general and administrative expenses of the Consolidated Statements of Operations. Customer reimbursements are netted against gross R&D expenditures as they are considered a recovery of cost. Customer reimbursements for prototypes are recorded net of prototype costs based on customer contracts, typically either when the prototype is shipped or when it is accepted by the customer. Customer reimbursements for engineering services are recorded when performance obligations are satisfied in accordance with the contract and accepted by the customer. Financial risks and rewards transfer upon shipment, acceptance of a prototype component by the customer or upon completion of the performance obligation as stated in the respective customer agreement.

The following table presents the Company’s gross and net expenditures on R&D activities:

	Year Ended December 31,
(millions of dollars)	2012			2011			2010
Gross R&D expenditures	$	309.3		$	294.7		$	233.2
Customer reimbursements	(43.4		)	(51.0		)	(48.2		)
Net R&D expenditures	$	265.9		$	243.7		$	185.0

Net R&D expenditures as a percentage of net sales were 3.7%, 3.4% and 3.3% in the years ended December 31, 2012, 2011 and 2010, respectively. The Company has contracts with several customers at the Company's various R&D locations. No such contract exceeded 5% of net R&D expenditures in any of the years presented.