PROPERTY, PLANT & EQUIPMENT

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2016

Property, Plant and Equipment [Abstract]

PROPERTY, PLANT & EQUIPMENT

PROPERTY, PLANT & EQUIPMENT

The major classes of depreciable assets are as follows:

	December 31,
In thousands	2016			2015
Machinery and equipment	$	645,354		$	504,956
Buildings and improvements	225,307			170,668
Land and improvements	41,569			41,671
PP&E	912,230			717,295
Less: accumulated depreciation	(393,854		)	(364,102		)
Total	$	518,376		$	353,193

The estimated useful lives of property, plant and equipment are as follows:

	Years
Land improvements	10 to 20
Building and improvements	20 to 40
Machinery and equipment	3 to 15

Depreciation expense was $47.1 million, $43.1 million, and $38.8 million for 2016, 2015 and 2014, respectively.