Depreciation and amortization are generally computed using either an accelerated or straight-line method and is based on estimated useful lives or lease terms as follows:
Years
Buildings and improvements
3 – 40
Machinery, equipment and vehicles
3 – 10
Office furniture and equipment, computers and software
3 – 7
Property, plant and equipment, net consisted of the following:
As of December 31,
(In thousands)20252024
Land, buildings and improvements$30,113 $35,959 
Machinery, equipment and vehicles54,916 49,350 
Office furniture and equipment, computers and software57,684 53,017 
Property, plant and equipment, gross142,713 138,326 
Less: accumulated depreciation and amortization(90,330)(76,325)
Property, plant and equipment, net$52,383 $62,001 

About PP&E Disclosures

The PP&E disclosure details a company's physical asset base — land, buildings, machinery, and equipment — along with the depreciation methods and useful life assumptions that determine how these costs flow through the income statement. Capitalization policy thresholds reveal management's judgment on the boundary between expense and asset, directly affecting both reported earnings and asset values.

Key signals: changes in estimated useful lives or depreciation methods can materially shift reported earnings without any operational change. Compare capital expenditures against depreciation expense — when capex consistently trails depreciation, the asset base may be aging and underinvested. Watch for large asset impairments or write-downs that signal overvalued carrying amounts. Asset retirement obligations reveal future environmental or decommissioning costs that are often underappreciated. Compare PP&E intensity (PP&E-to-revenue) against industry peers to assess capital efficiency and competitive positioning.