Lydall (LDL) 10-K 26 Feb 19 2018 FY Annual report Financial data

Document and Entity Information

Document and Entity Information - USD ($)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018	Feb. 13, 2019	Jun. 30, 2018
Document And Entity Information [Abstract]
Document Type	10-K
Amendment Flag	false
Document Period End Date	Dec. 31, 2018
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2,018
Document Fiscal Period Focus	FY
Trading Symbol	LDL
Entity Registrant Name	LYDALL INC /DE/
Entity Central Index Key	60,977
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer	No
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Voluntary Filers	No
Entity Filer Category	Large Accelerated Filer
Entity Emerging Growth Company	false
Entity Small Business	false
Entity Shell Company	false
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		17,545,802
Entity Public Float			$ 731,167,924

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPER

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018	Sep. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2018	Mar. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Sep. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2017	Mar. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Income Statement [Abstract]
Net sales	$ 209,938	$ 197,886	$ 186,413	$ 191,660	$ 178,030	$ 180,041	$ 174,879	$ 165,487	$ 785,897	$ 698,437	$ 566,852
Cost of sales									633,252	535,078	428,048
Gross profit	41,872	35,139	36,127	39,507	39,480	40,054	43,327	40,498	152,645	163,359	138,804
Selling, product development and administrative expenses									103,457	97,159	83,359
Operating income									49,188	66,200	55,445
Interest expense									6,212	2,720	1,068
Other (income) expense, net									(289)	2,161	(562)
Income before income taxes									43,265	61,319	54,939
Income tax expense									8,453	11,974	17,821
(Income) loss from equity method investment									(132)	28	(69)
Net income	$ 7,184	$ 6,256	$ 10,450	$ 11,054	$ 13,848	$ 10,675	$ 13,125	$ 11,669	$ 34,944	$ 49,317	$ 37,187
Earnings per common share:
Basic (USD per share)	$ 0.42	$ 0.36	$ 0.61	$ 0.64	$ 0.81	$ 0.63	$ 0.77	$ 0.69	$ 2.03	$ 2.89	$ 2.20
Diluted (USD per share)	$ 0.42	$ 0.36	$ 0.60	$ 0.64	$ 0.80	$ 0.62	$ 0.76	$ 0.68	$ 2.02	$ 2.85	$ 2.16
Weighted average common shares outstanding (shares)									17,204	17,045	16,871
Weighted average common shares and equivalents outstanding (shares)									17,330	17,317	17,241

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMP

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Statement of Comprehensive Income [Abstract]
Net income	$ 34,944	$ 49,317	$ 37,187
Other comprehensive (loss) income:
Change in pension plans, net of income taxes of $1,285, $409, and $1,409, respectively	(4,204)	2,016	(2,400)
Foreign currency translation adjustments	(16,237)	25,664	(10,965)
Unrealized (loss) gain on hedging activities, net of tax	(2,096)	122	0
Total other comprehensive (loss) income, net of tax	(22,537)	27,802	(13,365)
Comprehensive income	$ 12,407	$ 77,119	$ 23,822

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CO_2

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (Parenthetical) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Statement of Comprehensive Income [Abstract]
Income taxes related to pension plans	$ (1,285)	$ (409)	$ (1,409)

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 49,237	$ 59,875
Accounts receivable, (net of allowance for doubtful receivables of $1,440 and $1,507, respectively)	144,938	116,712
Contract assets	23,040	0
Inventories	84,465	80,339
Taxes receivable	2,912	5,525
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	12,486	11,044
Total current assets	317,078	273,495
Property, plant and equipment, net	213,369	170,332
Goodwill	196,963	68,969
Other intangible assets, net	136,604	40,543
Deferred tax assets	2,055	1,146
Other assets, net	6,617	6,386
Total assets	872,686	560,871
Current liabilities:
Current portion of long-term debt	10,172	277
Accounts payable	73,265	71,931
Accrued payroll and other compensation	16,621	15,978
Accrued taxes	3,095	2,230
Deferred revenue	6,990	3,412
Other accrued liabilities	11,203	8,278
Total current liabilities	121,346	102,106
Long-term debt	314,641	76,913
Deferred tax liabilities	39,265	14,714
Benefit plan liabilities	22,795	9,743
Other long-term liabilities	5,364	3,999
Commitments and Contingencies (Note 15)
Stockholders’ equity:
Preferred stock (par value $0.01 per share; authorized 500 shares; none issued or outstanding) (Note 9)	0	0
Common stock (par value $0.01 per share; authorized 30,000 shares; issued 25,254 and 25,018 shares, respectively) (Note 9)	253	250
Capital in excess of par value	90,851	88,006
Retained earnings	411,325	374,783
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(42,685)	(20,148)
Treasury stock, 7,698 and 7,675 shares of common stock, respectively, at cost	(90,469)	(89,495)
Total stockholders’ equity	369,275	353,396
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity	$ 872,686	$ 560,871

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (Pa

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (Parenthetical) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Statement of Financial Position [Abstract]
Accounts receivable, allowance for doubtful receivables	$ 1,440	$ 1,507
Preferred stock, par value (USD per share)	$ 0.01	$ 0.01
Preferred stock authorized (shares)	500,000	500,000
Preferred stock issued (shares)	0	0
Preferred stock, outstanding (shares)	0	0
Common stock, par value (USD per share)	$ 0.01	$ 0.01
Common stock, authorized (shares)	30,000,000	30,000,000
Common stock, issued (shares)	25,254,000	25,018,000
Treasury stock, shares (shares)	7,698,000	7,675,000

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income	$ 34,944	$ 49,317	$ 37,187
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	33,162	26,130	19,559
Inventory step-up amortization	1,975	1,108	1,954
Long-lived asset impairment charge	0	772	0
Deferred income taxes	636	(2,933)	(1,172)
Stock-based compensation	2,081	4,269	4,359
(Income) loss from equity method investment	(132)	28	(69)
Loss on disposition of property, plant and equipment	230	0	0
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable	(7,127)	(8,046)	379
Contract assets	(3,828)	0	0
Inventories	(6,001)	(11,116)	500
Taxes receivable	3,151	(1,216)	1,169
Prepaid expenses and other assets	(542)	(784)	(3,355)
Accounts payable	(5,055)	14,315	3,505
Accrued taxes	535	(4,708)	1,244
Accrued payroll and other compensation	(2,352)	1,103	1,770
Deferred revenue	3,801	934	1,072
Benefit plan liabilities	(7,658)	(5,245)	487
Other, net	(3,081)	(992)	1,138
Net cash provided by operating activities	44,739	62,936	69,727
Cash flows from investing activities:
Business acquisitions, net of cash acquired	(269,972)	(323)	(152,242)
Capital expenditures	(31,291)	(27,006)	(25,466)
Proceeds from the sale of property, plant and equipment	298	0	0
Net cash used for investing activities	(300,965)	(27,329)	(177,708)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from borrowings	338,000	0	116,600
Debt repayments	(89,862)	(51,762)	(10,328)
Debt issuance costs payments	(538)	0	0
Common stock issued	850	1,323	1,194
Common stock repurchased	(974)	(2,770)	(1,091)
Net cash provided by (used for) financing activities	247,476	(53,209)	106,375
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash	(1,888)	5,543	(2,369)
Decrease in cash and cash equivalents	(10,638)	(12,059)	(3,975)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	59,875	71,934	75,909
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	49,237	59,875	71,934
Cash paid during the year for:
Interest	5,960	2,747	787
Income taxes, net	$ 4,606	$ 16,158	$ 15,739

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CA_2

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (Parenthetical) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Statement of Cash Flows [Abstract]
Non-cash capital expenditures	$ 4.9	$ 6.5	$ 8.6

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHAN

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	Total	Common stock	Capital in Excess of Par Value	Retained Earnings	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss	Treasury Stock
Beginning balance (shares) at Dec. 31, 2015		24,732
Beginning balance at Dec. 31, 2015	$ 245,225	$ 247	$ 76,746	$ 288,358	$ (34,585)	$ (85,541)
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income	37,187			37,187
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	(13,365)				(13,365)
Stock repurchased	(1,155)					(1,155)
Stock issued under employee plans (shares)		119
Stock issued under employee plans	1,158	$ 2	1,156
Stock-based compensation expense	4,009		4,009
Stock issued to directors (shares)		7
Stock issued to directors	350		350
Recently adopted accounting standards	47		126	(79)
Ending balance (shares) at Dec. 31, 2016		24,858
Ending balance at Dec. 31, 2016	273,456	$ 249	82,387	325,466	(47,950)	(86,696)
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income	49,317			49,317
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	27,802				27,802
Stock repurchased	(2,799)					(2,799)
Stock issued under employee plans (shares)		152
Stock issued under employee plans	1,351	$ 1	1,350
Stock-based compensation expense	3,868		3,868
Stock issued to directors (shares)		8
Stock issued to directors	$ 401		401
Ending balance (shares) at Dec. 31, 2017	25,018	25,018
Ending balance at Dec. 31, 2017	$ 353,396	$ 250	88,006	374,783	(20,148)	(89,495)
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income	34,944			34,944
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	(22,537)				(22,537)
Stock repurchased	(974)					(974)
Stock issued under employee plans (shares)		225
Stock issued under employee plans	855	$ 3	852
Stock-based compensation expense	1,619		1,619
Stock issued to directors (shares)		11
Stock issued to directors	$ 374		374
Ending balance (shares) at Dec. 31, 2018	25,254	25,254
Ending balance at Dec. 31, 2018	$ 369,275	$ 253	$ 90,851	$ 411,325	$ (42,685)	$ (90,469)

Significant Accounting Policies

Significant Accounting Policies	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018
Accounting Policies [Abstract]
Significant Accounting Policies	Significant Accounting Policies Business — Lydall, Inc. and its subsidiaries (the “Company” or “Lydall”) design and manufacture specialty engineered nonwoven filtration media, industrial thermal insulating solutions, and thermal and acoustical barriers for filtration/separation and heat abatement and sound dampening applications. On August 31, 2018, the Company acquired an engineered sealing materials business operating under Interface Performance Materials ("Interface"), based in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. A globally-recognized leader in the delivery of engineered sealing solutions, the Interface operations manufacture wet-laid gasket and specialty materials primarily serving OEM and Tier I manufacturers in the agriculture, construction, earthmoving, industrial, and automotive segments. The acquired business is included in the Company's Performance Materials operating segment. On July 12, 2018, the Company acquired certain assets and assumed certain liabilities of the Precision Filtration division of Precision Custom Coatings ("PCC") based in Totowa, NJ. Precision Filtration is a producer of high-quality, air filtration media principally serving the commercial and residential HVAC markets with products in the efficiency range of MERV 7-11. The acquired business is included in the Company’s Performance Materials operating segment. On December 31, 2016, the Company completed an acquisition of the nonwoven needle punch materials businesses, operating under the Gutsche (“Gutsche”) brand, a German based corporation. The Gutsche operations manufacture nonwoven needle punch materials and predominantly serve the industrial filtration and high performance nonwoven markets. The acquired businesses are included in the Company's Technical Nonwovens reporting segment. On July 7, 2016, the Company completed an acquisition of the nonwoven and coating materials businesses primarily operating under the Texel brand (“Texel”) from ADS, Inc. (“ADS”), a Canadian based corporation. The Texel operations manufacture nonwoven needle punch materials and predominantly serve the geosynthetic, liquid filtration, and other industrial markets. The acquired businesses are included in the Company's Technical Nonwovens reporting segment. Principles of consolidation — The Consolidated Financial Statements include the accounts of Lydall, Inc. and its wholly owned subsidiaries. All intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated. Estimates and assumptions — The preparation of the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the financial statement dates and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting periods. Actual results could differ from those estimates. Risks and uncertainties — Worldwide economic cycles and political changes affect the markets that the Company’s businesses serve and affect demand for Lydall’s products and impact profitability. Among other factors, disruptions in the global credit and financial markets, including diminished liquidity and credit availability, changes in international trade agreements, swings in consumer confidence and spending, unstable economic growth and fluctuations in unemployment rates has caused economic instability and can have a negative impact on the Company’s results of operations, financial condition and liquidity. Cash and cash equivalents — Cash and cash equivalents include cash on hand and highly liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less at the date of purchase. Concentrations of credit risk — Financial instruments that potentially subject the Company to concentrations of credit risk consist principally of cash and cash equivalents and trade accounts receivable. The Company places its cash and cash equivalents in high-quality financial institutions. Concentrations of credit risk with respect to trade accounts receivable are limited by the large number of customers comprising the Company’s customer base and their dispersion across many different industries and geographies. At December 31, 2018 , no customer accounted for more than 10.0% of total accounts receivable. At December 31, 2017 , Ford Motor Company ("Ford") represented 12.0% of total accounts receivable. No other customers accounted for more than 10.0% of total accounts receivable at December 31, 2017 . Foreign and export sales were 53.5% of the Company’s net sales in 2018 , 54.2% in 2017 , and 46.9% in 2016 . Export sales primarily to Canada, Mexico, Asia and Europe were $56.8 million , $55.9 million , and $53.2 million in 2018 , 2017 , and 2016 , respectively. The Company performs ongoing credit evaluations of its customers’ financial condition and generally does not require collateral. Sales to the automotive market, included in the Thermal Acoustical Solutions segment, were 46.3% of the Company’s net sales in 2018 , 48.3% in 2017 , and 56.2% in 2016 . Sales to Ford were 14.8% , 17.3% , and 19.6% of Lydall’s 2018 , 2017 , and 2016 net sales, respectively. No other customers accounted for more than 10% of total net sales in 2018 , 2017 , and 2016 . Inventories — Inventories are valued at lower of cost or net realizable value, cost being determined using the first-in, first-out (FIFO) cost method. Inventories in excess of requirements for current or anticipated orders have been written down to net realizable value. Pre-production design and development costs — The Company enters into contractual agreements with certain customers to design and develop molds, dies and tools (collectively, “tooling”). All such tooling contracts relate to parts that the Company will supply to customers under long-term supply agreements. Tooling costs are accumulated in work-in process inventory and are charged to operations as the related revenue from the tooling is recognized. With the adoption of ASC 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers on January 1, 2018, the Company’s revenue recognition policies require the Company to make significant judgments and estimates regarding timing of recognition based on timing of the transfer of control to the customer. The Company analyzes several factors, including but not limited to, the nature of the products being sold and contractual terms and conditions in contracts with customers to help the Company make such judgments about revenue recognition. For tooling revenue recognized over time, the Company's significant judgments include, but are not limited to, estimated costs to completion, costs incurred to date, and assessments of risks related to changes in estimates of revenues and costs. The Company's management must make assumptions regarding the work required to fulfill the performance obligations, which is dependent upon the execution by the Company's subcontractors, among other variables and contract requirements. Periodically, the Company enters into contractually guaranteed reimbursement arrangements as a mechanism to collect amounts due from customers from tooling sales. Under these arrangements, amounts due from tooling sales are collected as parts are delivered over the part supply arrangement, in accordance with the specific terms of the arrangement. The amounts due from the customer in such transactions are recorded in “Prepaid expenses and other current assets” or “Other assets, net” based upon the expected term of the reimbursement arrangement. The following tooling related assets were included in the Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2018 and 2017 : December, 31 In thousands 2018 2017 Inventories, net of progress billings and reserves $ 4,262 $ 18,540 Prepaid expenses and other current assets 469 281 Other assets, net 987 476 Total tooling related assets $ 5,718 $ 19,297 Amounts included in “Prepaid expenses and other current assets” include the short-term portion of receivables due under contractually guaranteed reimbursement arrangements. Included in the inventory balance was an offset for progress billings of $1.7 million at December 31, 2017 . Effective January 1, 2018, the Company adopted ASC 606, Revenue from Contracts from Customers, under the modified retrospective transition method. The adoption of ASC 606 resulted in the reclassification of progress billings to contract liabilities. See Note 2, Revenue from Contracts with Customers, for further discussion of contract liabilities. Company owned tooling is recorded in “Property, plant and equipment, net” at December 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017 . Property, plant and equipment — Property, plant, and equipment are stated at cost. Assets held under capital leases are recorded at the lower of the net present value of the minimum lease payments or the fair value of the leased asset at the inception of the lease. Property, plant and equipment, including property, plant and equipment under capital leases, are depreciated over their estimated useful lives using the straight-line method. Leasehold improvements are depreciated on a straight-line basis over the term of the lease or the life of the asset, whichever is shorter. The cost and accumulated depreciation amounts applicable to assets sold or otherwise disposed of are removed from the asset and accumulated depreciation accounts and any net gain or loss is included in the Consolidated Statements of Operations. Expenses for maintenance and repairs are charged to expense as incurred. Goodwill and other intangible assets — Goodwill represents costs in excess of fair values assigned to the underlying net assets of acquired companies. Goodwill and other intangible assets with indefinite lives are not amortized but are subject to annual impairment tests. All other intangible assets are amortized over their estimated useful lives, which range from 3 to 17 years. In performing impairment tests, the Company considers discounted cash flows and other market factors as best evidence of fair value. There are inherent uncertainties and management judgment required in these analyses. Valuation of long-lived assets — The Company evaluates the recoverability of long-lived assets, or asset groups, whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that carrying amounts may not be recoverable. Should such evaluations indicate that the related future undiscounted cash flows are not sufficient to recover the carrying values of the assets, such carrying values would be reduced to fair value and this adjusted carrying value would become the assets’ new cost basis. For long-lived assets held for sale, assets are written down to fair value, less costs to sell. Fair value is determined primarily using future anticipated cash flows that are directly associated with, and that are expected to arise as a direct result of the use and eventual disposition of the asset, or asset group, as well as market conditions and other factors. There are inherent uncertainties and management judgment required in these analyses. Contingencies and environmental obligations — The Company makes judgments and estimates in accordance with applicable accounting rules when it establishes reserves for legal proceedings, claims, investigations, environmental obligations and other contingent matters. Provisions for such matters are charged to expense when it is probable that a liability has been incurred and reasonable estimates of the liability can be made. Estimates of environmental liabilities are based on a variety of matters, including, but not limited to, the stage of investigation, the stage of the remedial design, evaluation of existing remediation technologies, and presently enacted laws and regulations. The amount and timing of all future expenses related to legal proceedings, claims, investigations, environmental obligations and other contingent matters may vary significantly from estimates. Employer sponsored benefit plans — The Company recognizes the funded status of its defined benefit pension plans and post-retirement plans. Net benefit obligations are calculated based on actuarial valuations using key assumptions related to discount rates, mortality rates and expected return on plan assets. Derivative instruments — Derivative instruments are measured at fair value and recognized as either assets or liabilities on the Consolidated Balance Sheet in either current or non-current other assets or other accrued liabilities or other long-term liabilities depending upon maturity and commitment. For derivative instruments that are designated and qualify as a fair value hedge, the gain or loss on the derivative as well as the offsetting loss or gain on the hedged item attributable to the hedged risk are recognized in the Consolidated Statement of Operations. For derivative instruments that are designated and qualify as a cash flow hedge, the effective portion of the gain or loss on the derivative is reported as a component of other comprehensive income and reclassified into earnings in the same period or periods in which the hedge transaction affects earnings. The Company selectively uses financial instruments to manage market risk associated with exposure to fluctuations in interest rates and foreign currency rates. These financial exposures are monitored and managed by the Company as an integral part of its risk management program. The Company does not engage in derivative instruments for speculative or trading purposes. Lydall has historically not been a party to a significant number of derivative instruments. Revenue recognition — As of January 1, 2018, the Company accounts for revenue in accordance with ASC 606, Revenue from Contracts from Customers. The Company's revenues are generated from the design and manufacture of specialty engineered filtration media, industrial thermal insulating solutions, automotive thermal and acoustical barriers for filtration/separation and thermal/acoustical applications. The Company’s revenue recognition policies require the Company to make judgments and estimates. The Company analyzes several factors, including but not limited to, the nature of the products being sold and contractual terms and conditions in contracts with customers to help the Company make such judgments about revenue recognition. In applying the Company’s revenue recognition policy, determinations must be made as to when control of products passes to the Company’s customers which can be either at a point in time or over time depending on when control of the Company’s products transfers to its customers. Revenue is generally recognized at a point in time when control passes to customers upon shipment of the Company’s products and revenue is generally recognized over time when control of the Company’s products transfers to customers during the manufacturing process. If sales are recognized at a point in time, the Company’s standard sales and shipping terms are FOB shipping point, therefore, substantially all point in time revenue is recognized upon shipment. However, the Company conducts business with certain customers on FOB destination terms and in these instances point in time revenue revenue is recognized upon receipt by the customer. In circumstances when control transfers over time, revenue is recognized based on the extent of progress towards completion of the performance obligation. Due to the nature of the work required to be performed on many of the Company’s performance obligations, the estimation of total revenue and cost at completion is complex, subject to many variables and requires significant judgment. (See Note 2. “Revenue from Contracts with Customers”) Sales returns and allowances are recorded as identified or communicated by the customer and internally approved. The Company does not provide customers with general rights of return for products sold; however, in limited circumstances, the Company will allow sales returns and allowances from customers if the products sold do not conform to specifications. The Company made an accounting policy election to record shipping and handling activities occurring after control has passed to the customer to be treated as a fulfillment cost rather than as a distinct performance obligation. Shipping and handling expenses consist primarily of costs incurred to deliver products to customers and internal costs related to preparing products for shipment and are recorded as a cost of sales. Amounts billed to customers as shipping and handling are classified as revenue when services are performed. Research and development — Research and development costs are charged to expense as incurred and amounted to $10.6 million in 2018 , $10.8 million in 2017 , and $9.0 million in 2016 . Research and development costs were primarily comprised of development personnel salaries, prototype material costs and testing and trials of new products. Earnings per share — Basic earnings per common share are equal to net income divided by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period. Diluted earnings per common share are equal to net income divided by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period, including the effect of stock options and stock awards, if such effect is dilutive. Income taxes — The provision for income taxes is based upon income reported in the accompanying Consolidated Financial Statements. Deferred income taxes reflect the impact of temporary differences between the amounts of income and expense recognized for financial reporting purposes and such amounts recognized for tax purposes. In the event the Company was to determine that it would not be able to realize all or a portion of its deferred tax assets in the future, the Company would record a valuation allowance through a charge to income in the period that such determination was made. Conversely, if the Company was to determine that it would be able to realize its deferred tax assets in the future in excess of the net carrying amounts, the Company would decrease the recorded valuation allowance and record an increase to income in the period that such determination was made. Translation of foreign currencies — Assets and liabilities of foreign subsidiaries are translated at exchange rates prevailing on the balance sheet date. Revenues and expenses are translated at average exchange rates prevailing during the period. Any resulting translation gains or losses are reported in other comprehensive income (loss). Stock options and share grants — The Company accounts for awards of equity instruments under the fair value method of accounting and recognizes such amounts in the Consolidated Statements of Operations. The Company recognizes expense on a straight-line basis over the vesting period of the entire award and records forfeitures as they occur. The Company estimates the fair value of option grants based on the Black Scholes option-pricing model. Expected volatility and expected term are based on historical information. The calculation assumes that future volatility and expected term are not likely to materially differ from the Company’s historical stock price volatility and historical exercise data, respectively. Compensation expense for all restricted stock awards is recorded based on the market value of the stock on the grant date and recognized as expense over the vesting period of the award. Compensation expense for performance-based restricted stock is also impacted by the probability of achieving the performance targets. Recently Adopted Accounting Standards Effective January 1, 2018, the Company adopted the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued Accounting Standards Update ("ASU") No. 2014-09, “Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606)”. The amended guidance establishes a single comprehensive model for companies to use in accounting for revenue arising from contracts with customers and will supersede most of the existing revenue recognition guidance, including industry-specific guidance. The amended guidance clarifies that an entity recognizes revenue to depict the transfer of promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. In applying the amended guidance, an entity will (1) identify the contract(s) with a customer; (2) identify the performance obligations in the contract; (3) determine the transaction price; (4) allocate the transaction price to the contract’s performance obligations; and (5) recognize revenue when (or as) the entity satisfies a performance obligation. The Company adopted the amended guidance and all related amendments using the modified retrospective approach on January 1, 2018, at which time it became effective for the Company. The Company recognized the cumulative effect of initially applying the new revenue standard to all contracts that were not completed on the date of adoption as an adjustment to the opening balance of retained earnings. (See Note 2. “Revenue from Contracts with Customers”). At the adoption date, the cumulative impact of revenue that would have been recognized over time, was $19.6 million . The impact was primarily driven by tooling net sales of $16.3 million from customer contracts within the Thermal Acoustical Solutions ("TAS") segment. The related adoption impact to retained earnings was $1.6 million , net of tax. Refer to Note 2. Effective January 1, 2018, the Company adopted the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-01, "Financial Instruments - Overall" (Subtopic 825-10): Recognition and Measurement of Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities". This ASU revises an entity’s accounting related to (1) the classification and measurement of investments in equity securities and (2) the presentation of certain fair value changes for financial liabilities measured at fair value. It also amends certain disclosure requirements associated with the fair value of financial instruments. In February 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-03, "Technical Corrections and Improvements to Financial Instruments - Overall (Subtopic 825-10): Recognition and Measurement of Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities", which clarifies various aspects of the guidance issued in ASU 2016-01. The Company adopted both ASUs effective January 1, 2018. The adoption of these ASUs did not have any impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements and disclosures. Effective January 1, 2018, the Company adopted the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-15, "Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 230): Classification of Certain Cash Receipts and Cash Payments", which provides guidance on eight specific cash flow classification issues. Prior to this ASU, GAAP did not include specific guidance on these eight cash flow classification issues. The adoption of this ASU did not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements and disclosures. Effective January 1, 2018, the Company adopted the FASB issued ASU 2016-16, “Income Taxes (Topic 740): Intra-Entity Transfers of Assets Other Than Inventory” as part of the Board’s initiative to reduce complexity in accounting standards. This ASU eliminates an exception in ASC 740, which prohibits the immediate recognition of income tax consequences of intra-entity asset transfers other than inventory. This ASU requires entities to recognize the immediate current and deferred income tax effects of intra-entity asset transfers. The adoption of this ASU did not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements and disclosures. Effective January 1, 2018, the Company adopted the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-18, "Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 230): Restricted Cash", which clarifies guidance and presentation related to restricted cash in the statement of cash flows, including stating that restricted cash should be included within cash and cash equivalents on the statement of cash flows. The adoption of this ASU did not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements and disclosures. Effective January 1, 2018, the Company adopted the FASB issued ASU No. 2017-01, "Business Combinations (Topic 805): Clarifying the Definition of a Business", which adds guidance to assist entities with evaluating whether transactions should be accounted for as acquisitions (or disposals) of assets or businesses. The definition of a business affects many areas of accounting including acquisitions, disposals, goodwill, and consolidation. The amendments of this ASU provide a screen to determine when an integrated set of assets and activities is not a business. The Company evaluated this ASU in connection with its 2018 acquisitions and determined that they met the definition of a business. Effective January 1, 2018, the Company adopted the FASB issued ASU No. 2017-07, "Compensation - Retirement Benefits (Topic 715): Improving the Presentation of Net Periodic Pension Cost and Net Periodic Postretirement Benefit Cost". This ASU requires an entity to report the service cost component of net benefit costs in the same line item(s) as other compensation costs arising from services rendered by the pertinent employees during the period. This ASU also requires the other components of net benefit cost, which includes interest costs and actual return on plan assets to be presented in the income statement separately from the service cost component and outside a subtotal of income from operations. As required for retrospective adoption,the Company reclassified net benefit costs of $0.3 million from cost of sales and $0.4 million from the selling, product development and administrative expenses to other expense, net, in the Consolidated Statement of Operations for the year ended December 31, 2016 . The Company reclassified net benefit costs of $0.3 million from cost of sales and $0.5 million from the selling, product development and administrative expenses to other expense, net, in the Consolidated Statement of Operations for the year ended December 31, 2017 . The adoption of this ASU had minimal impact on the Company's consolidated financial statements and disclosures for the year ended December 31, 2018 . Effective January 1, 2018, the Company adopted the FASB issued ASU No. 2017-09, "Compensation - Stock Compensation (Topic 718): Scope of Modification Accounting". This ASU requires an entity to apply modification accounting in Topic 718 when there are changes to the terms or conditions of a share-based payment award, unless the fair value, vesting conditions, and classification of the modified award are the same as the original award immediately before the original award is modified. The adoption of this ASU did not have any impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements and disclosures.

Revenue from Contracts with Cus

Revenue from Contracts with Customers	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018
Revenue from Contract with Customer [Abstract]
Revenue from Contracts with Customers	Revenue from Contracts with Customers The Company accounts for revenue in accordance with ASC 606, Revenue from Contracts from Customers. These revenues are generated from the design and manufacture of specialty engineered filtration media, industrial thermal insulating solutions, automotive thermal and acoustical barriers for filtration/separation and thermal/acoustical applications. The Company’s revenue recognition policies require the Company to make significant judgments and estimates. In applying the Company’s revenue recognition policy, determinations must be made as to when control of products passes to the Company’s customers which can be either at a point in time or over time. Revenue is generally recognized at a point in time when control passes to customers upon shipment of the Company’s products and revenue is generally recognized over time when control of the Company’s products transfers to customers during the manufacturing process (see description below). The Company analyzes several factors, including but not limited to, the nature of the products being sold and contractual terms and conditions in contracts with customers to help the Company make such judgments about revenue recognition. The Company accounts for revenue from contracts with customers when there is approval and commitment from both parties, the rights of the parties are identified, payment terms are identified, the contract has commercial substance and collectability of consideration is probable. Revenue is primarily derived from customer purchase orders, master sales agreements, and negotiated contracts, all of which represent contracts with customers. The Company next identifies the performance obligations in the contract. A performance obligation is a promise to provide distinct goods or services. Performance obligations are the unit of account for purposes of applying the revenue standard and therefore determines when and how revenue is recognized. The Company determines the performance obligations at contract inception based on the goods that are promised in a contract with a customer. Typical performance obligations include automotive parts, automotive tooling, rolled good media and filter bags. The transaction price in the contract is determined based on the consideration to which the Company will be entitled in exchange for transferring products to the customer, excluding amounts collected on behalf of third parties (for example, sales taxes). The transaction price is typically stated on the purchase order or in a negotiated agreement. Certain contracts may include variable consideration in the transaction price, such as rebates, pricing discounts, price concessions, sales incentives, index pricing or other provisions that can decrease the transaction price. Estimates of variable consideration and determination of whether to include estimated amounts in the transaction price are based on reasonably available information (customer historical, current and forecasted data). In certain circumstances where a particular outcome is probable, the Company utilizes the most likely amount to which the Company expects to be entitled. The Company accounts for consideration payable to a customer as a reduction of the transaction price thereby reducing the amount of revenue recognized. Consideration payable to a customer includes cash amounts that the Company pays, or expects to pay, to a customer based on certain contract requirements. The Company recognizes revenue as performance obligations are satisfied, which can be either over time or at a point in time, depending on when control of the Company’s products transfers to its customers. In circumstances when control transfers over time, revenue is recognized based on the extent of progress towards completion of the performance obligation. Due to the nature of the work required to be performed on many of the Company’s performance obligations, the estimation of total revenue and cost at completion is complex, subject to many variables and requires judgment. The selection of the method to measure progress towards completion requires judgment and is based on the nature of the products to be provided. The Company generally uses the cost-to-cost measure of progress for contracts because it best depicts the transfer of control to the customer which occurs as costs are incurred on contracts. Under the cost-to-cost measure of progress, the extent of progress towards completion is measured based on the ratio of costs incurred to date to the total estimated costs at completion of the performance obligation. Revenues are recorded proportionally as costs are incurred. For tooling revenue recognized over time, the Company makes judgments which includes, but not limited to, estimated costs to completion, costs incurred to date, and assesses risks related to changes in estimates of revenues and costs. In doing so, management must make assumptions regarding the work required to fulfill the performance obligations, which is dependent upon the execution by the Company's subcontractors, among other variables and contract requirements. Changes in estimates for revenue recognized over time are recorded by the Company in the period they become known. Changes are recognized on a cumulative catch-up basis in net sales, costs of sales, and operating income. The cumulative catch up adjustment recognizes in the current period the cumulative effect of changes in estimates on current and prior periods. Performance Obligations The following is a description of products and performance obligations, separated by reportable segments, from which the Company generates its revenue. For more detailed information about reportable segments, see Note 13 “Segment Information.” Segment Performance Materials Products Products for this segment include filtration media solutions primarily for air, fluid power, life science and industrial applications, gasket and sealing solutions, thermal insulation, energy storage, and other engineered products. Performance Obligations These contracts typically have distinct performance obligations, which is the promise to transfer the media solutions to the Company’s customers. The Company recognizes revenue at a point in time or over time, based upon when control transfers to the customer. If revenue is recognized at a point in time, the performance obligation is typically satisfied upon shipment and in accordance with shipping terms. In circumstances when control transfers over time, revenue is recognized based on the extent of progress towards completion of the performance obligation. Customer payment terms are negotiated on a contract-by-contract basis and typically range from 30 to 90 days. Segment Technical Nonwovens Products This segment produces needle punch nonwoven solutions including industrial filtration and advanced materials products. Industrial Filtration products include nonwoven rolled-good felt media and filter bags used primarily in industrial air and liquid filtration applications. Advanced materials products include nonwoven rolled good media used in commercial applications and predominantly serves the geosynthetic, automotive, industrial, medical, and safety apparel markets. The automotive media is provided to tier-one suppliers as well as the Company’s Thermal Acoustical Solutions segment. Performance Obligations These contracts typically have distinct performance obligations, which is the promise to transfer the industrial filtration or advanced materials products to the Company’s customers. The Company recognizes revenue at a point in time or over time, based upon when control transfers to the customer. If revenue is recognized at a point in time, the performance obligation is typically satisfied upon shipment and in accordance with shipping terms. In circumstances when control transfers over time, revenue is recognized based on the extent of progress towards completion of the performance obligation. Customer payment terms are negotiated on a contract-by-contract basis and typically range from 30 to 90 days. For filter bag sales, the Company may enter into warranty agreements that are implied or sold with the product to provide assurance that a product will function as expected and in accordance with certain specifications. Therefore, this type of warranty is not a separate performance obligation. Segment Thermal Acoustical Solutions Products Parts - The segment produces a full range of innovative engineered products tailored for the transportation sector to thermally shield sensitive components from high heat, improve exhaust gas treatment and lower harmful emissions as well as assist in the reduction of noise vibration and harshness. The majority of products are sold to original equipment manufacturers and tier-one suppliers. Tooling - The Company enters into contractual agreements with certain customers within the automotive industry, to design and develop molds, dies and tools (collectively, “tooling”). Performance Obligations Parts - Customer contracts typically have distinct performance obligations, which is the promise to transfer manufactured parts to these customers. The Company recognizes parts revenue at a point in time or over time, based upon when control transfers to the customer. If revenue is recognized at a point in time, the performance obligation is typically satisfied upon shipment and in accordance with shipping terms. In circumstances when control transfers over time, revenue is recognized based on the extent of progress towards completion of the performance obligation. Customer payment terms are negotiated on a contract-by-contract basis and typically range from 30 to 90 days. Tooling - Customer contracts typically have distinct performance obligations and are generally completed within one year. The Company periodically enters into multiple contracts with a customer at or near the same time which may be combined for purposes of determining the appropriate transaction price. The Company allocates the transaction price to each performance obligation in the contract based on a relative stand-alone selling price using costs incurred plus expected margin. The corresponding revenues are recognized over time as the related performance obligations are satisfied. Tooling customer payment terms typically range from 30 to 90 days after title transfers to the customer. Occasionally customers make progress payments as the tool is constructed. Practical Expedients and Exemptions The Company has elected to adopt the contract cost practical expedient. This expedient allows the Company to recognize its incremental costs of obtaining contracts, such as sales commissions, as an expense when incurred if the related contract revenue is expected to be recognized in one year or less. These costs are included in selling, product development and administrative expenses. The Company has made an accounting policy election to record shipping and handling activities occurring after control has passed to the customer to be treated as a fulfillment cost rather than as a distinct performance obligation. Shipping and handling expenses consist primarily of costs incurred to deliver products to customers and internal costs related to preparing products for shipment and are recorded as a cost of sales. Amounts billed to customers as shipping and handling are classified as revenue when services are performed. ASC 606 requires the disclosure of unsatisfied performance obligations related to contracts from customers at the end of each reporting period. The Company has elected the practical expedient because the Company’s contracts generally have a duration of one year or less, therefore no disclosure is required. The Company has elected to adopt the practical expedient to disregard the need to adjust the promised amount of consideration for the effects of a significant financing component as the Company expects that the period of time between when the products are transferred to the customer and when the Company is paid for those products will be one year or less. Contract Assets and Liabilities The Company’s contract assets primarily include unbilled amounts typically resulting from sales under contracts when the over time method of revenue recognition is utilized and revenue recognized exceeds the amount billed to the customer. These unbilled accounts receivable in contract assets are transferred to accounts receivable upon invoicing, typically when the right to payment becomes unconditional in which case payment is due based only upon the passage of time. The Company’s contract liabilities primarily relate to advance payments received from customers, and deferred revenue. These contract liabilities represent the Company’s obligation to transfer its products to its customers for which the Company has received, or is owed consideration from its customers. Contract liabilities are included in deferred revenue on the Company’s Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets. Contract assets and liabilities consisted of the following: In thousands December 31, 2018 January 1, 2018 Dollar Change Contract assets $ 23,040 $ 19,125 $ 3,915 Contract liabilities $ 4,537 $ 2,820 $ 1,717 The $3.9 million increase in contract assets from January 1, 2018 to December 31, 2018 was primarily due to timing of billings to customers and contract assets increased $0.3 million relating to the acquisition of Interface. See Note 3 “Acquisitions." The $1.7 million increase in contract liabilities from January 1, 2018 to December 31, 2018 was primarily due to an increase in customer deposits partially offset by revenue recognized of $2.6 million in 2018 related to contract liabilities at January 1, 2018. Impacts on Financial Statements The cumulative effect of the changes made to the Company’s Condensed Consolidated January 1, 2018 Balance Sheet for the adoption of ASC 606 was as follows: In thousands December 31, 2017 Adjustments for Adoption of ASC606 January 1, 2018 Assets: Contract assets $ — $ 19,125 $ 19,125 Inventories $ 80,339 $ (15,184 ) $ 65,155 Liabilities: Accounts payable $ 71,931 $ 663 $ 72,594 Deferred revenue $ 3,412 $ 1,209 $ 4,621 Deferred tax liabilities $ 14,714 $ 471 $ 15,185 Stockholders' equity: Retained earnings $ 374,783 $ 1,598 $ 376,381 The cumulative effect of the changes made to the Company’s Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet for the adoption of ASC 606 was as follows: December 31, 2018 In thousands Balances Without Adoption of ASC 606 ASC 606 Adjustments As Reported Assets: Contract assets $ — $ 23,040 $ 23,040 Inventories $ 103,767 $ (19,302 ) $ 84,465 Liabilities: Accounts payable $ 71,937 $ 1,328 $ 73,265 Deferred revenue $ 7,952 $ (962 ) $ 6,990 Deferred tax liabilities $ 38,422 $ 843 $ 39,265 Stockholders' equity: Retained earnings $ 408,846 $ 2,479 $ 411,325 Accumulated other comprehensive loss $ (42,735 ) $ 50 $ (42,685 ) The cumulative effect of the changes made to the Company’s Condensed Consolidated Statement of Operations for the adoption of ASC 606 for the year ended December 31, 2018 was as follows: December 31, 2018 In thousands Results Without Adoption of ASC 606 Effect of Change As Reported Net sales $ 781,612 $ 4,285 $ 785,897 Cost of sales 630,220 3,032 633,252 Gross profit 151,392 1,253 152,645 Selling, product development and administrative expenses 103,457 — 103,457 Operating income 47,935 1,253 49,188 Interest expense 6,212 — 6,212 Other income, net (289 ) — (289 ) Income before income taxes 42,012 1,253 43,265 Income tax expense 8,081 372 8,453 Income from equity method investment (132 ) — (132 ) Net income $ 34,063 $ 881 $ 34,944 Earnings per share: Basic $ 1.98 $ 0.05 $ 2.03 Diluted $ 1.97 $ 0.05 $ 2.02 Weighted average number of common shares outstanding: Basic 17,204 — 17,204 Diluted 17,330 — 17,330 Disaggregated Revenue The Company disaggregates revenue from customers by geographic region, as it believes this disclosure best depicts how the nature, amount, timing and uncertainty of the Company's revenue and cash flows are affected by economic factors. Disaggregated revenue by geographical region for the year ended December 31, 2018 was as follows: December 31, 2018 In thousands Performance Materials Technical Nonwovens Thermal Acoustical Solutions Eliminations and Other Consolidated Net Sales North America $ 117,313 $ 167,519 $ 250,133 $ (25,121 ) $ 509,844 Europe 49,055 73,912 99,529 (697 ) 221,799 Asia 2,849 35,640 15,765 — 54,254 Total Net Sales $ 169,217 $ 277,071 $ 365,427 $ (25,818 ) $ 785,897

Acquisitions

Acquisitions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018
Business Combinations [Abstract]
Acquisitions	Acquisitions On August 31, 2018, the Company completed the acquisition of Interface Performance Materials ("Interface"), based in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. A globally-recognized leader in the delivery of engineered sealing solutions, the Interface operations manufacture wet-laid gasket and specialty materials primarily serving OEM and Tier I manufacturers in the agriculture, construction, earthmoving, industrial, and automotive segments. The transaction strengthens the Company's position as an industry-leading global provider of filtration materials and expands the Company's end markets into attractive adjacencies. The Company acquired one hundred percent of Interface for $268.4 million , net of cash acquired of $5.2 million , subject to a post-closing working capital adjustment within the one year window under ASC 805. The purchase price was financed with a combination of cash on hand and $261.4 million of borrowings from the Company's amended $450 million credit facility. The operating results of the Interface businesses have been included in the Consolidated Statements of Operations since August 31, 2018, the date of acquisition, and are reported within the Performance Materials reporting segment. During the year ended December 31, 2018 , the Company incurred $3.4 million of transaction costs, related to the acquisition of Interface. These transaction costs include legal fees and other professional services fees to complete the transaction. These expenses have been recognized in the Company's Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations as selling, product development and administrative expenses. From the date of the acquisition through December 31, 2018 , Interface reported net sales and operating income of $45.7 million and $0.8 million , respectively. Operating income from the date of the acquisition to the year ended December 31, 2018 included $2.0 million of purchase accounting inventory fair value step-up adjustments in cost of sales upon the sale of inventory and $3.4 million of intangible assets amortization expense in selling, product development and administrative expenses. The following table presents the preliminary determination of the fair value of identifiable assets acquired and liabilities assumed from the Company's acquisition of Interface. The final determination of the fair value of certain assets and liabilities will be completed within the one year measurement period as required by the FASB ASC Topic 805, “Business Combinations.” As the Company finalizes the fair value of assets acquired and liabilities assumed, additional purchase price adjustments may be recorded during the measurement period in the first eight months of 2019, including a post-close working capital adjustment. Fair value estimates are based on judgments about future events and uncertainties and rely heavily on estimates and assumptions. The judgments used to determine the estimated fair value assigned to each class of assets acquired and liabilities assumed, as well as asset lives, can materially impact the Company's results of operations. The finalization of the purchase accounting assessment may result in a change in the valuation of assets acquired and liabilities assumed and may have a material impact on the Company's results of operations and financial position. The following is a preliminary estimate of the assets acquired and the liabilities assumed by the Company at the date of the acquisition: In thousands Accounts receivable $ 25,182 Inventories 17,313 Prepaid expenses and other current assets 2,382 Property, plant and equipment 40,902 Goodwill (Note 6) 130,991 Other intangible assets (Note 6) 106,900 Other assets 308 Total assets acquired, net of cash acquired $ 323,978 Current liabilities (11,319 ) Deferred tax liabilities (Note 14) (24,904 ) Benefit plan liabilities (Note 10) (18,352 ) Other long-term liabilities (1,031 ) Total liabilities assumed (55,606 ) Total purchase price, net of cash acquired $ 268,372 The following table reflects the unaudited pro forma operating results of the Company for the year ended December 31, 2018 and 2017 , which gives effect to the acquisition of Interface as if it had occurred on January 1, 2017. The pro forma information includes the historical financial results of the Company and Interface. The pro forma results are not necessarily indicative of the operating results that would have occurred had the acquisition been effective January 1, 2017, nor are they intended to be indicative of results that may occur in the future. The pro forma information does not include the effects of any synergies related to the acquisition. For The Years Ended (Unaudited Pro Forma) (Unaudited In thousands 2018 2017 Net Sales $ 888,355 $ 840,040 Net Income $ 34,896 $ 36,619 Earnings per share: Basic $ 2.03 $ 2.15 Diluted $ 2.01 $ 2.11 Pro forma adjustments to the historical financial statements during the year ended December 31, 2018 resulted in an additional $4.5 million of net income. Earnings were adjusted to exclude items such as acquisition related expenses for both Lydall and Interface, purchase accounting adjustments for inventory step-up and tax valuation allowance expenses. Earnings for the year ended December 31, 2018 were adjusted to include items such as additional intangibles amortization expense and additional interest expense associated with borrowings under the Company's Amended Credit Facility. Pro forma adjustments during the year ended December 31, 2017 reduced net income by $14.0 million . Earnings for the year ended December 31, 2017 were adjusted to include items such as acquisition related expenses for both Lydall and Interface, additional intangibles amortization expense, purchase accounting adjustments for inventory step-up and additional interest expense associated with borrowings under the Company's Amended Credit Facility. Earnings were adjusted to exclude items such as Interface management fee expenses and tax valuation allowance expenses. On July 12, 2018, the Company acquired certain assets and assumed certain liabilities of the Precision Filtration division of Precision Custom Coatings ("PCC") based in Totowa, NJ. Precision Filtration is a producer of high-quality, air filtration media principally serving the commercial and residential HVAC markets with a range of low efficiency through high-performing air filtration media. The Company acquired the assets and liabilities of PCC for $1.6 million in cash with additional cash payments of up to $2.0 million to be made based on the achievement of certain future financial targets through 2022. PCC had a minimal impact on the Company's sales and operating income from the date of the acquisition and the year ended December 31, 2018 . On December 31, 2016, the Company completed an acquisition of the nonwoven needle punch materials businesses, which include MGF Gutsche & Co GmbH KG, FRG and Gutsche Environmental Technology (Yixing) Co. Ltd., China, operating under Gutsche (“Gutsche”), a German based corporation. The Gutsche operations manufacture nonwoven needle punch materials and predominantly serve the industrial filtration and high performance nonwoven markets. The Company acquired one hundred percent of Gutsche for $57.6 million , net of a receivable of $3.0 million related to an estimated post-closing purchase price adjustment. In the second quarter of 2017, the Company finalized the post closing adjustment resulting in an increase in the purchase price of $0.4 million resulting in a final purchase price of $58.0 million . On July 7, 2016, the Company completed an acquisition of the nonwoven and coating materials businesses primarily operating under Texel from ADS, a Canadian based corporation. The Texel operations manufacture nonwoven needle punch materials and predominantly serve the geosynthetic, liquid filtration, and other industrial markets. The Company acquired one hundred percent of Texel for $102.7 million in cash, including a post-closing working capital adjustment. As part of the acquisition, the Company acquired a fifty percent interest in a joint venture, Afitex Texel Geosynthetiques, Inc., with a fair value of $0.6 million . The joint venture is accounted for under the equity method of accounting.

Inventories

Inventories	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018
Inventory Disclosure [Abstract]
Inventories	Inventories Inventories as of December 31, 2018 and 2017 were as follows: December 31, In thousands 2018 2017 Raw materials $ 37,731 $ 28,672 Work in process 18,296 29,427 Finished goods 28,438 23,901 84,465 82,000 Less: Progress billings — (1,661 ) Total inventories $ 84,465 $ 80,339 Included in work in process is gross tooling inventory of $4.3 million and $20.2 million at December 31, 2018 and 2017 , respectively. Tooling inventory, net of progress billings, was $18.5 million at December 31, 2017 . Effective January 1, 2018 the Company adopted ASC 606, Revenue from Contracts from Customers, under the modified retrospective transition method. The adoption of ASC 606 resulted in the reclassification of progress billings to contract liabilities. See Note 2, Revenue from Contracts with Customers, for further discussion of contract liabilities.

Property, Plant and Equipment,

Property, Plant and Equipment, Net	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018
Property, Plant and Equipment [Abstract]
Property, Plant and Equipment, Net	Property, Plant and Equipment, Net Property, plant and equipment as of December 31, 2018 and 2017 were as follows: Estimated Useful Lives December 31, In thousands 2018 2017 Land – $ 6,280 $ 4,289 Buildings and improvements 10-35 years 104,036 84,337 Machinery and equipment 5-25 years 289,059 254,881 Office equipment 2-8 years 36,110 33,880 Vehicles 3-6 years 1,640 1,706 Assets under capital leases: Land – 228 241 Buildings and improvements 10-35 years 229 221 Machinery and equipment 5-25 years 1,005 1,051 Office equipment 2-8 years 32 34 438,619 380,640 Accumulated depreciation (244,098 ) (226,581 ) Accumulated depreciation of capital leases (608 ) (239 ) 193,913 153,820 Construction in progress 19,456 16,512 Total property, plant and equipment, net $ 213,369 $ 170,332 Depreciation expense was $23.4 million in 2018 , $21.4 million in 2017 , and $17.8 million in 2016 .

Goodwill and Long-Lived Assets

Goodwill and Long-Lived Assets	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018
Goodwill and Intangible Assets Disclosure [Abstract]
Goodwill and Long-Lived Assets	Goodwill and Long-Lived Assets Gross and net carrying amounts of goodwill at December 31, 2018 and 2017 were as follows: In thousands Performance Materials Technical Nonwovens Thermal Acoustical Solutions Totals Goodwill $ 13,307 $ 55,662 $ 12,160 $ 81,129 Accumulated amortization/impairment — — (12,160 ) (12,160 ) Balance at December 31, 2017 13,307 55,662 — 68,969 Goodwill 144,626 52,337 12,160 209,123 Accumulated amortization/impairment — — (12,160 ) (12,160 ) Balance at December 31, 2018 $ 144,626 $ 52,337 $ — $ 196,963 The changes in the carrying amounts of goodwill in 2018 and 2017 were as follows: In thousands Performance Materials Technical Nonwovens Totals Balance at January 1, 2017 $ 12,777 $ 50,829 $ 63,606 Goodwill addition — 323 323 Currency translation adjustment 530 4,510 5,040 Balance at December 31, 2017 13,307 55,662 68,969 Goodwill addition 131,509 — 131,509 Currency translation adjustment (190 ) (3,325 ) (3,515 ) Balance at December 31, 2018 $ 144,626 $ 52,337 $ 196,963 Goodwill Associated with Acquisitions and Divestitures The additional goodwill of $131.5 million in 2018 within the Performance Materials segment results from the two acquisitions completed in the third quarter of 2018. The Interface acquisition accounted for $131.0 million of the $131.5 million increase. The amount allocated to goodwill is reflective of the benefits the Company expects to realize from the expansion of the Company's engineered materials offering, new product development and Interface's assembled workforce. None of the goodwill associated with the Interface acquisition is expected to be deductible for income tax purposes. The additional goodwill of $0.3 million in 2017 within the Technical Nonwovens segment is the result of the final post-closing adjustments related to the acquisition of Gutsche on December 31, 2016. Goodwill Impairment Testing During the fourth quarter of 2018 , the Company performed its annual impairment analysis of the $144.6 million of goodwill in the Performance Materials reporting unit (PM reporting unit) and $52.3 million in the Technical Nonwovens reporting unit (TNW reporting unit). The Company used the qualitative method to analyze the goodwill for the PM reporting unit by considering capital markets environment, economic conditions, industry trends, results of operations, and other factors. The Company also considered changes in assumptions used in the Company's most recent quantitative annual testing, including results of operations, the magnitude of excess of fair value over carrying value and other factors. As a result of this qualitative analysis, the Company concluded that the PM reporting unit's fair value more likely than not exceeds its carrying value and as a result, the two-step impairment assessment is not required to be completed. To periodically supplement historical qualitative assessments, the Company also performed the two-step impairment test for the TNW reporting unit. In performing step one of the impairment analysis, a quantitative valuation of the fair value of the reporting unit was completed utilizing both an income approach and a market approach. The income approach involved determining the present value of future cash flows from the TNW reporting unit's projected financial results for 2019-2021 and the projected cash flows beyond that three year period computed as the terminal value. The Company believes the income approach was appropriate because it provided a fair value estimate based upon the reporting unit's expected long-term operations and cash flow performance. In applying the market approach, valuation multiples were derived from historic operating data of selected guideline companies, which were evaluated and adjusted, if necessary. The valuation multiples were then applied to the appropriate operating data of the TNW reporting unit to arrive at an indication of fair value. The Company believes the market approach was appropriate because it provided a fair value using multiples from companies with operations and economic characteristics similar to the TNW reporting unit. As a result of the step-one quantitative assessment, the Company concluded that the TNW reporting unit had a fair value in excess of its carrying value and as a result, step two of the impairment test was not required. Other Intangible Assets The table below presents the gross carrying amount and, as applicable, the accumulated amortization of the Company’s acquired intangible assets other than goodwill included in “Other intangible assets, net” in the Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2018 and 2017 : December 31, 2018 December 31, 2017 In thousands Gross Carrying Amount Accumulated Amortization Gross Carrying Amount Accumulated Amortization Amortized intangible assets Customer relationships $ 141,455 $ (11,453 ) $ 39,474 $ (4,460 ) Patents 4,333 (3,816 ) 4,504 (3,821 ) Technology 2,500 (810 ) 2,500 (644 ) Trade names 7,235 (2,840 ) 4,288 (1,461 ) License agreements 619 (619 ) 640 (640 ) Other 561 (561 ) 586 (423 ) Total amortized intangible assets $ 156,703 $ (20,099 ) $ 51,992 $ (11,449 ) I n connection with the acquisition of Interface on August 31, 2018, the Company recorded intangible assets of $106.9 million , which included $103.7 million of customer relationships and $3.2 million of trade names. As of December 31, 2018, the weighted average useful lives of Interface's intangible assets was 12 years. Amortization of all intangible assets for the years ended December 31, 2018 , 2017 , and 2016 was $9.3 million , $4.5 million , and $1.5 million , respectively. Estimated amortization expense for intangible assets is expected to be $21.4 million , $20.8 million , $16.4 million , $14.4 million and $12.7 million for each of the years ending December 31, 2019 through 2023 and thereafter, respectively. As of December 31, 2018 , the weighted average useful life of intangible assets was approximately 11 years. Impairment of Long-Lived Assets During the first quarter of 2017, the Company tested for impairment a discrete long-lived asset group in the Performance Materials segment with a carrying value of $1.3 million , as a result of indicators of possible impairment. To determine the recoverability of this asset group, the Company completed an undiscounted cash flow analysis and compared it to the asset group carrying value. This analysis was primarily dependent on the expectations for net sales over the estimated remaining useful life of the underlying asset group. The impairment test concluded that the asset group was not recoverable as the resulting undiscounted cash flows were less than their carrying amount. Accordingly, the Company determined the fair value of the asset group to assess if there was an impairment. Determining fair value is judgmental in nature and requires the use of significant estimates and assumptions considered to be Level 3 inputs. To determine the estimated fair value of the asset group the Company used the market approach. Under the market approach, the determination of fair value considered market conditions including an independent appraisal of the components of the asset group. The estimated fair value of the asset group was $0.5 million , below its carrying value of $1.3 million , which resulted in a long-lived asset impairment charge of $0.8 million included in selling, product development and administrative expenses during 2017.

Long-term Debt and Financing Ar

Long-term Debt and Financing Arrangements	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018
Debt Disclosure [Abstract]
Long-term Debt and Financing Arrangements	Long-term Debt and Financing Arrangements On August 31, 2018, the Company amended and restated its $175 million senior secured revolving credit agreement ("Amended Credit Agreement") that increased the available borrowing from $175 million to $450 million , added three additional lenders and extended the maturity date from July 7, 2021 to August 31, 2023. Under the terms of the Amended Credit Agreement, the lenders are providing up to a $450 million credit facility (the “Facility”) to the Company, under which the lenders provided a term loan commitment of $200 million and revolving loans and issue letters of credit to or for the benefit of the Company and its subsidiaries of up to $250 million. The Facility may be increased by an aggregate amount not to exceed $150 million through an accordion feature, subject to specified conditions. The Facility is secured by substantially all of the assets of the Company. Interest is charged on borrowings at the Company’s option of either: (i) Base Rate plus the Applicable Rate, or (ii) the Eurodollar Rate plus the Applicable Rate. The Base Rate is a fluctuating rate equal to the highest of (a) the federal funds rate plus 0.50% , (b) the prime rate as set by Bank of America, and (c) the Eurocurrency Rate plus 1.00% . The Eurocurrency Rate means (i) if denominated in LIBOR quoted currency, a fluctuating LIBOR per annum rate equal to the London Interbank Offered Rate; (ii) if denominated in Canadian Dollars, the rate per annum equal to the Canadian Dollar Offered Rate; or (iii) the rate per annum as designated with respect to such alternative currency at the time such alternative currency is approved by the Lenders. The Applicable Rate is determined based on the Company’s Consolidated Leverage Ratio (as defined in the Amended Credit Agreement). The Applicable Rate added to the Base Rate Committed Loans ranges from 0.00% to 1.25% , and the Applicable Rate added to Eurocurrency Rate Committed Loans and Letters of Credit ranges from 0.75% to 2.00% . The Company pays a quarterly fee ranging from 0.15% to 0.275% on the unused portion of the revolving commitment. The Company has entered into multiple interest rate swaps to convert a portion of the Company's one-month LIBOR-based borrowings from a variable rate to a fixed rate. See Note 8. The Company is permitted to prepay term and revolving borrowings in whole or in part at any time without premium or penalty, subject to certain minimum payment requirements, and the Company is generally permitted to irrevocably cancel unutilized portions of the revolving commitments under the Amended Credit Agreement. The Company is required to repay the term commitment in an amount of $2.5 million per quarter beginning with the quarter ending December 31, 2018 through the quarter ending June 30, 2023. The Amended Credit Agreement contains covenants required of the Company and its subsidiaries, including various affirmative and negative financial and operational covenants. The Company is required to meet certain quarterly financial covenants calculated from the four fiscal quarters most recently ended, including: (i) a minimum consolidated fixed charge coverage ratio, which requires that at the end of each fiscal quarter the ratio of (a) consolidated EBITDA to (b) the sum of consolidated interest charges, redemptions, non-financed maintenance capital expenditures, restricted payments and taxes paid, each as defined in the Amended Credit Agreement, may not be lower than 1.25 to 1.0; and (ii) a consolidated net leverage ratio, which requires that at the end of each fiscal quarter the ratio of consolidated funded indebtedness minus consolidated domestic cash to consolidated EBITDA, as defined in the Amended Credit Agreement, may not be greater than 3.5 to 1.0. The Company was in compliance with all covenants at December 31, 2018 . At December 31, 2018 , the Company had borrowing availability of $108.1 million under the Amended Credit Facility net of $138.0 million of revolving loan borrowings outstanding and standby letters of credit outstanding of $3.9 million . In addition to the amounts outstanding under the Amended Credit Facility, the Company has various acquired foreign credit facilities totaling approximately $8.2 million . At December 31, 2018 , the Company's foreign subsidiaries had $2.2 million in standby letters of credit outstanding. The Company also has capital lease agreements for machinery and equipment at multiple operations requiring monthly principal and interest payments through 2020. Total outstanding debt consists of: December 31, In thousands Effective Rate Maturity 2018 2017 Revolver Loan 4.15% 8/31/2023 $ 138,000 $ 76,600 Term Loan, net of debt issuance costs 4.15% 8/31/2023 186,498 — Capital Leases 1.65% - 2.09% 2019 - 2020 315 590 324,813 77,190 Less portion due within one year (10,172 ) (277 ) Total long-term debt $ 314,641 $ 76,913 As of December 31, 2018 , total debt maturing in 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, and 2023 is $10.2 million , $9.9 million , $9.9 million , $9.9 million , and $284.9 million , respectively. The weighted average interest rate on long-term debt was 3.4% for the year ended December 31, 2018 , compared with 2.2% and 1.4% for the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016 , respectively. The carrying value of the Company’s $450 million Facility approximates fair value given the variable rate nature of the debt. The fair values of the Company’s long-term debt are determined using discounted cash flows based upon the Company’s estimated current interest cost for similar type borrowings or current market value, which falls under Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy.

Derivatives

Derivatives	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018
Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities Disclosure [Abstract]
Derivatives	Derivatives The Company selectively uses financial instruments to manage market risk associated with exposure to fluctuations in interest rates and foreign currency rates. These financial exposures are monitored and managed by the Company as an integral part of its risk management program. The Company’s interest rate exposure is most sensitive to fluctuations in interest rates in the United States and Europe, which impact interest paid on its debt. The Company has debt with variable rates of interest based generally on LIBOR. From time to time, the Company may enter into interest rate swap agreements to manage interest rate risk. These instruments are designated as cash flow hedges and are recorded at fair value using Level 2 observable market inputs. Derivative instruments are recognized as either assets or liabilities on the balance sheet in either current or non-current other assets or other accrued liabilities or other long-term liabilities depending upon maturity and commitment. For derivative instruments that are designated and qualify as a cash flow hedge, the effective portion of the gain or loss on the derivative is reported as a component of other comprehensive income and reclassified into earnings in the same period or periods in which the hedge transaction affects earnings. Any ineffective portion, or amounts related to contracts that are not designated as hedges, are recorded directly to earnings. The Company's policy for classifying cash flows from derivatives is to report the cash flows consistent with the underlying hedged item. The Company does not use derivatives for speculative or trading purposes. In November 2018, the Company entered into a five year interest rate swap agreement with a bank which converts the interest on a notional $139.0 million of the Company's one-month LIBOR-based borrowings under its Amended Credit Agreement from a variable rate, plus the borrowing spread, to a fixed rate of 3.09% plus the borrowing spread. The notional amount reduces quarterly by fluctuating amounts through August 2023. In April 2017, the Company entered into a three -year interest rate swap agreement with a bank which converts the interest on a notional $60.0 million of the Company's one-month LIBOR-based borrowings under its Amended Credit Agreement from a variable rate, plus the borrowing spread, to a fixed rate of 1.58% plus the borrowing spread. The notional amount reduces quarterly by $5.0 million through March 31, 2020. These interest rate swap agreements were accounted for as cash flow hedges. Effectiveness of these derivative agreements are assessed quarterly by ensuring that the critical terms of the swaps continue to match the critical terms of the hedged debt. The following table sets forth the fair value amounts of derivative instruments held by the Company: December 31, 2018 December 31, 2017 In thousands Asset Derivatives Liability Derivatives Asset Derivatives Liability Derivatives Derivatives designated as hedging instruments: Interest rate contracts $ 179 $ 2,738 $ 157 $ — Total derivatives $ 179 $ 2,738 $ 157 $ — The following table sets forth the income, recorded in accumulated other comprehensive income, net of tax, for the quarters and years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017 for derivatives held by the Company and designated as hedging instruments: Quarters Ended December 31, Years Ended 2018 2017 2018 2017 Cash flow hedges: Interest rate contracts $ (2,185 ) $ 129 $ (2,096 ) $ 122 $ (2,185 ) $ 129 $ (2,096 ) $ 122

Capital Stock

Capital Stock	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018
Equity [Abstract]
Capital Stock	Capital Stock Preferred Stock — The Company has authorized Preferred Stock with a par value of $0.01 . None of the 500,000 authorized shares have been issued. Common Stock — As of December 31, 2018 , 8,384 Lydall stockholders of record held 17,555,672 shares of Common Stock. Dividend policy — The Company does not pay a cash dividend on its common stock. The Company’s Amended Credit Facility does not place any restrictions on cash dividend payments, so long as the payments do not place the Company in default.

Employer Sponsored Benefit Plan

Employer Sponsored Benefit Plans	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018
Retirement Benefits [Abstract]
Employer Sponsored Benefit Plans	Employer Sponsored Benefit Plans The Company maintains a domestic defined benefit pension plan ("U.S. Lydall Pension Plan") and acquired two domestic pension plans in the Interface acquisition ("Interface Pension Plans"), (collectively, "domestic defined benefit pension plans"). The U.S. Lydall Pension Plan covers certain domestic Lydall employees, is noncontributory and benefits are based on either years of service or eligible compensation paid while a participant is in a plan. The plan has been closed to new employees for several years and benefits under the pension plan are no longer accruing. During the fourth quarter of 2018, the Company authorized the termination of the U.S. Lydall Pension Plan under which approximately 900 participants, including 200 active employees, have accrued benefits. The Company anticipates completing the termination of this plan in 2019. At December 31, 2018, the benefit obligations have been valued at the amount expected to be required to settle the obligations, using assumptions regarding the portion of obligations expected to be settled through participant acceptance of lump sum payments or annuities and the cost to purchase those annuities. Overall, the Company estimates it will incur pension expense of approximately $29.0 million to $33.0 million in 2019 when the plan settlement is completed. Of that settlement amount, the Company is expected to make a one-time cash contribution of approximately $2.0 million to $4.0 million to purchase annuities for participants and make lump s um pa yments. The estimated expense is subject to change based on valuations at the actual date of settlement. The Interface Pension Plans cover Interface's union and non-union employees, the plans are closed to new employees and benefits are no longer accruing for the majority of participants. Certain union employees of Interface business participate in a multi-employer pension plan. Contributions to this multi-employer plan are required to be made monthly based upon the total monthly hours worked by the covered employees multiplied by the employer contribution rate published by the fund. Total contributions related to the multi-employer plan from the date of acquisition through December 31, 2018 were immaterial. As of the acquisition date, the Company remeasured the fair value of plan liabilities and funded status of the Interface Pension Plans. An underfunded liability of $11.2 million was included in benefit plan liabilities within the Company’s Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets. The Company also acquired Interface's domestic post-retirement benefit plan and recorded a liability of $4.1 million and German pension plans and recorded a liability of $2.9 million included in benefit plan liabilities within the Company’s Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets. The Interface post-retirement benefits include life insurance and medical benefits for certain domestic employees and these plans are closed to new employees. The German noncontributory plan is closed to new employees. The Company’s funding policy for all of its domestic defined benefit pension plans (US Lydall Pension plan and Interface Pension Plans) is to fund not less than the ERISA minimum funding standard and not more than the maximum amount that can be deducted for federal income tax purposes. Plan assets and benefit obligations of the domestic defined benefit pension plans were as follows: December 31, In thousands 2018 2017 Change in benefit obligation: Net benefit obligation at beginning of year $ 51,882 $ 50,086 Benefit obligation assumed through acquisition 52,392 — Service Cost 46 — Interest cost 2,595 2,058 Actuarial (gain)/loss (876 ) 2,126 Gross benefits paid (3,360 ) (2,388 ) Net benefit obligation at end of year $ 102,679 $ 51,882 Change in plan assets: Fair value of plan assets at beginning of year $ 44,174 $ 37,038 Fair value of plan assets through acquisition 43,230 — Actual (loss)/return on plan assets (4,092 ) 5,924 Contributions 7,500 3,600 Gross benefits paid (3,360 ) (2,388 ) Fair value of plan assets at end of year $ 87,452 $ 44,174 Net benefit obligation in excess of plan assets $ (15,227 ) $ (7,708 ) Balance sheet amounts: Current liabilities $ (3,078 ) $ — Noncurrent liabilities $ (12,149 ) $ (7,708 ) Total liabilities $ (15,227 ) $ (7,708 ) Amounts recognized in accumulated other comprehensive income, net of tax consist of: Net actuarial loss $ 21,850 $ 17,632 Net amount recognized $ 21,850 $ 17,632 At December 31, 2018 , in addition to the accrued benefit liability of $15.2 million recognized for the Company’s domestic defined benefit pension plans, the Company also had foreign pension plans with an accrued benefit liability of $4.7 million and accumulated other comprehensive loss, net of tax, of $0.4 million . At December 31, 2017 , in addition to the accrued benefit liability of $7.7 million recognized for the Company’s domestic defined benefit pension plan, the Company also had foreign regulatory labor agreements with an accrued benefit liability of $1.9 million and accumulated other comprehensive loss, net of tax, of $0.4 million . In addition to the domestic pension plans included in the table above, the Interface post-retirement benefits include life insurance and medical benefits for certain domestic employees with an accrued benefit liability of $4.1 million at December 31, 2018. From the August 31, 2018 acquisition to December 31, 2018, benefit expense of $0.1 million was recognized and benefit payments of $0.1 million were made from Company assets. The U.S. Lydall Pension Plan liability, net of tax, included in other comprehensive income increased by $1.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2018 . The Interface Pension Plans liability, net of tax, included in other comprehensive income increased by $1.8 million at December 31, 2018. The U.S. Lydall Pension Plan liability, net of tax, included in other comprehensive income increased by $2.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2017 . These changes are mainly due to changes in pension assumptions, primarily the discount rates. Aggregated information for the domestic defined benefit pension plans with an accumulated benefit obligation in excess of plan assets is provided in the tables below: December 31, In thousands 2018 2017 Projected benefit obligation $ 102,679 $ 51,882 Accumulated benefit obligation $ 104,188 $ 51,882 Fair value of plan assets $ 87,452 $ 44,174 Components of net periodic benefit cost for the domestic defined benefit pension plan: December 31, In thousands 2018 2017 2016 Service cost $ 46 $ — $ — Interest cost 2,595 2,058 2,139 Expected return on plan assets (3,339 ) (2,376 ) (2,419 ) Amortization of actuarial net loss 1,024 1,092 933 Total net periodic benefit cost $ 326 $ 774 $ 653 It is estimated that $0.5 million of actuarial net loss will be amortized from accumulated other comprehensive loss into net periodic benefit costs for the domestic defined benefit pension plans in 2019 . For the U.S. Lydall Pension Plan settlement loss of approximately $29.0 million to $33.0 million will also be expensed when the U.S. plan terminates in 2019. The major assumptions used in determining the year-end benefit obligation and annual net cost for the domestic defined benefit pension plans are presented in the following table: Benefit Obligation Net Cost For the years ended December 31, 2018 2017 2018 2017 2016 Discount rate 3.99 % 3.71 % 3.75 % 4.21 % 4.56 % Expected return on plan assets 4.08 % 5.80 % 5.79 % 6.30 % 7.00 % Plan Assets The domestic defined benefit pension plans are administered by the Lydall Retirement Committee (the "Committee"), which is appointed by the Board of Directors. The Committee’s responsibilities are to establish a funding policy for the domestic pension plans and to appoint and oversee the investment advisor responsible for the plan investments. The Committee is a named fiduciary under the plan, and the Committee has granted discretion to the investment advisor with respect to management of the investments. The assets of the U.S. Lydall Pension Plan are invested with the purpose to fund the plan termination which the Company anticipates completing in 2019. The Interface Pension Plans are invested for the purpose of investment diversification. In determining the expected return on plan assets, the Committee considers the relative weighting of plan assets, the historical performance of marketable debt and equity securities and economic and other indicators of future performance. Investment management objective for the U.S. Lydall Pension Plan is a liability driven strategy to lessen the risk prior to plan termination with liquidity of assets to match the expected plan termination lump sum and annuity payments in 2019. Investment management objectives for the Interface Pension Plans include maintaining an adequate level of diversification to balance market risk and to provide sufficient liquidity for near-term payments of benefits accrued under the Plan and to pay the expenses of administration. Investment decisions are based on the returns and risk relative to the Plan's liabilities, an approach commonly referred to as liability-driven investing. The long-term investment objective of the Interface Pension Plan is to achieve a total return equal to or greater than the assumed weighted rate of return, currently 4.08% . Though it is the intent of the Committee to achieve income and growth, that intent does not include taking extraordinary risks or engaging in investment activities not commonly considered prudent under the standards imposed by ERISA. The allowable investments include: securities, mutual funds, sub-advisers, independent investment managers and/or programs, and cash or cash equivalents. Prohibited investments include: single strategy hedge funds, investment in individual securities, direct investment in venture capital, CMO derivatives and commodities. The following table presents the target allocation of the domestic defined benefit pension plan assets for 2019 and the actual allocation of plan assets as of December 31, 2018 and 2017 by major asset category: Target Allocation Actual Allocation of Plan Assets Asset Category 2019 2018 2017 Domestic equities 11% - 32% 16 % 26 % International equities 5% - 24% 11 % 26 % Fixed income 30% - 69% 44 % 40 % U.S. government securities 2% - 13% 3 % — % Corporate and foreign bonds 2% - 13% 2 % — % Inflation hedge mutual funds 2% - 13% 3 % — % Hedge fund of funds 2% - 9% 5 % 7 % Cash and cash equivalents 0% - 32% 16 % 1 % Domestic and international equities consist primarily of mutual funds valued at the closing price reported in the active market in which individual securities are traded. Fixed income consists of mutual funds and a long duration f ixed income held in proprietary funds pooled with other investor accounts which use the net asset value (NAV) per share practical expedient to measure fair value. The fixed income mutual funds are valued using quoted market prices. Inflation hedge mutual funds invest primarily in a portfolio of inflation-protected debt securities, real-estate related securities and commodity/natural resource-related securities. The mutual fund is designed to protect against the long-term effects of inflation on an investment portfolio with the long-term objective of preservation of capital with current income. U.S. government securities include U.S. Treasury Notes and Bonds which represent middle range and long term fixed income investments. Corporate and foreign bonds primarily include a diversified portfolio of U.S. corporate debt obligations. Hedge funds are mutual funds and pooled funds that employ a range of investment strategies for diversification including equity and fixed income, credit driven, macro and multi oriented strategies. Certain hedge funds were measured at fair value using the NAV practical expedient and are not classified in the fair value hierar chy. Cash and cash equivalents include investments readily converted to cash valued in the active market in which the funds were traded and are classified within Level 1 of the fair value hierarchy. Non-government money market funds are classified as Level 2. The investments of the domestic defined benefit plans are stated at fair value. Fair value is the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. The asset’s fair value measurement level within the fair value hierarchy is based on the lowest level of any input that is significant to the fair value measurement. Valuation techniques used need to maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs. The framework for measuring fair value provides a fair value hierarchy that prioritizes the inputs to valuation techniques used to measure fair value. The hierarchy gives the highest priority to unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities (Level 1 measurements) and the lowest priority to unobservable inputs (Level 3 measurements). The fixed income long duration fund and certain hedge funds were measured at fair value using the NAV practical expedient and are included as a reconciling item to the fair value table. The following tables set forth the fair value of the assets by major asset category as of December 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017 : December 31, 2018 In thousands Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Measured at NAV Total Domestic equity $ 13,941 $ — $ — $ — $ 13,941 International equity 9,547 — — — 9,547 Fixed income 10,977 — — 27,727 38,704 U.S. government securities — 2,466 — — 2,466 Corporate and foreign bonds — 1,448 — — 1,448 Inflation hedge mutual funds 2,808 — — — 2,808 Hedge fund of funds 4,129 — — 312 4,441 Cash and cash equivalents 12,027 2,070 — — 14,097 Total Assets at Fair Value $ 53,429 $ 5,984 $ — $ 28,039 $ 87,452 December 31, 2017 In thousands Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Measured at NAV Total Domestic equity $ 11,577 $ — $ — $ — $ 11,577 International equity 11,626 — — — 11,626 Fixed income — — — 17,360 17,360 Hedge fund of funds — — — 3,054 3,054 Cash and cash equivalents 557 — — — 557 Total Assets at Fair Value $ 23,760 $ — $ — $ 20,414 $ 44,174 Estimated Future Contributions and Benefit Payments The Company expects to contribute approximately $3.5 million to $5.5 million in cash to its domestic defined benefit pension plans in 2019 . The U.S. Lydall pension plan is estimated to pay a partial year of benefits in 2019 as the U.S. plan is expected to terminate in 2019. The benefit payments for 2020 and thereafter only include benefit payments for the Interface Pension Plans. Estimated future benefit payments for the next 10 years for the domestic defined benefit pension plans are as follows: In thousands 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024-2028 Benefit payments $ 4,023 $ 3,099 $ 3,186 $ 3,241 $ 3,264 $ 16,995 Employee Savings Plan The Company also sponsors a 401(k) Plan. Employer contributions to this plan amounted to $2.9 million in 2018 , $2.6 million in 2017 , and $2.5 million in 2016 . Matching contributions by the Company are made on employee pretax contributions up to five percent of compensation, with the first three percent matched at 100% and the next two percent matched at 50% .

Equity Compensation Plans

Equity Compensation Plans	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018
Disclosure of Compensation Related Costs, Share-based Payments [Abstract]
Equity Compensation Plans	Equity Compensation Plans As of December 31, 2018 , the Company’s equity compensation plans consisted of the 2003 Stock Incentive Compensation Plan (the “2003 Plan”) and the 2012 Stock Incentive Plan (the “2012 Plan” and together with the 2003 Plan, the “Plans”) under which incentive and non-qualified stock options and time and performance based restricted shares have been granted to employees and directors from authorized but unissued shares of common stock or treasury shares. The 2003 Plan is not active, but continues to govern all outstanding awards granted under the plan until the awards themselves are exercised or terminate in accordance with their terms. The 2012 Plan, approved by stockholders on April 27, 2012, authorized 1,750,000 shares of common stock for awards. The 2012 Plan also authorizes an additional 1,200,000 shares of common stock to the extent awards granted under prior stock plans that were outstanding as of April 27, 2012 are forfeited. The 2012 Plan provides for the following type of awards: options, restricted stock, restricted stock units and other stock-based awards. The Company accounts for the expense of all share-based compensation by measuring the awards at fair value on the date of grant. The Company recognizes expense on a straight-line basis over the vesting period of the entire award. Options issued by the Company under its stock option plans have a term of ten years and generally vest ratably over a period of three to four years. Time-based restricted stock grants are expensed over the vesting period of the award, which is typically two to four years. The number of performance based restricted shares that vest or forfeit depend upon achievement of certain targets during the performance period. Prior to January 1, 2016, stock-based compensation expense included estimated effects of forfeitures. Upon adoption of ASU 2016-09, Improvements to Employee Share-Based Payment Accounting, in 2016, an accounting policy election was made to account for forfeitures as they occur. Compensation expense for performance based awards is recorded based upon the service period and management’s assessment of the pr obability of achieving the performance goals and will be adjusted based upon actual achievement. Stock options iss ued under the current plan must have an exercise price that may not be less than the fair market value of the Company’s Common Stock on the date of grant. The Plans provide for automatic acceleration of vesting in the event of a change in control of the Company. Upon the exercise of a stock option under the Plans, shares are issued from authorized shares or treasury shares held by the Company. The Company incurred compensation expense of $2.1 million , $4.3 million , and $4.4 million for the years ended December 31, 2018 , 2017 , and 2016 , respectively, for all stock-based compensation plans, including restricted stock awards. No compensation costs were capitalized as part of inventory. The associated tax benefit realized was $1.3 million , $4.0 million , and $1.9 million for the years ended December 31, 2018 , 2017 , and 2016 , respectivel y. Stock Options The fair value of each option granted was estimated on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model with the following weighted-average assumptions for the years ended December 31: 2018 2017 2016 Risk-free interest rate 2.7 % 2.2 % 1.8 % Expected life 5.5 years 5.5 years 5.5 years Expected volatility 34 % 33 % 42 % Expected dividend yield — % — % — % The following is a summary of the option activity as of December 31, 2018 and changes during the year then ended: In thousands except per share amounts and years Shares Weighted-Average Exercise Price Weighted- Average Remaining Contractual Term (years) Aggregate Intrinsic Value Outstanding at December 31, 2017 433 $ 33.37 Granted 246 $ 21.49 Exercised (54) $ 16.48 Forfeited/Cancelled (2) $ 36.08 Outstanding at December 31, 2018 623 $ 30.14 7.7 $ 734 Options exercisable at December 31, 2018 254 $ 29.36 5.8 $ 699 Unvested at December 31, 2018 369 $ 30.68 3.1 $ 35 The Company granted 245,830 , 99,840 , and 56,580 stock options during 2018 , 2017 , and 2016 , respectively. The weighted-average grant-date fair value of options granted during the years 2018 , 2017 , and 2016 was $21.49 , $17.91 , and $21.11 , respectively. There were 54,316 options exercised in 2018 , 90,897 options exercised in 2017 , and 76,333 options exercised in 2016 . The intrinsic value for options exercised during 2018 was $1.4 million and the associated tax benefit realized from stock options exercised was $0.3 million . The total intrinsic value for options exercised during 2017 was $3.6 million and the associated tax benefit realized from stock options exercised was $1.1 million . The total intrinsic value for options exercised during 2016 was $2.4 million and the associated tax benefit realized from stock options exercised was $0.7 million . The amount of cash received from the exercise of stock options was $0.9 million in 2018 , $1.3 million in 2017 , and $1.2 million in 2016 . At December 31, 2018 , the total unrecognized compensation cost related to non-vested stock option awards was approximately $4.0 million , with a weighted average expected amortization period of 3.1 years . Restricted Stock The following is a summary of the Company’s unvested restricted shares for the year ended and as of December 31, 2018 : In thousands except per share amounts Outstanding Restricted Shares Shares Weighted-Average Grant-Date Fair Value Nonvested at December 31, 2017 219 $ 44.77 Granted 172 $ 25.19 Vested (79) $ 31.26 Forfeited/Cancelled (8) $ 50.56 Nonvested December 31, 2018 304 $ 37.02 Restricted stock includes both performance-based and time-based awards. Compensation for restricted stock is recorded based on the fair market value of the stock on the grant date and amortized to expense over the vesting period of the award. The Company granted 99,560 , 52,595 , and 44,423 shares of performance-based restricted stock during 2018 , 2017 , and 2016 , respectively. The Company granted 71,516 shares of time-based restricted stock in 2018 , 22,700 shares in 2017 , and 31,455 in 2016 . The Company granted 1,245 , 485 , and 8,570 of time-based restricted stock units in 2018 , 2017 , and 2016 , respectively. The weighted average fair value per share of restricted stock granted was $25.19 , $45.18 , and $49.70 during 2018 , 2017 , and 2016 , respectively. During 2018 , 2017 , and 2016 , respectively, there were 8,440 , 14,045 and 33,800 shares of restricted stock forfeited. The fair value of awards for which restrictions lapsed during the years ended December 31, 2018 , 2017 , and 2016 was $3.2 million , $8.0 million , and $3.4 million , respectively. At December 31, 2018 , the total unrecognized compensation cost related to non-vested restricted stock awards was approximately $6.5 million , with a weighted average expected amortization period of 2.4 years . Stock Repurchases During the year ended December 31, 2018 , the Company acquired 23,581 shares of common stock valued at $1.0 million , through withholding, pursuant to provisions in agreements with recipients of restricted stock granted under the Company's equity compensation plans, which allow the Company to withhold the number of shares having fair value equal to each recipient's tax withholding due.

Restructuring

Restructuring	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018
Restructuring and Related Activities [Abstract]
Restructuring	Restructuring In April 2017, the Company commenced a restructuring plan in the Technical Nonwovens segment which includes plant consolidations and transfer of equipment to other facilities within the segment's Europe and China operations. The consolidation of certain plants, which is expected to conclude in 2019, is expected to reduce operating costs, increase efficiency and enhance the Company’s flexibility by better aligning its manufacturing footprint with the segment's customer base. Accordingly, the Company expects to record pre-tax expenses of approximately $4.2 million , in connection with this restructuring plan, of which approximately $3.7 million is expected to result in cash expenditures over the period of consolidation. The Company also expects to incur cash expenditures of approximately $3.8 million for capital expenditures associated with this plan. During the year ended December 31, 2018 , the Company recorded pre-tax restructuring expenses of $2.3 million as part of this restructuring plan. Restructuring expenses of $1.9 million were recorded in cost of sales and $0.4 million were recorded in selling, product development and administrative expenses. During the year ended December 31, 2017 , the Company recorded pre-tax restructuring expenses of $0.7 million as part of this restructuring plan. Restructuring expenses of $0.4 million were recorded in cost of sales and $0.3 million were recorded in selling, product development and administrative expenses. The Company expects to record approximately $1.2 million of restructuring expenses as part of the restructuring plan in 2019. Actual pre-tax expenses incurred and total estimated pre-tax expenses for the restructuring program by type are as follows: In thousands Severance and Related Expenses Contract Termination Expenses Facility Exit, Move and Set-up Expenses Total Total estimated expenses $ 1,250 $ 450 $ 2,500 $ 4,200 Expenses incurred during year ended: December 31, 2017 181 154 327 662 December 31, 2018 606 136 1,555 2,297 Estimated remaining expense at December 31, 2018 $ 463 $ 160 $ 618 $ 1,241 There were cash outflows of $2.2 million and $0.2 million for the restructuring program for the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively. Accrued restructuring costs were as follows at December 31, 2018 : In thousands Total Pre-tax restructuring expenses, excluding depreciation $ 510 Cash paid (177 ) Balance as of December 31, 2017 $ 333 Pre-tax restructuring expenses, excluding depreciation $ 2,012 Cash paid (2,198 ) Balance as of December 31, 2018 $ 147

Segment Information

Segment Information	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018
Segment Reporting [Abstract]
Segment Information	Segment Information The Company’s reportable segments as of December 31, 2018 were Performance Materials, Technical Nonwovens, Thermal Acoustical Solutions. On August 31, 2018, the Company acquired an engineered sealing materials business operating under Interface Performance Materials ("Interface"), based in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. A globally-recognized leader in the delivery of engineered sealing solutions, the Interface operations manufacture wet-laid gasket and specialty materials primarily serving OEM and Tier I manufacturers in the agriculture, construction, earthmoving, industrial, and automotive segments. The acquired business is included in the Company's Performance Materials operating segment. Effective September 30, 2018, as a result of the Interface acquisition, the Performance Materials segment changed the disaggregation of revenue at the product level to be categorized as "Filtration" and "Sealing and Advanced Solutions". Effective January 1, 2018, the Thermal/Acoustical Metals and Thermal/Acoustical Fibers operating segments were combined into a single operating segment named Thermal Acoustical Solutions. These automotive segments were combined into one segment to allow the Company to better serve its customers, leverage operating disciplines and drive efficiencies across the global automotive operations. Prior period segment amounts throughout the Notes to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements have been recast to reflect the new segment structures. The recast of historical business segment information had no impact on the consolidated financial results. Performance Materials Segment The Performance Materials segment includes filtration media solutions primarily for air, fluid power, life science and industrial applications (“Filtration”), and sealing and gasket solutions, thermal insulation, energy storage, and other engineered products (“Sealing and Advanced Solutions”). Filtration products include LydAir® MG (Micro-Glass) Air Filtration Media, LydAir® MB (Melt Blown) Air Filtration Media, LydAir® SC (Synthetic Composite) Air Filtration Media, and Arioso® Membrane Composite Media. These products constitute the critical media component of clean-air systems for applications in clean-space, commercial, industrial and residential HVAC, power generation, respiratory protection, and industrial processes. Lydall has leveraged its extensive technical expertise and applications knowledge into a suite of media products covering the vast liquid filtration landscape across the transportation and industrial fields. The LyPore® Liquid Filtration Media series address a variety of application needs in fluid power including hydraulic filters, air-water and air-oil coalescing, industrial fluid processes and diesel fuel filtration. LyPore® media and Solupor® ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene membranes also serve critical liquid filtration/separation applications such as biopharmaceutical pre-filtration and clarification, lateral flow diagnostic and analytical testing, potable water filtration and high purity process filtration such as those found in food and beverage and medical applications. Sealing and Advanced Solutions products include nonwoven specialty engineered materials for a multitude of applications. Interface fiber-reinforced gasket materials serve the heavy-duty diesel, automobile, small engine, transmission and compressor markets. These products handle demanding sealing challenges with a diverse range of metallic, non-metallic, rubber-coated and laminate materials that comprise the extensive Sealing materials portfolio. Interface Engineered Components are ready to use soft and hard gasket parts sold directly to OEMs and aftermarket applications. An example is Select-a-Seal® rubber-edged composite (REC) technology that provides robust sealing, compression, adhesion, and shear strength for driveline applications. Advanced Solutions’ nonwoven veils, papers and specialty composites for the building products, appliance, energy and industrial markets include Manniglas® Thermal Insulation Papers, and Lytherm® Insulation Media for high temperature technology applications. Lydall’s Cryotherm® Super-Insulating Media, CRS-Wrap® Super-Insulating Media and Cryo-Lite® Cryogenic Insulation products are industry standards for state-of-the-art cryogenic insulation designs used by manufacturers of cryogenic equipment for liquid gas storage, piping, and transportation. Additional specialty composite materials include specialty fiber calendar bowl products to service the printing and textile industries and press pad materials for industrial lamination processes. Technical Nonwovens Segment The Technical Nonwovens segment primarily produces needle punch nonwoven solutions for a multitude of industries and applications. Products are manufactured and sold globally under the leading brands of Lydall Industrial Filtration, Southern Felt, Gutsche, and Texel. Industrial Filtration products include nonwoven rolled-good felt media and filter bags used primarily in industrial air and liquid filtration applications. Nonwoven filter media is an effective solution to satisfy increasing emission control regulations in a wide range of industries, including power, cement, steel, asphalt, incineration, mining, food, and pharmaceutical. Advanced Materials products include nonwoven rolled-good media used in commercial applications and predominantly serves the geosynthetics, automotive, industrial, medical, and safety apparel markets. Automotive media is provided to Tier I/II suppliers as well as the Company's Thermal Acoustical Solutions segment. Technical Nonwovens segment products include air and liquid filtration media sold under the brand names Fiberlox® high performance filtration felts, Checkstatic™ conductive filtration felts, Microfelt® high efficiency filtration felts, Pleatlox® pleatable filtration felts, Ultratech™ PTFE filtration felts, Powertech® and Powerlox® power generation filtration felts, Microcap® high efficiency liquid filtration felts, Duotech membrane composite filtration felts, along with our porotex® family of high temperature filtration felts including microvel® and optivel® products. Technical Nonwovens Advanced Materials products are sold under the brand names Thermofit® thermo-formable products, Ecoduo® recycled content materials, Duotex® floor protection products, and Versaflex® composite molding materials. Technical Nonwovens also offers extensive finishing and coating capabilities which provide custom engineered properties tailored to meet the most demanding applications. The business leverages a wide range of fiber types and extensive technical capabilities to provide products that meet our customers’ needs across a variety of applications providing both high performance and durability. Thermal Acoustical Solutions Segment The Thermal Acoustical Solutions segment offers a full range of innovative engineered products tailored for the transportation and industrial sectors to thermally shield sensitive components from high heat, improve exhaust gas treatment and lower harmful emissions as well as assist in the reduction of noise, vibration and harshness (NVH). Within the transportation sector, Lydall’s products are found in the interior (dash insulators, cabin flooring), underbody (wheel well, aerodynamic belly pan, fuel tank, exhaust, tunnel, spare tire) and under hood (engine compartment, outer dash, powertrain, catalytic converter, turbo charger, manifolds) of cars, trucks, SUVs, heavy duty trucks and recreational vehicles. Thermal Acoustical Solutions segment products offer thermal and acoustical insulating solutions comprised of organic and inorganic fiber composites that provide weight reduction, superior noise suppression and increased durability over conventional designs, as well as products that efficiently combine multiple layers of metal and thermal - acoustical insulation media to provide an engineered shielding solution for an array of application areas. Lydall’s dBCore® is a lightweight acoustical composite that emphasizes absorption principles over heavy-mass type systems. Lydall’s dBLyte® is a high-performance acoustical barrier with sound absorption and blocking properties and can be used throughout a vehicle’s interior to minimize intrusive noise from an engine compartment and road. Lydall’s ZeroClearance® is an innovative thermal solution that utilizes an adhesive backing for attachment and is used to protect vehicle components from excessive heat. Lydall’s flux® product family includes several patented or IP-rich products that address applications which include: Direct Exhaust Mount heat shields, which are assembled to high temperature components like catalytic converters, turbochargers or exhaust manifolds using aluminized and stainless steel and high performance and high temperature heat insulating materials; Powertrain heat shields that absorb noise at the source and do not contribute to the engine's noise budget; and durable, thermally robust solutions for temperature sensitive plastic components such as fuel tanks that are in proximity to high temperature heat sources. Net sales by segment, as well as reconciling items, to equal consolidated net sales for the years ended December 31, 2018 , 2017 , and 2016 were as follows: Consolidated Net Sales For the Years Ended December 31, In thousands 2018 2017 2016 Performance Materials Segment (1) : Filtration $ 93,089 $ 87,173 $ 83,345 Sealing and Advanced Solutions 76,128 29,496 27,783 Performance Materials Segment net sales 169,217 116,669 111,128 Technical Nonwovens Segment (2),(3) : Industrial Filtration 157,606 147,087 90,415 Advanced Materials (4) 119,465 121,990 65,090 Technical Nonwovens net sales 277,071 269,077 155,505 Thermal Acoustical Solutions Segment: Parts 328,057 318,217 298,016 Tooling 37,370 23,888 23,176 Thermal Acoustical Solutions Segment net sales 365,427 342,105 321,192 Eliminations and Other (4) (25,818 ) (29,414 ) (20,973 ) Consolidated Net Sales $ 785,897 $ 698,437 $ 566,852 Operating income by segment and Corporate Office Expenses for the years ended December 31, 2018 , 2017 , and 2016 were as follows: Operating Income For the Years Ended December 31, In thousands 2018 2017 (5) 2016 (5) Performance Materials Segment (1) $ 13,139 $ 12,321 $ 12,574 Technical Nonwovens Segment (2),(3) 21,323 26,047 15,584 Thermal Acoustical Solutions Segment 38,085 53,132 53,072 Corporate Office Expenses (23,359 ) (25,300 ) (25,785 ) Consolidated Operating Income $ 49,188 $ 66,200 $ 55,445 Operating results in 2018 were negatively impacted by $3.6 million of corporate strategic initiatives expenses predominantly within Corporate Office Expenses, $2.3 million of restructuring expenses in the Technical Nonwovens segment, and a $2.0 million purchase accounting adjustment related to inventory step-up in the Performance Materials segment. Operating results in 2017 were negatively impacted by $1.7 million of expenses associated with the combination of the Company's former T/A Metals and T/A Fibers segments, a $1.1 million purchase accounting adjustment related to inventory step-up in the Technical Nonwovens segment, $0.7 million and $0.3 million related to severance expenses for a reduction in force in the Thermal Acoustical Solutions and Technical Nonwovens segments, respectively, $0.8 million of corporate strategic initiatives expenses predominantly within Corporate Office Expenses, a $0.8 million non-cash long-lived asset impairment in the Performance Materials segments and $0.7 million of restructuring expenses in the Technical Nonwovens segment. Operating results in 2016 were negatively impacted by $3.7 million of acquisition related expenses within Corporate Office Expenses, $3.5 million related to a settlement with the German Cartel Office in the Thermal Acoustical Solutions segment and a $2.0 million purchase accounting adjustment related to inventory step-up in the Technical Nonwovens segment. Total assets by segment and the Corporate Office were as follows at December 31, 2018 , 2017 , and 2016 : Total Assets December 31, In thousands 2018 2017 2016 Performance Materials Segment (1) $ 414,211 $ 72,837 $ 66,965 Technical Nonwovens Segment (2),(3) 242,007 271,713 268,104 Thermal Acoustical Solutions Segment 201,509 189,301 166,591 Corporate Office 14,959 27,020 25,369 Total Assets $ 872,686 $ 560,871 $ 527,029 Total capital expenditures and depreciation and amortization by segment and the Corporate Office for the years ended December 31, 2018 , 2017 , and 2016 were as follows: Capital Expenditures Depreciation and Amortization In thousands 2018 2017 2016 2018 2017 2016 Performance Materials Segment (1) $ 11,288 $ 3,610 $ 4,098 $ 9,006 $ 3,996 $ 4,028 Technical Nonwovens Segment (2),(3) 5,864 2,903 1,248 13,877 12,625 6,791 Thermal Acoustical Solutions Segment 11,934 17,462 22,324 9,190 8,619 7,605 Corporate Office 544 940 489 658 699 977 Total $ 29,630 $ 24,915 $ 28,159 $ 32,731 $ 25,939 $ 19,401 Net sales by geographic area for the years ended December 31, 2018 , 2017 and 2016 and long-lived asset information by geographic area as of December 31, 2018 , 2017 , and 2016 were as follows: Net Sales Long-Lived Assets In thousands 2018 2017 2016 2018 2017 2016 United States (1) $ 422,222 $ 376,086 $ 354,371 $ 136,448 $ 93,583 $ 88,918 France (1) 66,579 56,214 52,042 13,219 14,268 12,692 Germany (1),(3) 125,796 105,828 63,301 25,873 20,872 15,649 United Kingdom 27,156 24,921 23,871 4,844 4,916 4,903 Canada (2) 87,622 84,701 40,871 25,614 30,739 30,911 China (1),(3) 54,198 47,856 30,361 11,958 11,896 11,996 Other (1) 2,324 2,831 2,035 4,085 1,590 1,301 Total $ 785,897 $ 698,437 $ 566,852 $ 222,041 $ 177,864 $ 166,370 (1) The Performance Materials segment includes the results of Interface and PCC for the periods following the dates of acquisitions of August 31, 2018 and July 12, 2018, respectively. (2) Technical Nonwovens segment includes results of Texel for the period following the date of acquisition of July 7, 2016. (3) Technical Nonwovens segment includes results of Gutsche as of the acquisition date of December 31, 2016. (4) Included in the Technical Nonwovens segment and Eliminations and Other is $22.2 million , $26.5 million and $18.2 million of intercompany sales to the Thermal Acoustical Solutions segment for the years ended December 31, 2018 , 2017 and 2016 , respectively. (5) For the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016 $0.8 million and $0.7 million , respectively, have been reclassified from operating income to other expense (income), net, to give effect to the adoption of ASU No. 2017-07, "Compensation - Retirement Benefits (Topic 715): Improving the Presentation of Net Periodic Pension Cost and Net Periodic Postretirement Benefit Cost". Foreign sales are based on the country in which the sales originated (i.e., where the Company’s legal entity is domiciled). Sales to Ford Motor Company in 2018 , 2017 , and 2016 were $116.1 million , $120.7 million , and $110.9 million , respectively, and accounted for 14.8% , 17.3% , and 19.6% of Lydall’s net sales in the years ended December 31, 2018 , 2017 , and 2016 , respectively. These sales were reported in the Thermal Acoustical Solutions segment. No other customers accounted for more than 10.0% of total net sales in 2018 , 2017 , and 2016 .

Income Taxes

Income Taxes	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]
Income Taxes	Income Taxes On December 22, 2017, the United States enacted significant changes to U.S. tax law following the passage and signing of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (the "Tax Reform Act"). During the year ended December 31, 2017, the Company followed guidance in Staff Accounting Bulletin No.118 ("SAB 118"), which provided a measurement period, not to exceed one year from the enactment of the Tax Reform Act, and recorded a provisional benefit of $3.7 million related to the revaluation of deferred tax assets and liabilities, the one-time mandatory repatriation of foreign earnings, and legislative changes to 162(m). During the year ended December 31, 2018, the Company evaluated interpretations and additional regulatory guidance and adjusted the provisional tax reform benefit by recording tax expense of $0.7 million . As of December 31, 2018, the Company has completed its accounting for the Tax Reform Act as described in SAB 118. In 2019, the Company will continue to review and incorporate updates related to forthcoming U.S. Treasury Regulations and other interpretive guidance and determine any impacts to the Company. The provision for income taxes consists of the following: For the years ended December 31, In thousands 2018 2017 2016 Current: Federal $ 3,739 $ 11,526 $ 15,376 State 498 956 1,513 Foreign 3,788 2,425 2,104 Total Current $ 8,025 $ 14,907 $ 18,993 Deferred: Federal $ 2,646 $ (2,472 ) $ (594 ) State 380 256 601 Foreign (2,598 ) (717 ) (1,179 ) Total Deferred 428 (2,933 ) (1,172 ) Provision for income taxes $ 8,453 $ 11,974 $ 17,821 The following is a reconciliation of the difference between the actual provision for income taxes and the provision computed by applying the federal statutory tax rate on earnings: For the years ended December 31, 2018 2017 2016 Statutory federal income tax rate 21.0 % 35.0 % 35.0 % State income taxes 1.6 1.6 2.1 Valuation allowances for deferred tax assets, including state (1.3 ) 0.1 1.3 Research and development credits (1.3 ) (1.0 ) (1.2 ) Capitalized transaction costs 0.6 — 0.7 Domestic production activities deduction — (1.8 ) (2.7 ) Stock based compensation (0.7 ) (4.4 ) (2.1 ) German Cartel settlement — — 2.2 Foreign income taxed at lower rates (1.6 ) (2.8 ) (3.5 ) Reserves for uncertain tax positions — (1.7 ) (0.1 ) Repatriation of foreign undistributed earnings 1.6 1.3 — Revaluation of deferred tax liabilities due to federal rate change — (7.3 ) — Other (0.4 ) 0.5 0.7 Effective income tax rate 19.5 % 19.5 % 32.4 % In 2018, the effective tax rate of 19.5% was below the federal statutory rate and included valuation allowance activity of $0.6 million . This was primarily a result of the fourth quarter partial release of valuation allowance on the Netherlands net operating losses offset by a valuation allowance addition in Germany. Compared to 2017, the tax benefit from stock compensation expense had a lesser impact on the 2018 rate because of less windfall benefits recognized. Also, foreign income taxed at lower rates had a lesser impact on the 2018 rate because of new U.S. regulations that were released in the fourth quarter 2018 that limit the amount of the tax benefit recorded compared to 2017. In 2017, in addition to the Tax Reform Act, which favorably impacted the effective tax rate by a net $3.7 million , the effective tax rate of 19.5% was impacted by a favorable mix of taxable income generated from foreign income taxed at lower rates, resulting in a tax benefit of $1.7 million , net of $0.7 million of expense to correct a foreign tax error in prior years. The Company also recorded a tax benefit of $1.1 million attributable to the Domestic Production Activities Deduction, a tax benefit of $2.7 million related to stock based compensation and a tax benefit of $1.5 million attributable to the release of certain reserves for uncertain tax positions from the settlement of the IRS tax audit that closed in the third quarter of 2017. These favorable adjustments were partially offset by tax expense of $0.3 million against certain deferred tax assets in China, as future realization of the assets is not reasonably assured. In 2016, the effective tax rate of 32.4% was positively impacted by a favorable mix of taxable income generated from countries with lower tax rates compared to that of the United States at that time, resulting in a tax benefit of $1.3 million . The Company also recorded a tax benefit of $1.5 million attributable to the Domestic Production Activities Deduction and a tax benefit of $1.1 million related to stock based compensation. These favorable adjustments were partially offset by tax expense of $1.2 million related to a nondeductible German Cartel settlement and a net increase in valuation allowance against certain deferred tax assets of $0.7 million , primarily related to tax valuation allowances of $0.5 million recorded against certain net deferred tax assets in the Netherlands and China, as future realization of the assets is not reasonably assured. The Company maintains valuation allowances against certain deferred tax assets where realization is not reasonably assured. The Company evaluates the likelihood of the realization of deferred tax assets and reduces the carrying amount to the extent it believes a portion will not be realized. The Company’s effective tax rates in future periods could be affected by increases or decreases in anticipated earnings in countries where tax rates differ from the United States federal rate, the relative impact of permanent tax adjustments on higher or lower earnings from domestic operations, changes in net deferred tax asset valuation allowances, completion of acquisitions or divestitures, changes in tax rates or tax laws, and the outcome of tax audits. The following schedule presents net current and net long-term deferred tax assets and liabilities by tax jurisdiction as of December 31, 2018 and 2017: 2018 2017 Deferred Tax Assets Deferred Tax Assets In thousands Current Long-term Current Long-term Federal $ — $ — $ — $ — State — — — — Foreign — 2,055 — 1,146 Totals $ — $ 2,055 $ — $ 1,146 2018 2017 Deferred Tax Liabilities Deferred Tax Liabilities In thousands Current Long-term Current Long-term Federal $ — $ 30,193 $ — $ 7,288 State — 3,728 — 424 Foreign — 5,344 — 7,002 Totals $ — $ 39,265 $ — $ 14,714 Net deferred tax assets (liabilities) consisted of the following as of December 31, 2018 and 2017 : December 31, In thousands 2018 2017 Deferred tax assets: Accounts receivable $ 172 $ 132 Inventories 520 164 Net operating loss carryforwards 6,095 5,339 Other accrued liabilities 3,426 1,053 Pension 5,181 1,482 Tax Credits 1,846 1,735 Total deferred tax assets 17,240 9,905 Deferred tax liabilities: Intangible assets 25,133 2,073 Property, plant and equipment 23,353 15,691 Total deferred tax liabilities 48,486 17,764 Valuation allowance 5,964 5,709 Net deferred tax liabilities $ (37,210 ) $ (13,568 ) For the years ended December 31, 2018 , 2017 and 2016 , income before income taxes was derived from the following sources: For the years ended December 31, In thousands 2018 2017 2016 United States $ 33,928 $ 54,212 $ 53,356 Foreign 9,337 7,107 1,583 Total income before income taxes $ 43,265 $ 61,319 $ 54,939 At December 31, 2018, the Company had approximately $4.1 million of state net operating loss carryforward which will expire between 2027 and 2036. The Company has not recorded a deferred tax asset for $4.0 million of this carryforward as the Company anticipates paying a non-income based franchise tax for the foreseeable future in the applicable jurisdiction. In addition, at December 31, 2018, the Company had $1.8 million of state tax credit carryforwards that expire between 2019 and 2033. As of December 31, 2018, the Company has recorded a valuation allowance against the full amount of its state tax credit carryforwards. The Company also has $6.8 million of foreign net operating loss carryforwards in China, $10.5 million of net operating loss carryforwards in Germany, and $5.1 million of net operating loss carryforwards in the Netherlands. The Netherlands’ net operating losses expire between the years 2019 and 2025 and the China net operating losses expire between the years 2019 and 2023. A partial valuation allowance is recorded against the net operating losses in all three jurisdictions for the portion of its net operating losses that future realization is not reasonably assured. The Company evaluates and weighs the positive and negative evidence present at each period. The Company will continue to monitor the realization criteria based on future operating results. During 2018 the Company changed its assertion and no longer intends to reinvest certain undistributed earnings of its foreign subsidiaries that have been previously taxed in the U.S. and has recorded taxes associated with this position. For the remainder of the undistributed foreign earnings, unless tax effective to repatriate, the Company will continue to permanently reinvest these earnings. As of December 31, 2018, such undistributed earnings were approximately $1.8 million . The Company estimates that the amount of tax that would be payable on the undistributed earnings if repatriated to the United States could be up to $0.5 million . This amount may vary in the future due to a variety of factors including future tax law changes, future earnings and statutory taxes paid by foreign subsidiaries, and ongoing tax planning strategies by the Company. The Company and its subsidiaries file a consolidated federal income tax return, as well as returns required by various state and foreign jurisdictions. In the normal course of business, the Company is subject to examination by taxing authorities, including such major jurisdictions as the United States, China, France, Germany, Hong Kong, the Netherlands, Canada and the United Kingdom. Within the next fiscal year, the Company expects to conclude certain income tax matters through the year ended December 31, 2015 and it is reasonably expected that net unrecognized benefits of $0.3 million may be recognized. The total amount of unrecognized tax benefits that would affect the effective tax rate if recognized was $3.6 million as of December 31, 2018. However, $1.4 million of the unrecognized tax benefits, if recognized, would be offset in pre-tax income by the reversal of indemnification assets due to the Company. The Company is no longer subject to U.S. federal examinations for years before 2015, state and local examinations for years before 2013, and non-U.S. income tax examinations for years before 2003. A reconciliation of the beginning and ending amount of unrecognized tax benefits is as follows: In thousands 2018 2017 Unrecognized tax benefits at beginning of year $ 2,526 $ 3,219 Decreases relating to positions taken in prior periods (298 ) — Increases relating to positions taken in prior periods — 221 Increases relating to current period 1,584 475 Decreases due to settlements with tax authorities (233 ) (1,372 ) Decreases due to lapse of statute of limitations (16 ) (17 ) Unrecognized tax benefits at end of year $ 3,563 $ 2,526 The Company recognizes the interest accrued and the penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits as a component of tax expense.

Commitments and Contingencies

Commitments and Contingencies	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]
Commitments and Contingencies	Commitments and Contingencies Leases The Company has operating leases that resulted in expense of $6.8 million in 2018 , $5.8 million in 2017 , and $5.4 million in 2016 . These contracts include building, office equipment, vehicle and machinery leases that require payment of property taxes, insurance, repairs and other operating costs. Approximate future minimum lease payments under noncancelable leases are: Payments due by period In thousands Operating Lease Payments Capital Lease Payments Total 2019 $ 6,004 $ 279 $ 6,283 2020 4,871 35 4,906 2021 3,877 — 3,877 2022 3,226 — 3,226 2023 2,617 — 2,617 Thereafter 11,111 — 11,111 Total 31,706 314 32,020 Interest on capital leases — (2 ) (2 ) Total $ 31,706 $ 312 $ 32,018 Commitments and Contingencies The Company is subject to legal proceedings, claims, investigations and inquiries that arise in the ordinary course of business such as, but not limited to, actions with respect to commercial, intellectual property, employment, personal injury and environmental matters. While the outcome of any matter is inherently uncertain and the Company cannot be sure that it will prevail in any of the cases, subject to the matter referenced below, the Company is not aware of any matters pending that are expected to be material with respect to the Company’s business, financial position, results of operations or cash flows. Environmental Obligations The Company elected to remediate environmental contamination discovered prior to the closing of the Texel acquisition in 2016 at a certain property in the province of Quebec, Canada (“the Property”) that was acquired by Lydall. The Company records accruals for environmental costs when such losses are probable and reasonably estimable. In 2016, the Company, through the engagement of a third-party environmental service firm, determined the final scope and timing of the remediation project and estimated the cost of the remediation project to range between $0.9 million and $1.5 million , which was further refined in July of 2017 to the top end of this range at $1.5 million . During 2017, the environmental liability was reduced by $0.7 million , reflecting payments made to vendors, resulting in a balance of $0.8 million at December 31, 2017. During 2018, the environmental liability was reduced by $0.8 million resulting in no balance at December 31, 2018. Pursuant to the Share Purchase Agreement, ADS has agreed to indemnify the Company from all costs and liabilities associated with the contamination and remediation work, including the costs of preparation and approval of the remediation plan and other reports in relation therewith. This indemnity was secured by an environmental escrow account, which was established in the amount of $3.0 million Canadian Dollars (approximately $2.2 million U.S. Dollars as of December 31, 2018). Should the costs and liabilities exceed the environmental escrow amount, the Company also has access to the general indemnity escrow account, which was originally established in the amount of $14.0 million Canadian Dollars (approximately $10.3 million U.S. Dollars as of December 31, 2018), and based on the Share Purchase Agreement was reduced to approximately $7.0 million Canadian Dollars (approximately $5.1 million U.S. Dollars as of December 31, 2018). Based on the foregoing, an indemnification asset of $0.9 million was also recorded in other assets at December 31, 2016, and subsequently increased to $1.5 million in July of 2017, as the Company believed, and still believes collection from ADS is probable. The indemnification asset was decreased by $0.7 million , reflecting indemnification from ADS for payments made by the Company to its vendors during 2017. During 2018, the indemnification asset was further reduced by $0.8 million , reflecting indemnification from ADS for payments made by the Company to its vendors, resulting in no balance at December 31, 2018. In the fourth quarter of 2018 the Company and ADS reached an agreement to release the remaining $1.2 million Canadian Dollars (approximately $0.9 million U.S. Dollars as of December 31, 2018) from the environmental escrow account as the remediation was substantially complete. A portion of the escrow was released directly to the Company to pre-fund three years of monitoring for which the Company will assume the incremental monitoring costs. In the fourth quarter of 2016, as part of a groundwater discharging permitting process, water samples collected from wells and process water basins at the Company’s Rochester New Hampshire manufacturing facility, within the Performance Materials segment, showed concentrations of Perfluorinated Compounds (“PFCs”) in excess of state ambient groundwater quality standards. In January 2017, the Company received a notification from the State of New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services (“NHDES”) naming Lydall Performance Materials, Inc. a responsible party with respect to the discharge of regulated contaminants and, as such, is required to take action to investigate and remediate the impacts in accordance with standards established by the NHDES. The Company conducted a site investigation, the scope of which was reviewed by the NHDES, in order to assess the extent of potential soil and groundwater contamination and develop a remedial action. Based on input received from NHDES in March 2017 with regard to the scope of the site investigation, the Company recorded $0.2 million of expense. In 2018, the Company received a response from the NHDES to the site investigation report outlining proposed remedial actions. The Company recorded an additional $0.1 million of expense in 2018 associated with the expected costs to remediate the impacts of the discharge of regulated contaminants in accordance with standards established by the NHDES. During 2018 the environmental liability was fully reduced reflecting payments made to vendors, resulting in no balance at December 31, 2018. Additionally, the Company incurred $0.2 million of capital expenditures in 2018, in relation to the lining of the Company's fresh water waste lagoons. The site investigation is ongoing. The Company cannot be sure that costs will not exceed the current estimates until this matter is closed with the NHDES, nor that any future corrective action at this location would not have a material effect on the Company’s financial condition, results of operations or liquidity. Provisions for such matters are charged to expense when it is probable that a liability has been incurred and reasonable estimates of the liability can be made. Estimates of environmental liabilities are based on a variety of matters, including, but not limited to, the stage of investigation, the stage of the remedial design, evaluation of existing remediation technologies, and presently enacted laws and regulations. In future periods, a number of factors could significantly impact any estimates of environmental remediation costs.

Earnings Per Share

Earnings Per Share	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]
Earnings Per Share	Earnings Per Share The following table provides a reconciliation of weighted-average shares used to determine basic and diluted earnings per share. For the years ended In thousands 2018 2017 2016 Basic average common shares outstanding 17,204 17,045 16,871 Effect of dilutive options and restricted stock awards 126 272 370 Diluted average common shares outstanding 17,330 17,317 17,241 For the years ended December 31, 2018 , 2017 and 2016 , stock options for 455,515 , 44,837 , and 94,796 shares of Common Stock, respectively, were not considered in computing diluted earnings per common share as the stock options were considered anti-dilutive.

Quarterly Financial Information

Quarterly Financial Information (Unaudited)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018
Quarterly Financial Information Disclosure [Abstract]
Quarterly Financial Information (Unaudited)	Quarterly Financial Information (Unaudited) The following table summarizes quarterly financial results for 2018 and 2017 . In management’s opinion, all material adjustments necessary for a fair statement of the information for such quarters have been reflected. 1st Quarter 2nd Quarter 3rd Quarter 4th Quarter In thousands except per share data 2018 2017 2018 2017 2018 2017 2018 2017 Net sales $ 191,660 $ 165,487 $ 186,413 $ 174,879 $ 197,886 $ 180,041 $ 209,938 $ 178,030 Gross profit $ 39,507 $ 40,498 $ 36,127 $ 43,327 $ 35,139 $ 40,054 $ 41,872 $ 39,480 Net income $ 11,054 $ 11,669 $ 10,450 $ 13,125 $ 6,256 $ 10,675 $ 7,184 $ 13,848 Earnings per common share: Basic $ 0.64 $ 0.69 $ 0.61 $ 0.77 $ 0.36 $ 0.63 $ 0.42 $ 0.81 Diluted $ 0.64 $ 0.68 $ 0.60 $ 0.76 $ 0.36 $ 0.62 $ 0.42 $ 0.80 The table above includes the quarterly results of Interface since the acquisition date of August 31, 2018. The following components are included gross profit and net income for 2018 and 2017 and impact the comparability of each year: 1st Quarter 2nd Quarter 3rd Quarter 4th Quarter In thousands except per share data 2018 2017 2018 2017 2018 2017 2018 2017 Gross profit impact: Inventory step-up purchase accounting adjustments $ — $ 481 $ — $ 543 $ 1,390 $ 83 $ 585 $ — Restructuring, severance and segment consolidation expenses 449 441 876 92 400 287 169 155 Net income impact: Inventory step-up purchase accounting adjustments $ — $ 350 $ — $ 394 $ 1,077 $ 59 $ 438 $ — Restructuring, severance and segment consolidation expenses 494 702 711 216 409 910 527 488 Long-lived asset impairment charge — 490 — — — — — — Strategic initiatives expenses 87 125 923 — 1,730 219 493 205 Discrete tax items — — — — — (1,380 ) 320 (2,867 ) During the quarter ended December 31, 2017, the Company recorded an out of period adjustment reducing net income by $0.8 million to correct a foreign tax error in prior periods. This error resulted in the overstatement of net income by less than $0.1 million in each of the first, second, and third quarters of 2017. This error also impacted each quarter in 2016, 2015 and 2014 by less than $0.1 million . The Company evaluated the impact of these errors and determined them to be immaterial to all quarters and years.

Recently Issued Accounting Stan

Recently Issued Accounting Standards	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018
Accounting Policies [Abstract]
Recently Issued Accounting Standards	Recently Issued Accounting Standards In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-02, "Leases (Topic 842)". This ASU requires entities that lease assets with lease terms of more than 12 months to recognize right-of-use assets and lease liabilities created by those leases on their balance sheets. This ASU will also require new qualitative and quantitative disclosures to help investors and other financial statement users better understand the amount, timing, and uncertainty of cash flows arising from leases. In July 2018, the FASB amended the leasing guidance to add a transition option. The Company plans to elect the transition option to continue to apply the legacy guidance ASC 840, Leases, including disclosure requirements, in the comparative periods presented in the year of adoption. Based on the effective date, the Company will adopt the new standard effective January 1, 2019 on a modified retrospective basis and will not restate comparative periods. The Company anticipates the ASU will have a material impact on its assets and liabilities due to the addition of right-of-use assets and lease liabilities to the balance sheet; however, it does not expect the ASU to have a material impact on the Company's consolidated cash flows or results of operations. Based on the portfolio of leases as of December 31, 2018, the Company expects to recognize approximately $28.0 million to $34.0 million of operating lease right-of-use assets and lease liabilities on its consolidated balance sheets upon adoption. While substantially complete, the Company is still in the process of finalizing its evaluation of the effect of ASU 842 on the Company's financial statements, disclosures and impact to its internal control over financial reporting. The Company will finalize its accounting assessment and quantitative impact of the adoption during the first quarter of 2019 and the actual impact may differ from the estimate. As the Company completes its evaluation of this new standard, new information may arise that could change the Company's current understanding of the impact to leases. Additionally, the Company continues to monitor industry activities and any additional guidance provided by regulators, standards setters, or the accounting profession, and adjust the Company's assessment and implementation plans accordingly. In June 2018, the FASB issued ASU No. 2018-07, Compensation - Stock Compensation (Topic 718) (“ASU 2018-07”). ASU 2018-07 was issued in order to expand the guidance for stock-based compensation, to include share-based payment transactions for acquiring goods and services from nonemployees. The pronouncement is effective for fiscal years, and for interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2018, with early adoption permitted. The Company does not expect the adoption of the new accounting standard to have a material impact on its consolidated financial statements. In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-13, Fair Value Measurement (Topic 820): Disclosure Framework-Changes to the Disclosure Requirements for Fair Value Measurement (“ASU 2018-13”), which adds, amends and removes certain disclosure requirements related to fair value measurements. Among other changes, this standard requires certain additional disclosure surrounding Level 3 assets, including changes in unrealized gains or losses in other comprehensive income and certain inputs in those measurements. ASU 2018-13 is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2019. Certain amended or eliminated disclosures in this standard may be adopted early, while certain additional disclosure requirements in this standard can be adopted on its effective date. In addition, certain changes in the standard require retrospective adoption, while other changes must be adopted prospectively. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of this update on its consolidated financial statements and related disclosures. In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU No. 2018-14, "Compensation - Retirement Benefits - Defined Benefit Plans - General (Subtopic 715-20): Disclosure Framework - Changes to the Disclosure Requirements for Defined Benefit Plans." This ASU requires entities to disclose the weighted-average interest crediting rates for cash balance plans and other plans with promised interest crediting rates. This ASU also requires entities to disclose an explanation for significant gains and losses related to changes in the benefit obligation for the period. This ASU is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2020 with early adoption permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the method and impact the adoption of ASU 2018-14 will have on the Company’s consolidated financial statements and disclosures. In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-15, Intangibles - Goodwill and Other - Internal-Use Software (Subtopic 350-40); Customer’s Accounting for Implementation Costs Incurred in a Cloud Computing Arrangement That Is a Service Contract. The amendments in this update require implementation costs incurred by customers in cloud computing arrangements (i.e., hosting arrangements) to be capitalized under the same premises of authoritative guidance for internal-use software, and deferred over the noncancellable term of the cloud computing arrangement plus any option renewal periods that are reasonably certain to be exercised by the customer or for which the exercise is controlled by the service provider. The Company is required to adopt this new guidance in the first quarter of 2020. Early adoption is permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of this update on its consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.

Changes in Accumulated Other Co

Changes in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax [Abstract]
Changes in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)	Changes in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) The following table discloses the changes by classification within accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) for the period ended December 31, 2018 , 2017 and 2016 : In thousands Foreign Currency Translation Adjustment Defined Benefit Pension Adjustment Gains and Losses on Cash Flow Hedges Total Accumulated Other Comprehensive (Loss) Income Balance at December 31, 2015 $ (16,920 ) $ (17,665 ) $ — $ (34,585 ) Other Comprehensive loss (10,965 ) (2,969 ) (a) — (13,934 ) Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss 569 (b) — 569 Balance at December 31, 2016 $ (27,885 ) $ (20,065 ) $ — $ (47,950 ) Other Comprehensive income 25,664 1,299 (a) 122 (c) 27,085 Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss 717 (b) — 717 Balance at December 31, 2017 $ (2,221 ) $ (18,049 ) $ 122 $ (20,148 ) Other Comprehensive loss (16,237 ) (4,998 ) (a) (2,096 ) (c) (23,331 ) Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss — 794 (b) — 794 Balance at December 31, 2018 $ (18,458 ) $ (22,253 ) $ (1,974 ) $ (42,685 ) (a) Amount represents actuarial (losses) gains arising from the Company’s postretirement benefit obligation. This amount was $(5.0) million , net of $1.5 million tax benefit, for 2018 , $1.3 million , net of a $0.1 million tax expense, for 2017 and $(3.0) million , net of $1.6 million tax benefit in 2016 . (See Note 10) (b) Amount represents the amortization of actuarial losses to pension expense arising from the Company’s postretirement benefit obligation. This amount was $0.8 million , net of $0.2 million tax benefit in 2018 , $0.7 million , net of $0.4 million tax benefit in 2017 , and $0.6 million , net of $0.4 million tax benefit in 2016 . (See Note 10) (c) Amount represents unrealized gains (losses) on the fair value of hedging activities, net of taxes, for the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017 .

Schedule II - Valuation and Qua

Schedule II - Valuation and Qualifying Accounts	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018
SEC Schedule, 12-09, Valuation and Qualifying Accounts [Abstract]
Schedule II - Valuation and Qualifying Accounts	Schedule II LYDALL, INC. VALUATION AND QUALIFYING ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEARS ENDED December 31, 2018 , 2017 AND 2016 In thousands Balance at January 1, Charges to Costs and Expenses Charges (Deductions) to Other Accounts Deductions Balance at December 31, 2018 Allowance for doubtful receivables $ 1,507 $ 785 $ (58 ) 2 $ (794 ) 1 $ 1,440 Tax valuation allowances 5,709 3,859 (192 ) 2 (3,412 ) 3 5,964 2017 Allowance for doubtful receivables $ 1,429 $ 541 $ 103 2 $ (566 ) 1 $ 1,507 Tax valuation allowances 4,903 886 394 2 (474 ) 3 5,709 2016 Allowance for doubtful receivables $ 1,251 $ 941 $ (123 ) 2 $ (640 ) 1 $ 1,429 Tax valuation allowances 4,307 762 (140 ) 2 (26 ) 3 4,903 1. Uncollected receivables written off and recoveries. 2. Foreign currency translation and other adjustments. 3. Reduction to income tax expense.

Significant Accounting Polici_2

Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018
Accounting Policies [Abstract]
Principles of consolidation	Principles of consolidation — The Consolidated Financial Statements include the accounts of Lydall, Inc. and its wholly owned subsidiaries. All intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated.
Estimates and assumptions	Estimates and assumptions — The preparation of the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the financial statement dates and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting periods. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
Risks and uncertainties	Risks and uncertainties — Worldwide economic cycles and political changes affect the markets that the Company’s businesses serve and affect demand for Lydall’s products and impact profitability. Among other factors, disruptions in the global credit and financial markets, including diminished liquidity and credit availability, changes in international trade agreements, swings in consumer confidence and spending, unstable economic growth and fluctuations in unemployment rates has caused economic instability and can have a negative impact on the Company’s results of operations, financial condition and liquidity.
Cash and cash equivalents	Cash and cash equivalents — Cash and cash equivalents include cash on hand and highly liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less at the date of purchase.
Concentration of credit risk	Concentrations of credit risk — Financial instruments that potentially subject the Company to concentrations of credit risk consist principally of cash and cash equivalents and trade accounts receivable. The Company places its cash and cash equivalents in high-quality financial institutions. Concentrations of credit risk with respect to trade accounts receivable are limited by the large number of customers comprising the Company’s customer base and their dispersion across many different industries and geographies.
Inventories	Inventories — Inventories are valued at lower of cost or net realizable value, cost being determined using the first-in, first-out (FIFO) cost method. Inventories in excess of requirements for current or anticipated orders have been written down to net realizable value.
Pre-production design and development costs	Pre-production design and development costs — The Company enters into contractual agreements with certain customers to design and develop molds, dies and tools (collectively, “tooling”). All such tooling contracts relate to parts that the Company will supply to customers under long-term supply agreements. Tooling costs are accumulated in work-in process inventory and are charged to operations as the related revenue from the tooling is recognized. With the adoption of ASC 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers on January 1, 2018, the Company’s revenue recognition policies require the Company to make significant judgments and estimates regarding timing of recognition based on timing of the transfer of control to the customer. The Company analyzes several factors, including but not limited to, the nature of the products being sold and contractual terms and conditions in contracts with customers to help the Company make such judgments about revenue recognition. For tooling revenue recognized over time, the Company's significant judgments include, but are not limited to, estimated costs to completion, costs incurred to date, and assessments of risks related to changes in estimates of revenues and costs. The Company's management must make assumptions regarding the work required to fulfill the performance obligations, which is dependent upon the execution by the Company's subcontractors, among other variables and contract requirements. Periodically, the Company enters into contractually guaranteed reimbursement arrangements as a mechanism to collect amounts due from customers from tooling sales. Under these arrangements, amounts due from tooling sales are collected as parts are delivered over the part supply arrangement, in accordance with the specific terms of the arrangement. The amounts due from the customer in such transactions are recorded in “Prepaid expenses and other current assets” or “Other assets, net” based upon the expected term of the reimbursement arrangement.
Property, plant and equipment	Property, plant and equipment — Property, plant, and equipment are stated at cost. Assets held under capital leases are recorded at the lower of the net present value of the minimum lease payments or the fair value of the leased asset at the inception of the lease. Property, plant and equipment, including property, plant and equipment under capital leases, are depreciated over their estimated useful lives using the straight-line method. Leasehold improvements are depreciated on a straight-line basis over the term of the lease or the life of the asset, whichever is shorter. The cost and accumulated depreciation amounts applicable to assets sold or otherwise disposed of are removed from the asset and accumulated depreciation accounts and any net gain or loss is included in the Consolidated Statements of Operations. Expenses for maintenance and repairs are charged to expense as incurred.
Goodwill and other intangible assets	Goodwill and other intangible assets — Goodwill represents costs in excess of fair values assigned to the underlying net assets of acquired companies. Goodwill and other intangible assets with indefinite lives are not amortized but are subject to annual impairment tests. All other intangible assets are amortized over their estimated useful lives, which range from 3 to 17 years. In performing impairment tests, the Company considers discounted cash flows and other market factors as best evidence of fair value. There are inherent uncertainties and management judgment required in these analyses.
Valuation of long-lived assets	Valuation of long-lived assets — The Company evaluates the recoverability of long-lived assets, or asset groups, whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that carrying amounts may not be recoverable. Should such evaluations indicate that the related future undiscounted cash flows are not sufficient to recover the carrying values of the assets, such carrying values would be reduced to fair value and this adjusted carrying value would become the assets’ new cost basis. For long-lived assets held for sale, assets are written down to fair value, less costs to sell. Fair value is determined primarily using future anticipated cash flows that are directly associated with, and that are expected to arise as a direct result of the use and eventual disposition of the asset, or asset group, as well as market conditions and other factors. There are inherent uncertainties and management judgment required in these analyses.
Contingencies and environmental obligations	Contingencies and environmental obligations — The Company makes judgments and estimates in accordance with applicable accounting rules when it establishes reserves for legal proceedings, claims, investigations, environmental obligations and other contingent matters. Provisions for such matters are charged to expense when it is probable that a liability has been incurred and reasonable estimates of the liability can be made. Estimates of environmental liabilities are based on a variety of matters, including, but not limited to, the stage of investigation, the stage of the remedial design, evaluation of existing remediation technologies, and presently enacted laws and regulations. The amount and timing of all future expenses related to legal proceedings, claims, investigations, environmental obligations and other contingent matters may vary significantly from estimates.
Employer sponsored benefit plans	Employer sponsored benefit plans — The Company recognizes the funded status of its defined benefit pension plans and post-retirement plans. Net benefit obligations are calculated based on actuarial valuations using key assumptions related to discount rates, mortality rates and expected return on plan assets.
Derivative instruments	Derivative instruments — Derivative instruments are measured at fair value and recognized as either assets or liabilities on the Consolidated Balance Sheet in either current or non-current other assets or other accrued liabilities or other long-term liabilities depending upon maturity and commitment. For derivative instruments that are designated and qualify as a fair value hedge, the gain or loss on the derivative as well as the offsetting loss or gain on the hedged item attributable to the hedged risk are recognized in the Consolidated Statement of Operations. For derivative instruments that are designated and qualify as a cash flow hedge, the effective portion of the gain or loss on the derivative is reported as a component of other comprehensive income and reclassified into earnings in the same period or periods in which the hedge transaction affects earnings. The Company selectively uses financial instruments to manage market risk associated with exposure to fluctuations in interest rates and foreign currency rates. These financial exposures are monitored and managed by the Company as an integral part of its risk management program. The Company does not engage in derivative instruments for speculative or trading purposes. Lydall has historically not been a party to a significant number of derivative instruments.
Revenue recognition	Revenue recognition — As of January 1, 2018, the Company accounts for revenue in accordance with ASC 606, Revenue from Contracts from Customers. The Company's revenues are generated from the design and manufacture of specialty engineered filtration media, industrial thermal insulating solutions, automotive thermal and acoustical barriers for filtration/separation and thermal/acoustical applications. The Company’s revenue recognition policies require the Company to make judgments and estimates. The Company analyzes several factors, including but not limited to, the nature of the products being sold and contractual terms and conditions in contracts with customers to help the Company make such judgments about revenue recognition. In applying the Company’s revenue recognition policy, determinations must be made as to when control of products passes to the Company’s customers which can be either at a point in time or over time depending on when control of the Company’s products transfers to its customers. Revenue is generally recognized at a point in time when control passes to customers upon shipment of the Company’s products and revenue is generally recognized over time when control of the Company’s products transfers to customers during the manufacturing process. If sales are recognized at a point in time, the Company’s standard sales and shipping terms are FOB shipping point, therefore, substantially all point in time revenue is recognized upon shipment. However, the Company conducts business with certain customers on FOB destination terms and in these instances point in time revenue revenue is recognized upon receipt by the customer. In circumstances when control transfers over time, revenue is recognized based on the extent of progress towards completion of the performance obligation. Due to the nature of the work required to be performed on many of the Company’s performance obligations, the estimation of total revenue and cost at completion is complex, subject to many variables and requires significant judgment. (See Note 2. “Revenue from Contracts with Customers”) Sales returns and allowances are recorded as identified or communicated by the customer and internally approved. The Company does not provide customers with general rights of return for products sold; however, in limited circumstances, the Company will allow sales returns and allowances from customers if the products sold do not conform to specifications. The Company made an accounting policy election to record shipping and handling activities occurring after control has passed to the customer to be treated as a fulfillment cost rather than as a distinct performance obligation. Shipping and handling expenses consist primarily of costs incurred to deliver products to customers and internal costs related to preparing products for shipment and are recorded as a cost of sales. Amounts billed to customers as shipping and handling are classified as revenue when services are performed.
Research and development	Research and development — Research and development costs are charged to expense as incurred and amounted to $10.6 million in 2018 , $10.8 million in 2017 , and $9.0 million in 2016 . Research and development costs were primarily comprised of development personnel salaries, prototype material costs and testing and trials of new products.
Earnings per share	Earnings per share — Basic earnings per common share are equal to net income divided by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period. Diluted earnings per common share are equal to net income divided by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period, including the effect of stock options and stock awards, if such effect is dilutive.
Income taxes	Income taxes — The provision for income taxes is based upon income reported in the accompanying Consolidated Financial Statements. Deferred income taxes reflect the impact of temporary differences between the amounts of income and expense recognized for financial reporting purposes and such amounts recognized for tax purposes. In the event the Company was to determine that it would not be able to realize all or a portion of its deferred tax assets in the future, the Company would record a valuation allowance through a charge to income in the period that such determination was made. Conversely, if the Company was to determine that it would be able to realize its deferred tax assets in the future in excess of the net carrying amounts, the Company would decrease the recorded valuation allowance and record an increase to income in the period that such determination was made.
Translation of foreign currencies	Translation of foreign currencies — Assets and liabilities of foreign subsidiaries are translated at exchange rates prevailing on the balance sheet date. Revenues and expenses are translated at average exchange rates prevailing during the period. Any resulting translation gains or losses are reported in other comprehensive income (loss).
Stock options and share grants	Stock options and share grants — The Company accounts for awards of equity instruments under the fair value method of accounting and recognizes such amounts in the Consolidated Statements of Operations. The Company recognizes expense on a straight-line basis over the vesting period of the entire award and records forfeitures as they occur. The Company estimates the fair value of option grants based on the Black Scholes option-pricing model. Expected volatility and expected term are based on historical information. The calculation assumes that future volatility and expected term are not likely to materially differ from the Company’s historical stock price volatility and historical exercise data, respectively. Compensation expense for all restricted stock awards is recorded based on the market value of the stock on the grant date and recognized as expense over the vesting period of the award. Compensation expense for performance-based restricted stock is also impacted by the probability of achieving the performance targets.
Recently adopted accounting standards and recently issued accounting standards	Recently Adopted Accounting Standards Effective January 1, 2018, the Company adopted the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued Accounting Standards Update ("ASU") No. 2014-09, “Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606)”. The amended guidance establishes a single comprehensive model for companies to use in accounting for revenue arising from contracts with customers and will supersede most of the existing revenue recognition guidance, including industry-specific guidance. The amended guidance clarifies that an entity recognizes revenue to depict the transfer of promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. In applying the amended guidance, an entity will (1) identify the contract(s) with a customer; (2) identify the performance obligations in the contract; (3) determine the transaction price; (4) allocate the transaction price to the contract’s performance obligations; and (5) recognize revenue when (or as) the entity satisfies a performance obligation. The Company adopted the amended guidance and all related amendments using the modified retrospective approach on January 1, 2018, at which time it became effective for the Company. The Company recognized the cumulative effect of initially applying the new revenue standard to all contracts that were not completed on the date of adoption as an adjustment to the opening balance of retained earnings. (See Note 2. “Revenue from Contracts with Customers”). At the adoption date, the cumulative impact of revenue that would have been recognized over time, was $19.6 million . The impact was primarily driven by tooling net sales of $16.3 million from customer contracts within the Thermal Acoustical Solutions ("TAS") segment. The related adoption impact to retained earnings was $1.6 million , net of tax. Refer to Note 2. Effective January 1, 2018, the Company adopted the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-01, "Financial Instruments - Overall" (Subtopic 825-10): Recognition and Measurement of Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities". This ASU revises an entity’s accounting related to (1) the classification and measurement of investments in equity securities and (2) the presentation of certain fair value changes for financial liabilities measured at fair value. It also amends certain disclosure requirements associated with the fair value of financial instruments. In February 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-03, "Technical Corrections and Improvements to Financial Instruments - Overall (Subtopic 825-10): Recognition and Measurement of Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities", which clarifies various aspects of the guidance issued in ASU 2016-01. The Company adopted both ASUs effective January 1, 2018. The adoption of these ASUs did not have any impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements and disclosures. Effective January 1, 2018, the Company adopted the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-15, "Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 230): Classification of Certain Cash Receipts and Cash Payments", which provides guidance on eight specific cash flow classification issues. Prior to this ASU, GAAP did not include specific guidance on these eight cash flow classification issues. The adoption of this ASU did not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements and disclosures. Effective January 1, 2018, the Company adopted the FASB issued ASU 2016-16, “Income Taxes (Topic 740): Intra-Entity Transfers of Assets Other Than Inventory” as part of the Board’s initiative to reduce complexity in accounting standards. This ASU eliminates an exception in ASC 740, which prohibits the immediate recognition of income tax consequences of intra-entity asset transfers other than inventory. This ASU requires entities to recognize the immediate current and deferred income tax effects of intra-entity asset transfers. The adoption of this ASU did not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements and disclosures. Effective January 1, 2018, the Company adopted the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-18, "Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 230): Restricted Cash", which clarifies guidance and presentation related to restricted cash in the statement of cash flows, including stating that restricted cash should be included within cash and cash equivalents on the statement of cash flows. The adoption of this ASU did not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements and disclosures. Effective January 1, 2018, the Company adopted the FASB issued ASU No. 2017-01, "Business Combinations (Topic 805): Clarifying the Definition of a Business", which adds guidance to assist entities with evaluating whether transactions should be accounted for as acquisitions (or disposals) of assets or businesses. The definition of a business affects many areas of accounting including acquisitions, disposals, goodwill, and consolidation. The amendments of this ASU provide a screen to determine when an integrated set of assets and activities is not a business. The Company evaluated this ASU in connection with its 2018 acquisitions and determined that they met the definition of a business. Effective January 1, 2018, the Company adopted the FASB issued ASU No. 2017-07, "Compensation - Retirement Benefits (Topic 715): Improving the Presentation of Net Periodic Pension Cost and Net Periodic Postretirement Benefit Cost". This ASU requires an entity to report the service cost component of net benefit costs in the same line item(s) as other compensation costs arising from services rendered by the pertinent employees during the period. This ASU also requires the other components of net benefit cost, which includes interest costs and actual return on plan assets to be presented in the income statement separately from the service cost component and outside a subtotal of income from operations. As required for retrospective adoption,the Company reclassified net benefit costs of $0.3 million from cost of sales and $0.4 million from the selling, product development and administrative expenses to other expense, net, in the Consolidated Statement of Operations for the year ended December 31, 2016 . The Company reclassified net benefit costs of $0.3 million from cost of sales and $0.5 million from the selling, product development and administrative expenses to other expense, net, in the Consolidated Statement of Operations for the year ended December 31, 2017 . The adoption of this ASU had minimal impact on the Company's consolidated financial statements and disclosures for the year ended December 31, 2018 . Effective January 1, 2018, the Company adopted the FASB issued ASU No. 2017-09, "Compensation - Stock Compensation (Topic 718): Scope of Modification Accounting". This ASU requires an entity to apply modification accounting in Topic 718 when there are changes to the terms or conditions of a share-based payment award, unless the fair value, vesting conditions, and classification of the modified award are the same as the original award immediately before the original award is modified. The adoption of this ASU did not have any impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements and disclosures. Recently Issued Accounting Standards In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-02, "Leases (Topic 842)". This ASU requires entities that lease assets with lease terms of more than 12 months to recognize right-of-use assets and lease liabilities created by those leases on their balance sheets. This ASU will also require new qualitative and quantitative disclosures to help investors and other financial statement users better understand the amount, timing, and uncertainty of cash flows arising from leases. In July 2018, the FASB amended the leasing guidance to add a transition option. The Company plans to elect the transition option to continue to apply the legacy guidance ASC 840, Leases, including disclosure requirements, in the comparative periods presented in the year of adoption. Based on the effective date, the Company will adopt the new standard effective January 1, 2019 on a modified retrospective basis and will not restate comparative periods. The Company anticipates the ASU will have a material impact on its assets and liabilities due to the addition of right-of-use assets and lease liabilities to the balance sheet; however, it does not expect the ASU to have a material impact on the Company's consolidated cash flows or results of operations. Based on the portfolio of leases as of December 31, 2018, the Company expects to recognize approximately $28.0 million to $34.0 million of operating lease right-of-use assets and lease liabilities on its consolidated balance sheets upon adoption. While substantially complete, the Company is still in the process of finalizing its evaluation of the effect of ASU 842 on the Company's financial statements, disclosures and impact to its internal control over financial reporting. The Company will finalize its accounting assessment and quantitative impact of the adoption during the first quarter of 2019 and the actual impact may differ from the estimate. As the Company completes its evaluation of this new standard, new information may arise that could change the Company's current understanding of the impact to leases. Additionally, the Company continues to monitor industry activities and any additional guidance provided by regulators, standards setters, or the accounting profession, and adjust the Company's assessment and implementation plans accordingly. In June 2018, the FASB issued ASU No. 2018-07, Compensation - Stock Compensation (Topic 718) (“ASU 2018-07”). ASU 2018-07 was issued in order to expand the guidance for stock-based compensation, to include share-based payment transactions for acquiring goods and services from nonemployees. The pronouncement is effective for fiscal years, and for interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2018, with early adoption permitted. The Company does not expect the adoption of the new accounting standard to have a material impact on its consolidated financial statements. In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-13, Fair Value Measurement (Topic 820): Disclosure Framework-Changes to the Disclosure Requirements for Fair Value Measurement (“ASU 2018-13”), which adds, amends and removes certain disclosure requirements related to fair value measurements. Among other changes, this standard requires certain additional disclosure surrounding Level 3 assets, including changes in unrealized gains or losses in other comprehensive income and certain inputs in those measurements. ASU 2018-13 is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2019. Certain amended or eliminated disclosures in this standard may be adopted early, while certain additional disclosure requirements in this standard can be adopted on its effective date. In addition, certain changes in the standard require retrospective adoption, while other changes must be adopted prospectively. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of this update on its consolidated financial statements and related disclosures. In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU No. 2018-14, "Compensation - Retirement Benefits - Defined Benefit Plans - General (Subtopic 715-20): Disclosure Framework - Changes to the Disclosure Requirements for Defined Benefit Plans." This ASU requires entities to disclose the weighted-average interest crediting rates for cash balance plans and other plans with promised interest crediting rates. This ASU also requires entities to disclose an explanation for significant gains and losses related to changes in the benefit obligation for the period. This ASU is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2020 with early adoption permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the method and impact the adoption of ASU 2018-14 will have on the Company’s consolidated financial statements and disclosures. In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-15, Intangibles - Goodwill and Other - Internal-Use Software (Subtopic 350-40); Customer’s Accounting for Implementation Costs Incurred in a Cloud Computing Arrangement That Is a Service Contract. The amendments in this update require implementation costs incurred by customers in cloud computing arrangements (i.e., hosting arrangements) to be capitalized under the same premises of authoritative guidance for internal-use software, and deferred over the noncancellable term of the cloud computing arrangement plus any option renewal periods that are reasonably certain to be exercised by the customer or for which the exercise is controlled by the service provider. The Company is required to adopt this new guidance in the first quarter of 2020. Early adoption is permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of this update on its consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.

Significant Accounting Polici_3

Significant Accounting Policies (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018
Accounting Policies [Abstract]
Schedule of Assets included in the Consolidated Balance Sheet	The following tooling related assets were included in the Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2018 and 2017 : December, 31 In thousands 2018 2017 Inventories, net of progress billings and reserves $ 4,262 $ 18,540 Prepaid expenses and other current assets 469 281 Other assets, net 987 476 Total tooling related assets $ 5,718 $ 19,297

Revenue from Contracts with C_2

Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018
Revenue from Contract with Customer [Abstract]
Schedule of Contract Assets and Liabilities	Contract assets and liabilities consisted of the following: In thousands December 31, 2018 January 1, 2018 Dollar Change Contract assets $ 23,040 $ 19,125 $ 3,915 Contract liabilities $ 4,537 $ 2,820 $ 1,717
Schedule of Impact on Consolidated Income Statement and Consolidated Balance Sheet	The cumulative effect of the changes made to the Company’s Condensed Consolidated January 1, 2018 Balance Sheet for the adoption of ASC 606 was as follows: In thousands December 31, 2017 Adjustments for Adoption of ASC606 January 1, 2018 Assets: Contract assets $ — $ 19,125 $ 19,125 Inventories $ 80,339 $ (15,184 ) $ 65,155 Liabilities: Accounts payable $ 71,931 $ 663 $ 72,594 Deferred revenue $ 3,412 $ 1,209 $ 4,621 Deferred tax liabilities $ 14,714 $ 471 $ 15,185 Stockholders' equity: Retained earnings $ 374,783 $ 1,598 $ 376,381 The cumulative effect of the changes made to the Company’s Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet for the adoption of ASC 606 was as follows: December 31, 2018 In thousands Balances Without Adoption of ASC 606 ASC 606 Adjustments As Reported Assets: Contract assets $ — $ 23,040 $ 23,040 Inventories $ 103,767 $ (19,302 ) $ 84,465 Liabilities: Accounts payable $ 71,937 $ 1,328 $ 73,265 Deferred revenue $ 7,952 $ (962 ) $ 6,990 Deferred tax liabilities $ 38,422 $ 843 $ 39,265 Stockholders' equity: Retained earnings $ 408,846 $ 2,479 $ 411,325 Accumulated other comprehensive loss $ (42,735 ) $ 50 $ (42,685 ) The cumulative effect of the changes made to the Company’s Condensed Consolidated Statement of Operations for the adoption of ASC 606 for the year ended December 31, 2018 was as follows: December 31, 2018 In thousands Results Without Adoption of ASC 606 Effect of Change As Reported Net sales $ 781,612 $ 4,285 $ 785,897 Cost of sales 630,220 3,032 633,252 Gross profit 151,392 1,253 152,645 Selling, product development and administrative expenses 103,457 — 103,457 Operating income 47,935 1,253 49,188 Interest expense 6,212 — 6,212 Other income, net (289 ) — (289 ) Income before income taxes 42,012 1,253 43,265 Income tax expense 8,081 372 8,453 Income from equity method investment (132 ) — (132 ) Net income $ 34,063 $ 881 $ 34,944 Earnings per share: Basic $ 1.98 $ 0.05 $ 2.03 Diluted $ 1.97 $ 0.05 $ 2.02 Weighted average number of common shares outstanding: Basic 17,204 — 17,204 Diluted 17,330 — 17,330
Schedule of Disaggregation of Revenue by Geographical Location	Disaggregated revenue by geographical region for the year ended December 31, 2018 was as follows: December 31, 2018 In thousands Performance Materials Technical Nonwovens Thermal Acoustical Solutions Eliminations and Other Consolidated Net Sales North America $ 117,313 $ 167,519 $ 250,133 $ (25,121 ) $ 509,844 Europe 49,055 73,912 99,529 (697 ) 221,799 Asia 2,849 35,640 15,765 — 54,254 Total Net Sales $ 169,217 $ 277,071 $ 365,427 $ (25,818 ) $ 785,897

Acquisitions (Tables)

Acquisitions (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018
Business Combinations [Abstract]
Schedule of Fair Values of Identifiable Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed at Date of Acquisition	The following is a preliminary estimate of the assets acquired and the liabilities assumed by the Company at the date of the acquisition: In thousands Accounts receivable $ 25,182 Inventories 17,313 Prepaid expenses and other current assets 2,382 Property, plant and equipment 40,902 Goodwill (Note 6) 130,991 Other intangible assets (Note 6) 106,900 Other assets 308 Total assets acquired, net of cash acquired $ 323,978 Current liabilities (11,319 ) Deferred tax liabilities (Note 14) (24,904 ) Benefit plan liabilities (Note 10) (18,352 ) Other long-term liabilities (1,031 ) Total liabilities assumed (55,606 ) Total purchase price, net of cash acquired $ 268,372
Schedule of Unaudited Pro Forma Operating Results	The following table reflects the unaudited pro forma operating results of the Company for the year ended December 31, 2018 and 2017 , which gives effect to the acquisition of Interface as if it had occurred on January 1, 2017. The pro forma information includes the historical financial results of the Company and Interface. The pro forma results are not necessarily indicative of the operating results that would have occurred had the acquisition been effective January 1, 2017, nor are they intended to be indicative of results that may occur in the future. The pro forma information does not include the effects of any synergies related to the acquisition. For The Years Ended (Unaudited Pro Forma) (Unaudited In thousands 2018 2017 Net Sales $ 888,355 $ 840,040 Net Income $ 34,896 $ 36,619 Earnings per share: Basic $ 2.03 $ 2.15 Diluted $ 2.01 $ 2.11

Inventories (Tables)

Inventories (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018
Inventory Disclosure [Abstract]
Schedule of Inventories	Inventories as of December 31, 2018 and 2017 were as follows: December 31, In thousands 2018 2017 Raw materials $ 37,731 $ 28,672 Work in process 18,296 29,427 Finished goods 28,438 23,901 84,465 82,000 Less: Progress billings — (1,661 ) Total inventories $ 84,465 $ 80,339

Property, Plant and Equipment_2

Property, Plant and Equipment, Net (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018
Property, Plant and Equipment [Abstract]
Schedule of Property, Plant and Equipment	Property, plant and equipment as of December 31, 2018 and 2017 were as follows: Estimated Useful Lives December 31, In thousands 2018 2017 Land – $ 6,280 $ 4,289 Buildings and improvements 10-35 years 104,036 84,337 Machinery and equipment 5-25 years 289,059 254,881 Office equipment 2-8 years 36,110 33,880 Vehicles 3-6 years 1,640 1,706 Assets under capital leases: Land – 228 241 Buildings and improvements 10-35 years 229 221 Machinery and equipment 5-25 years 1,005 1,051 Office equipment 2-8 years 32 34 438,619 380,640 Accumulated depreciation (244,098 ) (226,581 ) Accumulated depreciation of capital leases (608 ) (239 ) 193,913 153,820 Construction in progress 19,456 16,512 Total property, plant and equipment, net $ 213,369 $ 170,332

Goodwill and Long-Lived Assets

Goodwill and Long-Lived Assets (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018
Goodwill and Intangible Assets Disclosure [Abstract]
Schedule of Gross and Net Carrying Amounts of Goodwill	Gross and net carrying amounts of goodwill at December 31, 2018 and 2017 were as follows: In thousands Performance Materials Technical Nonwovens Thermal Acoustical Solutions Totals Goodwill $ 13,307 $ 55,662 $ 12,160 $ 81,129 Accumulated amortization/impairment — — (12,160 ) (12,160 ) Balance at December 31, 2017 13,307 55,662 — 68,969 Goodwill 144,626 52,337 12,160 209,123 Accumulated amortization/impairment — — (12,160 ) (12,160 ) Balance at December 31, 2018 $ 144,626 $ 52,337 $ — $ 196,963
Schedule of Changes in the Carrying Amounts of Goodwill	The changes in the carrying amounts of goodwill in 2018 and 2017 were as follows: In thousands Performance Materials Technical Nonwovens Totals Balance at January 1, 2017 $ 12,777 $ 50,829 $ 63,606 Goodwill addition — 323 323 Currency translation adjustment 530 4,510 5,040 Balance at December 31, 2017 13,307 55,662 68,969 Goodwill addition 131,509 — 131,509 Currency translation adjustment (190 ) (3,325 ) (3,515 ) Balance at December 31, 2018 $ 144,626 $ 52,337 $ 196,963
Schedule of Amortization of the Company's Acquired Intangible Assets other than Goodwill	The table below presents the gross carrying amount and, as applicable, the accumulated amortization of the Company’s acquired intangible assets other than goodwill included in “Other intangible assets, net” in the Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2018 and 2017 : December 31, 2018 December 31, 2017 In thousands Gross Carrying Amount Accumulated Amortization Gross Carrying Amount Accumulated Amortization Amortized intangible assets Customer relationships $ 141,455 $ (11,453 ) $ 39,474 $ (4,460 ) Patents 4,333 (3,816 ) 4,504 (3,821 ) Technology 2,500 (810 ) 2,500 (644 ) Trade names 7,235 (2,840 ) 4,288 (1,461 ) License agreements 619 (619 ) 640 (640 ) Other 561 (561 ) 586 (423 ) Total amortized intangible assets $ 156,703 $ (20,099 ) $ 51,992 $ (11,449 )

Long-term Debt and Financing _2

Long-term Debt and Financing Arrangements (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018
Debt Disclosure [Abstract]
Schedule of Total Outstanding Debt	Total outstanding debt consists of: December 31, In thousands Effective Rate Maturity 2018 2017 Revolver Loan 4.15% 8/31/2023 $ 138,000 $ 76,600 Term Loan, net of debt issuance costs 4.15% 8/31/2023 186,498 — Capital Leases 1.65% - 2.09% 2019 - 2020 315 590 324,813 77,190 Less portion due within one year (10,172 ) (277 ) Total long-term debt $ 314,641 $ 76,913

Derivatives (Tables)

Derivatives (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018
Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities Disclosure [Abstract]
Schedule of Derivative Assets at Fair Value	The following table sets forth the fair value amounts of derivative instruments held by the Company: December 31, 2018 December 31, 2017 In thousands Asset Derivatives Liability Derivatives Asset Derivatives Liability Derivatives Derivatives designated as hedging instruments: Interest rate contracts $ 179 $ 2,738 $ 157 $ — Total derivatives $ 179 $ 2,738 $ 157 $ —
Schedule of Derivative Liabilities at Fair Value	The following table sets forth the fair value amounts of derivative instruments held by the Company: December 31, 2018 December 31, 2017 In thousands Asset Derivatives Liability Derivatives Asset Derivatives Liability Derivatives Derivatives designated as hedging instruments: Interest rate contracts $ 179 $ 2,738 $ 157 $ — Total derivatives $ 179 $ 2,738 $ 157 $ —
Schedule of Cash Flow Hedges Included in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)	The following table sets forth the income, recorded in accumulated other comprehensive income, net of tax, for the quarters and years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017 for derivatives held by the Company and designated as hedging instruments: Quarters Ended December 31, Years Ended 2018 2017 2018 2017 Cash flow hedges: Interest rate contracts $ (2,185 ) $ 129 $ (2,096 ) $ 122 $ (2,185 ) $ 129 $ (2,096 ) $ 122

Employer Sponsored Benefit Pl_2

Employer Sponsored Benefit Plans (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018
Retirement Benefits [Abstract]
Schedule of Net Funded Status	Plan assets and benefit obligations of the domestic defined benefit pension plans were as follows: December 31, In thousands 2018 2017 Change in benefit obligation: Net benefit obligation at beginning of year $ 51,882 $ 50,086 Benefit obligation assumed through acquisition 52,392 — Service Cost 46 — Interest cost 2,595 2,058 Actuarial (gain)/loss (876 ) 2,126 Gross benefits paid (3,360 ) (2,388 ) Net benefit obligation at end of year $ 102,679 $ 51,882 Change in plan assets: Fair value of plan assets at beginning of year $ 44,174 $ 37,038 Fair value of plan assets through acquisition 43,230 — Actual (loss)/return on plan assets (4,092 ) 5,924 Contributions 7,500 3,600 Gross benefits paid (3,360 ) (2,388 ) Fair value of plan assets at end of year $ 87,452 $ 44,174 Net benefit obligation in excess of plan assets $ (15,227 ) $ (7,708 ) Balance sheet amounts: Current liabilities $ (3,078 ) $ — Noncurrent liabilities $ (12,149 ) $ (7,708 ) Total liabilities $ (15,227 ) $ (7,708 ) Amounts recognized in accumulated other comprehensive income, net of tax consist of: Net actuarial loss $ 21,850 $ 17,632 Net amount recognized $ 21,850 $ 17,632
Schedule of Accumulated Benefit Obligations in Excess of Fair Value of Plan Assets	Aggregated information for the domestic defined benefit pension plans with an accumulated benefit obligation in excess of plan assets is provided in the tables below: December 31, In thousands 2018 2017 Projected benefit obligation $ 102,679 $ 51,882 Accumulated benefit obligation $ 104,188 $ 51,882 Fair value of plan assets $ 87,452 $ 44,174
Schedule of Components of Net Periodic Benefit Cost for Domestic Pension Plan	Components of net periodic benefit cost for the domestic defined benefit pension plan: December 31, In thousands 2018 2017 2016 Service cost $ 46 $ — $ — Interest cost 2,595 2,058 2,139 Expected return on plan assets (3,339 ) (2,376 ) (2,419 ) Amortization of actuarial net loss 1,024 1,092 933 Total net periodic benefit cost $ 326 $ 774 $ 653
Schedule of Net Periodic Benefit Cost Not yet Recognized	The major assumptions used in determining the year-end benefit obligation and annual net cost for the domestic defined benefit pension plans are presented in the following table: Benefit Obligation Net Cost For the years ended December 31, 2018 2017 2018 2017 2016 Discount rate 3.99 % 3.71 % 3.75 % 4.21 % 4.56 % Expected return on plan assets 4.08 % 5.80 % 5.79 % 6.30 % 7.00 %
Schedule of Allocation of Plan Assets	The following table presents the target allocation of the domestic defined benefit pension plan assets for 2019 and the actual allocation of plan assets as of December 31, 2018 and 2017 by major asset category: Target Allocation Actual Allocation of Plan Assets Asset Category 2019 2018 2017 Domestic equities 11% - 32% 16 % 26 % International equities 5% - 24% 11 % 26 % Fixed income 30% - 69% 44 % 40 % U.S. government securities 2% - 13% 3 % — % Corporate and foreign bonds 2% - 13% 2 % — % Inflation hedge mutual funds 2% - 13% 3 % — % Hedge fund of funds 2% - 9% 5 % 7 % Cash and cash equivalents 0% - 32% 16 % 1 %
Schedule of Changes in Fair Value of Plan Assets	The following tables set forth the fair value of the assets by major asset category as of December 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017 : December 31, 2018 In thousands Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Measured at NAV Total Domestic equity $ 13,941 $ — $ — $ — $ 13,941 International equity 9,547 — — — 9,547 Fixed income 10,977 — — 27,727 38,704 U.S. government securities — 2,466 — — 2,466 Corporate and foreign bonds — 1,448 — — 1,448 Inflation hedge mutual funds 2,808 — — — 2,808 Hedge fund of funds 4,129 — — 312 4,441 Cash and cash equivalents 12,027 2,070 — — 14,097 Total Assets at Fair Value $ 53,429 $ 5,984 $ — $ 28,039 $ 87,452 December 31, 2017 In thousands Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Measured at NAV Total Domestic equity $ 11,577 $ — $ — $ — $ 11,577 International equity 11,626 — — — 11,626 Fixed income — — — 17,360 17,360 Hedge fund of funds — — — 3,054 3,054 Cash and cash equivalents 557 — — — 557 Total Assets at Fair Value $ 23,760 $ — $ — $ 20,414 $ 44,174
Schedule of Expected Benefit Payments	Estimated future benefit payments for the next 10 years for the domestic defined benefit pension plans are as follows: In thousands 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024-2028 Benefit payments $ 4,023 $ 3,099 $ 3,186 $ 3,241 $ 3,264 $ 16,995

Equity Compensation Plans (Tabl

Equity Compensation Plans (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018
Disclosure of Compensation Related Costs, Share-based Payments [Abstract]
Schedule of Valuation Assumptions of Options Granted	The fair value of each option granted was estimated on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model with the following weighted-average assumptions for the years ended December 31: 2018 2017 2016 Risk-free interest rate 2.7 % 2.2 % 1.8 % Expected life 5.5 years 5.5 years 5.5 years Expected volatility 34 % 33 % 42 % Expected dividend yield — % — % — %
Schedule of Nonvested Share Activity	The following is a summary of the option activity as of December 31, 2018 and changes during the year then ended: In thousands except per share amounts and years Shares Weighted-Average Exercise Price Weighted- Average Remaining Contractual Term (years) Aggregate Intrinsic Value Outstanding at December 31, 2017 433 $ 33.37 Granted 246 $ 21.49 Exercised (54) $ 16.48 Forfeited/Cancelled (2) $ 36.08 Outstanding at December 31, 2018 623 $ 30.14 7.7 $ 734 Options exercisable at December 31, 2018 254 $ 29.36 5.8 $ 699 Unvested at December 31, 2018 369 $ 30.68 3.1 $ 35
Schedule of Nonvested Restricted Stock Units Activity	The following is a summary of the Company’s unvested restricted shares for the year ended and as of December 31, 2018 : In thousands except per share amounts Outstanding Restricted Shares Shares Weighted-Average Grant-Date Fair Value Nonvested at December 31, 2017 219 $ 44.77 Granted 172 $ 25.19 Vested (79) $ 31.26 Forfeited/Cancelled (8) $ 50.56 Nonvested December 31, 2018 304 $ 37.02

Restructuring (Tables)

Restructuring (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018
Restructuring and Related Activities [Abstract]
Schedule of Restructuring and Related Costs	Actual pre-tax expenses incurred and total estimated pre-tax expenses for the restructuring program by type are as follows: In thousands Severance and Related Expenses Contract Termination Expenses Facility Exit, Move and Set-up Expenses Total Total estimated expenses $ 1,250 $ 450 $ 2,500 $ 4,200 Expenses incurred during year ended: December 31, 2017 181 154 327 662 December 31, 2018 606 136 1,555 2,297 Estimated remaining expense at December 31, 2018 $ 463 $ 160 $ 618 $ 1,241
Schedule of Restructuring Reserve by Type of Cost	Accrued restructuring costs were as follows at December 31, 2018 : In thousands Total Pre-tax restructuring expenses, excluding depreciation $ 510 Cash paid (177 ) Balance as of December 31, 2017 $ 333 Pre-tax restructuring expenses, excluding depreciation $ 2,012 Cash paid (2,198 ) Balance as of December 31, 2018 $ 147

Segment Information (Tables)

Segment Information (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018
Segment Reporting [Abstract]
Schedule of Net Sales by Segment and for OPS, Reconciling Items to Equal to Consolidated Net Sales	Net sales by segment, as well as reconciling items, to equal consolidated net sales for the years ended December 31, 2018 , 2017 , and 2016 were as follows: Consolidated Net Sales For the Years Ended December 31, In thousands 2018 2017 2016 Performance Materials Segment (1) : Filtration $ 93,089 $ 87,173 $ 83,345 Sealing and Advanced Solutions 76,128 29,496 27,783 Performance Materials Segment net sales 169,217 116,669 111,128 Technical Nonwovens Segment (2),(3) : Industrial Filtration 157,606 147,087 90,415 Advanced Materials (4) 119,465 121,990 65,090 Technical Nonwovens net sales 277,071 269,077 155,505 Thermal Acoustical Solutions Segment: Parts 328,057 318,217 298,016 Tooling 37,370 23,888 23,176 Thermal Acoustical Solutions Segment net sales 365,427 342,105 321,192 Eliminations and Other (4) (25,818 ) (29,414 ) (20,973 ) Consolidated Net Sales $ 785,897 $ 698,437 $ 566,852 Operating income by segment and Corporate Office Expenses for the years ended December 31, 2018 , 2017 , and 2016 were as follows: Operating Income For the Years Ended December 31, In thousands 2018 2017 (5) 2016 (5) Performance Materials Segment (1) $ 13,139 $ 12,321 $ 12,574 Technical Nonwovens Segment (2),(3) 21,323 26,047 15,584 Thermal Acoustical Solutions Segment 38,085 53,132 53,072 Corporate Office Expenses (23,359 ) (25,300 ) (25,785 ) Consolidated Operating Income $ 49,188 $ 66,200 $ 55,445
Schedule of Total Assets by Segment	Total assets by segment and the Corporate Office were as follows at December 31, 2018 , 2017 , and 2016 : Total Assets December 31, In thousands 2018 2017 2016 Performance Materials Segment (1) $ 414,211 $ 72,837 $ 66,965 Technical Nonwovens Segment (2),(3) 242,007 271,713 268,104 Thermal Acoustical Solutions Segment 201,509 189,301 166,591 Corporate Office 14,959 27,020 25,369 Total Assets $ 872,686 $ 560,871 $ 527,029 Total capital expenditures and depreciation and amortization by segment and the Corporate Office for the years ended December 31, 2018 , 2017 , and 2016 were as follows: Capital Expenditures Depreciation and Amortization In thousands 2018 2017 2016 2018 2017 2016 Performance Materials Segment (1) $ 11,288 $ 3,610 $ 4,098 $ 9,006 $ 3,996 $ 4,028 Technical Nonwovens Segment (2),(3) 5,864 2,903 1,248 13,877 12,625 6,791 Thermal Acoustical Solutions Segment 11,934 17,462 22,324 9,190 8,619 7,605 Corporate Office 544 940 489 658 699 977 Total $ 29,630 $ 24,915 $ 28,159 $ 32,731 $ 25,939 $ 19,401
Schedule of Net Sales by Geographic Area	Net sales by geographic area for the years ended December 31, 2018 , 2017 and 2016 and long-lived asset information by geographic area as of December 31, 2018 , 2017 , and 2016 were as follows: Net Sales Long-Lived Assets In thousands 2018 2017 2016 2018 2017 2016 United States (1) $ 422,222 $ 376,086 $ 354,371 $ 136,448 $ 93,583 $ 88,918 France (1) 66,579 56,214 52,042 13,219 14,268 12,692 Germany (1),(3) 125,796 105,828 63,301 25,873 20,872 15,649 United Kingdom 27,156 24,921 23,871 4,844 4,916 4,903 Canada (2) 87,622 84,701 40,871 25,614 30,739 30,911 China (1),(3) 54,198 47,856 30,361 11,958 11,896 11,996 Other (1) 2,324 2,831 2,035 4,085 1,590 1,301 Total $ 785,897 $ 698,437 $ 566,852 $ 222,041 $ 177,864 $ 166,370 (1) The Performance Materials segment includes the results of Interface and PCC for the periods following the dates of acquisitions of August 31, 2018 and July 12, 2018, respectively. (2) Technical Nonwovens segment includes results of Texel for the period following the date of acquisition of July 7, 2016. (3) Technical Nonwovens segment includes results of Gutsche as of the acquisition date of December 31, 2016. (4) Included in the Technical Nonwovens segment and Eliminations and Other is $22.2 million , $26.5 million and $18.2 million of intercompany sales to the Thermal Acoustical Solutions segment for the years ended December 31, 2018 , 2017 and 2016 , respectively. (5) For the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016 $0.8 million and $0.7 million , respectively, have been reclassified from operating income to other expense (income), net, to give effect to the adoption of ASU No. 2017-07, "Compensation - Retirement Benefits (Topic 715): Improving the Presentation of Net Periodic Pension Cost and Net Periodic Postretirement Benefit Cost".

Income Taxes (Tables)

Income Taxes (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]
Schedule of Components of Provision for Income Taxes	The provision for income taxes consists of the following: For the years ended December 31, In thousands 2018 2017 2016 Current: Federal $ 3,739 $ 11,526 $ 15,376 State 498 956 1,513 Foreign 3,788 2,425 2,104 Total Current $ 8,025 $ 14,907 $ 18,993 Deferred: Federal $ 2,646 $ (2,472 ) $ (594 ) State 380 256 601 Foreign (2,598 ) (717 ) (1,179 ) Total Deferred 428 (2,933 ) (1,172 ) Provision for income taxes $ 8,453 $ 11,974 $ 17,821
Schedule of Reconciliation of the Difference between the Actual Provisions for Income Taxes	The following is a reconciliation of the difference between the actual provision for income taxes and the provision computed by applying the federal statutory tax rate on earnings: For the years ended December 31, 2018 2017 2016 Statutory federal income tax rate 21.0 % 35.0 % 35.0 % State income taxes 1.6 1.6 2.1 Valuation allowances for deferred tax assets, including state (1.3 ) 0.1 1.3 Research and development credits (1.3 ) (1.0 ) (1.2 ) Capitalized transaction costs 0.6 — 0.7 Domestic production activities deduction — (1.8 ) (2.7 ) Stock based compensation (0.7 ) (4.4 ) (2.1 ) German Cartel settlement — — 2.2 Foreign income taxed at lower rates (1.6 ) (2.8 ) (3.5 ) Reserves for uncertain tax positions — (1.7 ) (0.1 ) Repatriation of foreign undistributed earnings 1.6 1.3 — Revaluation of deferred tax liabilities due to federal rate change — (7.3 ) — Other (0.4 ) 0.5 0.7 Effective income tax rate 19.5 % 19.5 % 32.4 %
Schedule of Net Current and Net Long-Term Deferred Tax Assets and Liabilities by Tax Jurisdiction	The following schedule presents net current and net long-term deferred tax assets and liabilities by tax jurisdiction as of December 31, 2018 and 2017: 2018 2017 Deferred Tax Assets Deferred Tax Assets In thousands Current Long-term Current Long-term Federal $ — $ — $ — $ — State — — — — Foreign — 2,055 — 1,146 Totals $ — $ 2,055 $ — $ 1,146 2018 2017 Deferred Tax Liabilities Deferred Tax Liabilities In thousands Current Long-term Current Long-term Federal $ — $ 30,193 $ — $ 7,288 State — 3,728 — 424 Foreign — 5,344 — 7,002 Totals $ — $ 39,265 $ — $ 14,714
Schedule of Components of Deferred Tax Asset and Liability	Net deferred tax assets (liabilities) consisted of the following as of December 31, 2018 and 2017 : December 31, In thousands 2018 2017 Deferred tax assets: Accounts receivable $ 172 $ 132 Inventories 520 164 Net operating loss carryforwards 6,095 5,339 Other accrued liabilities 3,426 1,053 Pension 5,181 1,482 Tax Credits 1,846 1,735 Total deferred tax assets 17,240 9,905 Deferred tax liabilities: Intangible assets 25,133 2,073 Property, plant and equipment 23,353 15,691 Total deferred tax liabilities 48,486 17,764 Valuation allowance 5,964 5,709 Net deferred tax liabilities $ (37,210 ) $ (13,568 )
Schedule of Income from Continuing Operations before Income Taxes	For the years ended December 31, 2018 , 2017 and 2016 , income before income taxes was derived from the following sources: For the years ended December 31, In thousands 2018 2017 2016 United States $ 33,928 $ 54,212 $ 53,356 Foreign 9,337 7,107 1,583 Total income before income taxes $ 43,265 $ 61,319 $ 54,939
Schedule of Reconciliation of Unrecognized Tax Benefits	A reconciliation of the beginning and ending amount of unrecognized tax benefits is as follows: In thousands 2018 2017 Unrecognized tax benefits at beginning of year $ 2,526 $ 3,219 Decreases relating to positions taken in prior periods (298 ) — Increases relating to positions taken in prior periods — 221 Increases relating to current period 1,584 475 Decreases due to settlements with tax authorities (233 ) (1,372 ) Decreases due to lapse of statute of limitations (16 ) (17 ) Unrecognized tax benefits at end of year $ 3,563 $ 2,526

Commitments and Contingencies (

Commitments and Contingencies (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]
Schedule of Future Minimum Lease Payments	Approximate future minimum lease payments under noncancelable leases are: Payments due by period In thousands Operating Lease Payments Capital Lease Payments Total 2019 $ 6,004 $ 279 $ 6,283 2020 4,871 35 4,906 2021 3,877 — 3,877 2022 3,226 — 3,226 2023 2,617 — 2,617 Thereafter 11,111 — 11,111 Total 31,706 314 32,020 Interest on capital leases — (2 ) (2 ) Total $ 31,706 $ 312 $ 32,018

Earnings Per Share (Tables)

Earnings Per Share (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]
Schedule of Reconciliation of Weighted Average Shares Used to Determine Basic and Diluted Earnings Per Share	The following table provides a reconciliation of weighted-average shares used to determine basic and diluted earnings per share. For the years ended In thousands 2018 2017 2016 Basic average common shares outstanding 17,204 17,045 16,871 Effect of dilutive options and restricted stock awards 126 272 370 Diluted average common shares outstanding 17,330 17,317 17,241

Quarterly Financial Informati_2

Quarterly Financial Information (Unaudited) (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018
Quarterly Financial Information Disclosure [Abstract]
Schedule of Quarterly Financial Results	The following table summarizes quarterly financial results for 2018 and 2017 . In management’s opinion, all material adjustments necessary for a fair statement of the information for such quarters have been reflected. 1st Quarter 2nd Quarter 3rd Quarter 4th Quarter In thousands except per share data 2018 2017 2018 2017 2018 2017 2018 2017 Net sales $ 191,660 $ 165,487 $ 186,413 $ 174,879 $ 197,886 $ 180,041 $ 209,938 $ 178,030 Gross profit $ 39,507 $ 40,498 $ 36,127 $ 43,327 $ 35,139 $ 40,054 $ 41,872 $ 39,480 Net income $ 11,054 $ 11,669 $ 10,450 $ 13,125 $ 6,256 $ 10,675 $ 7,184 $ 13,848 Earnings per common share: Basic $ 0.64 $ 0.69 $ 0.61 $ 0.77 $ 0.36 $ 0.63 $ 0.42 $ 0.81 Diluted $ 0.64 $ 0.68 $ 0.60 $ 0.76 $ 0.36 $ 0.62 $ 0.42 $ 0.80
Schedule of Components of Gross Profit and Net Income (Loss)	The following components are included gross profit and net income for 2018 and 2017 and impact the comparability of each year: 1st Quarter 2nd Quarter 3rd Quarter 4th Quarter In thousands except per share data 2018 2017 2018 2017 2018 2017 2018 2017 Gross profit impact: Inventory step-up purchase accounting adjustments $ — $ 481 $ — $ 543 $ 1,390 $ 83 $ 585 $ — Restructuring, severance and segment consolidation expenses 449 441 876 92 400 287 169 155 Net income impact: Inventory step-up purchase accounting adjustments $ — $ 350 $ — $ 394 $ 1,077 $ 59 $ 438 $ — Restructuring, severance and segment consolidation expenses 494 702 711 216 409 910 527 488 Long-lived asset impairment charge — 490 — — — — — — Strategic initiatives expenses 87 125 923 — 1,730 219 493 205 Discrete tax items — — — — — (1,380 ) 320 (2,867 )

Changes in Accumulated Other _2

Changes in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax [Abstract]
Schedule of Changes by Classification within Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)	The following table discloses the changes by classification within accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) for the period ended December 31, 2018 , 2017 and 2016 : In thousands Foreign Currency Translation Adjustment Defined Benefit Pension Adjustment Gains and Losses on Cash Flow Hedges Total Accumulated Other Comprehensive (Loss) Income Balance at December 31, 2015 $ (16,920 ) $ (17,665 ) $ — $ (34,585 ) Other Comprehensive loss (10,965 ) (2,969 ) (a) — (13,934 ) Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss 569 (b) — 569 Balance at December 31, 2016 $ (27,885 ) $ (20,065 ) $ — $ (47,950 ) Other Comprehensive income 25,664 1,299 (a) 122 (c) 27,085 Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss 717 (b) — 717 Balance at December 31, 2017 $ (2,221 ) $ (18,049 ) $ 122 $ (20,148 ) Other Comprehensive loss (16,237 ) (4,998 ) (a) (2,096 ) (c) (23,331 ) Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss — 794 (b) — 794 Balance at December 31, 2018 $ (18,458 ) $ (22,253 ) $ (1,974 ) $ (42,685 ) (a) Amount represents actuarial (losses) gains arising from the Company’s postretirement benefit obligation. This amount was $(5.0) million , net of $1.5 million tax benefit, for 2018 , $1.3 million , net of a $0.1 million tax expense, for 2017 and $(3.0) million , net of $1.6 million tax benefit in 2016 . (See Note 10) (b) Amount represents the amortization of actuarial losses to pension expense arising from the Company’s postretirement benefit obligation. This amount was $0.8 million , net of $0.2 million tax benefit in 2018 , $0.7 million , net of $0.4 million tax benefit in 2017 , and $0.6 million , net of $0.4 million tax benefit in 2016 . (See Note 10) (c) Amount represents unrealized gains (losses) on the fair value of hedging activities, net of taxes, for the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017 .

Significant Accounting Polici_4

Significant Accounting Policies - Narrative (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Jan. 01, 2018	Dec. 31, 2018	Sep. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2018	Mar. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Sep. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2017	Mar. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Foreign and export sales (as a percent)										53.50%	54.20%	46.90%
Export sales										$ 56,800	$ 55,900	$ 53,200
Sales to automotive market (as a percent)										46.30%	48.30%	56.20%
Progress billings adjustment		$ 0				$ 1,661				$ 0	$ 1,661
Finite-lived intangible asset useful life										11 years
Research and development expense										$ 10,600	10,800	$ 9,000
Net sales		209,938	$ 197,886	$ 186,413	$ 191,660	178,030	$ 180,041	$ 174,879	$ 165,487	785,897	698,437	566,852
Cumulative effect recognized on initial application of the new guidance	$ 376,381	411,325				374,783				411,325	374,783
Selling, product development and administrative expenses										$ 103,457	$ 97,159	$ 83,359
Minimum
Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Finite-lived intangible asset useful life										3 years
Maximum
Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Finite-lived intangible asset useful life										17 years
Ford Motor Company | Customer Concentration Risk
Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Accounts receivable from significant customer (as a percent)											12.00%
Sales Revenue | Ford Motor Company | Customer Concentration Risk
Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Concentration risk (as a percent)										14.80%	17.30%	19.60%
Net sales										$ 116,100	$ 120,700	$ 110,900
Accounting Standards Update 2017-07
Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Cumulative effect recognized on initial application of the new guidance						300					300	300
Selling, product development and administrative expenses											500	$ 400
Difference between Revenue Guidance in Effect before and after Topic 606 | Accounting Standards Update 2014-09
Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Net sales	19,600									4,285
Cumulative effect recognized on initial application of the new guidance	1,600	$ 2,479				$ 1,598				2,479	$ 1,598
Selling, product development and administrative expenses										$ 0
Thermal Acoustical Solutions | Difference between Revenue Guidance in Effect before and after Topic 606 | Accounting Standards Update 2014-09
Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Net sales	$ 16,300

Significant Accounting Polici_5

Significant Accounting Policies - Tooling-Related Assets (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Total tooling related assets	$ 5,718	$ 19,297
Inventories, net of progress billings and reserves
Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Total tooling related assets	4,262	18,540
Prepaid expenses and other current assets
Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Total tooling related assets	469	281
Other assets, net
Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Total tooling related assets	$ 987	$ 476

Revenue from Contracts with C_3

Revenue from Contracts with Customers - Narrative (Details) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018USD ($)
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Increase in net contract assets	$ 3.9
Increase in contract liabilities	1.7
Revenue recognized from contracts with customers	2.6
Interface
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Increase in net contract assets	$ 0.3
Minimum
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Customer payment term	30 days
Maximum
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Customer payment term	90 days

Revenue from Contracts with C_4

Revenue from Contracts with Customers - Contract Assets and Liabilities (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2018	Sep. 30, 2018	Jan. 01, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Contract assets	$ 23,040	$ 23,040	$ 19,125	$ 0
Contract liabilities	$ 6,990	$ 4,537	2,820	$ 3,412
Accounting Standards Update 2014-09
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Contract assets			3,915
Contract liabilities			$ 1,717

Revenue from Contracts with C_5

Revenue from Contracts with Customers - Impact on Consolidated Income Statement and Consolidated Balance Sheet (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	Jan. 01, 2018	Dec. 31, 2018	Sep. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2018	Mar. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Sep. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2017	Mar. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Assets:
Contract assets	$ 19,125	$ 23,040	$ 23,040			$ 0				$ 23,040	$ 0
Inventories	65,155	84,465				80,339				84,465	80,339
Liabilities:
Accounts payable	72,594	73,265				71,931				73,265	71,931
Deferred revenue	4,621	6,990								6,990
Deferred tax liabilities	15,185	39,265				14,714				39,265	14,714
Stockholders' equity:
Retained earnings	376,381	411,325				374,783				411,325	374,783
Accumulated other comprehensive loss		(42,685)				(20,148)				(42,685)	(20,148)
Income Statement
Net sales		209,938	197,886	$ 186,413	$ 191,660	178,030	$ 180,041	$ 174,879	$ 165,487	785,897	698,437	$ 566,852
Cost of sales										633,252	535,078	428,048
Gross profit		41,872	35,139	36,127	39,507	39,480	40,054	43,327	40,498	152,645	163,359	138,804
Selling, product development and administrative expenses										103,457	97,159	83,359
Operating income										49,188	66,200	55,445
Interest expense										6,212	2,720	1,068
Other income, net										(289)	2,161	(562)
Income before income taxes										43,265	61,319	54,939
Income tax expense										8,453	11,974	17,821
(Income) loss from equity method investment										(132)	28	(69)
Net income		$ 7,184	$ 6,256	$ 10,450	$ 11,054	$ 13,848	$ 10,675	$ 13,125	$ 11,669	$ 34,944	$ 49,317	$ 37,187
Earnings per share:
Basic (USD per share)		$ 0.42	$ 0.36	$ 0.61	$ 0.64	$ 0.81	$ 0.63	$ 0.77	$ 0.69	$ 2.03	$ 2.89	$ 2.20
Diluted (USD per share)		$ 0.42	$ 0.36	$ 0.60	$ 0.64	$ 0.80	$ 0.62	$ 0.76	$ 0.68	$ 2.02	$ 2.85	$ 2.16
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding:
Basic average common shares outstanding (shares)										17,204	17,045	16,871
Diluted average common shares outstanding (shares)										17,330	17,317	17,241
Calculated under Revenue Guidance in Effect before Topic 606
Assets:
Contract assets		$ 0				$ 0				$ 0	$ 0
Inventories		103,767				80,339				103,767	80,339
Liabilities:
Accounts payable		71,937				71,931				71,937	71,931
Deferred revenue		7,952				3,412				7,952	3,412
Deferred tax liabilities		38,422				14,714				38,422	14,714
Stockholders' equity:
Retained earnings		408,846				374,783				408,846	374,783
Accumulated other comprehensive loss		(42,735)								(42,735)
Income Statement
Net sales										781,612
Cost of sales										630,220
Gross profit										151,392
Selling, product development and administrative expenses										103,457
Operating income										47,935
Interest expense										6,212
Other income, net										(289)
Income before income taxes										42,012
Income tax expense										8,081
(Income) loss from equity method investment										(132)
Net income										$ 34,063
Earnings per share:
Basic (USD per share)										$ 1.98
Diluted (USD per share)										$ 1.97
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding:
Basic average common shares outstanding (shares)										17,204
Diluted average common shares outstanding (shares)										17,330
Accounting Standards Update 2014-09
Assets:
Contract assets	3,915
Accounting Standards Update 2014-09 | Difference between Revenue Guidance in Effect before and after Topic 606
Assets:
Contract assets		23,040				19,125				$ 23,040	19,125
Inventories		(19,302)				(15,184)				(19,302)	(15,184)
Liabilities:
Accounts payable		1,328				663				1,328	663
Deferred revenue		(962)				1,209				(962)	1,209
Deferred tax liabilities		843				471				843	471
Stockholders' equity:
Retained earnings	1,600	2,479				$ 1,598				2,479	$ 1,598
Accumulated other comprehensive loss		$ 50								50
Income Statement
Net sales	$ 19,600									4,285
Cost of sales										3,032
Gross profit										1,253
Selling, product development and administrative expenses										0
Operating income										1,253
Interest expense										0
Other income, net										0
Income before income taxes										1,253
Income tax expense										372
(Income) loss from equity method investment										0
Net income										$ 881
Earnings per share:
Basic (USD per share)										$ 0.05
Diluted (USD per share)										$ 0.05
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding:
Basic average common shares outstanding (shares)										0
Diluted average common shares outstanding (shares)										0

Revenue from Contracts with C_6

Revenue from Contracts with Customers - Disaggregation of Revenue by Geographical Location (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018	Sep. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2018	Mar. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Sep. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2017	Mar. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales	$ 209,938	$ 197,886	$ 186,413	$ 191,660	$ 178,030	$ 180,041	$ 174,879	$ 165,487	$ 785,897	$ 698,437	$ 566,852
North America
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales									509,844
Europe
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales									221,799
Asia
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales									54,254
Operating Segments | Performance Materials
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales									169,217	116,669	111,128
Operating Segments | Performance Materials | North America
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales									117,313
Operating Segments | Performance Materials | Europe
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales									49,055
Operating Segments | Performance Materials | Asia
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales									2,849
Operating Segments | Technical Nonwovens
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales									277,071	269,077	155,505
Operating Segments | Technical Nonwovens | North America
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales									167,519
Operating Segments | Technical Nonwovens | Europe
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales									73,912
Operating Segments | Technical Nonwovens | Asia
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales									35,640
Operating Segments | Thermal Acoustical Solutions
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales									365,427	342,105	321,192
Operating Segments | Thermal Acoustical Solutions | North America
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales									250,133
Operating Segments | Thermal Acoustical Solutions | Europe
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales									99,529
Operating Segments | Thermal Acoustical Solutions | Asia
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales									15,765
Eliminations and Other
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales									(25,818)	$ (29,414)	$ (20,973)
Eliminations and Other | North America
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales									(25,121)
Eliminations and Other | Europe
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales									(697)
Eliminations and Other | Asia
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales									$ 0

Acquisitions - Narrative (Detai

Acquisitions - Narrative (Details) - USD ($)	Jul. 12, 2018	Jul. 07, 2016	Jun. 30, 2017	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Aug. 31, 2018	Aug. 30, 2018	Jul. 06, 2016
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Payments to acquire business, net of cash acquired					$ 269,972,000	$ 323,000	$ 152,242,000
Amended Credit Facility | Revolving Credit Facility
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Maximum borrowing capacity								$ 450,000,000	$ 175,000,000	$ 450,000,000
Interface
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Voting interest acquired (as a percent)							100.00%
Payments to acquire business, net of cash acquired							$ 268,400,000
Cash acquired from acquisition							5,200,000
Purchase price borrowings							$ 261,400,000
Transaction related costs					3,400,000
Net sales of acquiree since acquisition date				$ 45,700,000
Income of acquiree since acquisition date				800,000
Purchase accounting inventory fair value step-up adjustment				2,000,000
Intangible asset amortization expense				$ 3,400,000
Pro forma net income (loss)					$ 4,500,000	$ (14,000,000)
Precision Filtration Division of Precision Custom Coatings
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Payment to acquire business	$ 1,600,000
Post-closing adjustment	$ 2,000,000
Gutsche
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Voting interest acquired (as a percent)							100.00%
Payment to acquire business							$ 57,600,000
Post-closing adjustment			$ 400,000
Estimated post-closing purchase price adjustment							$ 3,000,000
Consideration transferred including post-closing adjustment			$ 58,000,000
Texel
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Voting interest acquired (as a percent)		100.00%
Payment to acquire business		$ 102,700,000
Texel | Afitex Texel Geosynthetiques, Inc.
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Interest in joint venture as part of acquisition (as a percent)		50.00%
Other assets		$ 600,000

Acquisitions - Fair Values of I

Acquisitions - Fair Values of Identifiable Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2018	Aug. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Goodwill (Note 6)	$ 196,963		$ 68,969	$ 63,606
Interface
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Accounts receivable		$ 25,182
Inventories		17,313
Prepaid expenses and other current assets		2,382
Property, plant and equipment		40,902
Goodwill (Note 6)		130,991
Other intangible assets (Note 6)		106,900
Other assets		308
Total assets acquired, net of cash acquired		323,978
Current liabilities		(11,319)
Deferred tax liabilities (Note 14)		(24,904)
Benefit plan liabilities (Note 10)		(18,352)
Other long-term liabilities		(1,031)
Total liabilities assumed		(55,606)
Total purchase price, net of cash acquired		$ 268,372

Acquisitions - Unaudited Pro Fo

Acquisitions - Unaudited Pro Forma Operating Results (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Business Combinations [Abstract]
Net Sales	$ 888,355	$ 840,040
Net Income	$ 34,896	$ 36,619
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]
Basic (USD per share)	$ 2.03	$ 2.15
Diluted (USD per share)	$ 2.01	$ 2.11

Inventories - Summary (Details)

Inventories - Summary (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2018	Jan. 01, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Inventory Disclosure [Abstract]
Raw materials	$ 37,731		$ 28,672
Work in process	18,296		29,427
Finished goods	28,438		23,901
Inventory, gross	84,465		82,000
Less: Progress billings	0		(1,661)
Total inventories	$ 84,465	$ 65,155	$ 80,339

Inventories - Narrative (Detail

Inventories - Narrative (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Inventory Disclosure [Abstract]
Gross tooling inventory	$ 4.3	$ 20.2
Tooling inventory, net of progress billings		$ 18.5

Property, Plant and Equipment_3

Property, Plant and Equipment, Net - Summary (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, plant and equipment, at cost	$ 438,619	$ 380,640
Accumulated depreciation	(244,098)	(226,581)
Accumulated depreciation of capital leases	(608)	(239)
Property and equipment, net excluding work in progress	193,913	153,820
Construction in progress	19,456	16,512
Total property, plant and equipment, net	213,369	170,332
Depreciation expense	23,400	21,400	$ 17,800
Land
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, plant and equipment, at cost	6,280	4,289
Land | Assets Held Under Capital Leases
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, plant and equipment, at cost	228	241
Buildings and improvements
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, plant and equipment, at cost	$ 104,036	84,337
Buildings and improvements | Minimum
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, plant and equipment useful life	10 years
Buildings and improvements | Maximum
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, plant and equipment useful life	35 years
Buildings and improvements | Assets Held Under Capital Leases
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, plant and equipment, at cost	$ 229	221
Machinery and equipment
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, plant and equipment, at cost	$ 289,059	254,881
Machinery and equipment | Minimum
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, plant and equipment useful life	5 years
Machinery and equipment | Maximum
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, plant and equipment useful life	25 years
Machinery and equipment | Assets Held Under Capital Leases
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, plant and equipment, at cost	$ 1,005	1,051
Office equipment
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, plant and equipment, at cost	$ 36,110	33,880
Office equipment | Minimum
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, plant and equipment useful life	2 years
Office equipment | Maximum
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, plant and equipment useful life	8 years
Office equipment | Assets Held Under Capital Leases
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, plant and equipment, at cost	$ 32	34
Vehicles
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, plant and equipment, at cost	$ 1,640	$ 1,706
Vehicles | Minimum
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, plant and equipment useful life	3 years
Vehicles | Maximum
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, plant and equipment useful life	6 years

Goodwill and Long-Lived Asset_2

Goodwill and Long-Lived Assets - Gross and Net Carrying Amounts of Goodwill (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill	$ 209,123	$ 81,129
Accumulated amortization/impairment	(12,160)	(12,160)
Goodwill	196,963	68,969	$ 63,606
Performance Materials
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill	144,626	13,307
Accumulated amortization/impairment	0	0
Goodwill	144,626	13,307	12,777
Technical Nonwovens
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill	52,337	55,662
Accumulated amortization/impairment	0	0
Goodwill	52,337	55,662	$ 50,829
Thermal Acoustical Solutions
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill	12,160	12,160
Accumulated amortization/impairment	(12,160)	(12,160)
Goodwill	$ 0	$ 0

Goodwill and Long-Lived Asset_3

Goodwill and Long-Lived Assets - Changes in Carrying Amount of Goodwill by Reporting Unit (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	9 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance	$ 68,969	$ 68,969	$ 63,606
Goodwill addition		131,509	323
Currency translation adjustment		(3,515)	5,040
Ending Balance		196,963	68,969
Performance Materials
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance	13,307	13,307	12,777
Goodwill addition	131,500	131,509	0
Currency translation adjustment		(190)	530
Ending Balance		144,626	13,307
Technical Nonwovens
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance	$ 55,662	55,662	50,829
Goodwill addition		0	323
Currency translation adjustment		(3,325)	4,510
Ending Balance		$ 52,337	$ 55,662

Goodwill and Long-Lived Asset_4

Goodwill and Long-Lived Assets - Other Intangible Assets (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Amortized intangible assets
Gross Carrying Amount	$ 156,703	$ 51,992
Accumulated Amortization	(20,099)	(11,449)
Customer relationships
Amortized intangible assets
Gross Carrying Amount	141,455	39,474
Accumulated Amortization	(11,453)	(4,460)
Patents
Amortized intangible assets
Gross Carrying Amount	4,333	4,504
Accumulated Amortization	(3,816)	(3,821)
Technology
Amortized intangible assets
Gross Carrying Amount	2,500	2,500
Accumulated Amortization	(810)	(644)
Trade names
Amortized intangible assets
Gross Carrying Amount	7,235	4,288
Accumulated Amortization	(2,840)	(1,461)
License agreements
Amortized intangible assets
Gross Carrying Amount	619	640
Accumulated Amortization	(619)	(640)
Other
Amortized intangible assets
Gross Carrying Amount	561	586
Accumulated Amortization	$ (561)	$ (423)

Goodwill and Long-Lived Asset_5

Goodwill and Long-Lived Assets - Narrative (Details) - USD ($)	Aug. 31, 2018	Mar. 31, 2018	Sep. 30, 2018	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill addition				$ 131,509,000	$ 323,000
Goodwill				196,963,000	68,969,000	$ 63,606,000
Gross finite-lived intangible assets				156,703,000	51,992,000
Amortization of intangible assets				9,300,000	4,500,000	1,500,000
Estimated amortization expense for intangible assets in 2019				21,400,000
Estimated amortization expense for intangible assets in 2020				20,800,000
Estimated amortization expense for intangible assets in 2021				16,400,000
Estimated amortization expense for intangible assets in 2022				14,400,000
Estimated amortization expense for intangible assets in 2023				$ 12,700,000
Weighted-average useful life of finite-lived intangible assets				11 years
Carrying value of asset group				$ 872,686,000	560,871,000	527,029,000
Customer relationships
Goodwill [Line Items]
Gross finite-lived intangible assets				141,455,000	39,474,000
Trade names
Goodwill [Line Items]
Gross finite-lived intangible assets				7,235,000	4,288,000
Interface
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill expected to be deductible for income tax purposes			$ 0
Goodwill	$ 130,991,000
Gross finite-lived intangible assets	106,900,000
Interface | Customer relationships
Goodwill [Line Items]
Gross finite-lived intangible assets	$ 103,700,000
Weighted average useful lives of acquired assets	12 years
Interface | Trade names
Goodwill [Line Items]
Gross finite-lived intangible assets	$ 3,200,000
Technical Nonwovens
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill addition				0	323,000
Goodwill				52,337,000	55,662,000	50,829,000
Performance Materials
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill addition			131,500,000	131,509,000	0
Goodwill				$ 144,626,000	$ 13,307,000	$ 12,777,000
Carrying value of asset group		$ 1,300,000
Fair value of assets		500,000
Asset impairment charges		$ 800,000
Performance Materials | Interface
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill addition			$ 131,000,000

Long-term Debt and Financing _3

Long-term Debt and Financing Arrangements - Narrative (Details)	Aug. 31, 2018USD ($)	Nov. 30, 2018USD ($)	Apr. 30, 2017USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2018USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2018USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2023USD ($)	Aug. 30, 2018USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2017USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2016	Jul. 06, 2016USD ($)
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term debt				$ 324,813,000				$ 77,190,000
Long-term debt maturing in 2019				10,200,000
Long-term debt maturing in 2020				9,900,000
Long-term debt maturing in 2021				9,900,000
Long-term debt maturing in 2022				9,900,000
Long-term debt maturing in 2023				$ 284,900,000
Weight-average interest rate (as a percent)				3.40%				2.20%	1.40%
Term Loan Due August 31, 2023
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term debt					$ 200,000,000
Amended Credit Facility
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term debt					$ 250,000,000
Letters of credit outstanding				$ 3,900,000
Amended Credit Facility | Revolving Credit Facility
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Maximum borrowing capacity	$ 450,000,000						$ 175,000,000			$ 450,000,000
Maximum borrowing capacity possible value of increase (not to exceed)	$ 150,000,000
Minimum fixed charge coverage ratio for preceding 12 month period					1.25
Maximum leverage ratio of credit facility					3.5
Remaining borrowing availability				108,100,000
Borrowings outstanding				138,000,000
Amended Credit Facility | Revolving Credit Facility | Minimum
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Unused borrowing capacity, commitment fee percentage					0.15%
Amended Credit Facility | Revolving Credit Facility | Maximum
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Unused borrowing capacity, commitment fee percentage					0.275%
Amended Credit Facility | Revolving Credit Facility | Federal Funds Effective Swap Rate
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Basis spread (as a percent)					0.50%
Amended Credit Facility | Revolving Credit Facility | Base Rate | Minimum
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Basis spread (as a percent)					0.00%
Amended Credit Facility | Revolving Credit Facility | Base Rate | Maximum
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Basis spread (as a percent)					1.25%
Amended Credit Facility | Revolving Credit Facility | Eurocurrency Rate
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Basis spread (as a percent)					1.00%
Amended Credit Facility | Revolving Credit Facility | Eurocurrency Rate | Minimum
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Basis spread (as a percent)					0.75%
Amended Credit Facility | Revolving Credit Facility | Eurocurrency Rate | Maximum
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Basis spread (as a percent)					2.00%
Amended Credit Facility | Foreign Credit Facilities
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Remaining borrowing availability				8,200,000
Letters of credit outstanding				2,200,000
Interest rate contracts
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Term of derivative contract		5 years	3 years
Notional amount of derivative		$ 139,000,000	$ 60,000,000
Derivative fixed interest rate (as a percent)		3.09%	1.58%
Derivative quarterly reduction amount				$ 5,000,000
Subsequent Event | Term Loan Due August 31, 2023
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Periodic payment on debt instrument						$ 2,500,000

Long-term Debt and Financing _4

Long-term Debt and Financing Arrangements - Total Outstanding Debt (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term debt	$ 324,813	$ 77,190
Less portion due within one year	(10,172)	(277)
Total long-term debt	$ 314,641	76,913
Revolver Loan
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Effective Rate (as a percent)	4.15%
Long-term debt	$ 138,000	76,600
Term Loan, net of debt issuance costs
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Effective Rate (as a percent)	4.15%
Long-term debt	$ 186,498	0
Capital Leases
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term debt	$ 315	$ 590
Minimum | Capital Leases
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Effective Rate (as a percent)	1.65%
Maximum | Capital Leases
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Effective Rate (as a percent)	2.09%

Derivatives - Narrative (Detail

Derivatives - Narrative (Details) - Interest rate contracts - USD ($)	1 Months Ended		3 Months Ended
	Nov. 30, 2018	Apr. 30, 2017	Dec. 31, 2018
Derivative [Line Items]
Term of derivative contract	5 years	3 years
Notional amount of derivative	$ 139,000,000	$ 60,000,000
Derivative fixed interest rate (as a percent)	3.09%	1.58%
Derivative quarterly reduction amount			$ 5,000,000

Derivatives - Fair Value Amount

Derivatives - Fair Value Amounts of Derivative Instruments (Details) - Derivatives designated as hedging instrument - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Asset Derivatives	$ 179	$ 157
Liability Derivatives	2,738	0
Interest rate contracts
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Asset Derivatives	179	157
Liability Derivatives	$ 2,738	$ 0

Derivatives - Loss Recorded in

Derivatives - Loss Recorded in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) (Details) - Derivatives designated as hedging instrument - Cash flow hedges - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items]
Gain (loss) recognized in other comprehensive income	$ (2,185)	$ 129	$ (2,096)	$ 122
Interest rate contracts
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items]
Gain (loss) recognized in other comprehensive income	$ (2,185)	$ 129	$ (2,096)	$ 122

Capital Stock - Narrative (Deta

Capital Stock - Narrative (Details)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018stockholder$ / sharesshares	Dec. 31, 2017$ / sharesshares
Equity [Abstract]
Preferred stock, par value (USD per share) | $ / shares	$ 0.01	$ 0.01
Preferred stock issued (shares)	0	0
Preferred stock authorized (shares)	500,000	500,000
Number of stockholders | stockholder	8,384
Common stock outstanding (shares)	17,555,672

Employer Sponsored Benefit Pl_3

Employer Sponsored Benefit Plans - Narrative (Details) $ in Thousands	4 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018USD ($)plan_participantactive_employee	Dec. 31, 2018USD ($)plan_participantactive_employee	Dec. 31, 2017USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2016USD ($)	Aug. 31, 2018USD ($)	Jan. 01, 2018USD ($)
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Future amortization of gain (loss)	$ (500)	$ (500)
Cumulative effect recognized on initial application of the new guidance	$ 411,325	411,325	$ 374,783			$ 376,381
Selling, product development and administrative expenses		$ 103,457	$ 97,159	$ 83,359
Expected return on plan assets, benefit obligation (as a percent)	4.08%	4.08%	5.80%
Defined Contribution Plan:
Employer Contributions to 401(k) Plan		$ 2,900	$ 2,600	2,500
Matching contribution of employees' gross pay (as a percent)		5.00%
Matching contribution of employees' gross pay, first 3% (as a percent)		100.00%
Matching contribution of employees' gross pay, remaining 2% (as a percent)		50.00%
Minimum
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Estimated future employer contributions in next fiscal year	$ 3,500	$ 3,500
Maximum
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Estimated future employer contributions in next fiscal year	5,500	5,500
United States
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Funded (unfunded) status of plan	(15,227)	(15,227)	(7,708)
Pension plan liability	15,227	15,227	7,708
Accumulated other comprehensive loss, net of tax	21,850	21,850	17,632
Increase in OCI pension adjustment		1,800	2,100
United States | Minimum
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Future amortization of gain (loss)	(29,000)	(29,000)
United States | Maximum
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Future amortization of gain (loss)	(33,000)	(33,000)
Foreign Plan
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Pension plan liability	4,700	4,700	1,900
Accumulated other comprehensive loss, net of tax	400	400	400
Accounting Standards Update 2017-07
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Cumulative effect recognized on initial application of the new guidance			300	300
Selling, product development and administrative expenses			$ 500	$ 400
Interface
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Funded (unfunded) status of plan					$ (11,200)
Interface | United States
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Increase in OCI pension adjustment		1,800
Postemployment Retirement Benefits | Interface | United States
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Pension plan liability	4,100	$ 4,100			4,100
Benefit expense since acquisition date	100
Benefit payments since acquisition date	$ 100
Pension Plan | United States
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Number of plan participants | plan_participant	900	900
Number of active employee plan participants | active_employee	200	200
Pension Plan | United States | Minimum
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Estimated future employer contributions in next fiscal year	$ 2,000	$ 2,000
Pension Plan | United States | Maximum
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Estimated future employer contributions in next fiscal year	$ 4,000	$ 4,000
Pension Plan | Interface | Foreign Plan
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Pension plan liability					$ 2,900

Employer Sponsored Benefit Pl_4

Employer Sponsored Benefit Plans - Plan Assets and Benefit Obligations (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Change in benefit obligation:
Service Cost	$ 46	$ 0	$ 0
Interest cost	2,595	2,058	2,139
Change in plan assets:
Fair value of plan assets at beginning of year	44,174
Fair value of plan assets at end of year	87,452	44,174
Balance sheet amounts:
Noncurrent liabilities	(22,795)	(9,743)
United States
Change in benefit obligation:
Net benefit obligation at beginning of year	51,882	50,086
Benefit obligation assumed through acquisition	52,392	0
Service Cost	46	0
Interest cost	2,595	2,058
Actuarial (gain)/loss	(876)	2,126
Gross benefits paid	(3,360)	(2,388)
Net benefit obligation at end of year	102,679	51,882	50,086
Change in plan assets:
Fair value of plan assets at beginning of year	44,174	37,038
Fair value of plan assets through acquisition	43,230	0
Actual (loss)/return on plan assets	(4,092)	5,924
Contributions	7,500	3,600
Gross benefits paid	(3,360)	(2,388)
Fair value of plan assets at end of year	87,452	44,174	$ 37,038
Net benefit obligation in excess of plan assets	(15,227)	(7,708)
Balance sheet amounts:
Current liabilities	(3,078)	0
Noncurrent liabilities	(12,149)	(7,708)
Total liabilities	(15,227)	(7,708)
Amounts recognized in accumulated other comprehensive income, net of tax consist of:
Net actuarial loss	21,850	17,632
Net amount recognized	$ 21,850	$ 17,632

Employer Sponsored Benefit Pl_5

Employer Sponsored Benefit Plans - Defined Benefit Pension Plan with an Accumulated Benefit Obligation in Excess of Plan Assets (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Retirement Benefits [Abstract]
Projected benefit obligation	$ 102,679	$ 51,882
Accumulated benefit obligation	104,188	51,882
Fair value of plan assets	$ 87,452	$ 44,174

Employer Sponsored Benefit Pl_6

Employer Sponsored Benefit Plans - Components of Net Periodic Benefit Cost (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Retirement Benefits [Abstract]
Service cost	$ 46	$ 0	$ 0
Interest cost	2,595	2,058	2,139
Expected return on plan assets	(3,339)	(2,376)	(2,419)
Amortization of actuarial net loss	1,024	1,092	933
Total net periodic benefit cost	$ 326	$ 774	$ 653

Employer Sponsored Benefit Pl_7

Employer Sponsored Benefit Plans - Assumptions Used in Determining the Year-End Benefit Obligation and Annual Net Cost (Details)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Benefit Obligation
Discount rate (as a percent)	3.99%	3.71%
Expected return on plan assets (as a percent)	4.08%	5.80%
Net Cost
Discount rate (as a percent)	3.75%	4.21%	4.56%
Expected return on plan assets (as a percent)	5.79%	6.30%	7.00%

Employer Sponsored Benefit Pl_8

Employer Sponsored Benefit Plans - Target Allocation and the Actual Allocation of Plan Assets (Details)	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Domestic equities
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Actual Allocation of Plan Assets (as a percent)	16.00%	26.00%
International equities
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Actual Allocation of Plan Assets (as a percent)	11.00%	26.00%
Fixed income
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Actual Allocation of Plan Assets (as a percent)	44.00%	40.00%
U.S. government securities
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Actual Allocation of Plan Assets (as a percent)	3.00%	0.00%
Corporate and foreign bonds
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Actual Allocation of Plan Assets (as a percent)	2.00%	0.00%
Inflation hedge mutual funds
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Actual Allocation of Plan Assets (as a percent)	3.00%	0.00%
Hedge fund of funds
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Actual Allocation of Plan Assets (as a percent)	5.00%	7.00%
Cash and cash equivalents
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Actual Allocation of Plan Assets (as a percent)	16.00%	1.00%
Minimum | Domestic equities
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Target Allocation (as a percent)	11.00%
Minimum | International equities
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Target Allocation (as a percent)	5.00%
Minimum | Fixed income
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Target Allocation (as a percent)	30.00%
Minimum | U.S. government securities
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Target Allocation (as a percent)	2.00%
Minimum | Corporate and foreign bonds
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Target Allocation (as a percent)	2.00%
Minimum | Inflation hedge mutual funds
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Target Allocation (as a percent)	2.00%
Minimum | Hedge fund of funds
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Target Allocation (as a percent)	2.00%
Minimum | Cash and cash equivalents
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Target Allocation (as a percent)	0.00%
Maximum | Domestic equities
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Target Allocation (as a percent)	32.00%
Maximum | International equities
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Target Allocation (as a percent)	24.00%
Maximum | Fixed income
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Target Allocation (as a percent)	69.00%
Maximum | U.S. government securities
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Target Allocation (as a percent)	13.00%
Maximum | Corporate and foreign bonds
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Target Allocation (as a percent)	13.00%
Maximum | Inflation hedge mutual funds
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Target Allocation (as a percent)	13.00%
Maximum | Hedge fund of funds
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Target Allocation (as a percent)	9.00%
Maximum | Cash and cash equivalents
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Target Allocation (as a percent)	32.00%

Employer Sponsored Benefit Pl_9

Employer Sponsored Benefit Plans - Trust Assets at Fair Value (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Total Assets at Fair Value	$ 87,452	$ 44,174
Measured at NAV	28,039	20,414
Domestic equities
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Total Assets at Fair Value	13,941	11,577
Measured at NAV	0	0
International equities
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Total Assets at Fair Value	9,547	11,626
Measured at NAV	0	0
Fixed income
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Total Assets at Fair Value	38,704	17,360
Measured at NAV	27,727	17,360
U.S. government securities
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Total Assets at Fair Value	2,466
Measured at NAV	0
Corporate and foreign bonds
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Total Assets at Fair Value	1,448
Measured at NAV	0
Inflation hedge mutual funds
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Total Assets at Fair Value	2,808
Measured at NAV	0
Hedge fund of funds
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Total Assets at Fair Value	4,441	3,054
Measured at NAV	312	3,054
Cash and cash equivalents
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Total Assets at Fair Value	14,097	557
Measured at NAV	0	0
Level 1
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Total Assets at Fair Value	53,429	23,760
Level 1 | Domestic equities
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Total Assets at Fair Value	13,941	11,577
Level 1 | International equities
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Total Assets at Fair Value	9,547	11,626
Level 1 | Fixed income
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Total Assets at Fair Value	10,977	0
Level 1 | U.S. government securities
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Total Assets at Fair Value	0
Level 1 | Corporate and foreign bonds
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Total Assets at Fair Value	0
Level 1 | Inflation hedge mutual funds
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Total Assets at Fair Value	2,808
Level 1 | Hedge fund of funds
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Total Assets at Fair Value	4,129	0
Level 1 | Cash and cash equivalents
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Total Assets at Fair Value	12,027	557
Level 2
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Total Assets at Fair Value	5,984	0
Level 2 | Domestic equities
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Total Assets at Fair Value	0	0
Level 2 | International equities
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Total Assets at Fair Value	0	0
Level 2 | Fixed income
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Total Assets at Fair Value	0	0
Level 2 | U.S. government securities
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Total Assets at Fair Value	2,466
Level 2 | Corporate and foreign bonds
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Total Assets at Fair Value	1,448
Level 2 | Inflation hedge mutual funds
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Total Assets at Fair Value	0
Level 2 | Hedge fund of funds
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Total Assets at Fair Value	0	0
Level 2 | Cash and cash equivalents
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Total Assets at Fair Value	2,070	0
Level 3
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Total Assets at Fair Value	0	0
Level 3 | Domestic equities
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Total Assets at Fair Value	0	0
Level 3 | International equities
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Total Assets at Fair Value	0	0
Level 3 | Fixed income
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Total Assets at Fair Value	0	0
Level 3 | U.S. government securities
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Total Assets at Fair Value	0
Level 3 | Corporate and foreign bonds
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Total Assets at Fair Value	0
Level 3 | Inflation hedge mutual funds
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Total Assets at Fair Value	0
Level 3 | Hedge fund of funds
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Total Assets at Fair Value	0	0
Level 3 | Cash and cash equivalents
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Total Assets at Fair Value	$ 0	$ 0

Employer Sponsored Benefit P_10

Employer Sponsored Benefit Plans - Estimated Future Benefit Payments (Details) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2018USD ($)
Retirement Benefits [Abstract]
2,019	$ 4,023
2,020	3,099
2,021	3,186
2,022	3,241
2,023	3,264
2024-2028	$ 16,995

Equity Compensation Plans - Nar

Equity Compensation Plans - Narrative (Details) - USD ($)	Apr. 27, 2012	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Stock based compensation expense		$ 2,100,000	$ 4,300,000	$ 4,400,000
Compensation costs capitalized as part of inventory		0	0	0
Tax benefit from compensation expense		$ 1,300,000	$ 4,000,000	$ 1,900,000
Options granted (shares)		245,830	99,840	56,580
Weighted-average grant-date fair value of options (USD per share)		$ 21.49	$ 17.91	$ 21.11
Options exercised (shares)		54,316	90,897	76,333
Total intrinsic value for options exercised		$ 1,400,000	$ 3,600,000	$ 2,400,000
Cash received from exercise of stock option		900,000	1,300,000	1,200,000
Fair value of restrictions lapsed		$ 3,200,000	8,000,000	3,400,000
Stock Options
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Term of stock awards		10 years
Realized income tax benefit		$ 300,000	$ 1,100,000	$ 700,000
Total unrecognized compensation cost		$ 4,000,000
Weighted average expected amortization period		3 years 1 month
Stock Options | Minimum
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Vesting period of stock awards		3 years
Stock Options | Maximum
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Vesting period of stock awards		4 years
Restricted Stock
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Weighted-average grant-date fair value of options (USD per share)		$ 25.19	$ 45.18	$ 49.70
Total unrecognized compensation cost		$ 6,500,000
Weighted average expected amortization period		2 years 4 months 24 days
Granted (shares)		172,000
Restricted stock forfeited (shares)		8,440	14,045	33,800
Shares paid for tax withholding for share based compensation (shares)		23,581
Shares paid for tax withholding for share based compensation, value of shares withheld		$ 1,000,000
Time Based Restricted Stock
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Granted (shares)		71,516	22,700	31,455
Time Based Restricted Stock | Minimum
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Vesting period of stock awards		2 years
Time Based Restricted Stock | Maximum
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Vesting period of stock awards		4 years
Performance Based Restricted Stock Awards
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Granted (shares)		99,560	52,595	44,423
Time-Based Restricted Stock Units
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Granted (shares)		1,245	485	8,570
2012 Stock Repurchase Program
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Share options and restricted shares authorized (shares)	1,750,000
Number of additional shares authorized (shares)	1,200,000

Equity Compensation Plans - Wei

Equity Compensation Plans - Weighted-Average Assumptions (Details)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Risk-free interest rate
Fair Value Measurement Inputs and Valuation Techniques [Line Items]
Measurement input of stock options (as a percent)	0.027	0.022	0.018
Expected life
Fair Value Measurement Inputs and Valuation Techniques [Line Items]
Term of stock options	5 years 5 months 28 days	5 years 5 months 19 days	5 years 5 months 19 days
Expected volatility
Fair Value Measurement Inputs and Valuation Techniques [Line Items]
Measurement input of stock options (as a percent)	0.34	0.33	0.42
Expected dividend yield
Fair Value Measurement Inputs and Valuation Techniques [Line Items]
Measurement input of stock options (as a percent)	0	0	0

Equity Compensation Plans - Sto

Equity Compensation Plans - Stock Option Activity (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Shares:
Outstanding at beginning of period (shares)	433,000
Granted (shares)	245,830	99,840	56,580
Exercised (shares)	(54,316)	(90,897)	(76,333)
Forfeited/Cancelled (shares)	(2,000)
Outstanding at end of period (shares)	623,000	433,000
Options exercisable at end of period (shares)	254,000
Unvested at end of period (shares)	369,000
Weighted-Average Exercise Price:
Outstanding at beginning of period (USD per share)	$ 33.37
Granted (USD per share)	21.49
Exercised (USD per share)	16.48
Forfeited/Cancelled (USD per share)	36.08
Outstanding at end of period (USD per share)	30.14	$ 33.37
Options exercisable at end of period (USD per share)	29.36
Unvested at end of period (USD per share)	$ 30.68
Weighted- Average Remaining Contractual Term (years)
Outstanding at end of period	7 years 8 months 16 days
Options exercisable at end of period	5 years 9 months 23 days
Unvested at end of period	3 years 1 month 7 days
Aggregate Intrinsic Value
Outstanding at end of period	$ 734
Options exercisable at end of period	699
Unvested at end of period	$ 35

Equity Compensation Plans - Unv

Equity Compensation Plans - Unvested Restricted Shares (Details) - Restricted Stock shares in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018$ / sharesshares
Shares:
Nonvested at beginning of period (shares) | shares	219
Granted (shares) | shares	172
Vested (shares) | shares	(79)
Forfeited/Cancelled (shares) | shares	(8)
Nonvested at end of period (shares) | shares	304
Weighted-Average Grant-Date Fair Value:
Nonvested at beginning of period (USD per share) | $ / shares	$ 44.77
Granted (USD per share) | $ / shares	25.19
Vested (USD per share) | $ / shares	31.26
Forfeited/Cancelled (USD per share) | $ / shares	50.56
Nonvested at end of period (USD per share) | $ / shares	$ 37.02

Restructuring - Narrative (Deta

Restructuring - Narrative (Details) - Technical Nonwovens - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Apr. 30, 2017
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Estimated pre-tax restructuring expense		$ 4,200
Restructuring, expected costs resulting in future cash expenditures				$ 3,700
Cash paid		2,198	$ 177
Pre-tax restructuring expenses, excluding depreciation		2,300	700
Cost of Sales
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Pre-tax restructuring expenses, excluding depreciation		1,900	400
Selling, Product Development and Administrative Expenses
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Pre-tax restructuring expenses, excluding depreciation		$ 400	$ 300
Forecast
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Cash paid	$ 3,800
Pre-tax restructuring expenses, excluding depreciation	$ 1,200

Restructuring - Actual and Esti

Restructuring - Actual and Estimated Pre-tax Expenses (Details) - Technical Nonwovens - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Total estimated expenses	$ 4,200
Expenses incurred	2,297	$ 662
Estimated remaining expense at December 31, 2018	1,241
Severance and Related Expenses
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Total estimated expenses	1,250
Expenses incurred	606	181
Estimated remaining expense at December 31, 2018	463
Contract Termination Expenses
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Total estimated expenses	450
Expenses incurred	136	154
Estimated remaining expense at December 31, 2018	160
Facility Exit, Move and Set-up Expenses
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Total estimated expenses	2,500
Expenses incurred	1,555	$ 327
Estimated remaining expense at December 31, 2018	$ 618

Restructuring - Accrued Restruc

Restructuring - Accrued Restructuring Costs (Details) - Technical Nonwovens - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Pre-tax restructuring expenses, excluding depreciation	$ 2,012	$ 510
Cash paid	(2,198)	(177)
Restructuring reserve	$ 147	$ 333

Segment Information - Narrative

Segment Information - Narrative (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018	Sep. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2018	Mar. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Sep. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2017	Mar. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Long-lived asset impairment charge									$ 0	$ 772	$ 0
Net sales	$ 209,938	$ 197,886	$ 186,413	$ 191,660	$ 178,030	$ 180,041	$ 174,879	$ 165,487	785,897	698,437	566,852
Sales Revenue | Customer Concentration Risk | Ford Motor Company
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales									$ 116,100	$ 120,700	$ 110,900
Concentration risk (as a percent)									14.80%	17.30%	19.60%
Corporate
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Strategic initiative expenses										$ 800
Transaction related costs									$ 3,600		$ 3,700
Thermal/Acoustical Metals Segment and Thermal/Acoustical Fibers Segment
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Integration related costs										1,700
Technical Nonwovens Segment
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Purchase accounting adjustments related to inventory step-up										1,100	2,000
Restructuring expenses									2,300	700
Thermal/Acoustical Metals Segment and Technical Nonwovens Segment
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Integration related costs										700
Severance expenses										300
Performance Materials
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Purchase accounting adjustments related to inventory step-up									$ 2,000
Long-lived asset impairment charge										$ 800
Thermal Acoustical Solutions Segment
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Settlement expense											$ 3,500

Segment Information - Net Sales

Segment Information - Net Sales By Segment (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018	Sep. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2018	Mar. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Sep. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2017	Mar. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	$ 209,938	$ 197,886	$ 186,413	$ 191,660	$ 178,030	$ 180,041	$ 174,879	$ 165,487	$ 785,897	$ 698,437	$ 566,852
Operating Segments | Performance Materials Segment
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales									169,217	116,669	111,128
Operating Segments | Performance Materials Segment | Filtration
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales									93,089	87,173	83,345
Operating Segments | Performance Materials Segment | Sealing and Advanced Solutions
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales									76,128	29,496	27,783
Operating Segments | Technical Nonwovens Segment
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales									277,071	269,077	155,505
Operating Segments | Technical Nonwovens Segment | Industrial Filtration
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales									157,606	147,087	90,415
Operating Segments | Technical Nonwovens Segment | Advanced Materials
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales									119,465	121,990	65,090
Operating Segments | Thermal Acoustical Solutions Segment
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales									365,427	342,105	321,192
Operating Segments | Thermal Acoustical Solutions Segment | Parts
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales									328,057	318,217	298,016
Operating Segments | Thermal Acoustical Solutions Segment | Tooling
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales									37,370	23,888	23,176
Eliminations and Other
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales									$ (25,818)	$ (29,414)	$ (20,973)

Segment Information - Classific

Segment Information - Classification of Segments (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	9 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Mar. 31, 2018
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating Income			$ 49,188	$ 66,200	$ 55,445
Total Assets			872,686	560,871	527,029
Capital Expenditures			29,630	24,915	28,159
Depreciation and Amortization			32,731	25,939	19,401
Performance Materials Segment
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total Assets						$ 1,300
Operating Segments | Performance Materials Segment
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating Income	$ 13,139	$ 12,321			12,574
Total Assets			414,211	72,837	66,965
Capital Expenditures			11,288	3,610	4,098
Depreciation and Amortization			9,006	3,996	4,028
Operating Segments | Technical Nonwovens Segment
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating Income	21,323	26,047			15,584
Total Assets			242,007	271,713	268,104
Capital Expenditures			5,864	2,903	1,248
Depreciation and Amortization			13,877	12,625	6,791
Operating Segments | Thermal Acoustical Solutions Segment
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating Income	38,085	53,132			53,072
Total Assets			201,509	189,301	166,591
Capital Expenditures			11,934	17,462	22,324
Depreciation and Amortization			9,190	8,619	7,605
Corporate
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating Income	$ (23,359)	$ (25,300)			(25,785)
Total Assets			14,959	27,020	25,369
Capital Expenditures			544	940	489
Depreciation and Amortization			$ 658	$ 699	$ 977

Segment Information - Net Sal_2

Segment Information - Net Sales by Geographic Area (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018	Sep. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2018	Mar. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Sep. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2017	Mar. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	$ 209,938	$ 197,886	$ 186,413	$ 191,660	$ 178,030	$ 180,041	$ 174,879	$ 165,487	$ 785,897	$ 698,437	$ 566,852
Long-Lived Assets	222,041				177,864				222,041	177,864	166,370
Accounting Standards Update 2017-07
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Other expense, net										800	700
Technical Nonwovens Segment
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Intercompany sales									22,200	26,500	18,200
United States
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales									422,222	376,086	354,371
Long-Lived Assets	136,448				93,583				136,448	93,583	88,918
France
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales									66,579	56,214	52,042
Long-Lived Assets	13,219				14,268				13,219	14,268	12,692
Germany
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales									125,796	105,828	63,301
Long-Lived Assets	25,873				20,872				25,873	20,872	15,649
United Kingdom
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales									27,156	24,921	23,871
Long-Lived Assets	4,844				4,916				4,844	4,916	4,903
Canada
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales									87,622	84,701	40,871
Long-Lived Assets	25,614				30,739				25,614	30,739	30,911
China
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales									54,198	47,856	30,361
Long-Lived Assets	11,958				11,896				11,958	11,896	11,996
Other
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales									2,324	2,831	2,035
Long-Lived Assets	$ 4,085				$ 1,590				$ 4,085	$ 1,590	$ 1,301

Income Taxes - Narrative (Detai

Income Taxes - Narrative (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2017	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Income Taxes [Line Items]
Income tax expense (benefit) related to Tax Reform Act			$ (3,700)
Income tax expense		$ 8,453	$ 11,974	$ 17,821
Effective tax rate for income from continuing operations (as a percent)		19.50%	19.50%	32.40%
Change in valuation allowance		$ 600
Income tax expense (benefit) for change in tax rate			$ 1,700
Income tax expense (benefit) from domestic production activities deduction			1,100
Income tax expense (benefit) from stock-based compensation			2,700
Income tax expense (benefit) from release of reserves	$ 1,500
Effective income tax rate reconciliation, tax expense (benefit) foreign income tax rate differential				$ 1,300
Effective income tax rate reconciliation, tax benefit attributable to the Domestic Production Activities Deduction				1,500
Effective income tax rate reconciliation, tax credit related to research and development credits				1,100
Increase in valuation allowance against certain deferred tax assets				(1,200)
Undistributed accumulated earnings of foreign subsidiary		1,800
Reasonably expected net unrecognized benefits may be recognized		300
Total amount of net unrecognized tax benefits that would affect the effective tax rate if recognized		3,600
Amount of unrecognized tax benefit, if recognized, would be offset		1,400
Netherlands and China
Income Taxes [Line Items]
Increase in valuation allowance against certain deferred tax assets				500
China
Income Taxes [Line Items]
Change in valuation allowance			300
State
Income Taxes [Line Items]
Effective income tax rate reconciliation, state and local income taxes				$ 700
Operating loss carryforward		4,100
Deferred tax asset not recorded		4,000
State tax credit carry forwards that expire between 2019 and 2033		1,800
Foreign | China
Income Taxes [Line Items]
Operating loss carryforward		6,800
Foreign | Germany
Income Taxes [Line Items]
Operating loss carryforward		10,500
Foreign | Netherlands
Income Taxes [Line Items]
Operating loss carryforward		5,100
Foreign Tax Error | Restatement Adjustment
Income Taxes [Line Items]
Income tax expense		700	$ 700
Maximum
Income Taxes [Line Items]
Estimated income tax expense (benefit) from repatriation tax		$ 500

Income Taxes - Components of Pr

Income Taxes - Components of Provision for Income Taxes (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Current:
Federal	$ 3,739	$ 11,526	$ 15,376
State	498	956	1,513
Foreign	3,788	2,425	2,104
Total Current	8,025	14,907	18,993
Deferred:
Federal	2,646	(2,472)	(594)
State	380	256	601
Foreign	(2,598)	(717)	(1,179)
Total Deferred	428	(2,933)	(1,172)
Provision for income taxes	$ 8,453	$ 11,974	$ 17,821

Income Taxes - Reconciliation o

Income Taxes - Reconciliation of the Difference between the Actual Provisions for Income Taxes (Details)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation, Percent [Abstract]
Statutory federal income tax rate	21.00%	35.00%	35.00%
State income taxes	1.60%	1.60%	2.10%
Valuation allowances for deferred tax assets, including state	(1.30%)	0.10%	1.30%
Research and development credits	(1.30%)	(1.00%)	(1.20%)
Capitalized transaction costs	0.60%	0.00%	0.70%
Domestic production activities deduction	(0.00%)	(1.80%)	(2.70%)
Stock based compensation	(0.70%)	(4.40%)	(2.10%)
German Cartel settlement	0.00%	0.00%	2.20%
Foreign income taxed at lower rates	(1.60%)	(2.80%)	(3.50%)
Reserves for uncertain tax positions	0.00%	(1.70%)	(0.10%)
Repatriation of foreign undistributed earnings	1.60%	1.30%	0.00%
Revaluation of deferred tax liabilities due to federal rate change	0.00%	(7.30%)	0.00%
Other	(0.40%)	0.50%	0.70%
Effective income tax rate	19.50%	19.50%	32.40%

Income Taxes - Net Current and

Income Taxes - Net Current and Net Long-Term Deferred Tax Assets and Liabilities by Tax Jurisdiction (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2018	Jan. 01, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Deferred Tax Assets and Liabilities [Line Items]
Deferred Tax Assets, Current	$ 0		$ 0
Deferred Tax Assets, Long-term	2,055		1,146
Deferred Tax Liabilities, Current	0		0
Deferred Tax Liabilities, Long-term	39,265	$ 15,185	14,714
Federal
Deferred Tax Assets and Liabilities [Line Items]
Deferred Tax Assets, Current	0		0
Deferred Tax Assets, Long-term	0		0
Deferred Tax Liabilities, Current	0		0
Deferred Tax Liabilities, Long-term	30,193		7,288
State
Deferred Tax Assets and Liabilities [Line Items]
Deferred Tax Assets, Current	0		0
Deferred Tax Assets, Long-term	0		0
Deferred Tax Liabilities, Current	0		0
Deferred Tax Liabilities, Long-term	3,728		424
Foreign
Deferred Tax Assets and Liabilities [Line Items]
Deferred Tax Assets, Current	0		0
Deferred Tax Assets, Long-term	2,055		1,146
Deferred Tax Liabilities, Current	0		0
Deferred Tax Liabilities, Long-term	$ 5,344		$ 7,002

Income Taxes - Components of De

Income Taxes - Components of Deferred Tax Asset and Liability (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Deferred tax assets:
Accounts receivable	$ 172	$ 132
Inventories	520	164
Net operating loss carryforwards	6,095	5,339
Other accrued liabilities	3,426	1,053
Pension	5,181	1,482
Tax Credits	1,846	1,735
Total deferred tax assets	17,240	9,905
Deferred tax liabilities:
Intangible assets	25,133	2,073
Property, plant and equipment	23,353	15,691
Total deferred tax liabilities	48,486	17,764
Valuation allowance	5,964	5,709
Net deferred tax liabilities	$ (37,210)	$ (13,568)

Income Taxes - Income from Cont

Income Taxes - Income from Continuing Operations before Income Taxes (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]
United States	$ 33,928	$ 54,212	$ 53,356
Foreign	9,337	7,107	1,583
Total income before income taxes	$ 43,265	$ 61,319	$ 54,939

Income Taxes - Reconciliation_2

Income Taxes - Reconciliation of Unrecognized Tax Benefits (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Reconciliation of Unrecognized Tax Benefits, Excluding Amounts Pertaining to Examined Tax Returns [Roll Forward]
Unrecognized tax benefits at beginning of year	$ 2,526	$ 3,219
Decreases relating to positions taken in prior periods	(298)	0
Increases relating to positions taken in prior periods	0	221
Increases relating to current period	1,584	475
Decreases due to settlements with tax authorities	(233)	(1,372)
Decreases due to lapse of statute of limitations	(16)	(17)
Unrecognized tax benefits at end of year	$ 3,563	$ 2,526

Commitments and Contingencies -

Commitments and Contingencies - Future Minimum Lease Payments (Details) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2018USD ($)
Operating Leases, Future Minimum Payments Due, Fiscal Year Maturity [Abstract]
Operating Lease Payments, 2019	$ 6,004
Operating Lease Payments, 2020	4,871
Operating Lease Payments, 2021	3,877
Operating Lease Payments, 2022	3,226
Operating Lease Payments, 2023	2,617
Operating Lease Payments, Thereafter	11,111
Operating Lease Payments, Total	31,706
Capital Leases, Future Minimum Payments Due, Fiscal Year Maturity [Abstract]
Capital Lease Payments, 2019	279
Capital Lease Payments, 2020	35
Capital Lease Payments, 2021	0
Capital Lease Payments, 2022	0
Capital Lease Payments, 2023	0
Capital Lease Payments, Thereafter	0
Capital Lease Payments, Total	314
Interest on capital leases	(2)
Capital Lease Payments, Total	312
2,019	6,283
2,020	4,906
2,021	3,877
2,022	3,226
2,023	2,617
Thereafter	11,111
Total Operating and Capital Lease Payments	32,020
Interest on capital leases	(2)
Total	$ 32,018

Commitments and Contingencies_2

Commitments and Contingencies - Narrative (Details) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended			12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2018CAD ($)	Mar. 31, 2017USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2018USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2017USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2016USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2018CAD ($)	Jul. 31, 2017USD ($)	Jul. 07, 2016USD ($)
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Operating leases rent expense				$ 6,800,000	$ 5,800,000	$ 5,400,000
Rochester, New Hampshire
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Environmental remediation expense			$ 200,000	100,000
Texel | Quebec, Canada
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Indemnification assets, mimimum estimated outcome									$ 900,000
Indemnification assets, maximum estimated outcome								$ 1,500,000	$ 1,500,000
Environment remediation indemnity secured by environmental escrow account	$ 2,200,000			2,200,000			$ 3
Environmental remediation indemnity secured by general escrow account	10,300,000			10,300,000			14
Environmental remediation indemnity secured by general escrow account, reduced amount after share purchase agreement	5,100,000			5,100,000			$ 7
Environmental Contamination | Rochester, New Hampshire
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Accrual for environmental liability, including revision (fully offset)	0			0
Environmental remediation expense				200,000
Environmental Contamination | Texel | Quebec, Canada
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Reduction to accrual for environmental liability, payments				800,000	700,000
Accrual for environmental liability, including revision (fully offset)	0			0	$ 800,000			$ 1,500,000
Accrual for environmental liability, revision of estimate				(800,000)
Environmental liability	0			$ 0		$ 900,000
Increase (decrease) in accrual for environmental liability	$ (900,000)	$ (1.2)

Earnings Per Share - Reconcilia

Earnings Per Share - Reconciliation of Weighted Average Shares used to Determine Basic and Diluted Earnings Per Share (Details) - shares shares in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]
Basic average common shares outstanding (shares)	17,204	17,045	16,871
Effect of dilutive options and restricted stock awards (shares)	126	272	370
Diluted average common shares outstanding (shares)	17,330	17,317	17,241

Earnings Per Share - Narrative

Earnings Per Share - Narrative (Details) - shares shares in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]
Stock excluded from computation of diluted earnings per share (shares)	455,515	44,837	94,796

Quarterly Financial Informati_3

Quarterly Financial Information (Unaudited) - Narrative (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended																				12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018	Sep. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2018	Mar. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Sep. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2017	Mar. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Sep. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2016	Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Sep. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2015	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Sep. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2014	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Net income/(loss)	$ 7,184	$ 6,256	$ 10,450	$ 11,054	$ 13,848	$ 10,675	$ 13,125	$ 11,669													$ 34,944	$ 49,317	$ 37,187
Restatement Adjustment
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Net income/(loss)					$ (800)	$ (100)	$ (100)	$ (100)	$ (100)	$ (100)	$ (100)	$ (100)	$ (100)	$ (100)	$ (100)	$ (100)	$ (100)	$ (100)	$ (100)	$ (100)

Quarterly Financial Informati_4

Quarterly Financial Information (Unaudited) - Quarterly Financial Results (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018	Sep. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2018	Mar. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Sep. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2017	Mar. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Quarterly Financial Information Disclosure [Abstract]
Net sales	$ 209,938	$ 197,886	$ 186,413	$ 191,660	$ 178,030	$ 180,041	$ 174,879	$ 165,487	$ 785,897	$ 698,437	$ 566,852
Gross profit	41,872	35,139	36,127	39,507	39,480	40,054	43,327	40,498	152,645	163,359	138,804
Net income	$ 7,184	$ 6,256	$ 10,450	$ 11,054	$ 13,848	$ 10,675	$ 13,125	$ 11,669	$ 34,944	$ 49,317	$ 37,187
Earnings per common share:
Basic (USD per share)	$ 0.42	$ 0.36	$ 0.61	$ 0.64	$ 0.81	$ 0.63	$ 0.77	$ 0.69	$ 2.03	$ 2.89	$ 2.20
Diluted (USD per share)	$ 0.42	$ 0.36	$ 0.60	$ 0.64	$ 0.80	$ 0.62	$ 0.76	$ 0.68	$ 2.02	$ 2.85	$ 2.16

Quarterly Financial Informati_5

Quarterly Financial Information (Unaudited) - Components of Gross Profit and Net Income (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018	Sep. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2018	Mar. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Sep. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2017	Mar. 31, 2017
Quarterly Financial Information Disclosure [Abstract]
Gross profit impact of inventory step-up purchase accounting adjustments	$ 585	$ 1,390	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0	$ 83	$ 543	$ 481
Gross profit impact of restructuring, severance, and segment consolidation expenses	169	400	876	449	155	287	92	441
Net income impact of inventory step-up purchase accounting adjustments	438	1,077	0	0	0	59	394	350
Net income impact of restructuring, severance, and segment consolidation expenses	527	409	711	494	488	910	216	702
Net income impact of long-lived asset impairment charges	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	490
Net income impact of strategic initiatives expenses	493	1,730	923	87	205	219	0	125
Net income impact of discrete tax items	$ 320	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0	$ (2,867)	$ (1,380)	$ 0	$ 0

Recently Issued Accounting St_2

Recently Issued Accounting Standards - Narrative (Details) - Forecast - Accounting Standards Update 2016-02 $ in Millions	Jan. 01, 2019USD ($)
Minimum
New Accounting Pronouncements or Change in Accounting Principle [Line Items]
Right-of-use asset	$ 28
Operating lease liability	28
Maximum
New Accounting Pronouncements or Change in Accounting Principle [Line Items]
Right-of-use asset	34
Operating lease liability	$ 34

Changes in Accumulated Other _3

Changes in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) - Summary (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
AOCI Attributable to Parent, Net of Tax [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	$ 353,396	$ 273,456	$ 245,225
Other comprehensive income (loss)	(23,331)	27,085	(13,934)
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss	794	717	569
Ending balance	369,275	353,396	273,456
Total Accumulated Other Comprehensive (Loss) Income
AOCI Attributable to Parent, Net of Tax [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	(20,148)	(47,950)	(34,585)
Ending balance	(42,685)	(20,148)	(47,950)
Foreign Currency Translation Adjustment
AOCI Attributable to Parent, Net of Tax [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	(2,221)	(27,885)	(16,920)
Other comprehensive income (loss)		25,664	(10,965)
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss	0
Ending balance	(18,458)	(2,221)	(27,885)
Defined Benefit Pension Adjustment
AOCI Attributable to Parent, Net of Tax [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	(18,049)	(20,065)	(17,665)
Other comprehensive income (loss)	(4,998)	1,299	(2,969)
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss	794	717	569
Ending balance	(22,253)	(18,049)	(20,065)
Gains and Losses on Cash Flow Hedges
AOCI Attributable to Parent, Net of Tax [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	122	0	0
Other comprehensive income (loss)		122	0
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss	0	0	0
Ending balance	$ (1,974)	$ 122	$ 0

Changes in Accumulated Other _4

Changes in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) - Narrative (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax [Abstract]
Actuarial gains (losses), net of tax	$ (5)	$ 1.3	$ (3)
Actuarial (losses) gains, tax expense (benefit)	(1.5)	0.1	(1.6)
Amortization of actuarial losses, net of tax	0.8	0.7	0.6
Amortization of actuarial losses, tax expense (benefit)	$ (0.2)	$ (0.4)	$ (0.4)

Schedule II - Valuation and Q_2

Schedule II - Valuation and Qualifying Accounts (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Allowance for doubtful receivables
SEC Schedule, 12-09, Movement in Valuation Allowances and Reserves [Roll Forward]
Beginning of Period	$ 1,507	$ 1,429	$ 1,251
Charges to Costs and Expenses	785	541	941
Charges (Deductions) to Other Accounts	(58)	103	(123)
Deductions	(794)	(566)	(640)
End of Period	1,440	1,507	1,429
Tax valuation allowances
SEC Schedule, 12-09, Movement in Valuation Allowances and Reserves [Roll Forward]
Beginning of Period	5,709	4,903	4,307
Charges to Costs and Expenses	3,859	886	762
Charges (Deductions) to Other Accounts	(192)	394	(140)
Deductions	(3,412)	(474)	(26)
End of Period	$ 5,964	$ 5,709	$ 4,903

Uncategorized Items - ldl-20181

Label	Element	Value
Cumulative Effect of New Accounting Principle in Period of Adoption	us-gaap_CumulativeEffectOfNewAccountingPrincipleInPeriodOfAdoption	$ 1,598,000
Retained Earnings [Member]
Cumulative Effect of New Accounting Principle in Period of Adoption	us-gaap_CumulativeEffectOfNewAccountingPrincipleInPeriodOfAdoption	$ 1,598,000