Summary of Significant Accounting Policies, Continued (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended			33 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009	Dec. 31, 2011
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill, Gross, Beginning Balance	$ 54,555,000	$ 47,051,000	$ 47,712,000	$ 54,555,000
Accumulated impairment losses	(11,629,000)	(3,832,000)	(3,832,000)	(11,629,000)
Goodwill, Net	42,926,000	43,219,000	43,880,000	42,926,000
Translation and other	(293,000)	(661,000)
Acquisition of VIOX	7,797,000
Goodwill impairment	(7,797,000)	0	(3,832,000)
Amortizing Intangible Assets [Abstract]
Finite-lived intangible assets, gross	127,416,000	103,846,000		127,416,000
Accumulated amortization	26,726,000	20,371,000		26,726,000
Intangible Assets, Net	100,690,000	83,475,000		100,690,000
Future amortization expense [Abstract]
Finite-lived intangible assets, 2012 amortization expense	9,806,000			9,806,000
Finite-lived intangible assets, 2013 amortization expense	9,023,000			9,023,000
Finite-lived intangible assets, 2014 amortization expense	12,114,000			12,114,000
Finite-lived intangible assets, 2015 amortization expense	15,384,000			15,384,000
Amortization expense, intangible assets	6,465,000	5,676,000	4,749,000
Other Assets [Abstract]
Percent of platinum per mold replaced per year and expensed	approximately 5-10% of the platinum per mold
Mold refurbishment expense	700,000	0
Accrued expenses [Abstract]
Payroll and benefits	18,107,000	16,051,000		18,107,000
Workers compensation reserve	3,642,000	3,469,000		3,642,000
Foreign currency contract settlements	4,314,000	0		4,314,000
Purchase price liability, current portion	0	1,205,000		0
Professional fees	969,000	919,000		969,000
Property and value added taxes	497,000	947,000		497,000
Other	2,941,000	2,012,000		2,941,000
Accrued expenses and other liabilities	30,470,000	24,603,000		30,470,000
Revenue Recognition [Abstract]
Allowances for sales returns	200,000	0		200,000
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Weighted average number of shares outstanding (in shares)	24,613,825	25,190,985	25,683,963
Number of shares used in dilutive computation (in shares)	24,786,106	25,370,229	25,802,244
Antidilutive securities excluded from computation of earnings per share (in shares)	163,620	192,982	363,924
Research and Development [Abstract]
Costs associated with research and development	12,446,000	11,692,000	12,258,000
Comprehensive Income [Abstract]
Unrealized gain (loss) on available-for-sale securities, net	(4,947,000)	(1,912,000)	(1,991,000)	(4,947,000)
Net change in pension liability	(6,432,000)	(4,841,000)	(4,059,000)	(6,432,000)
Cumulative translation adjustment	14,475,000	17,210,000	27,578,000	14,475,000
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Total	3,096,000	10,457,000	21,528,000	3,096,000
Available-for-sale securities [Line Items]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Available-for-sale Securities Adjustment, Net of Tax	(4,947,000)	(1,912,000)	(1,991,000)	(4,947,000)
Short-term Investments [Member]
Available-for-sale securities [Line Items]
Amortized Cost	229,629,000	193,518,000		229,629,000
Unrealized Gains	31,000	398,000		31,000
Unrealized Losses	(4,888,000)	(1,056,000)		(4,888,000)
Fair Value	224,772,000	192,860,000		224,772,000
Corporate bonds [Member] | Short-term Investments [Member]
Available-for-sale securities [Line Items]
Amortized Cost	8,851,000	21,437,000		8,851,000
Unrealized Gains	1,000	19,000		1,000
Unrealized Losses	(7,000)	(58,000)		(7,000)
Fair Value	8,845,000	21,398,000		8,845,000
Corporate bonds [Member] | Long-term Investments [Member]
Available-for-sale securities [Line Items]
Amortized Cost		10,384,000
Unrealized Gains		18,000
Unrealized Losses		(4,000)
Fair Value		10,398,000
Investment funds - debt securities [Member] | Short-term Investments [Member]
Available-for-sale securities [Line Items]
Amortized Cost	220,778,000	172,081,000		220,778,000
Unrealized Gains	30,000	379,000		30,000
Unrealized Losses	(4,881,000)	(998,000)		(4,881,000)
Fair Value	215,927,000	171,462,000		215,927,000
Auction Rate Securities [Member]
Comprehensive Income [Abstract]
Unrealized gain (loss) on available-for-sale securities, net	3,000,000			3,000,000
Available-for-sale securities [Line Items]
Other than temporary impairment loss, investments, portion recognized in earnings, net			2,900,000
Auction rate securities, total other than temporary impairment	7,800,000	1,000,000	5,200,000
Auction rate securities, gross realized gain	600,000			8,800,000
Other than temporary impairment losses, investments, portion in other comprehensive income (loss), before tax	(800,000)	211,000	6,100,000
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Other than Temporary Impairment, Not Credit Loss, Net of Tax, Available-for-sale, Debt Securities	4,700,000			4,700,000
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Available-for-sale Securities Adjustment, Net of Tax	3,000,000			3,000,000
Auction rate securities, description	The Company's investments in auction rate securities represent interests in insurance securitizations collateralized by pools of residential and commercial mortgages, asset backed securities and other structured credits relating to the credit risk of various bond guarantors that mature at various dates from June 2021 through July 2052. These auction rate securities were intended to provide liquidity via an auction process which is scheduled every 28 days, that resets the applicable interest rate, allowing investors to either roll over their holdings or gain immediate liquidity by selling such interests at par. Interest rates are capped at a floating rate of one month LIBOR plus additional spread ranging from 1.25% to 4.00% depending on prevailing rating. During the second half of the year 2007, through 2011, the auctions for these securities failed. As a result of current negative conditions in the global credit markets, auctions for the Company's investment in these securities have recently failed to settle on their respective settlement dates. Consequently, the investments are not currently liquid through the normal auction process and may be liquidated if a buyer is found outside the auction process. Although the auctions have failed, the Company continues to receive underlying cash flows in the form of interest income from the investments in auction rate securities.As of December 31, 2011, the fair value of the Company's investments in auction rate securities was below cost by approximately $7.8 million. The fair value of the auction rate securities has been below cost for more than one year. Beginning in the third quarter of 2008 and at December 31, 2011, the Company determined that the market for its investments in auction rate securities and for similar securities continued to be inactive since there were few observable or recent transactions for these securities or similar securities. The Company's investments in auction rate securities were classified within Level 3 of the fair value hierarchy because the Company determined that significant adjustments using unobservable inputs were required to determine fair value as of December 31, 2011 and December 31, 2010. An auction rate security is a type of structured financial instrument where its fair value can be estimated based on a valuation technique that includes the present value of future cash flows (principal and interest payments), review of the underlying collateral and considers relevant probability weighted and risk adjusted observable inputs and minimizes the use of unobservable inputs. Probability weighted inputs included the following: • Probability of earning maximum rate until maturity • Probability of passing auction at some point in the future • Probability of default at some point in the future (with appropriate loss severity assumptions) The Company determined that the appropriate risk-free discount rate (before risk adjustments) used to discount the contractual cash flows of its auction rate securities ranged from 0.1% to 3.0%, based on the term structure of the auction rate security. Liquidity risk premiums are used to adjust the risk-free discount rate for each auction rate security to reflect uncertainty and observed volatility of the current market environment. This risk of nonperformance has been captured within the probability of default and loss severity assumptions noted above. The risk-adjusted discount rate, which incorporates liquidity risk, appropriately reflects the Company's estimate of the assumptions that market participants would use (including probability weighted inputs noted above) to estimate the selling price of the asset at the measurement date.In determining whether the decline in value of the ARS investments was other-than-temporary, the Company considered several factors including, but not limited to, the following: (1) the reasons for the decline in value (credit event, interest related or market fluctuations); (2) the Company's ability and intent to hold the investments for a sufficient period of time to allow for recovery of value; (3) whether the decline is substantial; and (4) the historical and anticipated duration of the events causing the decline in value. The evaluation for other-than-temporary impairments is a quantitative and qualitative process, which is subject to various risks and uncertainties. The risks and uncertainties include changes in the credit quality of the securities, changes in liquidity as a result of normal market mechanisms or issuer calls of the securities, and the effects of changes in interest rates
Period which fair value of auction rate securities has been below cost	more than one year
Stock Options [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Dilutive share-based payment awards (in shares)	125,462	179,244	118,281
Restricted Stock Units (Units) [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Dilutive share-based payment awards (in shares)	46,819	0	0
Backlog [Member]
Amortizing Intangible Assets [Abstract]
Finite-lived intangible assets, gross	1,808,000	1,826,000		1,808,000
Accumulated amortization	1,808,000	1,826,000		1,808,000
Intangible Assets, Net	0	0		0
Backlog [Member] | Minimum [Member]
Future amortization expense [Abstract]
Estimated useful life (in years or months)	1 year
Backlog [Member] | Maximum [Member]
Future amortization expense [Abstract]
Estimated useful life (in years or months)	3 years
Developed technology [Member]
Amortizing Intangible Assets [Abstract]
Finite-lived intangible assets, gross	70,590,000	50,530,000		70,590,000
Accumulated amortization	7,233,000	5,387,000		7,233,000
Intangible Assets, Net	63,357,000	45,143,000		63,357,000
Developed technology [Member] | Minimum [Member]
Future amortization expense [Abstract]
Estimated useful life (in years or months)	10 years
Developed technology [Member] | Maximum [Member]
Future amortization expense [Abstract]
Estimated useful life (in years or months)	12 years 6 months
Trade name [Member]
Amortizing Intangible Assets [Abstract]
Finite-lived intangible assets, gross	4,110,000	1,110,000		4,110,000
Accumulated amortization	698,000	571,000		698,000
Intangible Assets, Net	3,412,000	539,000		3,412,000
Trade name [Member] | Minimum [Member]
Future amortization expense [Abstract]
Estimated useful life (in years or months)	10 years
Customer relationships [Member]
Amortizing Intangible Assets [Abstract]
Finite-lived intangible assets, gross	47,604,000	47,604,000		47,604,000
Accumulated amortization	16,212,000	12,087,000		16,212,000
Intangible Assets, Net	31,392,000	35,517,000		31,392,000
Customer relationships [Member] | Minimum [Member]
Future amortization expense [Abstract]
Estimated useful life (in years or months)	10 years
Customer relationships [Member] | Maximum [Member]
Future amortization expense [Abstract]
Estimated useful life (in years or months)	12 years 6 months
Noncompete agreement [Member]
Amortizing Intangible Assets [Abstract]
Finite-lived intangible assets, gross	1,100,000	500,000		1,100,000
Accumulated amortization	775,000	500,000		775,000
Intangible Assets, Net	325,000	0		325,000
Noncompete agreement [Member] | Minimum [Member]
Future amortization expense [Abstract]
Estimated useful life (in years or months)	15 years
Non-amortizing tradename [Member]
Amortizing Intangible Assets [Abstract]
Finite-lived intangible assets, gross	2,204,000	2,276,000		2,204,000
Accumulated amortization	0	0		0
Intangible Assets, Net	2,204,000	2,276,000		2,204,000
Advanced Ceramic Operations [Member]
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill, Gross, Beginning Balance	13,108,000	5,311,000	5,311,000	13,108,000
Accumulated impairment losses	(7,797,000)	0	0	(7,797,000)
Goodwill, Net	5,311,000	5,311,000	5,311,000	5,311,000
Translation and other	0	0
Acquisition of VIOX	7,797,000
Goodwill impairment	(7,797,000)
Thermo Materials [Member]
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill, Gross, Beginning Balance	10,331,000	10,331,000	10,331,000	10,331,000
Accumulated impairment losses	0	0	0	0
Goodwill, Net	10,331,000	10,331,000	10,331,000	10,331,000
Translation and other	0	0
ESK Ceramics [Member]
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill, Gross, Beginning Balance	9,033,000	9,326,000	9,987,000	9,033,000
Accumulated impairment losses	0	0	0	0
Goodwill, Net	9,033,000	9,326,000	9,987,000	9,033,000
Translation and other	(293,000)	(661,000)
Boron [Member]
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill, Gross, Beginning Balance	22,083,000	22,083,000	22,083,000	22,083,000
Accumulated impairment losses	(3,832,000)	(3,832,000)	(3,832,000)	(3,832,000)
Goodwill, Net	18,251,000	18,251,000	18,251,000	18,251,000
Translation and other	$ 0	$ 0