Income Taxes (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009
Components of income tax provision (benefit) [Abstract]
Current, domestic	$ 17,060,000	$ (15,663,000)	$ (5,995,000)
Current, foreign	10,799,000	4,985,000	(531,000)
Current, total	27,859,000	(10,678,000)	(6,526,000)
Deferred, domestic	17,620,000	5,895,000	1,904,000
Deferred, foreign	(1,411,000)	3,878,000	(3,476,000)
Deferred, total	16,209,000	9,773,000	(1,572,000)
Provision (benefit) for income taxes	44,068,000	(905,000)	(8,098,000)
Deferred tax asset:
Current deferred tax asset, net of valuation allowance	5,782,000	6,808,000
Non current deferred tax (liabilities):
Net non current deferred tax (liability)	(23,461,000)	(11,124,000)
Federal [Member]
Operating loss carryforwards [Abstract]
Operating loss carryforwards	24,500,000
Operating loss carryforwards, expiration dates	2021
State and Local [Member]
Operating loss carryforwards [Abstract]
Operating loss carryforwards	47,800,000
China [Member]
Operating loss carryforwards [Abstract]
Operating loss carryforwards	1,700,000
Current [Member]
Deferred tax asset:
Inventory	4,452,000	7,094,000
Vacation accrual	1,119,000	1,009,000
Bad debt allowance	366,000	235,000
Employee compensation	2,624,000	1,878,000
Foreign taxes	422,000	425,000
Other	415,000	638,000
Total current deferred tax asset, before valuation allowance	9,398,000	11,279,000
Valuation allowance	(441,000)	(717,000)
Current deferred tax asset, net of valuation allowance	8,957,000	10,562,000
Current deferred tax (liability):
State taxes	(2,442,000)	(3,093,000)
Prepaid expenses	(733,000)	(661,000)
Total current deferred tax (liability):	(3,175,000)	(3,754,000)
Net current deferred tax asset	5,782,000	6,808,000
Non current deferred tax assets:
Employee compensation	2,624,000	1,878,000
Non current [Member]
Deferred tax asset:
Employee compensation	1,456,000	1,793,000
Non current deferred tax assets:
Deferred compensation	5,026,000	4,000,000
Employee compensation	1,456,000	1,793,000
Acquisition related compensation	159,000	2,819,000
State taxes	674,000	808,000
Net operating loss carryforwards	12,202,000	18,155,000
Research credits	3,139,000	2,965,000
Unrealized investment loss	5,005,000	4,723,000
Pension liability	3,137,000	2,308,000
Capital loss carryforwards	3,344,000	1,908,000
Foreign tax credit carryforwards	693,000	2,806,000
Asset writedowns and other	1,918,000	1,798,000
Total non current deferred tax assets	36,753,000	44,083,000
Valuation allowance	(4,372,000)	(4,301,000)
Non current deferred tax assets, net of valuation allowance	32,381,000	39,782,000
Non current deferred tax (liabilities):
Depreciation and amortization	(16,444,000)	(13,581,000)
Intangible asset step up	(21,394,000)	(19,971,000)
Convertible debt	(17,950,000)	(16,701,000)
Other	(54,000)	(653,000)
Total non current deferred tax (liabilities)	(55,842,000)	(50,906,000)
Net non current deferred tax (liability)	$ (23,461,000)	$ (11,124,000)