Note 11. LEASE OBLIGATIONS

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2012

Debt and Capital Leases Disclosures [Text Block]

Note 11.  LEASE OBLIGATIONS

The Company has entered into non-cancelable operating leases for real property with original lease terms of up to ten years.  In addition, the Company leases manufacturing and data processing equipment under operating leases expiring during the next three years.

In most cases, management expects that in the normal course of business, leases will be renewed or replaced by other leases.  Future minimum lease payments as of December 31, 2012 are as follows (amounts in thousands):

2013	$	2,969
2014		2,934
2015		2,682
2016		2,299
2017		2,238
Thereafter		2,098
	$	15,220

Rental expense for 2012 and 2011 for operating leases was $3.3 million and $3.4 million, respectively.  Also, $0.4 million of rent was paid and charged against liabilities in 2011 for non-cancelable leases at facilities abandoned as a result of restructuring initiatives.  These payments were offset by sub-lease income of $0.3 million in both years.