INCOME TAXES (Details 2) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Deferred tax assets:
Tax loss and credit carryforwards	$ 32,313	$ 45,383
Inventory	8,224	8,190
Other accruals	15,652	16,024
Employee benefits	17,600	17,304
Pension obligations	79,371	36,251
Other	7,111	13,662
Deferred tax assets, gross	160,271	136,814
Valuation allowance	(31,713)	(38,451)
Deferred tax assets, net	128,558	98,363
Deferred tax liabilities:
Property, plant and equipment	40,806	37,191
Intangible assets	13,251	15,170
Inventory	2,973	5,246
Pension obligations	1,676	2,239
Other	9,685	9,369
Deferred tax liabilities	68,391	69,215
Total	60,167	29,148
Activity related to unrecognized tax benefits
Balance at the beginning of the period	38,393	42,840
Increase related to current year tax provisions	2,221	1,830
Increase related to prior years' tax positions	3,250	1,163
Increase related to acquisitions		438
Decrease related to settlements with taxing authorities	(3,424)	(507)
Resolution of and other decreases in prior years' tax liabilities	(13,460)	(4,950)
Other	(324)	(2,421)
Balance at the end of the period	26,656	38,393
Total amount of unrecognized tax benefits that, if recognized, would affect the effective tax rate	17,325	22,925
Reasonably possible further reduction in prior years' unrecognized tax benefits during the next twelve months	7,082
Interest and penalties expense (benefit)	(505)	312
Accrued interest and penalties	9,039	10,443
Tax loss carryforwards of certain subsidiaries that will expire in various years from 2012 through 2030	114,733
Tax loss carryforwards of certain subsidiaries for which there is no expiration date	30,070
Unremitted earnings of certain non-U.S. subsidiaries that are not expected to be permanently reinvested	$ 3,776