CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net earnings	$ 65,971	$ 43,823	$ 22,026
Adjustments to reconcile net earnings to cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	24,266	21,158	18,457
(Recovery) provision for losses on receivables	(57)	(86)	(1,840)
LIFO (income) expense	3,327	(1,185)	(2,964)
Litigation expense	1,780
Deferred income tax provision/(benefit)	9,566	1,436	(913)
Excess tax benefit from share-based compensation	(2,701)	(2,344)	(259)
Share-based compensation expense	5,310	4,627	2,943
Pension expense (income)	9,813	7,861	10,665
Postretirement expense (income)	156	422	539
(Gain) loss on disposition of property, plant and equipment	1,614	(451)	(354)
(Loss) income from discontinued operations	0	(292)	453
Changes in:
Receivables, net	(59,574)	(34,965)	58,461
Income tax receivable	(2,466)	(2,359)	(3,248)
Inventories	(27,021)	(4,986)	28,650
Other current assets	(639)	(357)	(1,376)
Accounts payable	13,641	6,550	(22,878)
Accrued liabilities	3,671	20,646	(6,531)
Net cash provided by operating activities	46,657	59,498	101,831
Cash flows from investing activites:
Additions to property, plant and equipment	(103,559)	(60,363)	(39,825)
Proceeds from disposition of property, plant and equipment	970	1,021	923
(Increase) decrease in other assets	552	(265)	(1,216)
Acquisition of other companies	(331,484)	(9,857)	(51,658)
Net cash used in investing activities	(433,521)	(69,464)	(91,776)
Cash flows from financing activites:
Issuance of long-term debt	350,000
Debt Issuance Cost	(5,247)
Payments of notes payable	0	(2,888)	(3,426)
Dividends paid	(15,230)	(15,017)	(14,866)
Excess tax benefit from share-based compensation	2,701	2,344	259
Proceeds from exercise of stock options	5,162	13,277	612
Purchases of treasury stock	0	0	11
Net cash used in financing activities	337,386	(2,284)	(17,410)
Effect of translation on cash and cash equivalents	(677)	(15)	457
Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents	(50,154)	(12,266)	(6,898)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	88,592	100,858	107,756
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	$ 38,438	$ 88,592	$ 100,858