Inventories (Details) (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Gross inventories @ FIFO:
Finished goods	$ 27,486,000	$ 11,914,000
Work in progress	33,346,000	27,749,000
Raw materials & component parts	178,040,000	144,731,000
Maintenance, tooling & supplies	18,155,000	17,001,000
Total gross inventories @ FIFO	257,027,000	201,395,000
Less reserves:
LIFO	34,103,000	32,103,000
Valuation	4,113,000	3,144,000
Total inventories as reported	218,811,000	166,148,000
Gross inventories on FIFO basis accounted for on a LIFO basis	$ 123,000,000	$ 97,900,000