Summary of business operations and significant accounting policies (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Jul. 31, 2012

Property, Plant, and Equipment

Property, plant, and equipment consisted of the following:

	Estimated Useful Lives (Years)	July 31,
		2012			2011
Property, plant, and equipment:
Land and land improvements	N/A	$	7,209		$	6,457
Building and improvements	35 to 40		74,954			58,276
Leasehold and capital lease improvements	lesser of useful life or the lease term		11,147			11,371
Manufacturing and engineering equipment	4 to 7		82,380			80,261
Furniture, fixtures, and computer equipment	3 to 7		17,478			16,119
Motor vehicles	3 to 5		1,405			1,872
			194,573			174,356
Less accumulated depreciation and amortization			(97,804	)		(91,199	)
		$	96,769		$	83,157

Components of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income in Stockholders' Equity

The components of accumulated other comprehensive income in stockholders’ equity at July 31, 2012 and 2011 were as follows:

	July 31,
	2012			2011
Pension adjustment, net of tax	$	(4,711	)	$	(3,079	)
Unrealized gains on foreign currency forward contracts, net of tax		43			—
Foreign currency translation adjustment, net of tax		6,971			14,576
Total	$	2,303		$	11,497