Industry Segments - Schedule of reporting information by segment (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net Sales	$ 791,188	$ 755,654	$ 737,618
Income (Loss) Before Income Taxes	51,856	38,409	(47,643)
Interest expense-net	(4,515)	(4,722)	(7,205)
Income (loss) before income taxes	47,341	33,687	(51,021)
Identifiable Assets	484,856	428,757	432,395
Capital Additions, Net	26,977	21,930	20,533
Depreciation and Amortization	33,007	34,214	33,550
Material Handling [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net Sales	285,994	261,812	257,806
Income (Loss) Before Income Taxes	47,483	34,123	22,577
Identifiable Assets	238,500	164,738	169,599
Capital Additions, Net	17,029	12,165	8,912
Depreciation and Amortization	17,308	16,009	15,890
Lawn and Garden [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net Sales	205,814	217,140	223,809
Income (Loss) Before Income Taxes	2,905	4,226	(74,650)
Identifiable Assets	128,267	138,894	136,539
Capital Additions, Net	5,240	6,411	8,017
Depreciation and Amortization	11,370	13,911	13,171
Distribution [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net Sales	176,645	183,726	174,917
Income (Loss) Before Income Taxes	14,838	15,736	15,154
Identifiable Assets	44,913	48,100	47,234
Capital Additions, Net	796	1,101	332
Depreciation and Amortization	379	342	271
Engineered Products [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net Sales	141,658	116,243	104,763
Income (Loss) Before Income Taxes	14,481	10,810	8,865
Identifiable Assets	40,377	40,840	41,044
Capital Additions, Net	3,342	1,831	1,861
Depreciation and Amortization	3,185	3,230	3,543
Intra-segment elimination [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net Sales	(18,923)	(23,267)	(23,677)
Corporate [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Income (Loss) Before Income Taxes	(27,851)	(26,486)	(15,762)
Identifiable Assets	32,799	36,185	37,979
Capital Additions, Net	570	422	1,411
Depreciation and Amortization	$ 765	$ 722	$ 675