Industry Segments - Schedule of reporting information by segment (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net Sales	$ 825,210	$ 791,188	$ 755,654
Income Before Income Taxes	43,933	51,856	38,409
Interest expense - net	(4,542)	(4,515)	(4,722)
Income before income taxes	39,391	47,341	33,687
Identifiable Assets	469,457	484,856	428,757
Capital Additions, Net	30,001	26,977	21,930
Depreciation and Amortization	37,645	33,007	34,214
Material Handling [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net Sales	322,854	285,994	261,812
Income Before Income Taxes	41,076	47,483	34,123
Identifiable Assets	224,207	238,500	164,738
Capital Additions, Net	17,847	17,029	12,165
Depreciation and Amortization	20,840	17,308	16,009
Lawn And Garden [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net Sales	204,890	205,814	217,140
Income Before Income Taxes	(1,540)	2,905	4,226
Identifiable Assets	126,382	128,267	138,894
Capital Additions, Net	7,808	5,240	6,411
Depreciation and Amortization	11,862	11,370	13,911
Distribution [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net Sales	177,412	176,645	183,726
Income Before Income Taxes	14,448	14,838	15,736
Identifiable Assets	49,488	44,913	48,100
Capital Additions, Net	845	796	1,101
Depreciation and Amortization	537	379	342
Engineered Products [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net Sales	137,745	141,658	116,243
Income Before Income Taxes	15,296	14,481	10,810
Identifiable Assets	43,642	40,377	40,840
Capital Additions, Net	2,709	3,342	1,831
Depreciation and Amortization	3,466	3,185	3,230
Intra-segment elimination [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net Sales	(17,691)	(18,923)	(23,267)
Corporate [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Income Before Income Taxes	(25,347)	(27,851)	(26,486)
Identifiable Assets	25,738	32,799	36,185
Capital Additions, Net	792	570	422
Depreciation and Amortization	$ 940	$ 765	$ 722