Income Taxes (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Income Taxes [Line Items]
Liability for uncertain tax position that would impact effective tax rate	$ 2,800,000		$ 2,800,000	$ 2,200,000
Liabilities for uncertain tax positions included in income tax payable	200,000		200,000	1,000,000
Liability for uncertain tax positions noncurrent	39,767,000		39,767,000	1,218,000
Years tax audit notified by foreign tax authority				2006 and 2009
Prior year liability uncertain tax positions relating to 2011	200,000		200,000
Decreases resulting from prior period tax positions			(800,000)	(500,000)
Interest and penalties uncertain tax positions recognized reversal			200,000
Reconciliation of beginning and ending amount of liability for uncertain tax positions [Roll Forward]
Liability for uncertain tax positions - January 1		2,711,000	2,189,000	2,711,000	4,132,000
Additions based on tax positions related to the current year			2,732,000	28,000	1,221,000
Additions relating to acquisitions			35,874,000	0	0
Settlement/expiration of statutes of limitations			(825,000)	(550,000)	(2,642,000)
Liability for uncertain tax positions - December 31	39,970,000		39,970,000	2,189,000	2,711,000
Accrued interest and penalties uncertain tax positions	1,600,000		1,600,000	200,000
Earnings (loss) before provision (benefit) for income taxes included earnings from domestic operations			(9,200,000)	(1,200,000)	400,000
Earnings (loss) from foreign operations			19,600,000	16,300,000	600,000
Current [Abstract]
Federal			1,924,000	(1,099,000)	(459,000)
Foreign			1,759,000	1,120,000	241,000
State			175,000	113,000	76,000
Total			3,858,000	134,000	(142,000)
Deferred [Abstract]
Federal			(2,698,000)	(865,000)	(807,000)
State			(407,000)	65,000	(58,000)
Foreign			543,000	(77,000)	(369,000)
Total			(2,562,000)	(877,000)	(1,234,000)
Tax (benefit) provision computed at the Company's effective tax rate			1,296,000	(743,000)	(1,376,000)
Reconciliation of taxes on income computed at the federal statutory rate [Abstract]
Tax provision computed at the federal statutory rate			3,638,000	5,309,000	339,000
Increase (decrease) in taxes resulting from [Abstract]
Different tax rates applicable to foreign operations			(4,524,000)	(4,677,000)	(306,000)
Increase in (reversal of) liability for uncertain tax positions - net			1,907,000	(522,000)	(1,421,000)
Utilization of research and experimentation, solar and foreign			(508,000)	(1,049,000)	0
State taxes, net of federal benefit			(183,000)	117,000	0
Current year valuation allowance - U.S. segment			335,000	49,000	298,000
Federal tax on profit of foreign disregarded entities net of deferred tax			770,000	0	0
Permanent differences applicable to U.S. operations, including qualified production activity credits, SERP/COLI income, unrealized foreign exchange gains and amortization of purchase accounting intangibles			(11,000)	(91,000)	(260,000)
Other			(128,000)	121,000	(26,000)
Tax (benefit) provision computed at the Company's effective tax rate			1,296,000	(743,000)	(1,376,000)
Increase (decrease) in effective tax rate resulting from [Abstract]
Tax provision computed at the federal statutory rate (in hundredths)			35.00%	35.00%	34.00%
Different tax rates and permanent differences applicable to foreign operations (in hundredths)			(44.00%)	(31.00%)	(31.00%)
Increase in (reversal of) liability for uncertain tax positions - net (in hundredths)			18.00%	(3.00%)	(143.00%)
Utilization of research and development, solar and foreign tax credits (in hundredths)			(5.00%)	(7.00%)	0.00%
State taxes, net of federal benefit (in hundredths)			(2.00%)	1.00%	0.00%
Current year valuation allowance - U.S. segment (in hundredths)			3.00%	0.00%	30.00%
Federal tax on profit of foreign disregarded entities net of deferred tax (in hundredths)			7.00%	0.00%	0.00%
Permanent differences applicable to U.S. operations, including qualified production activity credits, SERP/COLI income, unrealized foreign exchange gains and amortization of purchase accounting intangibles (in hundredths)			0.00%	(1.00%)	(26.00%)
Other (in hundredths)			(1.00%)	1.00%	(3.00%)
Tax (benefit) provision computed at the Company's effective tax rate (in hundredths)			12.00%	(5.00%)	(138.00%)
Macao corporate profit tax rate (in hundredths)			12.00%
PRC income tax rate (in hundredths)			25.00%
Deferred tax liability	31,541,000		31,541,000	6,472,000
Unrepatriated foreign earnings	126,600,000		126,600,000
Estimated federal income tax liability related to unrepatriated foreign earnings	32,400,000		32,400,000
Deferred tax assets [Abstract]
State tax credits	954,000		954,000	1,336,000
Unfunded pension liability	1,301,000		1,301,000	668,000
Reserves and accruals	2,095,000		2,095,000	2,020,000
Federal, state and foreign net operating loss and credit carryforwards	15,361,000		15,361,000	4,634,000
Depreciation	962,000		962,000	973,000
Amortization	995,000		995,000	588,000
Acquired deferred taxes	10,775,000		10,775,000	0
Other accruals	3,253,000		3,253,000	3,303,000
Total deferred tax assets	35,696,000		35,696,000	13,522,000
Deferred tax liabilities [Abstract]
Reserves and accruals	68,000		68,000	68,000
Depreciation	707,000		707,000	1,076,000
Amortization	21,191,000		21,191,000	4,762,000
Acquired deferred taxes	8,053,000		8,053,000	0
Other accruals	1,522,000		1,522,000	566,000
Total deferred tax liabilities	31,541,000		31,541,000	6,472,000
Valuation allowances	6,692,000		6,692,000	2,375,000
Net deferred tax assets/(liabilities)	(2,537,000)		(2,537,000)	4,675,000
Expected increase in income tax benefit	300,000
Increase in income tax benefit		400,000
Fibreco, GigaCom and Powerbox [Member]
Increase (decrease) in effective tax rate resulting from [Abstract]
Deferred tax liability	2,100,000		2,100,000
Deferred tax liabilities [Abstract]
Total deferred tax liabilities	2,100,000		2,100,000
Fibreco [Member]
Increase (decrease) in effective tax rate resulting from [Abstract]
Deferred tax liability	100,000		100,000
Deferred tax liabilities at the date of acquisition	1,700,000		1,700,000
Deferred tax liabilities [Abstract]
Total deferred tax liabilities	100,000		100,000
GigaCom [Member]
Increase (decrease) in effective tax rate resulting from [Abstract]
Deferred tax liabilities at the date of acquisition	600,000		600,000
TRP and Array [Member]
Increase (decrease) in effective tax rate resulting from [Abstract]
Deferred tax liability	300,000		300,000
Deferred tax liabilities [Abstract]
Total deferred tax liabilities	300,000		300,000
TRP [Member]
Increase (decrease) in effective tax rate resulting from [Abstract]
Deferred tax asset	2,200,000		2,200,000
Deferred tax liabilities at the date of acquisition	600,000		600,000
Array [Member]
Increase (decrease) in effective tax rate resulting from [Abstract]
Operating loss carryforwards	5,900,000		5,900,000
Deferred tax asset	2,100,000		2,100,000
Deferred tax liability	700,000		700,000
Deferred tax liabilities at the date of acquisition	1,000,000		1,000,000
Deferred tax liabilities [Abstract]
Total deferred tax liabilities	700,000		700,000
Power Solutions [Member]
Income Taxes [Line Items]
Years tax audit notified by foreign tax authority			2007 through 2013
Decreases resulting from prior period tax positions			1,200,000
Interest and penalties uncertain tax positions recognized			1,200,000
Reconciliation of beginning and ending amount of liability for uncertain tax positions [Roll Forward]
Interest and penalties uncertain tax positions recognized until various tax matters are resolved			2,500,000
Accrued interest and penalties uncertain tax positions	1,600,000		1,600,000
Increase (decrease) in effective tax rate resulting from [Abstract]
Deferred tax asset	7,100,000		7,100,000
Deferred tax liability	3,100,000		3,100,000
Deferred tax liabilities [Abstract]
Total deferred tax liabilities	3,100,000		3,100,000
Connectivity Solutions [Member]
Increase (decrease) in effective tax rate resulting from [Abstract]
Operating loss carryforwards	16,700,000		16,700,000
Deferred tax asset	1,200,000		1,200,000
Deferred tax liability	16,400,000		16,400,000
Deferred tax assets [Abstract]
Federal, state and foreign net operating loss and credit carryforwards	9,000,000		9,000,000
Deferred tax liabilities [Abstract]
Total deferred tax liabilities	16,400,000		16,400,000
Powerbox [Member]
Increase (decrease) in effective tax rate resulting from [Abstract]
Deferred tax liabilities at the date of acquisition	400,000		400,000
Power Solutions and Emerson Network Power Connectivity Solutions [Member]
Increase (decrease) in effective tax rate resulting from [Abstract]
Deferred tax liability	8,300,000		8,300,000
Deferred tax liabilities [Abstract]
Total deferred tax liabilities	8,300,000		8,300,000
Asia [Member] | Power Solutions [Member]
Income Taxes [Line Items]
Years tax audit notified by foreign tax authority			2004 through 2006
Interest and penalties uncertain tax positions recognized			(500,000)
Reconciliation of beginning and ending amount of liability for uncertain tax positions [Roll Forward]
Accrued interest and penalties uncertain tax positions	1,600,000		1,600,000
U.S. Federal [Member]
Income Taxes [Line Items]
Years not subject to examination by tax authorities			before 2011
Federal and State Jurisdiction [Member]
Increase (decrease) in effective tax rate resulting from [Abstract]
Operating loss carryforwards	27,700,000		27,700,000
State Jurisdiction [Member]
Income Taxes [Line Items]
Years not subject to examination by tax authorities			before 2008
Increase (decrease) in effective tax rate resulting from [Abstract]
Tax credit carryforward	2,100,000		2,100,000
Capital loss carryforwards	900,000		900,000
Capital loss carryforward, valuation allowance	300,000		300,000
Operating loss carryforwards, valuation allowance	200,000		200,000
Capital loss caryforwards, deferred tax assets	300,000		300,000
Tax credit carryforward, valuation allowance	1,200,000		1,200,000
Foreign Jurisdictions [Member]
Increase (decrease) in effective tax rate resulting from [Abstract]
Operating loss carryforwards	19,400,000		19,400,000
Tax credit carryforward	300,000		300,000
Operating loss carryforwards, valuation allowance	4,900,000		4,900,000
Deferred tax asset	4,900,000		4,900,000
Foreign Jurisdictions [Member] | Capital Loss Carryforward [Member]
Increase (decrease) in effective tax rate resulting from [Abstract]
Capital loss carryforwards	200,000		200,000
Foreign Jurisdictions [Member] | Asia [Member]
Income Taxes [Line Items]
Years not subject to examination by tax authorities			before 2003
Foreign Jurisdictions [Member] | Asia [Member] | Power Solutions [Member]
Reconciliation of beginning and ending amount of liability for uncertain tax positions [Roll Forward]
Additions relating to acquisitions			$ 12,000,000
Foreign Jurisdictions [Member] | Europe [Member]
Income Taxes [Line Items]
Years not subject to examination by tax authorities			before 2007