Pension and Other Post-Retirement Plans (Details 2) (Defined benefit pension plans, USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009
Defined benefit pension plans
Change in benefit obligation:
Benefit obligation at beginning of year	$ 88,873,000	$ 87,585,000
Service cost	2,097,000	1,750,000	1,553,000
Interest cost	4,576,000	4,799,000	4,671,000
Prior Service Cost		(1,405,000)
Participant contributions	1,079,000	1,153,000
Curtailments		(4,329,000)
Actuarial (gain) loss	794,000	5,117,000
Benefits paid	(2,440,000)	(2,734,000)
Settlement payments	(3,101,000)	(2,978,000)
Other, principally foreign exchange	(608,000)	(85,000)
Benefit obligation at end of year	91,270,000	88,873,000	87,585,000
Change in plan assets:
Fair value of plan assets at beginning of year	73,200,000	68,663,000
Business sale		(3,942,000)
Actual gain (loss) on plan assets	(876,000)	7,334,000
Employer contributions	2,859,000	2,907,000
Participant contributions	1,079,000	1,153,000
Benefits paid	(2,440,000)	(2,734,000)
Other, principally foreign exchange	(626,000)	(181,000)
Fair value of assets at end of year	73,196,000	73,200,000	68,663,000
Amounts recognized in the consolidated balance sheets:
Funded status (current)		(2,998,000)
Funded status (noncurrent)	(18,074,000)	(12,675,000)
Accumulated other comprehensive income (pre-tax):
Unrecognized actuarial loss	16,537,000	9,045,000
Unrecognized prior service cost	(1,088,000)
Net amount recognized	(2,625,000)	(6,628,000)
Components of net periodic pension benefit cost:
Service cost	2,097,000	1,750,000	1,553,000
Interest cost	4,576,000	4,799,000	4,671,000
Expected return on plan assets	(5,170,000)	(4,767,000)	(3,921,000)
Amortization of actuarial gains/losses	382,000	503,000	522,000
Curtailments		1,692,000	(249,000)
Amortization of unrecognized prior service cost	(79,000)	(51,000)	43,000
Net periodic cost	1,806,000	3,926,000	2,619,000
Accumulated benefit obligation	83,874,000	78,184,000
Underfunded status of plan	$ 18,074,000	$ 15,673,000