Summary of Significant Accounting Policies	3 Months Ended
Mar. 29, 2015
Accounting Policies [Abstract]
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies	Summary of Significant Accounting Policies Profile Magnetek, Inc. (the “Company” or “Magnetek”) is a global provider of digital power control systems that are used to control motion and power primarily in material handling, elevator, and mining applications. Basis of Presentation The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Magnetek, Inc. and its subsidiaries. All significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated. The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States for interim financial reporting and with the instructions to Form 10-Q and Article 10 of Regulation S-X. Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and footnotes required by generally accepted accounting principles for complete financial statements. For further information, refer to the financial statements and footnotes thereto included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 28, 2014, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”). In the Company's opinion, these unaudited statements contain all adjustments, consisting of normal recurring adjustments, necessary to present fairly the financial position of the Company as of March 29, 2015, and the results of its operations and cash flows for the three-month periods ended March 29, 2015, and March 30, 2014. Results for the three months ended March 29, 2015, are not necessarily indicative of results that may be experienced for the full fiscal year. Fiscal Year The Company uses a 52 or 53 week fiscal year ending on the Sunday nearest December 31. Fiscal quarters are the 13 or 14 week periods ending on the Sunday nearest March 31, June 30, September 30, and December 31. The three-month periods ended March 29, 2015 and March 30, 2014 each contained 13 weeks. Use of Estimates The preparation of financial statements in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the financial statements and accompanying notes. Actual results could differ from those estimates. Recent Accounting Pronouncements In May 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued Accounting Standards Codification ("ASC") 606-10, Revenue for Contracts with Customers (issued under Accounting Standards Update No. 2014-09). ASC 606-10 is currently effective for the year beginning on or around January 1, 2017, although in April 2015 the FASB proposed delaying the effective date of this guidance to on or around January 1, 2018. ASC 606-10 will replace all existing revenue recognition guidance. The Company is in the process of determining whether the adoption of ASC 606-10 will have an impact on the Company's results of operations, financial position, or cash flows. In March 2014, the FASB issued ASU No. 2014-08, Presentation of Financial Statements and Property, Plant, and Equipment: Reporting Discontinued Operations and Disclosures of Disposals of Components of an Entity ("ASU 2014-08"), which changes the criteria for reporting discontinued operations. ASU 2014-08 allows only disposals representing a strategic shift in operations to be presented as discontinued operations. Those strategic shifts should have a major effect on the organization’s operations and financial results. ASU 2014-08 will be effective for the Company in the first quarter of fiscal 2016. As this guidance is a prospective change, adoption of this standard is not expected to have a material impact on the Company's results of operations, financial position, or cash flows.

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Profile

Magnetek, Inc. (the “Company” or “Magnetek”) is a global provider of digital power control systems that are used to control motion and power primarily in material handling, elevator, and mining applications.

Basis of Presentation

The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Magnetek, Inc. and its subsidiaries. All significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated.

The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States for interim financial reporting and with the instructions to Form 10-Q and Article 10 of Regulation S-X. Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and footnotes required by generally accepted accounting principles for complete financial statements. For further information, refer to the financial statements and footnotes thereto included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 28, 2014, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”). In the Company's opinion, these unaudited statements contain all adjustments, consisting of normal recurring adjustments, necessary to present fairly the financial position of the Company as of March 29, 2015, and the results of its operations and cash flows for the three-month periods ended March 29, 2015, and March 30, 2014. Results for the three months ended March 29, 2015, are not necessarily indicative of results that may be experienced for the full fiscal year.

Fiscal Year

The Company uses a 52 or 53 week fiscal year ending on the Sunday nearest December 31. Fiscal quarters are the 13 or 14 week periods ending on the Sunday nearest March 31, June 30, September 30, and December 31. The three-month periods ended March 29, 2015 and March 30, 2014 each contained 13 weeks.

Use of Estimates

The preparation of financial statements in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the financial statements and accompanying notes. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

In May 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued Accounting Standards Codification ("ASC") 606-10, Revenue for Contracts with Customers (issued under Accounting Standards Update No. 2014-09). ASC 606-10 is currently effective for the year beginning on or around January 1, 2017, although in April 2015 the FASB proposed delaying the effective date of this guidance to on or around January 1, 2018. ASC 606-10 will replace all existing revenue recognition guidance. The Company is in the process of determining whether the adoption of ASC 606-10 will have an impact on the Company's results of operations, financial position, or cash flows.

In March 2014, the FASB issued ASU No. 2014-08, Presentation of Financial Statements and Property, Plant, and Equipment: Reporting Discontinued Operations and Disclosures of Disposals of Components of an Entity ("ASU 2014-08"), which changes the criteria for reporting discontinued operations. ASU 2014-08 allows only disposals representing a strategic shift in operations to be presented as discontinued operations. Those strategic shifts should have a major effect on the organization’s operations and financial results. ASU 2014-08 will be effective for the Company in the first quarter of fiscal 2016. As this guidance is a prospective change, adoption of this standard is not expected to have a material impact on the Company's results of operations, financial position, or cash flows.