Accrued Expenses And Other Current Liabilities

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2012

Accrued Expenses And Other Current Liabilities [Abstract]

Accrued Expenses And Other Current Liabilities

7. Accrued Expenses and Other Current Liabilities

Accrued expenses and other current liabilities consisted of the following at (in thousands):

		September 30,				December 31,
		2012		2011		2011
Employee compensation and benefits	$	16,613	$	16,180	$	14,258
Warranty		8,013		5,665		5,882
Sales rebates		4,866		3,369		3,337
Contingent consideration related to acquisitions		5,667		3,188		3,292
Other		11,915		11,011		9,400
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities	$	47,074	$	39,413	$	36,169

     Estimated costs related to product warranties are accrued at the time products are sold. In estimating its future warranty obligations, the Company considers various factors, including the Company's (i) historical warranty costs, (ii) product mix, and (iii) sales. The following table provides a reconciliation of the activity related to the Company's accrued warranty, including both the current and long-term portions, for the nine months ended (in thousands):

		September 30,
		2012			2011
Balance at beginning of period	$	8,640		$	5,892
Provision for warranty expense		8,548			5,291
Warranty liability from acquired businesses		12			527
Warranty costs paid		(5,813	)		(3,467	)
Total accrued warranty		11,387			8,243
Less long-term portion		3,374			2,578
Current accrued warranty	$	8,013		$	5,665