CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
Net Income	$ 23,044	$ 12,460	$ 22,530
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	19,194	14,856	12,271
Losses on sales and/or abandonment of property and equipment	31	533	271
Write-off of certain patents and license agreement	103	134	154
Goodwill, Impairment Loss	0	8,344	0
Acquired in-process research and development	5,838	0	0
Amortization of deferred credits	(106)	(111)	(120)
Purchase of trading investments	0	(644)	(458)
Unrealized (gains) losses on trading investments	0	(382)	(561)
Deferred income taxes	1,677	(554)	1,791
Tax benefit attributable to appreciation of common stock options exercised	(3,122)	(399)	(987)
Stock-based compensation expense	1,644	1,294	1,182
Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of effects from acquisitions:
Trade receivables	(3,323)	(2,088)	(2,131)
Employee receivables	(62)	29	(16)
Other receivables	(245)	223	(13)
Inventories	(9,314)	(7,614)	(6,882)
Prepaid expenses and other assets	(1,726)	(192)	(571)
Prepaid income taxes	(431)	(60)	0
Income tax refund receivable	(733)	(1,573)	319
Other assets	(283)	(43)	(568)
Trade payables	(2,129)	5,643	296
Accrued expenses	1,334	3,090	1,628
Advances from employees	(65)	99	0
Income taxes payable	2,658	1,037	825
Non-current liabilities related to unrecognized tax benefits	(226)	(372)	114
Deferred compensation payable	327	876	1,034
Other long-term obligations	(70)	174	(38)
Total adjustments	10,971	22,300	7,540
Net cash provided by operating activities	34,015	34,760	30,070
Capital expenditures for:
Property and equipment	(59,195)	(23,648)	(18,478)
Patents and trademarks	(2,077)	(1,083)	(1,191)
Purchase of marketable securities	(2,503)	0	0
Proceeds from the sale of marketable securities	0	9,673	0
Proceeds from the sale of property and equipment	5	17	27
Cash paid in acquisitions, net of cash acquired	(10,250)	(97,785)	(46,150)
Net cash used in investing activities	(74,020)	(112,826)	(65,792)
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Proceeds from issuance of common stock	95,454	1,708	2,560
Payments of Stock Issuance Costs	(127)	0	0
Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt	104,585	108,491	0
Payments on long-term debt	(155,386)	(26,953)	0
Borrowings on line of credit	0	1,500	19,000
Payments on line of credit	0	(8,500)	(12,000)
Excess tax benefits from stock-based compensation	3,122	399	987
Long-term debt issuance costs	0	(522)	0
Payment of taxes related to an exchange of common stock	(953)	0	(254)
Common stock repurchased and retired	0	0	(2,474)
Net cash provided by financing activities	46,695	76,123	7,819
EFFECT OF EXCHANGE RATES ON CASH	(297)	(455)	6
NET INCREASE (DECREASE) IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS	6,393	(2,398)	(27,897)
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS:
Beginning of year	3,735	6,133	34,030
End of year	10,128	3,735	6,133
SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURES OF CASH FLOW INFORMATION-Cash paid during the period (net capitalized interest of $264 and $0, respectively):
Interest	509	512	26
Income taxes	7,023	6,050	8,215
SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURES OF NON-CASH INVESTING AND FINANCING ACTIVITIES
Property and equipment purchases in accounts payable	8,849	3,778	2,724
Acquisition purchases in accounts payable	1,270	250	0
Merit common stock surrendered (78, 0 and 27 shares) in exchange for exercise of stock options	$ 1,252	$ 0	$ 230