CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2012
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
Net income	$ 4,423	$ 11,843
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	15,729	10,323
Gain on sales and/or abandonment of property and equipment	(10)	(6)
Write-off of patents	53	10
Acquired in-process research and development	0	2,175
Amortization of deferred credits	(64)	(114)
Amortization of long-term debt issuance costs	399	0
Realized gain on sale of marketable securities	0	(648)
Deferred income taxes	(6)	20
Business Combination, Contingent Consideration Arrangements, Change in Amount of Contingent Consideration, Liability	0	460
Excess tax benefits from stock-based compensation	(124)	(166)
Stock-based compensation expense	783	1,025
Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of effects from acquisitions:
Trade receivables	(5,190)	(7,387)
Employee receivables	(27)	(23)
Other receivables	(463)	(594)
Inventories	3,039	(1,091)
Prepaid expenses	(669)	(309)
Prepaid income taxes	8	(29)
Income tax refund receivable	1,073	281
Other assets	(813)	(437)
Trade payables	586	3,582
Accrued expenses	(3,705)	365
Advances from employees	142	35
Income taxes payable	(1,319)	1,966
Liabilities related to unrecognized tax benefits	0	(167)
Deferred compensation payable	647	432
Other long-term obligations	(127)	16
Total adjustments	9,942	9,719
Net cash provided by operating activities	14,365	21,562
Capital expenditures for:
Property and equipment	(30,389)	(34,746)
Patents and trademarks	(661)	(813)
Proceeds from the sale of marketable securities	0	2,105
Proceeds from the sale of property and equipment	53	9
Cash paid in acquisitions	(1,000)	(14,770)
Net cash used in investing activities	(31,997)	(48,215)
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Proceeds from issuance of common stock	876	536
Borrowings under long-term debt	71,172	94,801
Payments on long-term debt	(51,910)	(68,919)
Excess tax benefits from stock-based compensation	124	166
Proceeds from industrial assistant grants	750	0
Contingent payments related to acquisitions	(38)	(12)
Payment of taxes related to an exchange of common stock	(21)	(80)
Net cash provided by financing activities	20,953	26,492
EFFECT OF EXCHANGE RATES ON CASH	103	(49)
NET INCREASE (DECREASE) IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS	3,424	(210)
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS:
Beginning of period	9,719	10,128
End of period	13,143	9,918
SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURES OF CASH FLOW INFORMATION-Cash paid during the period for:
Interest (net of capitalized interest of $570 and $170, respectively)	2,970	233
Income taxes	1,071	2,903
SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURES OF NON-CASH INVESTING AND FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Property and equipment purchases in accounts payable	12,372	6,763
Acquisition purchases in accrued expenses and other long-term obligations	0	11,500
Merit common stock surrendered (45 and 103 shares, respectively) in exchange for exercise of stock options	$ 452	$ 340