CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
Net income	$ 16,570	$ 19,710	$ 23,044
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	32,542	22,534	19,194
Losses on sales and/or abandonment of property and equipment	177	204	31
Write-off of patents and intangible assets	8,208	55	103
Impairment of cost-method investment	0	2,368	0
Acquired in-process research and development	0	2,450	5,838
Amortization of deferred credits	(139)	(174)	(106)
Amortization of long-term debt issuance costs	845	0	0
Realized gain on sale of marketable securities	0	(745)	0
Deferred income taxes	1,359	549	1,677
Excess tax benefits from stock-based compensation	(259)	(877)	(3,122)
Stock-based compensation expense	1,467	1,917	1,644
Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of effects from acquisitions:
Trade receivables	(6,445)	(6,576)	(3,323)
Employee receivables	(53)	(11)	(62)
Other receivables	(609)	(760)	(245)
Inventories	2,334	(8,965)	(9,314)
Prepaid expenses	(758)	736	(1,726)
Prepaid income taxes	18	(367)	(431)
Income tax refund receivables	1,267	452	(733)
Other assets	(1,806)	(1,178)	(283)
Trade payables	(5)	7,721	(2,129)
Accrued expenses	(276)	4,448	1,334
Advances from employees	(277)	317	(65)
Income taxes payable	255	2,057	2,658
Liabilities related to unrecognized tax benefits	(520)	(209)	(226)
Deferred compensation payable	1,877	1,371	327
Other long-term obligations	(4,399)	(89)	(70)
Total adjustments	34,803	27,228	10,971
Net cash provided by operating activities	51,373	46,938	34,015
Capital expenditures for:
Property and equipment	(59,505)	(64,643)	(59,195)
Intangible assets	(1,617)	(1,460)	(2,077)
Proceeds from sale-leaseback transaction	24,000	0	0
Purchase of marketable securities	0	0	(2,503)
Proceeds from the sale of marketable securities	0	3,248	0
Proceeds from the sale of property and equipment	113	43	5
Cash paid in acquisitions, net of cash acquired	(31,600)	(192,762)	(10,250)
Net cash used in investing activities	(68,609)	(255,574)	(74,020)
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Proceeds from issuance of common stock	3,729	3,755	95,454
Payment of offering costs related to issuance of common stock	0	0	(127)
Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt	176,764	330,630	104,585
Payments on long-term debt	(165,477)	(123,801)	(155,386)
Proceeds from industrial assistant grants	389	1,029	0
Excess tax benefits from stock-based compensation	259	877	3,122
Long-term debt issuance costs	(798)	(3,706)	0
Contingent payments related to acquisitions	(77)	(57)	0
Payment of taxes related to an exchange of common stock	(21)	(439)	(953)
Net cash provided by financing activities	14,768	208,288	46,695
EFFECT OF EXCHANGE RATES ON CASH	208	(61)	(297)
NET INCREASE (DECREASE) IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS	(2,260)	(409)	6,393
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS:
Beginning of year	9,719	10,128	3,735
End of year	7,459	9,719	10,128
SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURES OF CASH FLOW INFORMATION
Interest (net of capitalized interest of $1,038, $456 and $299, respectively)	7,877	434	509
Income taxes	735	5,277	7,023
SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURES OF NON-CASH INVESTING AND FINANCING ACTIVITIES
Property and equipment purchases in accounts payable	4,055	12,372	8,849
Acquisition of customer list in exchange for a settlement of trade receivables	0	377	0
Acquisition purchases in accrued expenses and other long-term obligations	350	5,149	1,270
Merit common stock surrendered (45, 131 and 78 shares, respectively) in exchange for exercise of stock options	$ 452	$ 1,831	$ 1,252