Note 9. Sale of Business Level 1 (Notes)	6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2011
Sale of Business [Abstract]
Sale of business [Text Block]	Sale of Business — In December 2008 the Company signed a sales agreement to sell its alternating current (AC) motor business related to the material handling market. The closing of this transaction occurred in the second quarter of 2009 when the transfer of the machinery and inventory covered by the purchase agreement was completed. Additional expenses of $3,130 and $3,317 were recognized during the three and six months ended June 30, 2010, respectively, primarily related to a write-down of carrying value of a building and an additional write-down of inventory. The inventory was held on consignment and the purchaser revised their estimates of future inventory purchases from the Company. As part of the sales agreement the Company is receiving a commission payment based on the level of AC motor sales made by the purchaser. The Company recognized commission income of $341 and $775 in the three and six months ended June 30, 2011, respectively, and $267 and $433 in the three and six months ended June 30, 2010, respectively. These amounts are included in Other, net on the consolidated statement of operations. The impact of this sale is reported in the Controls segment.

Sale of Business —

In December 2008 the Company signed a sales agreement to sell its alternating current (AC) motor business related to the material handling market. The closing of this transaction occurred in the second quarter of 2009 when the transfer of the machinery and inventory covered by the purchase agreement was completed. Additional expenses of $3,130 and $3,317 were recognized during the three and six months ended June 30, 2010, respectively, primarily related to a write-down of carrying value of a building and an additional write-down of inventory. The inventory was held on consignment and the purchaser revised their estimates of future inventory purchases from the Company.

As part of the sales agreement the Company is receiving a commission payment based on the level of AC motor sales made by the purchaser. The Company recognized commission income of $341 and $775 in the three and six months ended June 30, 2011, respectively, and $267 and $433 in the three and six months ended June 30, 2010, respectively. These amounts are included in Other, net on the consolidated statement of operations. The impact of this sale is reported in the Controls segment.