Sale of Businesses and Termination of Joint Venture	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2011
Sale of Businesses and Termination of Joint Venture: [Abstract]
Sale of business [Text Block]	Sale of Businesses and Termination of Joint Venture: In 2009 the Company sold the assets of its steering column business which was located in Kolding, Denmark, recognizing a loss on sale of approximately $2,700 in the Work Function segment. The loss was related to the write-down of inventory and machinery to the proceeds of the sale, which approximated fair value. Also included in the loss amount was severance costs for employees at the Kolding location and future building lease costs because the buyer moved production operations to a different location. In 2010 the Company recognized additional expense of approximately $1,100 related to future building lease costs. 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 the transaction occurred in 2009 when the transfer of the machinery and inventory covered by the purchase agreement was completed. Losses of approximately $1,500, $4,400, and $6,300 in 2011, 2010 and 2009, respectively, are reported in the Controls segment. Cumulative expense related to the sale is approximately $20,600. In 2008 the machinery and inventory were written down to the proceeds expected to be received upon transfer of the assets. The expense in 2009 relates to the write-off of a customer relationship intangible asset, employee retention costs, and additional write-downs to machinery and inventory balances due to revisions of the sales agreement during 2009. An additional write-down of inventory was recognized in 2010 as the inventory was held on consignment and the purchaser revised their estimates of future inventory purchases from the Company. In 2011 and 2010 the Company recognized additional expense related to a write-down of the carrying value of a building. As part of the sales agreement, the Company will receive a commission payment in 2010 through 2012 based on the level of AC motor sales made by the purchaser. The Company recognized commission income of approximately $1,600 and $900 in 2011 and 2010, respectively, which is included in Other, net on the consolidated statements of operations. In July 2009 the Company and Topcon Positioning Systems, Inc. (Topcon), the noncontrolling interest partner, agreed to terminate the joint venture they have operated since April 2001 through TSD Integrated Controls, LLC (TSD). The termination was effective September 1, 2009 but is subject to a three-year wind down period as contemplated in the 2001 joint venture agreement. During the wind-down period, the Company and Topcon will each receive distributions of certain assets of TSD and royalties on sales of TSD products. The effects of this wind-down will not have a material impact on the Company's operations.

Sale of Businesses and Termination of Joint Venture:

In 2009 the Company sold the assets of its steering column business which was located in Kolding, Denmark, recognizing a loss on sale of approximately $2,700 in the Work Function segment. The loss was related to the write-down of inventory and machinery to the proceeds of the sale, which approximated fair value. Also included in the loss amount was severance costs for employees at the Kolding location and future building lease costs because the buyer moved production operations to a different location. In 2010 the Company recognized additional expense of approximately $1,100 related to future building lease costs.

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 the transaction occurred in 2009 when the transfer of the machinery and inventory covered by the purchase agreement was completed. Losses of approximately $1,500, $4,400, and $6,300 in 2011, 2010 and 2009, respectively, are reported in the Controls segment. Cumulative expense related to the sale is approximately $20,600. In 2008 the machinery and inventory were written down to the proceeds expected to be received upon transfer of the assets. The expense in 2009 relates to the write-off of a customer relationship intangible asset, employee retention costs, and additional write-downs to machinery and inventory balances due to revisions of the sales agreement during 2009. An additional write-down of inventory was recognized in 2010 as the inventory was held on consignment and the purchaser revised their estimates of future inventory purchases from the Company. In 2011 and 2010 the Company recognized additional expense related to a write-down of the carrying value of a building. As part of the sales agreement, the Company will receive a commission payment in 2010 through 2012 based on the level of AC motor sales made by the purchaser. The Company recognized commission income of approximately $1,600 and $900 in 2011 and 2010, respectively, which is included in Other, net on the consolidated statements of operations.

In July 2009 the Company and Topcon Positioning Systems, Inc. (Topcon), the noncontrolling interest partner, agreed to terminate the joint venture they have operated since April 2001 through TSD Integrated Controls, LLC (TSD). The termination was effective September 1, 2009 but is subject to a three-year wind down period as contemplated in the 2001 joint venture agreement. During the wind-down period, the Company and Topcon will each receive distributions of certain assets of TSD and royalties on sales of TSD products. The effects of this wind-down will not have a material impact on the Company's operations.