Financial Data by Segment (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 28, 2013	Sep. 29, 2012	Sep. 28, 2013	Sep. 29, 2012
Net sales
Net sales	$ 288,979	$ 290,097	$ 867,599	$ 881,512
Operating income (loss)
Operating income (loss)	6,973	17,433	24,658	37,076
Special charges, net	(7,093)	(1,732)	(10,647)	(12,904)
Depreciation and amortization expense
Depreciation and amortization expense	18,216	17,088	51,642	49,466
Amortization of loan acquisition costs	607	686	1,821	2,056
Unallocated Corporate
Capital spending	8,999	10,516	35,499	40,146
Americas Nonwovens
Net sales
Net sales	160,767	163,321	473,216	494,750
Operating income (loss)
Operating income (loss)	16,075	20,590	42,106	51,333
Depreciation and amortization expense
Depreciation and amortization expense	8,137	9,460	24,540	26,825
Unallocated Corporate
Capital spending	1,939	1,132	3,990	2,946
Europe Nonwovens
Net sales
Net sales	67,901	67,825	219,113	219,506
Operating income (loss)
Operating income (loss)	2,524	2,249	9,236	9,383
Depreciation and amortization expense
Depreciation and amortization expense	3,089	2,858	9,153	8,111
Unallocated Corporate
Capital spending	1,877	2,636	2,926	7,194
Asia Nonwovens
Net sales
Net sales	44,886	42,900	125,280	115,771
Operating income (loss)
Operating income (loss)	4,134	4,850	13,723	13,194
Depreciation and amortization expense
Depreciation and amortization expense	5,605	3,322	13,802	10,141
Unallocated Corporate
Capital spending	3,914	6,422	26,437	28,874
Oriented Polymers
Net sales
Net sales	15,425	16,051	49,990	51,485
Operating income (loss)
Operating income (loss)	547	779	3,570	3,800
Depreciation and amortization expense
Depreciation and amortization expense	348	351	1,044	1,063
Unallocated Corporate
Capital spending	572	284	798	454
Unallocated Corporate
Operating income (loss)
Operating income (loss)	(9,108)	(9,284)	(33,164)	(27,802)
Depreciation and amortization expense
Depreciation and amortization expense	430	411	1,282	1,270
Unallocated Corporate
Capital spending	697	42	1,348	678
Eliminations
Operating income (loss)
Operating income (loss)	(106)	(19)	(166)	72
Subtotal
Operating income (loss)
Operating income (loss)	14,066	19,165	35,305	49,980
Depreciation and amortization expense
Depreciation and amortization expense	17,609	16,402	49,821	47,410
Interest Expense [Member]
Depreciation and amortization expense
Amortization of loan acquisition costs	$ 607	$ 686	$ 1,821	$ 2,056