CONTINGENT LIABILITIES AND COMMITMENTS (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2012 employee	Jun. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2012 employee	Jun. 30, 2011
Contingent liabilities and commitments, additional disclosure
Total number of employees	3,123		3,123
Total number of hourly employees covered in an agreement	197		197
Warranty expense	$ 1,400,000	$ 1,600,000	$ 3,100,000	$ 3,200,000
Changes in the Company's warranty reserve
Balance, beginning of the year			8,146,000
Provision for warranty claims			3,127,000
Warranty claims paid			(3,434,000)
Increase due to acquisition			106,000
Exchange rate impact			(20,000)
Balance, end of the period	$ 7,925,000		$ 7,925,000
Workforce subject to collective bargaining arrangements | Unionized employees concentration risk
CONTINGENT LIABILITIES AND COMMITMENTS
Percentage of employees represented by unions	12.60%		12.60%