Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended																12 Months Ended					12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2012 HiRel Systems [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 VPG [Member]	Jul. 06, 2010 VPG [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Patents and Acquired Technology [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Patents and Acquired Technology [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Capitalized Software [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Capitalized Software [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Customer Relationships [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Customer Relationships [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Tradenames [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Tradenames [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Non-competition Agreements [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Non-competition Agreements [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 HiRel Systems [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Huntington Electric Inc [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Resistors And Inductors Segment [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Resistors And Inductors Segment [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 Resistors And Inductors Segment [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Resistors And Inductors Segment [Member] HiRel Systems [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Resistors And Inductors Segment [Member] Huntington Electric Inc [Member]
Goodwill [Abstract]
Goodwill impairment	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0
Goodwill acquired during period																	25,815	9,051				25,815	9,051
Goodwill	34,866	9,051	0														25,815	9,051	34,866	9,051	0
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Indefinite-Lived Trade Names	20,359	20,359
Intangible Assets Subject to Amortization	273,230	260,634					83,383	111,428	56,162	53,721	97,451	57,723	34,534	36,762	1,700	1,000
Accumulated amortization	(159,872)	(177,066)					(61,269)	(89,379)	(50,161)	(47,836)	(33,416)	(26,174)	(14,579)	(13,615)	(447)	(62)
Net Intangible Assets Subject to Amortization	113,358	83,568
Intangible assets, net	133,717	103,927															43,950
Intangible assets transferred to VPG						15,371
Amortization expense (excluding capitalized software)	14,754	14,684	19,817	2,670	1,466
Finite Lived Intangible Assets Future Amortization Expense [Abstract]
2013	15,331
2014	15,263
2015	15,196
2016	13,522
2017	$ 9,654