Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Balance at beginning of period	$ 34,866	$ 9,051
Exchange rate effects	281
Goodwill impairment	0	0	0
Balance at end of period	43,132	34,866	9,051
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Indefinite-Lived Trade Names	20,359	20,359
Intangible Assets Subject to Amortization	286,086	273,230
Accumulated amortization	(176,494)	(159,872)
Net Intangible Assets Subject to Amortization	109,592	113,358
Intangible assets, net	129,951	133,717
Amortization expense (excluding capitalized software)	15,068	14,754	14,684
Finite Lived Intangible Assets Future Amortization Expense [Abstract]
2014	17,268
2015	17,207
2016	15,552
2017	11,702
2018	8,277
Patents and Acquired Technology [Member]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Intangible Assets Subject to Amortization	92,842	83,383
Accumulated amortization	(66,337)	(61,269)
Capitalized Software [Member]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Intangible Assets Subject to Amortization	55,893	56,162
Accumulated amortization	(50,006)	(50,161)
Customer Relationships [Member]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Intangible Assets Subject to Amortization	99,558	97,451
Accumulated amortization	(40,727)	(33,416)
Tradenames [Member]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Intangible Assets Subject to Amortization	35,845	34,534
Accumulated amortization	(18,560)	(14,579)
Non-competition Agreements [Member]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Intangible Assets Subject to Amortization	1,948	1,700
Accumulated amortization	(864)	(447)
HiRel Systems [Member]
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill acquired during period		25,815
Other intangible assets related to acquisitions		43,950
MCB Industrie [Member]
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill acquired during period	7,985
Other intangible assets related to acquisitions	5,433
Huntington Electric Inc [Member]
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill acquired during period			9,051
Resistors And Inductors Segment [Member]
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Balance at beginning of period	34,866
Exchange rate effects	281
Balance at end of period	43,132		9,051
Resistors And Inductors Segment [Member] | HiRel Systems [Member]
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill acquired during period		25,815
Resistors And Inductors Segment [Member] | MCB Industrie [Member]
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill acquired during period	$ 7,985