Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2011

Trade accounts receivable are recorded at the invoiced amount and do not bear interest. The allowance for doubtful accounts represents the Company’s best estimate of probable credit losses in its existing trade accounts receivable. The Company determines the allowance based upon a review of both specific accounts for collection and the age of the accounts receivable portfolio.

Inventories

Inventories are valued at the lower of cost or net realizable value. Cost, which includes direct materials, labor and overhead, is generally determined using the first in, first out (FIFO) method. The estimated net realizable value is based on assumptions for future demand and related pricing. Adjustments to the cost basis of the Company’s inventory are made for excess and obsolete items based on usage, orders and technological obsolescence. If actual market conditions are less favorable than those projected by management, reductions in the value of inventory may be required.

Inventories consisted of the following:



	September 30, 2011		December 31, 2010
Raw materials and parts	$	111,143	$	101,660
Work-in-progress	50,596		36,615
Finished goods	103,612		78,829
	$	265,351	$	217,104

Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets

Goodwill, representing the excess of purchase price over the net asset value of companies acquired, and indefinite-lived intangible assets are not amortized, but are reviewed for impairment annually in the fourth quarter, or more frequently if events or changes in circumstances indicate that an asset might be impaired. The annual evaluation is based on valuation models that estimate fair value based on expected future cash flows and profitability projections. The adoption of the recently issued goodwill impairment measurement guidance will not have a material impact on the Company's financial statements.

Other intangible assets include indefinite-lived assets and assets subject to amortization. Where applicable, amortization is charged on a straight-line basis over the expected period to be benefited. The straight-line method of amortization reflects an appropriate allocation of the cost of the intangible assets to earnings in proportion to the amount of economic benefits obtained by the Company in each reporting period. The Company assesses the initial acquisition of intangible assets in accordance with the provisions of ASC 805 “Business Combinations” and the continued accounting for previously recognized intangible assets and goodwill in accordance with the provisions of ASC 350 “Intangibles – Goodwill and Other” and ASC 360 “Property, Plant and Equipment.”

Other intangible assets consisted of the following:



	September 30, 2011					December 31, 2010
	Gross Amount		Accumulated Amortization			Gross Amount		Accumulated Amortization
Customer relationships	$	95,673	$	(17,981	)	$	80,674	$	(15,968	)
Proven technology and patents	42,627		(25,118		)	36,262		(22,298		)
Tradename (finite life)	4,059		(1,033		)	2,420		(760		)
Tradename (indefinite life)	25,102		—			23,634		—
Other	769		(191		)	510		(102		)
	$	168,230	$	(44,323	)	$	143,500	$	(39,128	)

The Company recognized amortization expense associated with the above intangible assets of $1.9 million and $1.5 million for the three months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010, respectively and $5.1 million and $4.6 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010, respectively. The annual aggregate amortization expense based on the current balance of other intangible assets is estimated at $7.0 million for 2011, $7.4 million for 2012, $5.9 million for 2013, $5.8 million for 2014, $5.1 million for 2015 and $4.9 million for 2016. Purchased intangible amortization, net of tax was $1.1 million and $0.9 million for the three months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010, respectively and $2.9 million and $2.7 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010, respectively.

In addition to the above amortization, the Company recorded amortization expense associated with capitalized software of $2.9 million and $2.1 million for the three months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010, respectively and $7.6 million and $6.0 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010, respectively.

Revenue Recognition

Revenue is recognized when title to a product has transferred and any significant customer obligations have been fulfilled. Standard shipping terms are generally FOB shipping point in most countries and, accordingly, title and risk of loss transfers upon shipment. In countries where title cannot legally transfer before delivery, the Company defers revenue recognition until delivery has occurred. The Company generally maintains the right to accept or reject a product return in its terms and conditions and also maintains appropriate accruals for outstanding credits. Shipping and handling costs charged to customers are included in total net sales and the associated expense is recorded in cost of sales for all periods presented. Other than a few small software applications, the Company does not sell software products without the related hardware instrument as the software is embedded in the instrument. The Company’s products typically require no significant production, modification or customization of the hardware or software that is essential to the functionality of the products. To the extent the Company’s solutions have a post-shipment obligation, such as customer acceptance, revenue is deferred until the obligation has been completed. The Company defers product revenue where installation is required, unless such installation is deemed perfunctory. The Company also sometimes enters into certain arrangements that require the separate delivery of multiple goods and/or services. These deliverables are accounted for separately if the deliverables have standalone value and the performance of undelivered items is probable and within the Company's control. The allocation of revenue between the separate deliverables is typically based on the relative selling price at the time of the sale in accordance with a number of factors including service technician billing rates, time to install and geographic location. The adoption of the recently issued multiple-element arrangement guidance on January 1, 2011, has not and is not expected to have a material impact on the Company's financial statements.

Further, certain products are also sold through indirect distribution channels whereby the distributor assumes any further obligations to the customer upon title transfer. Revenue is recognized on these products upon transfer of title and risk of loss to its distributors. Distributor discounts are offset against revenue at the time such revenue is recognized.

Service revenue not under contract is recognized upon the completion of the service performed. Spare parts sold on a stand-alone basis are recognized upon title and risk of loss transfer which is generally at the time of shipment. Revenues from service contracts are recognized ratably over the contract period. These contracts represent an obligation to perform repair and other services including regulatory compliance qualification, calibration, certification and preventative maintenance on a customer’s pre-defined equipment over the contract period. Service contracts are separately priced and payment is typically received from the customer at the beginning of the contract period.

Warranty

The Company generally offers one-year warranties on most of its products. Product warranties are recorded at the time revenue is recognized. While the Company engages in extensive product quality programs and processes, its warranty obligation is affected by product failure rates, material usage and service costs incurred in correcting a product failure.

The Company’s accrual for product warranties is included in accrued and other liabilities in the consolidated balance sheets. Changes to the Company’s accrual for product warranties for the nine months ended September 30 are as follows:



	September 30, 2011			September 30, 2010
Balance at beginning of period	$	15,680		$	15,856
Accruals for warranties	12,164			11,712
Foreign currency translation	291			(196		)
Payments / utilizations	(11,399		)	(11,984		)
Balance at end of period	$	16,736		$	15,388

Employee Termination Benefits

In situations where contractual termination benefits exist, the Company records accruals for employee termination benefits when it is probable that a liability has been incurred and the amount of the liability is reasonably estimable. All other employee termination arrangements are recognized and measured at their fair value at the communication date unless the employee is required to render additional service beyond the legal notification period, in which case the liability is recognized ratably over the future service period.

Share - Based Compensation

Share-Based Compensation

The Company recognizes share-based compensation expense within selling, general and administrative in the consolidated statement of operations with a corresponding offset to additional paid-in capital in the consolidated balance sheet. The Company recorded $3.1 million and $8.8 million of share-based compensation expense for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011, respectively, compared to $3.1 million and $9.1 million for the corresponding periods in 2010.

Research and Development

Research and development costs primarily consist of salaries, consulting and other costs. The Company expenses these costs as incurred.

- Definition

Disclosure of accounting policy for major classes of inventories, bases of stating inventories (for example, lower of cost or market), methods by which amounts are added and removed from inventory classes (for example, FIFO, LIFO, or average cost), loss recognition on impairment of inventories, and situations in which inventories are stated above cost. If inventory is carried at cost, this disclosure includes the nature of the cost elements included in inventory.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 210

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 1

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6361739&loc=d3e7789-107766

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-Publisher FASB

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Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher AICPA

-Name Accounting Research Bulletin (ARB)

-Number 43

-Chapter 3

-Section A

-Paragraph 9

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 330

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 1

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6386783&loc=d3e4492-108314

Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher AICPA

-Name Statement of Position (SOP)

-Number 81-1

-Paragraph 69-75

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 6: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 330

-SubTopic 10

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/subtopic&trid=2126999

Reference 7: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 6

-Subparagraph a

-Article 5

Reference 8: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 210

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.6(b))

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Reference 9: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher AICPA

-Name Accounting Research Bulletin (ARB)

-Number 43

-Chapter 4

-Paragraph 3, 5-10, 15, 16, 17

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 10: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Financial Reporting Release (FRR)

-Number 206

-Chapter 2

-Paragraph b

-Subparagraph i, ii

Reference 11: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 235

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

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-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6367646&loc=d3e18780-107790

+ Details

- Definition

Disclosure of accounting policy for costs it has incurred (1) in a planned search or critical investigation aimed at discovery of new knowledge with the hope that such knowledge will be useful in developing a new product or service, a new process or technique, or in bringing about a significant improvement to an existing product or process; or (2) to translate research findings or other knowledge into a plan or design for a new product or process or for a significant improvement to an existing product or process.

+ References+ Details

- Definition

Disclosure of accounting policy for revenue recognition. If the entity has different policies for different types of revenue transactions, the policy for each material type of transaction is generally disclosed. If a sales transaction has multiple element arrangements (for example, delivery of multiple products, services or the rights to use assets) the disclosure may indicate the accounting policy for each unit of accounting as well as how units of accounting are determined and valued. The disclosure may encompass important judgment as to appropriateness of principles related to recognition of revenue. The disclosure also may indicate the entity's treatment of any unearned or deferred revenue that arises from the transaction.

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- Definition

Disclosure of accounting policy for trade and other accounts receivables. This disclosure may include the basis at which such receivables are carried in the entity's statements of financial position (for example, net realizable value), how the entity determines the level of its allowance for doubtful accounts, when impairments, charge-offs or recoveries are recognized, and the entity's income recognition policies for such receivables, including its treatment of related fees and costs, its treatment of premiums, discounts or unearned income, when accrual of interest is discontinued, how the entity records payments received on nonaccrual receivables and its policy for resuming accrual of interest on such receivables. If the enterprise holds a large number of similar loans, disclosure may include the accounting policy for the anticipation of prepayments and significant assumptions underlying prepayment estimates for amortization of premiums, discounts, and nonrefundable fees and costs.

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