Consolidated Statements Of Operations (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 29, 2013	Mar. 30, 2012
Sales	$ 83,114	$ 65,186
Cost of sales	49,951	37,505
Gross profit	33,163	27,681
Operating expenses:
Research and development and engineering	6,621	5,773
Selling, general and administrative	20,240	16,208
Amortization of purchased intangible assets	2,236	662
Restructuring costs and other	3,117	2,217
Total operating expenses	32,214	24,860
Income from operations	949	2,821
Interest expense, net	(895)	(809)
Foreign exchange transaction gains (losses), net	1,196	(892)
Other income (expense), net	369	187
Income from continuing operations before income taxes	1,619	1,307
Income tax provision	150	230
Income from continuing operations	1,469	1,077
Income from discontinued operations, net of tax	649	322
Consolidated net income	2,118	1,399
Less: Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interest	(36)	(18)
Net income attributable to GSI Group Inc.	$ 2,082	$ 1,381
Earnings per common share from continuing operations:
Basic	$ 0.04	$ 0.03
Diluted	$ 0.04	$ 0.03
Earnings per common share from discontinued operations:
Basic	$ 0.02	$ 0.01
Diluted	$ 0.02	$ 0.01
Earnings per common share attributable to GSI Group Inc.:
Basic	$ 0.06	$ 0.04
Diluted	$ 0.06	$ 0.04
Weighted average common shares outstanding - basic	33,983	33,679
Weighted average common shares outstanding - diluted	34,271	33,878