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Total expenditures for additions to long-lived assets other than financial instruments, long-term customer relationships of a financial institution, mortgage and other servicing rights, deferred policy acquisition costs, and deferred tax assets of the reportable segment; if the amount: (a) is included in the determination of segment assets reviewed by the chief operating decision maker or (b) is otherwise regularly provided to the chief operating decision maker, even if not included in the determination of segment assets.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 131

-Paragraph 28

-Subparagraph b

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009.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.

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- Definition

The aggregate expense recognized in the current period that allocates the cost of tangible assets, intangible assets, or depleting assets to periods that benefit from use of the assets.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 230

-SubTopic 10

-Section 45

-Paragraph 28

-Subparagraph (b)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6943989&loc=d3e3602-108585

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The net result for the period of deducting operating expenses from operating revenues.

+ References

No definition available.

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- Definition

Amount of revenue from transactions with other operating segments of the same entity.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 131

-Paragraph 27

-Subparagraph b

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009.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.

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- Definition

Aggregate revenue during the period from the sale of goods in the normal course of business, after deducting returns, allowances and discounts.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 225

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 2

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-03.1(a))

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6880815&loc=d3e20235-122688

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 03

-Paragraph 1

-Article 5

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Amount of net assets (total assets less total liabilities) attributed to the reportable segment.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 131

-Paragraph 28

-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.

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Segment Reporting and Geographic Information (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 28, 2012	Jun. 29, 2012	Mar. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Sep. 30, 2011	Jul. 01, 2011	Apr. 01, 2011	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Segment Reporting and Geographic Information
Sales based upon location of customers	$ 303,759	$ 290,601	$ 325,088	$ 353,630	$ 334,421	$ 392,794	$ 424,710	$ 374,805	$ 1,273,078	$ 1,526,730	$ 1,302,314
Intersegment sales									6,686	9,188	10,798
Operating profit (loss)									36,776	57,078	73,633
Depreciation, depletion and amortization									37,046	43,635	35,394
Expenditures for long-lived assets									44,661	28,747	53,662
Assets	814,917				772,103				814,917	772,103	735,410
Advanced Material Technologies [Member]
Segment Reporting and Geographic Information
Sales based upon location of customers									847,835	1,051,823	878,994
Intersegment sales									2,556	2,493	1,718
Operating profit (loss)									16,749	33,471	39,454
Depreciation, depletion and amortization									16,282	16,170	16,443
Expenditures for long-lived assets									11,874	8,014	5,170
Assets	341,604				342,819				341,604	342,819	339,490
Performance Alloys [Member]
Segment Reporting and Geographic Information
Sales based upon location of customers									292,448	335,323	293,757
Intersegment sales									2,718	3,771	6,086
Operating profit (loss)									24,004	27,241	27,150
Depreciation, depletion and amortization									14,994	22,324	14,186
Expenditures for long-lived assets									19,906	10,599	17,060
Assets	269,003				235,547				269,003	235,547	219,094
Beryllium and Composites [Member]
Segment Reporting and Geographic Information
Sales based upon location of customers									59,983	60,557	61,894
Intersegment sales									740	757	397
Operating profit (loss)									(3,944)	(754)	10,046
Depreciation, depletion and amortization									1,883	1,367	1,070
Expenditures for long-lived assets									7,962	6,460	29,123
Assets	135,414				127,708				135,414	127,708	119,117
Technical Materials [Member]
Segment Reporting and Geographic Information
Sales based upon location of customers									72,733	78,732	67,450
Intersegment sales									672	2,167	2,597
Operating profit (loss)									6,608	7,262	5,331
Depreciation, depletion and amortization									2,609	2,459	2,449
Expenditures for long-lived assets									3,604	2,286	950
Assets	23,328				21,502				23,328	21,502	22,751
Subtotal [Member]
Segment Reporting and Geographic Information
Sales based upon location of customers									1,272,999	1,526,435	1,302,095
Intersegment sales									6,686	9,188	10,798
Operating profit (loss)									43,417	67,220	81,981
Depreciation, depletion and amortization									35,768	42,320	34,148
Expenditures for long-lived assets									43,346	27,359	52,303
Assets	769,349				727,576				769,349	727,576	700,452
All Other [Member]
Segment Reporting and Geographic Information
Sales based upon location of customers									79	295	219
Operating profit (loss)									(6,641)	(10,142)	(8,348)
Depreciation, depletion and amortization									1,278	1,315	1,246
Expenditures for long-lived assets									1,315	1,388	1,359
Assets	$ 45,568				$ 44,527				$ 45,568	$ 44,527	$ 34,958