Consolidated Condensed Statements of Operations (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 29, 2013	Jun. 30, 2012	Jun. 29, 2013	Jun. 30, 2012
Consolidated Condensed Statements of Operations [Abstract]
Net revenues	$ 62,837	$ 55,332	$ 120,298	$ 111,176
Costs of products sold	41,277	35,481	78,769	72,445
Gross profit	21,560	19,851	41,529	38,731
Selling, general, and administrative expenses	18,565	15,761	36,362	32,277
Acquisition costs	208		695
Restructuring costs			388
Operating income	2,787	4,090	4,084	6,454
Other income (expense):
Interest expense	(298)	(69)	(495)	(141)
Other	(907)	108	(1,283)	310
Other income (expense) - net	(1,205)	39	(1,778)	169
Income before taxes	1,582	4,129	2,306	6,623
Income tax expense	292	1,125	580	1,985
Net earnings	1,290	3,004	1,726	4,638
Less: net (loss) earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests	(20)	43	29	54
Net earnings attributable to VPG stockholders	$ 1,310	$ 2,961	$ 1,697	$ 4,584
Basic earnings per share attributable to VPG stockholders	$ 0.10	$ 0.22	$ 0.13	$ 0.34
Diluted earnings per share attributable to VPG stockholders	$ 0.09	$ 0.21	$ 0.12	$ 0.33
Weighted average shares outstanding - basic	13,392	13,366	13,389	13,364
Weighted average shares outstanding - diluted	13,947	13,882	13,938	13,875