Segment Information and Enterprise-Wide Disclosure (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011	Dec. 31, 2011
Segment Reporting Revenue Reconciling [Line Items]
Total sales	$ 222,257	$ 227,276	$ 645,580	$ 691,916
Inter-company sales	(55,640)	(66,699)	(175,061)	(199,978)
Net sales	166,617	160,577	470,519	491,938
Property, plant and equipment	246,578	231,863	246,578	231,863	225,393
Total assets	923,167	773,729	923,167	773,729	793,064
Percentage of net sales	100.00%	100.00%	100.00%	100.00%
Segment Reporting, General Information			For financial reporting purposes, the Company operates in a single segment, standard semiconductor products, through the Company’s various manufacturing and distribution facilities. The Company aggregates its products because the products are similar and have similar economic characteristics, and the products are similar in production process and share the same customer type.
Asia [Member]
Segment Reporting Revenue Reconciling [Line Items]
Total sales	149,695	145,562	422,765	427,132
Inter-company sales	(17,312)	(25,674)	(57,364)	(64,251)
Net sales	132,383	119,888	365,401	362,881
Property, plant and equipment	190,408	167,413	190,408	167,413
Total assets	561,004	485,448	561,004	485,448
North America [Member]
Segment Reporting Revenue Reconciling [Line Items]
Total sales	36,100	34,559	101,902	107,156
Inter-company sales	(18,579)	(15,111)	(49,624)	(46,321)
Net sales	17,521	19,448	52,278	60,835
Property, plant and equipment	29,773	33,562	29,773	33,562
Total assets	133,192	96,995	133,192	96,995
Europe [Member]
Segment Reporting Revenue Reconciling [Line Items]
Total sales	36,462	47,155	120,913	157,628
Inter-company sales	(19,749)	(25,914)	(68,073)	(89,406)
Net sales	16,713	21,241	52,840	68,222
Property, plant and equipment	26,397	30,888	26,397	30,888
Total assets	228,971	191,286	228,971	191,286
China [Member]
Segment Reporting Revenue Reconciling [Line Items]
Net sales	58,353	45,842	120,787	116,416
Percentage of net sales	35.00%	29.00%	26.00%	24.00%
Taiwan [Member]
Segment Reporting Revenue Reconciling [Line Items]
Net sales	33,184	32,171	96,632	106,432
Percentage of net sales	20.00%	20.00%	21.00%	22.00%
United States [Member]
Segment Reporting Revenue Reconciling [Line Items]
Net sales	15,856	22,733	45,192	79,190
Percentage of net sales	10.00%	14.00%	10.00%	15.00%
Korea [Member]
Segment Reporting Revenue Reconciling [Line Items]
Net sales	14,701	9,200	36,554	29,389
Percentage of net sales	8.00%	6.00%	8.00%	6.00%
Switzerland [Member]
Segment Reporting Revenue Reconciling [Line Items]
Net sales	14,151	11,962	42,213	41,954
Percentage of net sales	8.00%	7.00%	9.00%	9.00%
Germany [Member]
Segment Reporting Revenue Reconciling [Line Items]
Net sales	6,285	7,555	19,224	25,011
Percentage of net sales	4.00%	5.00%	4.00%	5.00%
Singapore [Member]
Segment Reporting Revenue Reconciling [Line Items]
Net sales	8,412	6,744	19,888	18,333
Percentage of net sales	5.00%	4.00%	4.00%	4.00%
England [Member]
Segment Reporting Revenue Reconciling [Line Items]
Net sales	7,636	7,906	20,614	25,134
Percentage of net sales	5.00%	5.00%	4.00%	5.00%
All Others [Member]
Segment Reporting Revenue Reconciling [Line Items]
Net sales	$ 8,039	$ 16,464	$ 69,415	$ 50,079
Percentage of net sales	5.00%	10.00%	14.00%	10.00%