Consolidated Statements Of Cash Flows (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009
Operating activities:
Net income (loss)	$ 849	$ (6,056)	$ (22,912)
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities:
Depreciation	6,800	6,027	5,293
Amortization of intangible assets	559	535	643
Amortization of debt discount and prepaid debt costs	55	83	737
(Gain) loss on embedded derivative and warrant liabilities	(1,086)	(2,341)	5,251
Pension (benefit) cost	(109)	(209)	574
Stock-based compensation expense	2,582	2,627	2,700
Shares issued for bonus payment and interest			730
Loss on sales and impairment of property and equipment		880	34
Provision (recovery) on accounts receivable	427	(159)	(52)
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Trade and other accounts receivable	(9,112)	(4,485)	(6,792)
Inventories	(8,121)	(1,175)	905
Prepaid expenses and other assets	87	(19)	655
Deferred income taxes	(1,108)	(110)	1,547
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	8,469	4,012	9,620
Accrued employee compensation	179	1,374	245
Other long-term liabilities	(5,572)	7,764	(177)
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	(5,101)	8,748	(999)
Investing activities:
Purchases of property and equipment	(14,466)	(8,794)	(4,951)
Net cash used in investing activities	(14,466)	(8,794)	(4,951)
Financing activities:
Principal payments on long-term debt and short-term borrowings	(12,462)	(11,073)	(12,604)
Proceeds from long-term and short-term borrowings	12,229	10,749	9,217
Proceeds from exercise of stock warrants		7,500
Repurchase of shares	(154)	(546)	(496)
Proceeds from issuance of common stock under equity compensation plans	2,819	3,290	5,574
Proceeds from (cost of) issuance of common stock under secondary security offerings			21,005
Release of restricted cash	8,000
Net cash provided by financing activities	10,432	9,920	22,696
Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents from operations	(9,135)	9,874	16,746
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents	(1,405)	373	260
Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	(10,540)	10,247	17,006
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year	39,829	29,582	12,576
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year	29,289	39,829	29,582
Cash paid for:
Interest	166	267	314
Income taxes	3,329	12	21
Supplemental schedule of noncash investing and financing activities:
Shares issued for interest payable			92
Conversion of debenture into shares of common stock	9,341		2,778
Stock warrant liability settled in shares of common stock		$ 1,055