SELECTED FINANCIAL STATEMENT INFORMATION (Tables)

9 Months Ended

Jul. 31, 2012

Selected Financial Statement Information (Tables) [Abstract]

Schedule of Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Table Text Block]

Accounts Receivable

(in thousands)	July 31, 2012			October 31, 2011
Accounts receivable		$116,232			$109,081
Less: Allowance for doubtful accounts	(2,485		)	(2,667		)
Accounts receivable, net		$113,747			$106,414

Costs and Estimated Earnings On Uncompleted Percentage Of Completion Contracts [Table Text Block]

Costs and Estimated Earnings on Uncompleted Percentage-of-Completion Contracts

(in thousands)	July 31, 2012			October 31, 2011
Costs incurred on uncompleted contracts		$6,179			$4,443
Estimated earnings	5,524			4,206
	11,703			8,649
Less: Billings to date	(6,867		)	(4,876		)
		$4,836			$3,773
Included in the accompanying Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets under the following captions:
Accounts receivable, net (costs and estimated earnings in excess of billings)		$4,836			$3,773
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities (billings in excess of costs and estimated earnings)	—			—
		$4,836			$3,773

Schedule of Inventory, Current [Table Text Block]

Inventories

(in thousands)	July 31, 2012			October 31, 2011
Finished products		$97,451			$86,487
Work in process	20,356			19,708
Materials, parts, assemblies and supplies	67,514			52,173
Contracts in process	8,354			8,291
Less: Billings to date	(788		)	(1,692		)
Inventories, net of valuation reserves		$192,887			$164,967

Property, Plant and Equipment [Table Text Block]

Property, Plant and Equipment

(in thousands)	July 31, 2012			October 31, 2011
Land		$4,497			$3,825
Buildings and improvements	53,504			46,892
Machinery, equipment and tooling	105,421			94,297
Construction in progress	5,733			3,671
	169,155			148,685
Less: Accumulated depreciation and amortization	(90,327		)	(81,611		)
Property, plant and equipment, net		$78,828			$67,074