SELECTED FINANCIAL STATEMENT INFORMATION (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Oct. 31, 2012

Selected Financial Statement Information (Tables) [Abstract]

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

Accounts Receivable

	As of October 31,
(in thousands)	2012			2011
Accounts receivable		$124,548			$109,081
Less: Allowance for doubtful accounts	(2,334		)	(2,667		)
Accounts receivable, net		$122,214			$106,414

Schedule of Inventory, Current [Table Text Block]

Inventories

	As of October 31,
(in thousands)	2012			2011
Finished products		$93,873			$86,487
Work in process	18,887			19,708
Materials, parts, assemblies and supplies	69,042			52,173
Contracts in process	8,299			8,291
Less: Billings to date	(397		)	(1,692		)
Inventories, net of valuation reserves		$189,704			$164,967

Property, Plant and Equipment [Table Text Block]

Property, Plant and Equipment

	As of October 31,
(in thousands)	2012			2011
Land		$4,505			$3,825
Buildings and improvements	54,322			46,892
Machinery, equipment and tooling	109,041			94,297
Construction in progress	5,599			3,671
	173,467			148,685
Less:  Accumulated depreciation and amortization	(92,949		)	(81,611		)
Property, plant and equipment, net		$80,518			$67,074

Schedule Of Accrued Expenses and Other Current Liabilities [Table Text Block]

Accrued Expenses and Other Current Liabilities

	As of October 31,
(in thousands)	2012		2011
Accrued employee compensation and related payroll taxes		$41,307		$39,330
Accrued customer rebates and credits	10,833		9,595
Accrued additional purchase consideration	2,917		11,016
Deferred revenue	6,442		3,195
Other	14,742		13,240
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities		$76,241		$76,376

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

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

	As of October 31,
(in thousands)	2012			2011
Costs incurred on uncompleted contracts		$6,673			$4,443
Estimated earnings	6,235			4,206
	12,908			8,649
Less:  Billings to date	(7,426		)	(4,876		)
Included in the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheets under the caption "Accounts receivable, net" (costs and estimated earnings in excess of billings)		$5,482			$3,773