SELECTED FINANCIAL STATEMENT INFORMATION (Tables)

6 Months Ended

Apr. 30, 2013

Selected Financial Statement Information (Tables) [Abstract]

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

Accounts Receivable

(in thousands)	April 30, 2013			October 31, 2012
Accounts receivable		$129,457			$124,548
Less: Allowance for doubtful accounts	(2,601		)	(2,334		)
Accounts receivable, net		$126,856			$122,214

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)	April 30, 2013			October 31, 2012
Costs incurred on uncompleted contracts		$7,995			$6,673
Estimated earnings	7,413			6,235
	15,408			12,908
Less: Billings to date	(10,222		)	(7,426		)
		$5,186			$5,482
Included in the accompanying Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets under the following captions:
Accounts receivable, net (costs and estimated earnings in excess of billings)		$5,313			$5,482
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities (billings in excess of costs and estimated earnings)	(127		)	—
		$5,186			$5,482

Schedule of Inventory, Current [Table Text Block]

Inventories

(in thousands)	April 30, 2013			October 31, 2012
Finished products		$101,742			$93,873
Work in process	20,344			18,887
Materials, parts, assemblies and supplies	70,015			69,042
Contracts in process	8,472			8,299
Less: Billings to date	(1,072		)	(397		)
Inventories, net of valuation reserves		$199,501			$189,704

Property, Plant and Equipment [Table Text Block]

Property, Plant and Equipment

(in thousands)	April 30, 2013			October 31, 2012
Land		$4,506			$4,505
Buildings and improvements	55,271			54,322
Machinery, equipment and tooling	116,745			109,041
Construction in progress	5,554			5,599
	182,076			173,467
Less: Accumulated depreciation and amortization	(99,567		)	(92,949		)
Property, plant and equipment, net		$82,509			$80,518