SELECTED FINANCIAL STATEMENT INFORMATION (Tables)

9 Months Ended

Jul. 31, 2013

Selected Financial Statement Information (Tables) [Abstract]

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

Accounts Receivable

(in thousands)	July 31, 2013			October 31, 2012
Accounts receivable		$142,478			$124,548
Less: Allowance for doubtful accounts	(3,077		)	(2,334		)
Accounts receivable, net		$139,401			$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)	July 31, 2013			October 31, 2012
Costs incurred on uncompleted contracts		$6,501			$6,673
Estimated earnings	6,790			6,235
	13,291			12,908
Less: Billings to date	(11,309		)	(7,426		)
		$1,982			$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)		$2,092			$5,482
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities (billings in excess of costs and estimated earnings)	(110		)	—
		$1,982			$5,482

Schedule of Inventory, Current [Table Text Block]

Inventories

(in thousands)	July 31, 2013			October 31, 2012
Finished products		$102,497			$93,873
Work in process	26,550			18,887
Materials, parts, assemblies and supplies	78,206			69,042
Contracts in process	9,993			8,299
Less: Billings to date	(990		)	(397		)
Inventories, net of valuation reserves		$216,256			$189,704

Property, Plant and Equipment [Table Text Block]

Property, Plant and Equipment

(in thousands)	July 31, 2013			October 31, 2012
Land		$4,509			$4,505
Buildings and improvements	57,254			54,322
Machinery, equipment and tooling	125,169			109,041
Construction in progress	6,274			5,599
	193,206			173,467
Less: Accumulated depreciation and amortization	(102,343		)	(92,949		)
Property, plant and equipment, net		$90,863			$80,518