SELECTED FINANCIAL STATEMENT INFORMATION (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Oct. 31, 2013

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)	2013			2012
Accounts receivable		$160,118			$124,548
Less: Allowance for doubtful accounts	(3,096		)	(2,334		)
Accounts receivable, net		$157,022			$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

	As of October 31,
(in thousands)	2013			2012
Costs incurred on uncompleted contracts		$22,548			$6,673
Estimated earnings	25,391			6,235
	47,939			12,908
Less: Billings to date	(40,676		)	(7,426		)
		$7,263			$5,482
Included in the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheets under the following captions:
Accounts receivable, net (costs and estimated earnings in excess of billings)		$9,540			$5,482
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities (billings in excess of costs and estimated earnings)	(2,277		)	—
		$7,263			$5,482

Schedule of Inventory, Current [Table Text Block]

Inventories

	As of October 31,
(in thousands)	2013			2012
Finished products		$103,234			$93,873
Work in process	26,810			18,887
Materials, parts, assemblies and supplies	79,863			69,042
Contracts in process	9,941			8,299
Less: Billings to date	(955		)	(397		)
Inventories, net of valuation reserves		$218,893			$189,704

Property, Plant and Equipment [Table Text Block]

Property, Plant and Equipment

	As of October 31,
(in thousands)	2013			2012
Land		$4,515			$4,505
Buildings and improvements	60,105			54,322
Machinery, equipment and tooling	131,855			109,041
Construction in progress	4,932			5,599
	201,407			173,467
Less:  Accumulated depreciation and amortization	(103,670		)	(92,949		)
Property, plant and equipment, net		$97,737			$80,518

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

Accrued Expenses and Other Current Liabilities

	As of October 31,
(in thousands)	2013		2012
Accrued employee compensation and related payroll taxes		$52,435		$41,307
Accrued customer rebates and credits	14,787		10,833
Deferred revenue	11,529		6,442
Accrued additional purchase consideration	9,142		2,917
Other	17,841		14,742
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities		$105,734		$76,241