SELECTED FINANCIAL STATEMENT INFORMATION (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Oct. 31, 2014

Selected Financial Statement Information [Abstract]

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

Accounts Receivable

	As of October 31,
(in thousands)	2014			2013
Accounts receivable		$151,812			$160,118
Less: Allowance for doubtful accounts	(2,143		)	(3,096		)
Accounts receivable, net		$149,669			$157,022

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)	2014			2013
Costs incurred on uncompleted contracts		$24,437			$22,548
Estimated earnings	11,747			25,391
	36,184			47,939
Less: Billings to date	(29,829		)	(40,676		)
		$6,355			$7,263
Included in the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheets under the following captions:
Accounts receivable, net (costs and estimated earnings in excess of billings)		$8,161			$9,540
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities (billings in excess of costs and estimated earnings)	(1,806		)	(2,277		)
		$6,355			$7,263

Schedule of Inventory, Current [Table Text Block]

Inventories

	As of October 31,
(in thousands)	2014		2013
Finished products		$106,229		$103,234
Work in process	30,056		26,810
Materials, parts, assemblies and supplies	79,163		79,863
Contracts in process	2,594		9,941
Less: Billings to date	—		(955		)
Inventories, net of valuation reserves		$218,042		$218,893

Property, Plant and Equipment [Table Text Block]

Property, Plant and Equipment

	As of October 31,
(in thousands)	2014			2013
Land		$4,501			$4,515
Buildings and improvements	60,332			60,105
Machinery, equipment and tooling	139,963			131,855
Construction in progress	6,905			4,932
	211,701			201,407
Less:  Accumulated depreciation and amortization	(117,836		)	(103,670		)
Property, plant and equipment, net		$93,865			$97,737

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

Accrued Expenses and Other Current Liabilities

	As of October 31,
(in thousands)	2014		2013
Accrued employee compensation and related payroll taxes		$52,480		$52,435
Deferred revenue	12,481		11,529
Accrued customer rebates and credits	10,924		14,787
Accrued additional purchase consideration	90		9,142
Other	16,603		17,841
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities		$92,578		$105,734

Schedule of Research and Development Expenses [Table Text Block]

The amount of new product research and development expenses (R&D expenses) included in cost of sales is as follows (in thousands):

	Year ended October 31,
	2014		2013		2012
R&D expenses		$37,377		$32,897		$30,395

Schedule of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Table Text Block]

Changes in the components of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2014 are as follows (in thousands):

	Foreign Currency Translation			Pension Benefit Obligation			Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)
Balances at October 31, 2013		($466	)		$610			$144
Unrealized loss	(7,882		)	(551		)	(8,433		)
Balances at October 31, 2014		($8,348	)		$59			($8,289	)