SELECTED FINANCIAL STATEMENT INFORMATION (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Oct. 31, 2015

Selected Financial Statement Information [Abstract]

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

Accounts Receivable

	As of October 31,
(in thousands)	2015			2014
Accounts receivable		$183,631			$151,812
Less: Allowance for doubtful accounts	(2,038		)	(2,143		)
Accounts receivable, net		$181,593			$149,669

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)	2015			2014
Costs incurred on uncompleted contracts		$22,645			$24,437
Estimated earnings	16,116			11,747
	38,761			36,184
Less: Billings to date	(36,442		)	(29,829		)
		$2,319			$6,355
Included in the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheets under the following captions:
Accounts receivable, net (costs and estimated earnings in excess of billings)		$6,263			$8,161
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities (billings in excess of costs and estimated earnings)	(3,944		)	(1,806		)
		$2,319			$6,355

Schedule of Inventory, Current [Table Text Block]

Inventories

	As of October 31,
(in thousands)	2015			2014
Finished products		$119,262			$106,229
Work in process	32,201			30,056
Materials, parts, assemblies and supplies	89,739			79,163
Contracts in process	4,521			2,594
Less: Billings to date	(2,206		)	—
Inventories, net of valuation reserves		$243,517			$218,042

Property, Plant and Equipment [Table Text Block]

Property, Plant and Equipment

	As of October 31,
(in thousands)	2015			2014
Land		$5,060			$4,501
Buildings and improvements	70,626			60,332
Machinery, equipment and tooling	152,022			139,963
Construction in progress	4,668			6,905
	232,376			211,701
Less:  Accumulated depreciation and amortization	(126,706		)	(117,836		)
Property, plant and equipment, net		$105,670			$93,865

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

Accrued Expenses and Other Current Liabilities

	As of October 31,
(in thousands)	2015		2014
Accrued employee compensation and related payroll taxes		$53,238		$52,480
Deferred revenue	16,498		12,481
Accrued customer rebates and credits	8,072		10,924
Accrued additional purchase consideration	6,859		90
Other	15,488		16,603
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities		$100,155		$92,578

Schedule of Research and Development Expenses [Table Text Block]

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

	Year ended October 31,
	2015		2014		2013
R&D expenses		$38,747		$37,377		$32,897

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

Changes in the components of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) during fiscal 2015 and 2014 are as follows (in thousands):

	Foreign Currency Translation			Pension Benefit Obligation			Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)
Balances as of October 31, 2013		($466	)		$610			$144
Unrealized loss	(7,882		)	(551		)	(8,433		)
Balances as of October 31, 2014	(8,348		)	59			(8,289		)
Unrealized loss	(16,020		)	(771		)	(16,791		)
Balances as of October 31, 2015		($24,368	)		($712	)		($25,080	)