SELECTED FINANCIAL STATEMENT INFORMATION (Tables)

3 Months Ended

Jan. 31, 2012

Selected Financial Statement Information (Tables) [Abstract]

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

Accounts Receivable

(in thousands)	January 31, 2012			October 31, 2011
Accounts receivable	$	112,960		$	109,081
Less:  Allowance for doubtful accounts		(4,948	)		(2,667	)
Accounts receivable, net	$	108,012		$	106,414

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)	January 31, 2012			October 31, 2011
Costs incurred on uncompleted contracts	$	5,224		$	4,443
Estimated earnings		5,041			4,206
		10,265			8,649
Less:  Billings to date		(5,619	)		(4,876	)
	$	4,646		$	3,773
Included in the accompanying Condensed Consolidated
Balance Sheets under the following captions:
Accounts receivable, net (costs and estimated earnings in excess of billings)	$	4,646		$	3,773
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities (billings in excess of costs and estimated earnings)		—			—
	$	4,646		$	3,773

Schedule of Inventory, Current [Table Text Block]

Inventories

(in thousands)	January 31, 2012			October 31, 2011
Finished products	$	93,549		$	86,487
Work in process		19,344			19,708
Materials, parts, assemblies and supplies		64,717			52,173
Contracts in process		7,408			8,291
Less: Billings to date		(1,232	)		(1,692	)
Inventories, net of valuation reserves	$	183,786		$	164,967

Property, Plant and Equipment [Table Text Block]

Property, Plant and Equipment

(in thousands)	January 31, 2012			October 31, 2011
Land	$	4,507		$	3,825
Buildings and improvements		51,915			46,892
Machinery, equipment and tooling		101,568			94,297
Construction in progress		3,919			3,671
		161,909			148,685
Less:  Accumulated depreciation and amortization		(84,783	)		(81,611	)
Property, plant and equipment, net	$	77,126		$	67,074