SELECTED FINANCIAL STATEMENT INFORMATION (Tables)

6 Months Ended

Apr. 30, 2012

Selected Financial Statement Information (Tables) [Abstract]

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

Accounts Receivable

(in thousands)	April 30, 2012			October 31, 2011
Accounts receivable	$	118,877		$	109,081
Less:  Allowance for doubtful accounts		(4,450	)		(2,667	)
Accounts receivable, net	$	114,427		$	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)	April 30, 2012			October 31, 2011
Costs incurred on uncompleted contracts	$	5,396		$	4,443
Estimated earnings		4,886			4,206
		10,282			8,649
Less:  Billings to date		(5,691	)		(4,876	)
	$	4,591		$	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)	$	4,591		$	3,773
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities (billings in excess of costs and estimated earnings)		-			-
	$	4,591		$	3,773

Schedule of Inventory, Current [Table Text Block]

Inventories

(in thousands)	April 30, 2012			October 31, 2011
Finished products	$	92,450		$	86,487
Work in process		20,475			19,708
Materials, parts, assemblies and supplies		67,555			52,173
Contracts in process		8,081			8,291
Less: Billings to date		(1,166	)		(1,692	)
Inventories, net of valuation reserves	$	187,395		$	164,967

Property, Plant and Equipment [Table Text Block]

Property, Plant and Equipment

(in thousands)	April 30, 2012			October 31, 2011
Land	$	4,509		$	3,825
Buildings and improvements		52,163			46,892
Machinery, equipment and tooling		103,821			94,297
Construction in progress		5,881			3,671
		166,374			148,685
Less:  Accumulated depreciation and amortization		(87,779	)		(81,611	)
Property, plant and equipment, net	$	78,595		$	67,074