Segment Information (Details 3) (Net sales, Customer concentration)	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009
Boeing company and its subcontractors
Segment information
Concentration percentage (as a percent)	30.00%	31.00%	27.00%
Boeing company and its subcontractors | Composite Materials
Segment information
Concentration percentage (as a percent)	20.00%	22.00%	18.00%
Boeing company and its subcontractors | Engineered Products
Segment information
Concentration percentage (as a percent)	64.00%	62.00%	60.00%
EADS, Airbus and its subcontractors
Segment information
Concentration percentage (as a percent)	27.00%	24.00%	22.00%
EADS, Airbus and its subcontractors | Composite Materials
Segment information
Concentration percentage (as a percent)	33.00%	29.00%	27.00%
Vestas Wind System | Composite Materials
Segment information
Concentration percentage (as a percent)			12.00%
Vestas Wind System | Composite Materials | Maximum
Segment information
Concentration percentage (as a percent)	10.00%	10.00%