CONCENTRATION OF CREDIT RISK AND MAJOR CUSTOMERS (Details)	9 Months Ended	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended		3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended		3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended		3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended		3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012 entity	Sep. 30, 2012 Net sales Customer concentration risk customer	Sep. 30, 2011 Net sales Customer concentration risk customer	Sep. 30, 2012 Net sales Customer concentration risk customer	Sep. 30, 2011 Net sales Customer concentration risk customer	Sep. 30, 2012 Net sales Customer concentration risk GE Medical Division	Sep. 30, 2011 Net sales Customer concentration risk GE Medical Division	Sep. 30, 2012 Net sales Customer concentration risk GE Medical Division	Sep. 30, 2011 Net sales Customer concentration risk GE Medical Division	Sep. 30, 2012 Net sales Customer concentration risk GE Transportation Division	Sep. 30, 2011 Net sales Customer concentration risk GE Transportation Division	Sep. 30, 2012 Net sales Customer concentration risk GE Transportation Division	Sep. 30, 2011 Net sales Customer concentration risk GE Transportation Division	Sep. 30, 2012 Net sales Customer concentration risk Total GE Medical & Transportation Division	Sep. 30, 2011 Net sales Customer concentration risk Total GE Medical & Transportation Division	Sep. 30, 2012 Net sales Customer concentration risk Total GE Medical & Transportation Division	Sep. 30, 2011 Net sales Customer concentration risk Total GE Medical & Transportation Division	Sep. 30, 2012 Accounts receivable Customer concentration risk Total GE Medical & Transportation Division	Dec. 31, 2011 Accounts receivable Customer concentration risk Total GE Medical & Transportation Division
Concentration of credit risk and major customers
Excess cash balance, number of high credit quality financial institution	1
Number of significant customers		1	1	1	1
Threshold percentage		10.00%	10.00%	10.00%	10.00%
Percentage of concentration risk						16.00%	18.00%	17.00%	16.00%	7.00%	9.00%	7.00%	8.00%	23.00%	27.00%	24.00%	24.00%	17.00%	17.00%
Percentage of export sales to consolidated sales		6.00%	6.00%	6.00%	6.00%