Business Segments - (Information by Segment) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014	Sep. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2014	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2013	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2014		Dec. 31, 2013		Dec. 31, 2012
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	$ 318,199	$ 320,520	$ 326,943	$ 304,501	$ 330,846	$ 336,578	$ 340,096	$ 326,985	$ 1,270,163		$ 1,334,505		$ 1,415,818
Depreciation and amortization									32,789		36,789		38,593
Net interest expense (income)									2,532		2,694		7,053
Earnings (loss) before income taxes									(63,210)		(43,459)		1,072
Assets	963,731				1,096,434				963,731		1,096,434		1,262,294
Long-lived assets	568,389				676,895				568,389		676,895		694,345
Expenditures for assets									12,327		14,158		20,091
North America/HME
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Depreciation and amortization									10,925		12,149		11,681
Net interest expense (income)									348		(1,869)		753
Earnings (loss) before income taxes									(63,601)		(50,506)		(313)
Assets	218,877				250,239				218,877		250,239		280,383
Long-lived assets	44,727				60,309				44,727		60,309		62,853
Expenditures for assets									2,960		5,017		7,024
Institutional Products Group
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Depreciation and amortization									7,656		8,310		7,723
Net interest expense (income)									2,244		3,656		4,288
Earnings (loss) before income taxes									(10,961)		1,418		6,003
Assets	60,080				84,229				60,080		84,229		118,190
Long-lived assets	44,132				68,189				44,132		68,189		93,184
Expenditures for assets									1,232		3,308		5,234
Europe
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Depreciation and amortization									11,111		12,123		12,738
Net interest expense (income)									(209)		(53)		(1,292)
Earnings (loss) before income taxes									48,088		40,468		31,488
Assets	638,896				693,790				638,896		693,790		683,751
Long-lived assets	459,957				506,329				459,957		506,329		493,446
Expenditures for assets									6,708		4,809		4,604
Asia/Pacific
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Depreciation and amortization									2,406		3,073		4,505
Net interest expense (income)									149		960		3,304
Earnings (loss) before income taxes									(9,485)		(13,258)		(11,795)
Assets	30,231				31,034				30,231		31,034		39,605
Long-lived assets	4,046				5,238				4,046		5,238		8,034
Expenditures for assets									1,417		830		2,439
All Other
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Depreciation and amortization									173	[1]	275	[1]	273	[1]
Earnings (loss) before income taxes									(27,251)	[1]	(21,581)	[1]	(24,311)	[1]
Assets	15,647				37,142				15,647		37,142		37,208
Long-lived assets	15,527				36,830				15,527		36,830		36,828
Expenditures for assets									0		50		0
Discontinued Operations
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Depreciation and amortization									518		859		1,673
Assets	0				0				0		0		103,157
Expenditures for assets									10		144		790
Operating Segments | North America/HME
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales									507,867		589,240		675,782
Operating Segments | Institutional Products Group
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales									102,796		112,290		126,508
Operating Segments | Europe
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales									610,555		583,143		546,543
Operating Segments | Asia/Pacific
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales									48,945		49,832		66,985
Intersegment Eliminations
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales									126,069		116,070		154,336
Intersegment Eliminations | North America/HME
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales									84,247		77,553		104,291
Intersegment Eliminations | Institutional Products Group
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales									6,711		5,304		6,415
Intersegment Eliminations | Europe
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales									8,938		8,272		11,043
Intersegment Eliminations | Asia/Pacific
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales									$ 26,173		$ 24,941		$ 32,587

[1] Consists of un-allocated corporate SG&A costs and intercompany profits, which do not meet the quantitative criteria for determining reportable segments. In addition, the “All Other” earnings (loss) before income taxes for 2012 includes loss on debt extinguishment including debt finance charges, interest and fees.