XML 16 R39.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT v2.4.1.9
Significant Accounting Policies - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014
Dec. 31, 2013
Dec. 31, 2012
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]      
Goodwill impairment $ 0us-gaap_GoodwillImpairmentLoss $ 862,000us-gaap_GoodwillImpairmentLoss $ 0us-gaap_GoodwillImpairmentLoss
Research and development costs 2,700,000us-gaap_ResearchAndDevelopmentExpense 2,300,000us-gaap_ResearchAndDevelopmentExpense 2,100,000us-gaap_ResearchAndDevelopmentExpense
Minimum percentage of ownership in investments for consolidation 50.00%plpc_MinimumPercentageOfOwnershipInInvestmentsForConsolidation    
Advertising cost 2,000,000us-gaap_AdvertisingExpense 2,000,000us-gaap_AdvertisingExpense 1,800,000us-gaap_AdvertisingExpense
Aggregate foreign currency transaction gain and losses (2,900,000)us-gaap_ForeignCurrencyTransactionGainLossBeforeTax (3,800,000)us-gaap_ForeignCurrencyTransactionGainLossBeforeTax  
Land and Improvements [Member]      
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]      
Estimated useful lives of Property, Plant and Equipment 10 years    
Building [Member]      
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]      
Estimated useful lives of Property, Plant and Equipment 40 years    
Proxisafe [Member]      
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]      
Company acquired investment in Proxisafe Ltd 25.93%us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentOwnershipPercentage
/ us-gaap_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis
= plpc_ProxisafeMember
   
Minimum [Member]      
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]      
Amortization period of intangible assets 1 year    
Minimum [Member] | Building Improvements [Member]      
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]      
Estimated useful lives of Property, Plant and Equipment 5 years    
Minimum [Member] | Machinery and Equipment [Member]      
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]      
Estimated useful lives of Property, Plant and Equipment 3 years    
Maximum [Member]      
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]      
Amortization period of intangible assets 20 years    
Aggregate foreign currency transaction gain and losses     $ (100,000)us-gaap_ForeignCurrencyTransactionGainLossBeforeTax
/ us-gaap_RangeAxis
= us-gaap_MaximumMember
Maximum [Member] | Building Improvements [Member]      
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]      
Estimated useful lives of Property, Plant and Equipment 40 years    
Maximum [Member] | Machinery and Equipment [Member]      
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]      
Estimated useful lives of Property, Plant and Equipment 10 years