Segment Reporting (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2011	Dec. 31, 2011
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	$ 268,783	$ 241,872	$ 538,301	$ 452,767
Operating income (loss)	9,592	8,460	16,828	9,901
Inter-segment sales	8,874	8,589	17,730	17,065
Segment Reporting, Asset Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Total Assets	884,292		884,292		868,862
Wheels [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	112,881	102,927	229,825	194,436
Operating income (loss)	16,106	12,136	34,548	23,624
Segment Reporting, Asset Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Total Assets	509,701		509,701		509,829
Gunite [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	67,280	67,093	135,843	126,324
Operating income (loss)	(1,875)	3,793	(4,043)	2,076
Segment Reporting, Asset Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Total Assets	204,424		204,424		188,053
Brillion Iron Works [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	49,326	38,194	93,136	73,454
Operating income (loss)	7,598	689	10,771	1,422
Segment Reporting, Asset Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Total Assets	67,818		67,818		63,216
Imperial Group [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	39,296	33,658	79,497	58,553
Operating income (loss)	(302)	1,762	(821)	2,891
Segment Reporting, Asset Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Total Assets	51,710		51,710		43,581
Corporate / Other [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating income (loss)	(11,935)	(9,920)	(23,627)	(20,112)
Segment Reporting, Asset Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Total Assets	$ 50,639		$ 50,639		$ 64,183