Business Segment and Geographic Information (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2012

Segment Reporting [Abstract]

Reportable Segment Information [Table Text Block]

The following table sets forth the information about our reportable segments for the periods indicated:

(Dollars in thousands)	High Performance Foams		Printed Circuit Materials		Curamik Electronics Solutions			Power Distribution Systems			Other		Total
2012
Net sales	$	179,421	$	161,893	$	92,361		$	41,918		$	23,168	$	498,761
Operating income (loss)	25,730		8,170		(11,666		)	(356		)	3,786		25,664
Total assets	233,401		156,103		262,039			82,974			24,761		759,278
Capital expenditures	4,947		12,849		5,170			576			232		23,774
Depreciation & amortization	7,947		7,172		8,807			2,276			928		27,130
Investment in unconsolidated joint ventures	21,171		—		—			—			—		21,171
Equity income (loss) in unconsolidated joint ventures	4,743		—		—			—			—		4,743
2011
Net sales	$	177,645	$	166,424	$	132,891		$	47,343		$	24,038	$	548,341
Operating income (loss)	28,280		11,127		7,842			3,478			2,755		53,482
Total assets	192,829		123,883		265,346			73,072			21,655		676,785
Capital expenditures	5,325		5,901		7,018			2,344			728		21,316
Depreciation & amortization	7,873		6,348		9,126			1,863			1,098		26,308
Investment in unconsolidated joint ventures	23,868		—		—			—			—		23,868
Equity income (loss) in unconsolidated joint ventures	5,451		—		—			—			—		5,451
2010
Net sales	$	149,671	$	141,055	$	—		$	42,059		$	40,445	$	373,230
Operating income (loss)	17,378		10,951		—			2,873			373		31,575
Total assets	217,335		140,667		—			80,894			43,702		482,598
Capital expenditures	3,679		5,825		—			1,605			1,132		12,241
Depreciation & amortization	6,705		2,793		—			5,301			901		15,700
Investment in unconsolidated joint ventures	25,452		—		—			—			—		25,452
Equity income (loss) in unconsolidated joint ventures	7,746		—		—			—			912		8,658

Inter-segment sales have been eliminated from the sales data in the preceding table.

The following table sets forth the operating income (loss) reconciliation to the consolidated statements of income (loss) for the periods indicated:

	2012			2011			2010
Operating income (loss)	$	25,664		$	53,482		$	31,575
Equity income in unconsolidated joint ventures	4,743			5,451			8,658
Other income (expense), net	(208		)	1,942			1,364
Net realized investment gain (loss)	(3,245		)	(196		)	(553		)
Interest income (expense), net	(4,304		)	(4,911		)	184
Gain on acquisition or disposal	—			—			3,173
Income (loss) before income tax expense (benefit)	$	22,650		$	55,768		$	44,401

Schedule of Revenue from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets, by Geographical Areas [Table Text Block]

Information relating to our operations by geographic area is as follows:

	Net Sales (1)						Long-lived Assets (2)
(Dollars in thousands)	2012		2011		2010		2012		2011
United States	$	115,035	$	109,581	$	108,330	$	64,845	$	65,432
Asia	250,682		271,132		179,456		69,830		64,181
Europe	123,040		154,423		71,255		172,671		177,196
Other	10,004		13,205		14,189		—		—
Total	$	498,761	$	548,341	$	373,230	$	307,346	$	306,809