CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
Net income	$ 10,030	$ 19,069
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	23,926	16,724
Loss (gain) on sales and/or abandonment of property and equipment	102	(1)
Write-off of patents and intangible assets	8,169	27
Acquired in-process research and development	0	2,450
Amortization of deferred credits	(97)	(140)
Amortization of long-term debt issuance costs	598	0
Realized gain on sale of marketable securities	0	(745)
Deferred income taxes	(13)	14
Excess tax benefits from stock-based compensation	(145)	(716)
Stock-based compensation expense	1,072	1,454
Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of effects from acquisitions:
Trade receivables	(3,700)	(7,521)
Employee receivables	(78)	(78)
Other receivables	(435)	(490)
Inventories	3,161	(8,884)
Prepaid expenses	(702)	(598)
Prepaid income taxes	(17)	2
Income tax refund receivable	527	259
Other assets	(923)	(869)
Trade payables	(4,078)	5,805
Accrued expenses	(149)	2,793
Advances from employees	164	408
Income taxes payable	(138)	2,670
Liabilities related to unrecognized tax benefits	(903)	(993)
Deferred compensation payable	865	838
Other long-term obligations	(3,612)	684
Total adjustments	23,594	13,093
Net cash provided by operating activities	33,624	32,162
Capital expenditures for:
Property and equipment	(48,035)	(49,264)
Patents and trademarks	(1,143)	(1,059)
Proceeds from the sale of marketable securities	0	3,248
Proceeds from the sale of property and equipment	72	9
Cash paid in acquisitions	(1,000)	(23,555)
Net cash used in investing activities	(50,106)	(70,621)
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Proceeds from issuance of common stock	1,159	3,326
Borrowings under long-term debt	110,225	127,914
Payments on long-term debt	(96,634)	(94,151)
Excess tax benefits from stock-based compensation	145	716
Proceeds from industrial assistant grants	900	324
Contingent payments related to acquisitions	(60)	(36)
Payment of taxes related to an exchange of common stock	(21)	(287)
Net cash provided by financing activities	15,714	37,806
EFFECT OF EXCHANGE RATES ON CASH	164	(10)
NET DECREASE IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS	(604)	(663)
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS:
Beginning of period	9,719	10,128
End of period	9,115	9,465
SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURES OF CASH FLOW INFORMATION-Cash paid during the period for:
Interest (net of capitalized interest of $797 and $289, respectively)	5,381	238
Income taxes	2,024	4,629
SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURES OF NON-CASH INVESTING AND FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Property and equipment purchases in accounts payable	5,340	7,429
Acquisition purchases in accrued expenses and other long-term obligations	0	5,000
Acquisition of Customer List in Exchange for Settlement of Trade Receivables	0	378
Merit common stock surrendered (45 and 103 shares, respectively) in exchange for exercise of stock options	$ 452	$ 1,032