CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014	Mar. 31, 2013
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
Net income	$ 2,823	$ 671
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	8,702	7,683
Losses on sales and/or abandonment of property and equipment	91	7
Write-off of patents and intangible assets	34	2
Amortization of deferred credits	(45)	(32)
Amortization of long-term debt issuance costs	247	199
Deferred income taxes	21	2
Excess tax benefits from stock-based compensation	(168)	(53)
Stock-based compensation expense	339	459
Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of effects from acquisitions:
Trade receivables	(4,115)	(1,473)
Employee receivables	35	(18)
Other receivables	439	(586)
Inventories	(2,352)	2,149
Prepaid expenses	(651)	(1,242)
Prepaid income taxes	0	17
Income tax refund receivables	192	(782)
Other assets	(847)	(377)
Trade payables	(485)	(2,084)
Accrued expenses	2,868	(2,280)
Advances from employees	509	90
Income taxes payable	91	(34)
Deferred compensation payable	282	281
Other long-term obligations	(50)	294
Total adjustments	5,137	2,222
Net cash provided by operating activities	7,960	2,893
Capital expenditures for:
Property and equipment	(8,708)	(19,961)
Intangible assets	(433)	(394)
Proceeds from the sale of property and equipment	18	8
Cash paid in acquisitions, net of cash acquired	0	(1,000)
Net cash used in investing activities	(9,123)	(21,347)
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Proceeds from issuance of common stock	803	571
Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt	36,010	34,199
Payments on long-term debt	(30,423)	(17,512)
Proceeds from industrial assistant grants	0	750
Excess tax benefits from stock-based compensation	168	53
Contingent payments related to acquisitions	(24)	(19)
Payment of taxes related to an exchange of common stock	(220)	0
Net cash provided by financing activities	6,314	18,042
EFFECT OF EXCHANGE RATES ON CASH	(19)	(290)
NET INCREASE (DECREASE) IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS	5,132	(702)
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS:
Beginning of period	7,459	9,719
End of period	12,591	9,017
SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURES OF CASH FLOW INFORMATION
Interest (net of capitalized interest of $126 and $394, respectively)	2,644	1,493
Income taxes	782	403
SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURES OF NON-CASH INVESTING AND FINANCING ACTIVITIES
Property and equipment purchases in accounts payable	5,180	5,354
Merit common stock surrendered (108 and 0 shares, respectively) in exchange for exercise of stock options	$ 1,641	$ 0