Other Financial Data

12 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2011

Other Financial Data [Abstract]

Other Financial Data

14. Other Financial Data

Items charged to operations during the years ended September 30, 2011, 2010 and 2009 included the following:

(Dollars in thousands)		2011		2010		2009
Salaries and wages
(including fringes)	$	187,214		160,780		153,416
Maintenance and repairs		4,530		3,440		3,807
Research and development
(R&D) costs:
Company-sponsored		33,574		32,199		31,974
Customer-sponsored		8,527		4,035		2,937
Total R&D	$	42,101		36,234		34,911
Other engineering costs		11,490		13,250		14,370
Total R&D and other
engineering costs	$	53,591		49,484		49,281
As a % of net sales		7.7	%	8.1	%	8.0	%

A reconciliation of the changes in accrued product warranty liability for the years ended September 30, 2011, 2010, and 2009 is as follows:

(Dollars in thousands)		2011		2010		2009
Balance as of October 1,	$	3,877		4,370		2,788
Additions charged to expense		3,275		1,813		4,086
Deductions		(3,318	)	(2,306	)	(2,504	)
Balance as of September 30,	$	3,834		3,877		4,370