Note 13 - Pensions

9 Months Ended

Oct. 01, 2011

Pension and Other Postretirement Benefits Disclosure [Text Block]

13. Pensions

The components of net periodic benefit cost for the three and nine months ended October 1, 2011, compared with the three and nine months ended October 2, 2010, were (in thousands):

	U.S. Pension Benefits												Foreign Plans
	Three Months Ended						Nine Months Ended						Three Months Ended						Nine Months Ended
	October 1, 2011			October 2, 2010			October 1, 2011			October 2, 2010			October 1, 2011			October 2, 2010			October 1, 2011			October 2, 2010
Service cost	$	140		$	125		$	420		$	375		$	152		$	108		$	458		$	326
Interest cost		1,277			982			3,832			2,945			181			195			545			587
Expected return on plan assets		(1,629	)		(1,255	)		(4,888	)		(3,764	)		(120	)		(3	)		(362	)		(11	)
Amortization of prior service cost		-			-			-			-			-			-			(1	)		(1	)
Amortization of net (gain) loss		187			-			561			-			8			(1	)		23			(3	)
Net periodic benefit cost	$	(25	)	$	(148	)	$	(75	)	$	(444	)	$	221		$	299		$	663		$	898

The expected rates of return on US pension assets were 8.2% and 8.5% for 2011 and 2010, respectively. The expected rates of return on foreign pension assets were 4.5% and 1.5% for 2011 and 2010, respectively.