Note 11 - Pensions

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2012

Pension and Other Postretirement Benefits Disclosure [Text Block]

11. Pensions

The components of net periodic benefit cost for the three and six and months ended June 30, 2012, compared with the three and six months ended July 2, 2011, were (in thousands):

	U.S. Pension Benefits												Foreign Plans
	Three Months Ended						Six Months Ended						Three Months Ended						Six Months Ended
	June 30, 2012			July 2, 2011			June 30, 2012			July 2, 2011			June 30, 2012			July 2, 2011			June 30, 2012			July 2, 2011
Service cost	$	150		$	155		$	300		$	280		$	191		$	153		$	383		$	306
Interest cost		1,241			1,282			2,481			2,555			196			182			391			364
Expected return on plan assets		(1,655	)		(1,631	)		(3,310	)		(3,259	)		(121	)		(121	)		(242	)		(242	)
Amortization of prior service cost		-			-			-			-			-			(1	)		-			(1	)
Amortization of net (gain) loss		84			195			169			374			17			8			34			15
Total cost (credit) of the plan		(180	)		1			(360	)		(50	)		283			221			566			442
Expected plan participants’ contribution		-			-			-			-			-			-			-			-
Net periodic benefit cost (credit)	$	(180	)	$	1		$	(360	)	$	(50	)	$	283		$	221		$	566		$	442

The expected rate of return assumption on domestic pension assets is approximately 7.8% and 8.5% in 2012 and 2011, respectively. The expected return on foreign pension assets is approximately 4.5% and 4.5% in 2012 and 2011, respectively.