Note 16 - Business Unit Segment Information (Detail) - Business Unit Segment Information (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended														12 Months Ended
	Dec. 29, 2012		Sep. 29, 2012		Jun. 30, 2012	Mar. 31, 2012		Dec. 31, 2011		Oct. 01, 2011		Jul. 02, 2011	Apr. 02, 2011		Dec. 29, 2012		Dec. 31, 2011		Jan. 01, 2011
Net sales
Net sales	$ 158,794	[1]	$ 172,688	[2]	$ 175,853	$ 160,578	[3]	$ 147,193	[4]	$ 173,987	[5]	$ 176,615	$ 167,160	[6]	$ 667,913		$ 664,955		$ 608,021
Depreciation and amortization
Depreciation and amortization															31,433		32,252		32,005
Operating income (loss)
Operating income	18,019	[1]	30,931	[2]	32,096	25,824	[3]	18,121	[4]	29,574	[5]	35,291	30,918	[6]	106,870		113,904		107,574
Interest expense, net															1,701		1,691		1,437
Impairment and equity in net loss of unconsolidated affiliate (2)															7,334	[7]		[7]		[7]
Other expense (income), net															(2,217)		(2,888)		(1,542)
Income before income taxes															100,052		115,101		107,679
Electronics [Member]
Net sales
Net sales															329,466		354,487		373,370
Depreciation and amortization
Depreciation and amortization															20,741		22,324		23,636
Operating income (loss)
Operating income															51,422		62,982		69,676
Automotive [Member]
Net sales
Net sales															206,222		197,586		139,096
Depreciation and amortization
Depreciation and amortization															6,822		5,992		4,918
Operating income (loss)
Operating income															29,817		30,002		17,038
Electrical [Member]
Net sales
Net sales															132,225		112,882		95,555
Depreciation and amortization
Depreciation and amortization															3,870		3,936		3,451
Operating income (loss)
Operating income															32,794		28,902		24,697
All Other Segments [Member]
Operating income (loss)
Operating income															$ (7,163)	[8]	$ (7,982)	[8]	$ (3,837)	[8]

[1] In the fourth quarter of 2012, the company recorded a $7.3 million charge related to the impairment and equity method losses of Shocking Technology. (See Note 6). The company also recorded a $5.1 million charge related to a pension settlement. (See Note 13).

[2] In the third quarter of 2012, the company recorded $0.5 million charge related to the impairment of the Dnsen, Germany property. (See Note 12). The company also recorded $0.6 million in acquisition charges related to the Accel and Terra Power acquisitions and $0.4 million of non-cash charges related to the step-up of inventory from the Accel acquisition (See Note 2).

[3] In the first quarter of 2012, the company recorded a $0.2 million non-cash charge related to the step-up of inventory from the Selco acquisition (See Note 2).

[4] In the fourth quarter of 2011, the company recorded $0.5 million of non-cash charges related to the step-up of inventory from the Selco A/S acquisition. (See Note 2). The company also recorded a $1.7 million decrease to income tax expense related to a deferred tax asset write-up due to an increase in the statutory rate in China.

[5] In the third quarter of 2011, the company recorded a $2.3 million charge related to asset impairments in Europe.

[6] In the first quarter of 2011, the company recorded $3.7 million of non-cash charges related to the step-up of inventory from the Cole Hersee acquisition. (See Note 2).

[7] During the fourth quarter of 2012, the company recorded approximatetly $7.3 million related to the impairment and equity in net loss of its investment in Shocking Technology. (See Note 6).

[8] Included in "Other" Operating income (loss) for 2012 are acquisition related fees ($1.0 million), non-cash charges for the sale of inventory that had been stepped-up to fair value at the acquisition date of Accel and Terra Power ($0.6 million), charges related to a pension liability settlement ($5.1 million) (see Note 13), and asset impairment charges related to the sale of the Dnsen, Germany facility ($0.5 million) (See Note 12). Included in "Other" Operating income (loss) for 2011 are acquisition related fees ($1.0 million), a non-cash charge for the sale of inventory that had been stepped-up to fair value at the acquisition date of Cole Hersee ($3.7 million), asset impairment charges related to closure of the company's Des Plaines, Illinois ($0.8 million), Dundalk, Ireland ($0.6 million) and Dnsen, Germany ($0.9 million) manufacturing facilities (see Note 12) and purchase accounting adjustments related to the Selco acquisition ($0.7 million). Included in "Other" Operating income (loss) for 2010 are asset impairment charges related to closure of the company's Des Plaines, Illinois ($1.3 million) and Dundalk, Ireland ($1.7 million) manufacturing facilities (see Note 12).