Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Current Assets
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 242,520	$ 256,861
Accounts receivable, net	127,254	131,904
Inventories, net	167,855	149,822
Unbilled contract revenue	26,735	25,247
Prepaid expenses	9,199	7,088
Other current assets	32,194	26,707
Total Current Assets	605,757	597,629
Property, plant and equipment, net	141,952	137,301
Goodwill	289,436	288,770
Identifiable intangible assets, net	137,334	140,553
Other assets, net	9,908	10,222
TOTAL ASSETS	1,184,387	1,174,475
Current Liabilities
Short-term debt	4,761	4,758
Accounts payable	72,304	84,297
Customer advances and billings in excess of contract revenue	109,894	102,996
Accrued salaries wages, and benefits	21,284	29,108
Warranty reserve	12,197	13,181
Current portion of long-term debt	6,500	6,500
Other current liabilities	28,210	24,653
Total Current Liabilities	255,150	265,493
Long-term debt	223,837	223,224
Long-term deferred tax liability, net	45,841	43,945
Accrued pension liabilities	15,457	15,905
Other long-term liabilities	7,998	12,357
Chart Industries’ shareholders’ equity:
Common stock, par value $.01 per share – 150,000,000 shares authorized, 29,899,189 and 29,612,684 shares issued and outstanding at March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011, respectively	299	296
Additional paid-in capital	339,145	333,034
Retained earnings	288,799	274,716
Accumulated other comprehensive income	5,257	2,993
Total Chart Industries, Inc. shareholders’ equity	633,500	611,039
Noncontrolling interest	2,604	2,512
Total equity	636,104	613,551
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY	$ 1,184,387	$ 1,174,475