Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Operating activities:
Net earnings	$ 25,938	$ 29,678	$ 24,617
Adjustments to reconcile net earnings to net cash provided by operations:
Depreciation	9,993	8,891	8,512
Amortization	10,606	6,773	4,982
Deferred income taxes	(3,023)	(1,334)	1,462
Noncurrent employee benefits	1,261	4,417	1,392
Stock-based compensation expense	1,541	1,449	1,388
Changes in:
Receivables	(5,511)	(997)	(3,991)
Inventories	(7,116)	(6,943)	247
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	(1,632)	(2,060)	368
Liabilities other than debt	3,774	(4,139)	(4,159)
Total adjustments	9,893	6,057	10,201
Net cash provided by operations	35,831	35,735	34,818
Investing activities:
Property, plant and equipment additions	(19,766)	(12,332)	(14,311)
Acquisitions, net of cash acquired	(1,907)	(20,829)	(15,401)
Net cash used for investing activities	(21,673)	(33,161)	(29,712)
Financing activities:
Net (decrease) increase in short-term debt	(3,960)	6,653	3,205
Dividends paid	(11,261)	(10,633)	(10,004)
Proceeds from exercise of stock options	1,641	730	1,640
Tax benefit on stock options	141	38	382
Issuance of treasury stock	470	469	498
Net cash used for financing activities	(12,969)	(2,743)	(4,279)
Effect of foreign exchange rates on cash	318	(438)	(118)
Increase (decrease) in cash	1,507	(607)	709
Cash — beginning of year	6,656	7,263	6,554
Cash — end of year	8,163	6,656	7,263
Cash paid during the year for:
Income taxes	18,167	17,218	15,292
Interest	1,246	1,144	1,114
Settlement of National Meter and Automation, Inc. payables prior to the acquisition	0	2,623	0
Settlement of United Utilities, Inc. payables prior to the acquisition	$ 2,866	$ 0	$ 0