Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Operating activities:
Net earnings	$ 32,295	$ 25,938	$ 29,678
Adjustments to reconcile net earnings to net cash provided by operations:
Depreciation	10,715	9,993	8,891
Amortization	11,727	10,606	6,773
Deferred income taxes	710	(3,023)	(1,334)
Contributions to pension plan	(1,000)	0	0
Noncurrent employee benefits	660	1,261	4,417
Stock-based compensation expense	1,537	1,541	1,449
Changes in:
Receivables	(3,561)	(5,511)	(997)
Inventories	955	(7,116)	(6,943)
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	(961)	(1,632)	(2,060)
Liabilities other than debt	3,108	3,774	(4,139)
Total adjustments	23,890	9,893	6,057
Net cash provided by operations	56,185	35,831	35,735
Investing activities:
Property, plant and equipment additions	(10,596)	(19,766)	(12,332)
Acquisitions, net of cash acquired	(1,800)	(1,907)	(20,829)
Net cash used for investing activities	(12,396)	(21,673)	(33,161)
Financing activities:
Net (decrease) increase in short-term debt	(33,096)	(3,960)	6,653
Dividends paid	(12,461)	(11,261)	(10,633)
Proceeds from exercise of stock options	568	1,641	730
Tax benefit on stock options	0	141	38
Issuance of treasury stock	518	470	469
Net cash used for financing activities	(44,471)	(12,969)	(2,743)
Effect of foreign exchange rates on cash	(143)	318	(438)
(Decrease) Increase in cash	(825)	1,507	(607)
Cash — beginning of year	8,163	6,656	7,263
Cash — end of year	7,338	8,163	6,656
Cash paid during the year for:
Income taxes	19,723	18,167	17,218
Interest	952	1,246	1,144
Non cash transaction:
Settlement of National Meter and Automation, Inc. payables prior to the acquisition	0	0	2,623
Settlement of United Utilities, Inc. payables prior to the acquisition	$ 0	$ 2,866	$ 0