Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Operating activities:
Net earnings	$ 47,177	$ 27,790	$ 34,571
Adjustments to reconcile net earnings to net cash provided by operations:
Depreciation	11,569	11,354	12,056
Amortization	12,577	12,961	12,342
Deferred income taxes	(1,524)	(5,269)	(4,100)
Pension termination settlement charges		19,900
Contributions to pension plan		(2,860)	(825)
Noncurrent employee benefits	(40)	464	714
Stock-based compensation expense	1,214	4,174	1,725
Changes in:
Receivables	5,451	(7,999)	(967)
Inventories	(1,220)	4,859	(6,167)
Payables	11,642	(9,868)	5,141
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	(7,732)	(5,062)	(6,237)
Other liabilities	1,600	9,906	1,498
Total adjustments	33,537	32,560	15,180
Net cash provided by operations	80,714	60,350	49,751
Investing activities:
Property, plant and equipment additions	(7,496)	(8,643)	(15,069)
Acquisitions, net of cash acquired		(8,048)	(20,376)
Net cash used for investing activities	(7,496)	(16,691)	(35,445)
Financing activities:
Net (decrease) increase in short-term debt	(13,500)	(21,012)	6,376
Payment of contingent acquisition consideration	(2,555)	(2,034)
Dividends paid	(18,595)	(16,265)	(14,215)
Proceeds from exercise of stock options	1,961	1,443	1,215
Purchase of common stock for treasury stock	(5,207)	(4,795)	(4,402)
Issuance of treasury stock	187	523	600
Net cash used for financing activities	(37,709)	(42,140)	(10,426)
Effect of foreign exchange rates on cash	276	403	(54)
Increase in cash	35,785	1,922	3,826
Cash — beginning of year	13,086	11,164	7,338
Cash — end of year	48,871	13,086	11,164
Cash paid during the year for:
Income taxes	13,066	12,503	17,912
Interest	$ 268	1,175	867
Non cash transactions:
Settlement of Innovative Metering Systems payables prior to the acquisition		$ 3,246
Settlement of Carolina Meter & Supply payables prior to the acquisition			$ 4,176