Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Operating activities:
Net earnings	$ 49,343	$ 47,177	$ 27,790
Adjustments to reconcile net earnings to net cash provided by operations:
Depreciation	12,253	11,569	11,354
Amortization	12,963	12,577	12,961
Deferred income taxes	(3,082)	(1,524)	(5,269)
Pension termination settlement charges			19,900
Contributions to pension plan			(2,860)
Noncurrent employee benefits	206	(40)	464
Stock-based compensation expense	1,415	1,214	4,174
Changes in:
Receivables	3,036	5,451	(7,999)
Inventories	5,129	(1,220)	4,859
Payables	(391)	11,642	(9,868)
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	(3,522)	(7,732)	(5,062)
Other liabilities	12,228	1,600	9,906
Total adjustments	40,235	33,537	32,560
Net cash provided by operations	89,578	80,714	60,350
Investing activities:
Property, plant and equipment additions	(9,059)	(7,496)	(8,643)
Acquisitions, net of cash acquired	(29,134)		(8,048)
Net cash used for investing activities	(38,193)	(7,496)	(16,691)
Financing activities:
Net decrease in short-term debt	(4,600)	(13,500)	(21,012)
Payment of contingent acquisition consideration	(1,001)	(2,555)	(2,034)
Dividends paid	(20,340)	(18,595)	(16,265)
Proceeds from exercise of stock options	1,058	1,961	1,443
Purchase of common stock for treasury stock	(3,116)	(5,207)	(4,795)
Issuance of treasury stock	180	187	523
Net cash used for financing activities	(27,819)	(37,709)	(42,140)
Effect of foreign exchange rates on cash	(164)	276	403
Increase in cash	23,402	35,785	1,922
Cash and cash equivalents — beginning of year	48,871	13,086	11,164
Cash and cash equivalents — end of year	72,273	48,871	13,086
Cash paid during the year for:
Income taxes	17,995	13,066	12,503
Interest	$ 91	$ 268	1,175
Non cash transactions:
Settlement of Innovative Metering Systems payables prior to the acquisition			$ 3,246