CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES
Net earnings	$ 62,401	$ 21,960	$ 3,483
Adjustments to reconcile net earnings to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	14,145	13,574	14,354
Increase (decrease) to allowance for doubtful accounts	(484)	502	946
Increase to inventory reserves	4,504	7,403	6,410
Loss from sale of European distribution business	0	79	6,608
Amortization of deferred gain on sale of buildings	(1,048)	(1,048)	(1,048)
Gain on repurchase of convertible debentures	0	0	(40)
Gain on sale of investment	0	0	(2,336)
Loss (gain) on disposal of property, plant and equipment	(35)	(1,153)	25
Equity income from and gain on the sale of joint ventures	(2,826)	(97)	(274)
Employee Stock Ownership Plan allocation	2,514	1,633	341
Stock-based compensation	2,025	1,494	914
Decrease (increase) in deferred income taxes	11,971	8,541	(2,335)
Decrease in unrecognized tax benefit	(454)	(1,084)	0
Increase (decrease) in tax valuation allowance	(21,625)	(353)	2,748
Loss on discontinued operations, net of tax	1,926	2,740	2,423
Change in assets and liabilities:
Decrease in accounts receivable	9,595	19,336	40,870
Decrease (increase) in inventories	2,500	(47,952)	29,830
Decrease (increase) in prepaid expenses and other current assets	748	(702)	3,341
Decrease in accounts payable	(3,105)	(1,542)	(12,952)
Increase in sundry payables and accrued expenses	4,026	7,975	13,703
Net changes in other assets and liabilities	(11,471)	(3,228)	(4,715)
Net cash provided by operating activities	75,307	28,078	102,296
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES
Proceeds from the sale of property, plant and equipment	45	11	73
Net cash received from the sale of land and buildings	0	2,559	0
Divestiture of European distribution business	1,317	0	824
Divestiture of joint ventures	4,317	2,372	4,000
Proceeds from sale of preferred stock investment	0	0	3,896
Capital expenditures	(11,037)	(10,806)	(7,174)
Acquisitions of businesses and assets, net of cash acquired	(70,532)	(2,024)	(12,770)
Net cash used in investing activities	(75,890)	(7,888)	(11,151)
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES
Net borrowings under (repayments of) line-of-credit agreements	20,113	(5,543)	(88,467)
Issuance of common stock	0	0	27,509
Purchase of treasury stock	(4,136)	0	0
Repurchase of convertible debentures	0	0	(433)
Principal payments of long-term debt and capital lease obligations	(12,410)	(5,421)	(32,172)
Issuance of unsecured promissory notes	0	0	5,339
Increase (decrease) in overdraft balances	645	(2,920)	56
Proceeds from exercise of employee stock options	2,563	52	456
Excess tax benefits related to the exercise of employee stock grants	501	97	(49)
Adjustment to costs related to issuance of common stock	0	36	0
Payments of debt issuance costs	(329)	(1,206)	(3,716)
Dividends paid	(6,381)	(4,508)	0
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	566	(19,413)	(91,477)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash	(1,247)	740	4,342
Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents	(1,264)	1,517	4,010
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS at beginning of year	12,135	10,618	6,608
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS at end of year	10,871	12,135	10,618
Cash paid during the year for:
Interest	2,775	5,387	10,416
Income taxes	$ 12,354	$ 2,173	$ 2,245