Harvard Bioscience (HBIO) 10-Q 7 May 15 2015 Q1 Quarterly report Financial data

Document_and_Entity_Informatio

Document and Entity Information	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015	1-May-15
Document And Entity Information [Abstract]
Document Type	10-Q
Document period end date	31-Mar-15
Amendment flag	FALSE
Document Period Focus	Q1
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2015
Current fiscal year end date	-19
Entity central index key	1123494
Entity current reporting status	Yes
Entity filer category	Accelerated Filer
Entity registrant name	HARVARD BIOSCIENCE INC
Entity voluntary filers	No
Entity well known seasoned issuer	No
Entity common stock shares outstanding		33,452,456
Trading Symbol	HBIO

Statements_of_Financial_Positi

Statements of Financial Position (USD $)	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Current Assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$8,031	$14,134
Accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $308 and $328, respectively	16,023	16,141
Inventories	22,092	20,531
Deferred income tax assets - current	1,855	1,515
Other receivables and other assets	4,770	4,742
Total current assets	52,771	57,063
Property, plant and equipment, net	5,581	5,190
Deferred income tax assets - non-current	10,946	11,056
Amortizable intangible assets, net	22,911	21,153
Goodwill	40,339	39,822
Other indefinite lived intangible assets	1,222	1,252
Other assets	352	380
Total Assets	134,122	135,916
Current liabilities:
Current portion, long-term debt	5,000	5,000
Accounts payable	7,180	6,294
Deferred revenue	980	655
Accrued income taxes payable	291	554
Deferred income tax liabilities - current	239	121
Accrued expenses	4,272	4,452
Other liabilities - current	1,800	1,023
Total current liabilities	19,762	18,099
Long-term debt	16,900	16,450
Deferred income tax liabilities - non-current	2,172	1,325
Other liabilities- non current	4,785	4,574
Total liabilities	43,619	40,448
Stockholders Equity Abstract
Preferred stock, par value $0.01 per share, 5,000,000 shares authorized	0	0
Common stock, par value $0.01 per share, 80,000,000 shares authorized; 41,081,052 and 40,308,763 shares issued and 33,335,545 and 32,563,256 shares outstanding, respectively	401	397
Additional paid-in-capital	207,618	206,656
Accumulated deficit	-94,085	-92,684
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	-12,763	-8,233
Treasury stock at cost, 7,745,507 common shares	-10,668	-10,668
Total stockholders' equity	90,503	95,468
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	$134,122	$135,916

Statements_of_Financial_Positi1

Statements of Financial Position (Parentheticals) (USD $)	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
Allowance for doubtful accounts	$308	$328
Preferred Stock Par value	$0.01	$0.01
Preferred Stock - Shares Authorized	5,000,000	5,000,000
Common stock par value	$10	$10
Common Stock- Shares Authorized	80,000,000	80,000,000
Common Stock- Shares Issued	41,081,052	40,308,763
Common Stock- Shares Outstanding	33,335,545	32,563,256
Treasury Stock common shares	7,745,507	7,745,507

Statements_of_Operations

Statements of Operations (USD $)	3 Months Ended
In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2015	Mar. 31, 2014
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
Revenues	$25,763	$25,893
Cost of revenues (exclusive of items shown separately below)	14,285	14,132
Gross profit	11,478	11,761
Sales and marketing expenses	5,199	4,432
General and administrative expenses	4,831	4,251
Research and development expenses	1,748	973
Restructuring charges (credits)	57	137
Amortization of intangible assets	793	634
Total Operating Expenses	12,628	10,427
Operating income	-1,150	1,334
Other (expense) income:
Foreign exchange	223	-81
Interest expense	-222	-265
Interest income	1	14
Other income (expense), net	-616	17
Other expense, net	-614	-315
Income from continuing operations before income taxes	-1,764	1,019
Total Income Tax Expense	-363	300
Net income (loss)	-1,401	719
Earnings (loss) per share:
Basic earnings per common share	($0.04)	$0.02
Diluted Earnings Per Common Share	($0.04)	$0.02
Weighted average common shares:
Basic	32,908,101	31,846,897
Diluted	32,908,101	32,924,861
Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income [Abstract]
Foreign currency translation adjustments	-4,497	215
Other Comprehensive Income Derivatives Qualifying As Hedges Net Of Tax Period Increase Decrease [Abstract]
Loss on derivative instruments designated and qualifying as cash flow hedges	-59	-24
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income to net income	26	35
Total Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, total	($5,931)	$945

Statements_of_Cash_Flows

Statements of Cash Flows (USD $)	3 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2015	Mar. 31, 2014
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income (loss)	($1,401)	$719
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Stock-based compensation expense	580	447
Depreciation	364	300
(Gain) loss on sales of fixed assets	19	-76
Non cash restructuring charge	0	-102
Amortization Of Catalog Costs	6	13
Provision for allowance for doubtful accounts	6	27
Amortization of intangible assets	793	634
Amortization of deferred financing costs	15	15
Deferrred Income Taxes	-255	35
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
(Increase) decrease in accounts receivable	115	-437
Increase in inventories	-758	48
Increase in other receivables and other assets	-149	5
Increase in trade accounts payable	790	-24
(Decrease) increase in accrued income taxes	-301	25
Increase in accrued expenses	-648	-489
(Decrease) increase in deferred revenue	355	-29
Increase (decrease) in other liabilities	-28	-39
Net cash provided by operating activities	-497	1,072
Cash flows (used in) provided by investing activities:
Additions to property, plant and equipment	-1,044	-282
Proceeds from sales of property, plant and equipment	0	113
Acquisitions, net of cash acquired	-4,545	0
Net cash used in investing activities	-5,589	-169
Cash flows provided by (used in) financing activities:
Repayments of debt	-2,850	-1,250
Net proceeds from issuance of debt	3,300	0
Net proceeds from issuance of common stock	382	319
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities	832	-931
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash	-849	94
Increase in cash and cash equivalents	-6,103	66
Cash and cash equivalents at the begining of period	14,134	25,771
Cash and cash equivalents at the end of period	8,031	25,837
Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information [Abstract]
Cash paid for interest	175	268
Cash paid for income taxes, net of refunds	$350	$433

Basis_of_Presentation_and_Summ

Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015
Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies Disclosure [Abstract]
Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies Disclosure [Text Block]	HARVARD BIOSCIENCE, INC.
	NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
	1. Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
	Basis of Presentation
	The unaudited consolidated financial statements of Harvard Bioscience, Inc. and its wholly-owned subsidiaries (collectively, “Harvard Bioscience” or the “Company”) as of March 31, 2015 and for the three months ended March 31, 2015 and 2014 have been prepared by the Company pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“U.S. GAAP”) have been condensed or omitted pursuant to such rules and regulations. The December 31, 2014 consolidated balance sheet was derived from audited financial statements, but does not include all disclosures required by U.S. GAAP. However, the Company believes that the disclosures are adequate to make the information presented not misleading. These unaudited consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and the notes thereto included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2014, which was filed with the SEC on March 12, 2015.
	In the opinion of management, all adjustments, which include normal recurring adjustments necessary to present a fair statement of financial position as of March 31, 2015, results of operations and comprehensive (loss) income for the three months ended March 31, 2015 and 2014 and cash flows for the three months ended March 31, 2015 and 2014, as applicable, have been made. The results of operations for the three months ended March 31, 2015 are not necessarily indicative of the operating results for the full fiscal year or any future periods.
	Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
	The accounting policies underlying the accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements are those set forth in Note 2 to the consolidated financial statements included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014, which was filed with the SEC on March 12, 2015.

Recently_Issued_Accounting_Pro

Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015
Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements [Abstract]
Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements Disclosure [Text Block]	2. Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements
	In May 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued Accounting Standards Update (ASU) 2014-09, “Revenue from Contracts with Customers,” a new accounting standard that provides for a comprehensive model to use in the accounting for revenue arising from contracts with customers that will replace most existing revenue recognition guidance in U.S. GAAP. Under this standard, revenue will be recognized to depict the transfer of promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the Company expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. This standard will be effective as of the beginning of the Company’s 2017 fiscal year. In April 2015 the FASB issued an exposure draft proposing a one-year delay of the effective date. Under the proposed amendments, the standard would take effect in 2018 for calendar year-end public entities. The proposal is open for comment through May 29, 2015. The Company is assessing the new standard and has not yet determined the impact to the consolidated financial statements.

Accumulated_Other_Comprehensiv

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Abstract]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income Disclosure [Text Block]	3. Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss
	Changes in each component of accumulated other comprehensive loss, net of tax are as follows:
			Foreign currency		Derivatives
			translation		qualifying as		Defined benefit
	(in thousands)		adjustments		hedges		pension plans		Total
	Balance at December 31, 2014	$	-4,658	$	-18	$	-3,557	$	-8,233
	Other comprehensive loss before reclassifications		-4,497		-59		-		-4,556
	Amounts reclassified from AOCI		-		26		-		26
	Other comprehensive loss		-4,497		-33		-		-4,530
	Balance at March 31, 2015	$	-9,155	$	-51	$	-3,557	$	-12,763

Acquisitions

Acquisitions	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015
Acquisition Disclosure [Abstract]
Acquisitions Disclosure [Text Block]	4. Acquisitions
	The Company completed one acquisition during the three months ended March 31, 2015.
	HEKA Elektronik
	On January 8, 2015, the Company, through its wholly-owned Ealing Scientific Limited and Multi Channel Systems MCS GmbH subsidiaries, acquired all of the issued and outstanding shares of HEKA Elektronik (“HEKA”) for approximately $5.9 million, or $4.5 million, net of cash acquired. Included in the acquisition of HEKA are: HEKA Electronik Dr. Schulze GmbH, based in Lambrecht, Germany; HEKA Electronics Incorporated, based in Chester, Nova Scotia, Canada; and HEKA Instruments Incorporated, based in Bellmore, New York. The Company funded the acquisition from its existing cash balances.
	HEKA is a developer, manufacturer and marketer of sophisticated electrophysiology instrumentation and software for biomedical and industrial research applications. This acquisition is complementary to the electrophysiology line currently offered by the Company’s wholly-owned Warner Instruments and MCS subsidiaries.
	The aggregate purchase price for this acquisition was preliminarily allocated to tangible and intangible assets acquired as follows:
			(in thousands)
	Tangible assets	$	4,165
	Liabilities assumed		-2,819
	Net assets		1,346
	Goodwill and intangible assets:
	Goodwill		2,061
	Trade name		774
	Customer relationships		1,627
	Developed technology		1,338
	Non-compete agreements		27
	Deferred tax liabilities		-1,245
	Total goodwill and intangible assets, net of tax		4,582
	Acquisition purchase price	$	5,928
	The estimated purchase price allocation is preliminary and subject to revision. A valuation of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed is being conducted and the final allocation will be made when completed.
	Goodwill recorded as a result of the acquisition of HEKA is not deductible for tax purposes.
	The results of operations for HEKA have been included in the Company’s consolidated financial statements from the date of acquisition and are not material.
	The following consolidated pro forma information is based on the assumption that the acquisition of HEKA occurred on January 1, 2014. Accordingly, the historical results have been adjusted to reflect amortization expense that would have been recognized on such a pro forma basis. The unaudited pro forma information is presented for comparative purposes only and is not necessarily indicative of the financial position or results of operations which would have been reported had we completed the acquisition during these periods or which might be reported in the future.
			Three Months Ended March 31,
			2015		2014
			(in thousands)
	Pro Forma
	Revenues	$	25,860	$	27,274
	Net (loss) income		-1,390		793
	The Company completed two acquisitions during 2014.
	Multi Channel Systems MCS GmbH
	On October 1, 2014, the Company, through its wholly-owned Biochrom Limited subsidiary, acquired all of the issued and outstanding shares of Multi Channel Systems MCS GmbH (“MCS”), which has its principal offices in Germany, for approximately $11.2 million, including a working capital adjustment. The Company funded the acquisition from its existing cash balances.
	MCS is a developer, manufacturer and marketer of in vitro and in vivo electrophysiology instrumentation for extracellular recording and stimulation. This acquisition is complementary to the in vitro electrophysiology line currently offered by the Company’s wholly-owned Warner Instruments subsidiary.
	The aggregate purchase price for this acquisition was preliminarily allocated to tangible and intangible assets acquired as follows:
			(in thousands)
	Tangible assets	$	5,442
	Liabilities assumed		-1,207
	Net assets		4,235
	Goodwill and intangible assets:
	Goodwill		3,745
	Trade name		1,008
	Customer relationships		1,204
	Developed technology		2,452
	Non-compete agreements		148
	Deferred tax liabilities		-1,603
	Total goodwill and intangible assets, net of tax		6,954
	Acquisition purchase price	$	11,189
	Goodwill recorded as a result of the acquisition of MCS is not deductible for tax purposes.
	The results of operations for MCS have been included in the Company’s consolidated financial statements from the date of acquisition and are not material.
	The following consolidated pro forma information is based on the assumption that the acquisition of MCS occurred on January 1, 2014. Accordingly, the historical results have been adjusted to reflect amortization expense that would have been recognized on such a pro forma basis. The unaudited pro forma information is presented for comparative purposes only and is not necessarily indicative of the financial position or results of operations which would have been reported had we completed the acquisition during these periods or which might be reported in the future.
			Three Months Ended
			March 31,
			2014
			(in thousands)
	Pro Forma
	Revenues	$	27,713
	Net income		801
	Triangle BioSystems, Inc.
	On October 1, 2014, the Company acquired all of the issued and outstanding shares of Triangle BioSystems, Inc. (“TBSI”), which has its principal offices in North Carolina, for approximately $2.2 million, including a working capital adjustment. The Company funded the acquisition from borrowings under its credit facility.
	TBSI is a developer, manufacturer and marketer of wireless neural interface equipment to aid in vivo neuroscience research, especially in the fields of electrophysiology, psychology, neurology and pharmacology. This acquisition is complementary to the behavioral neuroscience lines currently offered by the Company’s wholly-owned Panlab and Coulbourn subsidiaries.
	The aggregate purchase price for this acquisition was preliminarily allocated to tangible and intangible assets acquired as follows:
			(in thousands)
	Tangible assets	$	1,278
	Liabilities assumed		-530
Net assets		748
Goodwill and intangible assets:
Goodwill		946
Trade name		143
Customer relationships		308
Developed technology		363
Non-compete agreements		30
Deferred tax liabilities		-325
Total goodwill and intangible assets, net of tax		1,465
Acquisition purchase price	$	2,213
The results of operations for TBSI have been included in the Company’s consolidated financial statements from the date of acquisition and are not material. The Company considers this acquisition immaterial for the purposes of proforma financial statement disclosures. Goodwill recorded as a result of the acquisition of TBSI is not deductible for tax purposes.
Direct acquisition costs recorded in other expense, net in the Company’s consolidated statements of operations were $0.6 million and $0 for the three months ended March 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively.

Goodwill_and_Other_Intangible_

Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015
Goodwill And Other Intangible Assets Disclosure [Abstract]
Goodwill And Other Intangible Assets Disclosure [Text Block]	5. Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets
	Intangible assets consist of the following:
											Weighted
											Average
			31-Mar-15					31-Dec-14			Life	(a)
			(in thousands)
	Amortizable intangible assets:		Gross			Accumulated Amortization		Gross		Accumulated Amortization
	Existing technology	$	15,981		$	-10,986	$	15,538	$	-11,198	7.7	Years
	Trade names		7,628			-2,665		7,114		-2,557	9.7	Years
	Distribution agreements/customer relationships		23,643			-10,876		22,730		-10,681	10.6	Years
	Patents		245			-59		256		-49	3.9	Years
	Total amortizable intangible assets		47,497		$	-24,586		45,638	$	-24,485
	Indefinite-lived intangible assets:
	Goodwill		40,339					39,822
	Other indefinite-lived intangible assets		1,222					1,252
	Total goodwill and other indefinite-lived intangible assets		41,561					41,074
	Total intangible assets	$	89,058				$	86,712
	(a) Weighted average life as of March 31, 2015.
	The change in the carrying amount of goodwill for the three months ended March 31, 2015 is as follows:
				(in thousands)
	Balance at December 31, 2014		$	39,822
		Goodwill arising from business combinations		2,061
		Effect of change in currency translation		-1,544
	Balance at March 31, 2015		$	40,339
	Intangible asset amortization expense was $0.8 million and $0.6 million for the three months ended March 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively. Amortization expense of existing amortizable intangible assets is currently estimated to be $2.8 million for the year ending December 31, 2015, $2.7 million for the year ending December 31, 2016, $2.5 million for the year ending December 31, 2017, $2.3 million for the year ending December 31, 2018 and $2.2 million for the year ending December 31, 2019.

Inventories

Inventories	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015
Inventories Disclosure [Abstract]
Inventories Disclosure [Text Block]	6. Inventories
	Inventories consist of the following:
					March 31,		December 31,
					2015		2014
					(in thousands)
		Finished goods		$	10,269	$	10,138
		Work in process			1,355		946
		Raw materials			10,468		9,447
			Total	$	22,092	$	20,531

Property_Plant_and_Equipment

Property, Plant and Equipment	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015
Property, Plant and Equipment Disclosure [Abstract]
Property, Plant and Equipment Disclosure [Text Block]	7. Property, Plant and Equipment
	Property, plant and equipment consist of the following:
			March 31,		December 31,
			2015		2014
			(in thousands)
	Land, buildings and leasehold improvements	$	2,626	$	2,595
	Machinery and equipment		9,747		10,102
	Computer equipment and software		6,753		6,322
	Furniture and fixtures		1,304		1,125
	Automobiles		128		56
			20,558		20,200
	Less: accumulated depreciation		-14,977		-15,010
	Property, plant and equipment, net	$	5,581	$	5,190

Restructuring_and_Other_Exit_C

Restructuring and Other Exit Costs	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015
Restructuring and Related Activities [Abstract]
Restructuring And Other Exit Costs Disclosure [Text Block]	8. Restructuring and Other Exit Costs
	2015 Restructuring Plan
	During the first quarter of 2015, management of Harvard Bioscience initiated a plan to relocate certain manufacturing operations in order to create organizational efficiencies and reduce operating expenses. The 2015 restructuring plan included plans to consolidate the manufacturing operations of its Coulbourn subsidiary to its headquarters in Holliston, MA. The Company recorded restructuring charges of approximately $27,000 representing severance costs. Additional charges related to this plan are expected to be incurred through the third quarter of 2015, and include, but are not limited to, contract termination costs, as well as moving and employee relocation costs. Payments related to this plan are expected to be made through the end of 2015. Activity and liability balances related to these charges were as follows:
			Severance Costs
			(in thousands)
	Restructuring charges	$	27
	Cash payments		-
	Restructuring balance at March 31, 2015	$	27
	2014 Restructuring Plan
	During the fourth quarter of 2014, management of Harvard Bioscience initiated a plan to relocate certain distribution and manufacturing operations in order to create organizational efficiencies and reduce operating expenses. The 2014 restructuring plan included plans to relocate the distribution operations of the Company’s Denville subsidiary from New Jersey to North Carolina, as well as consolidating the manufacturing operations of its Biochrom subsidiary to its headquarters in Holliston, MA. During the three months ended March 31, 2015, the Company recorded restructuring charges of approximately $30,000. Additional charges related to this plan are expected to be incurred through the third quarter of 2015, and include, but are not limited to, contract termination costs, as well as moving and employee relocation costs. Payments related to this plan are expected to be made through the end of 2015. Activity and liability balances related to these charges were as follows:
			Severance Costs		Other		Total
			(in thousands)
	Restructuring balance at December 31, 2014	$	626	$	-	$	626
	Restructuring charges		-		30		30
	Cash payments		-		-30		-30
	Effect of change in currency translation		-21		-		-21
	Restructuring balance at March 31, 2015	$	605	$	-	$	605
	2013 Restructuring Plan
	During the fourth quarter of 2013, the management of Harvard Bioscience initiated a plan to realign global operations to improve organizational efficiencies and reduce operating expenses throughout the Company. The plan included an approximately 13% reduction in the workforce, as well as the elimination of the position of Chief Operating Officer. No further charges are expected to be incurred on this matter. At December 31, 2014 and March 31, 2015, the Company had no remaining liability related to this plan on its balance sheet. Activity and liability balances related to these charges in 2014 were as follows:
			Severance and
			Related Costs			Other			Total
			(in thousands)
	Restructuring balance at December 31, 2013	$	1,434		$	-		$	1,434
	Restructuring charges		161			78			239
	Non-cash reversal of restructuring charges		-99			-			-99
	Cash payments		-777			-			-777
	Restructuring balance at March 31, 2014	$	719		$	78		$	797
	2012 Restructuring Plan
	During 2012, the management of Harvard Bioscience initiated a plan to reduce operating expenses at one of its foreign subsidiaries. No further charges are expected to be incurred on this matter. As of March 31, 2015, the Company had no remaining liability related to this plan on its balance sheet. Activity and liability balances related to these charges were as follows:
			Severance
			and Related Costs
			(in thousands)
	Restructuring balance at December 31, 2013	$	3
	Non-cash reversal of restructuring charges		-3
	Restructuring balance at March 31, 2014	$	-
	Aggregate net restructuring charges for the three months ended March 31, 2015 and 2014 were as follows:
			Three Months Ended
			March 31,
			2015			2014
			(in thousands)
	Restructuring charges	$	57		$	137

Related_Party_Transactions

Related Party Transactions	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015
Related Party Transactions [Abstract]
Related Party Transactions Disclosure [Text Block]	9. Related Party Transactions
	On November 1, 2013, the spin-off of Harvard Apparatus Regenerative Technology, Inc. (“HART”) from the Company was completed. Through the spin-off date, the historical operations of HART were reported as continuing operations in the consolidated statements of operations of the Company. Following the spin-off, the historical operations of HART were reclassified and reported as discontinued operations. As a result of the spin-off and related separation, HART became an independent company that operates the regenerative medicine business previously owned by Harvard Bioscience. The spin-off was completed through the distribution to Harvard Bioscience’s stockholders of record all of the shares of common stock of HART (the “Distribution”).  In the Distribution, the Company distributed to its stockholders one share of HART common stock for every four shares of Harvard Bioscience common stock outstanding as of the close of business on October 21, 2013, the record date for the Distribution. Fractional shares of HART common stock were not included in the distribution. Instead, Registrar & Transfer Company aggregated fractional shares into whole shares, sold the whole shares in the open market and distributed the aggregate net cash proceeds of the sales pro rata to each holder who otherwise would have been entitled to receive a fractional share in the Distribution.
	In connection with the HART spin-off, the Company entered into various commercial agreements with HART.  These agreements include: (i) a Separation and Distribution Agreement to effect the separation and spin-off distribution and provide other agreements to govern the Company’s relationship with HART after the spin-off; (ii) an Intellectual Property Matters Agreement, which governs various intellectual property related arrangements between the Company and HART, including the separation of intellectual property rights between the Company and HART, as well as certain related cross-licenses between the two companies; (iii) a Product Distribution Agreement, which provides that each company will become the exclusive distributor for the other party for products such other party develops for sale in the markets served by the other; (iv) a Tax Sharing Agreement, which governs the Company’s and HART’s respective rights, responsibilities and obligations with respect to tax liabilities and benefits, tax attributes, the preparation and filing of tax returns, the control of audits and other tax proceedings and other matters regarding taxes for periods before, during and after the spin-off; (v) a Transition Services Agreement, which provides for certain services to be performed on a transitional basis by the Company to facilitate HART’s transition into a separate public reporting company. As part of the Transition Services Agreement, the Company provided certain support services to HART, for up to one year following the spin-off date, including, among others, accounting, payroll, human resources and information technology services, with the charges for the transition services generally intended to allow the Company to fully recover the costs directly associated with providing the services, plus all out-of-pocket costs and expenses; and (vi) a Sublease pursuant to which the Company has subleased certain premises in Holliston, MA to HART. The Transition Services Agreement expired on November 1, 2014.
	The Company recorded revenues of approximately $48,000 and $0.1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively, as a result of the exclusive distribution rights pursuant to the Product Distribution Agreement. The Company’s operating expenses were reduced by $0.1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2014 as a result of the fees the Company charged to HART for services provided pursuant to the Transition Services Agreement. In addition, the Company’s rent expense was reduced by $42,000 and $40,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively, as a result of sublease rent charged to HART pursuant to a sublease between the two companies.
	David Green, who is currently a Director of the Company and was also formerly the Company’s President and interim CEO, was the Chairman and CEO of HART until his resignation on April 17, 2015. Mr. Green remains a member of HART’s Board of Directors.
	As part of the acquisitions of MCS, TBSI, and HEKA, the Company signed lease agreements with the former owners of the acquired companies. The principals of such former owners were employees of the Company as of March 31, 2015. Pursuant to the lease agreements, the Company incurred rent expense of approximately $55,000, $11,000 and $39,000 to the former owners of MCS, TBSI, and HEKA, respectively, for the three months ended March 31, 2015.

Warranties

Warranties	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015
Warranties Disclosure [Abstract]
Warranties Disclosure [Text Block]	10. Warranties
	Warranties are estimated and accrued at the time revenues are recorded. A rollforward of the Company’s product warranty accrual is as follows:
			Beginning		Additions/			Ending
			Balance	Payments	(Credits)	Other		Balance
			(in thousands)
	Year ended December 31, 2014	$	305	-102	49	-	$	252
	Three months ended March 31, 2015	$	252	-2	-71	-19	$	160

Employee_Benefit_Plans

Employee Benefit Plans	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015
Employee Benefit Plans Disclosure [Abstract]
Employee Benefit Plans Disclosure [Text Block]	11. Employee Benefit Plans
	Certain of the Company’s subsidiaries in the United Kingdom, or UK, Harvard Apparatus Limited and Biochrom Limited, maintain contributory, defined benefit or defined contribution pension plans for substantially all of their employees. As of March 31, 2015, the principal employer of the Harvard Apparatus Limited pension plan was changed from Harvard Apparatus Limited to Biochrom Limited. As of March 31, 2015, these defined benefit pension plans were closed to new employees, as well as closed to the future accrual of benefits for existing employees. The components of the Company’s defined benefit pension expense were as follows:
			Three Months Ended
			March 31,
			2015		2014
			(in thousands)
	Components of net periodic benefit cost:
	Service cost	$	-	$	8
	Interest cost		177		221
	Expected return on plan assets		-166		-163
	Net amortization loss		75		45
	Net periodic benefit cost	$	86	$	111
	For the three months ended March 31, 2015 and 2014, the Company contributed $0.2 million for both periods to its defined benefit pension plans. The Company expects to contribute approximately $0.6 million to its defined benefit pension plans during the remainder of 2015.
	As of March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014, the Company had an underfunded pension liability of approximately $4.3 million and $4.4 million, respectively, included in the other liabilities – non-current line item in the consolidated balance sheets.

Leases

Leases	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015
Leases Disclosure [Abstract]
Leases Disclosure [Text Block]	12. Leases
	The Company has noncancelable operating leases for office and warehouse space expiring at various dates through 2020 and thereafter. Rent expense, which is recorded on a straight-line basis, is estimated to be $2.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2015. Rent expense was approximately $0.6 million and $0.4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively.
	Future minimum lease payments for operating leases, with initial or remaining terms in excess of one year at March 31, 2015, are as follows:
			Operating
			Leases
			(in thousands)
	2016	$	1,708
	2017		1,531
	2018		1,489
	2019		1,302
	2020		1,304
	Thereafter		4,632
	Net minimum lease payments	$	11,966

Capital_Stock

Capital Stock	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015
Capital Stock Disclosure [Abstract]
Capital Stock Disclosure [Text Block]	13. Capital Stock
	Common Stock
	On February 5, 2008, the Company’s Board of Directors adopted a Shareholder Rights Plan and declared a dividend distribution of one preferred stock purchase right for each outstanding share of the Company’s common stock to shareholders of record as of the close of business on February 6, 2008. Initially, these rights will not be exercisable and will trade with the shares of the Company’s common stock. Under the Shareholder Rights Plan, the rights generally will become exercisable if a person becomes an “acquiring person” by acquiring 20% or more of the common stock of the Company or if a person commences a tender offer that could result in that person owning 20% or more of the common stock of the Company. If a person becomes an acquiring person, each holder of a right (other than the acquiring person) would be entitled to purchase, at the then-current exercise price, such number of shares of preferred stock which are equivalent to shares of the Company’s common stock having a value of twice the exercise price of the right. If the Company is acquired in a merger or other business combination transaction after any such event, each holder of a right would then be entitled to purchase, at the then-current exercise price, shares of the acquiring company’s common stock having a value of twice the exercise price of the right.
	Preferred Stock
	The Company’s Board of Directors has the authority to issue up to 5.0 million shares of preferred stock and to determine the price privileges and other terms of the shares. The Board of Directors may exercise this authority without any further approval of stockholders. As of March 31, 2015, the Company had no preferred stock issued or outstanding.
	Employee Stock Purchase Plan (as amended, the “ESPP”)
	In 2000, the Company approved the ESPP. Under this ESPP, participating employees can authorize the Company to withhold a portion of their base pay during consecutive six-month payment periods for the purchase of shares of the Company’s common stock. At the conclusion of the period, participating employees can purchase shares of the Company’s common stock at 85% of the lower of the fair market value of the Company’s common stock at the beginning or end of the period. Shares are issued under the ESPP for the six-month periods ending June 30 and December 31. Under this plan, 750,000 shares of common stock are authorized for issuance of which 585,188 shares were issued as of March 31, 2015. During the three months ended March 31, 2015 and 2014, no shares of the Company’s common stock were issued under the ESPP.
	Stock-Based Payment Awards
	The Company accounts for stock-based payment awards in accordance with the provisions of FASB ASC 718, which requires it to recognize compensation expense for all stock-based payment awards made to employees and directors including stock options, restricted stock units and employee stock purchases related to the ESPP.
	Stock option and restricted stock unit activity under the Company’s Third Amended and Restated 2000 Stock Option and Incentive Plan (as amended, the “2000 Plan”) for three months ended March 31, 2015 was as follows:
				Stock Options				Restricted Stock Units
							Weighted
				Stock			Average	Restricted
				Options			Exercise	Stock Units		Grant Date
				Outstanding			Price	Outstanding		Fair Value
	Balance at December 31, 2014			6,263,112		$	3.42	306,397	$	4.3
		Granted		499,500			5.51	-		-
		Exercised		-1,305,193			2.95	-		-
		Vested (RSUs)		-			-	-88,648		-
		Cancelled / forfeited		-125,598			3.65	-		-
	Balance at March 31, 2015			5,331,821		$	3.73	217,749	$	4.14
	The weighted average fair value of the options granted under the 2000 Plan during the three months ended March 31, 2015 and 2014 was $2.30 and $1.69, respectively. The following assumptions were used to estimate the fair value of stock options granted during the three months ended March 31, 2015 and 2014:
		Three Months Ended
		March 31,
		2015			2014
	Volatility	42.34	%		44.21	%
	Risk-free interest rate	1.74	%		1.22	%
	Expected holding period (in years)	5.7	years		4.19	years
	Dividend yield	-	%		-	%
	The Company used historical volatility to calculate the expected volatility as of March 31, 2015 and 2014. Historical volatility was determined by calculating the mean reversion of the daily adjusted closing stock price. The risk-free interest rate assumption is based upon observed U.S. Treasury bill interest rates (risk-free) appropriate for the term of the Company’s stock options. The expected holding period of stock options represents the period of time options are expected to be outstanding and is based on historical experience. The vesting period ranges from one to four years and the contractual life is ten years.
	Stock-based compensation expense related to stock options, restricted stock units and the ESPP for the three months ended March 31, 2015 and 2014 was allocated as follows:
			Three Months Ended
			March 31,
			2015			2014
			(in thousands)
	Cost of revenues	$	21		$	28
	Sales and marketing		87			70
	General and administrative		449			341
	Research and development		23			8
	Total stock-based compensation	$	580		$	447
	The Company did not capitalize any stock-based compensation.
	Earnings per share
	Basic earnings per share is based upon net income divided by the number of weighted average common shares outstanding during the period. The calculation of diluted earnings per share assumes conversion of stock options and restricted stock units into common stock using the treasury method. The weighted average number of shares used to compute basic and diluted earnings per share consists of the following:
			Three Months Ended
			March 31,
			2015		2014
	Basic		32,908,101		31,846,897
	Effect of assumed conversion of employee and director stock options and restricted stock units		-		1,077,964
	Diluted		32,908,101		32,924,861
	Excluded from the shares used in calculating the diluted earnings per common share in the above table are options to purchase approximately 5,331,821 and 2,680,723 shares of common stock for the three months ended March 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively, as the impact of these shares would be anti-dilutive.

Long_Term_Debt

Long Term Debt	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015
Long Term Debt Disclosure [Abstract]
Long Term Debt Disclosure [Text Block]	14. Long Term Debt
	On August 7, 2009, the Company entered into an amended and restated $20.0 million revolving credit loan agreement with Bank of America, as agent, and Bank of America and Brown Brothers Harriman & Co as lenders (as amended, the “2009 Credit Agreement”). On September 30, 2011, the Company entered into the First Amendment to the Amended and Restated Revolving Credit Loan Agreement (the “First Amendment”) with Bank of America as agent, and Bank of America and Brown Brothers Harriman & Co as lenders. The First Amendment extended the maturity date of the credit facility to August 7, 2013 and reduced the interest rate to the London Interbank Offered Rate plus 3.0%. On October 4, 2012, the Company entered into the Second Amendment to the Amended and Restated Revolving Credit Loan Agreement (the “Second Amendment”) with Bank of America as agent, and Bank of America and Brown Brothers Harriman & Co as lenders. The Second Amendment extended the maturity date of the credit facility to August 7, 2014.
	On March 29, 2013, the Company entered into a Second Amended and Restated Revolving Credit Agreement (as amended, the “Credit Agreement”) with Bank of America, as agent, and Bank of America and Brown Brothers Harriman & Co as lenders, that amended and restated the 2009 Credit Agreement. The Credit Agreement converted the Company’s existing outstanding revolving advances into a term loan in the principal amount of $15.0 million (the “Term Loan”), provides a revolving credit facility in the maximum principal amount of $25.0 million (“Revolving Line”) and provides a delayed draw term loan of up to $15.0 million (the “DDTL”) to fund capital contributions to the Company’s former subsidiary, HART. The maximum amount available under the Credit Agreement is $50.0 million as borrowings against the DDTL in excess of $10.0 million results in a dollar for dollar reduction in the Revolving Line capacity. The Revolving Line, Term Loan and DDTL each have a maturity date of March 29, 2018 (the maturity date of the Revolving Line was extended from March 29, 2016 in connection with an amendment to the Credit Agreement discussed in Note 18 below).
	On October 31, 2013, the Company amended the Credit Agreement to reduce the DDTL from up to $15.0 million to up to $10.0 million and allow for an additional $5.0 million to be available for drawing as advances under the Revolving Line.
	Prior to the amendment to the Credit Agreement discussed in Note 18, borrowings under the Term Loan and the DDTL accrued interest at a rate based on either the effective London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) for certain interest periods selected by the Company, or a daily floating rate based on the British Bankers’ Association (BBA) LIBOR as published by Reuters (or other commercially available source providing quotations of BBA LIBOR), plus in either case, a margin of 3.0%. Additionally, prior to the amendment as discussed in Note 18, the Revolving Line accrued interest at a rate based on either the effective LIBOR for certain interest periods selected by the Company, or a daily floating rate based on the BBA LIBOR, plus in either case, a margin of 2.5%. The Company was required to fix the rate of interest on at least 50% of the Term Loan and the DDTL through the purchase of interest rate swaps. The Term Loan and DDTL each have interest payments due at the end of the applicable LIBOR period, or monthly with respect to BBA LIBOR borrowings, and principal payments due quarterly. The Revolving Line has interest payments due at the end of the applicable LIBOR period, or monthly with respect to BBA LIBOR borrowings.
	The loans evidenced by the Credit Agreement, or the Loans, are guaranteed by all of the Company’s direct and indirect domestic subsidiaries, and secured by substantially all of the assets of the Company and the guarantors. The Loans are subject to restrictive covenants under the Credit Agreement, and financial covenants that require the Company and its subsidiaries to maintain certain financial ratios on a consolidated basis, including a maximum leverage, minimum fixed charge coverage and minimum working capital. Prepayment of the Loans is allowed by the Credit Agreement at any time during the terms of the Loans. The Loans also contain limitations on the Company’s ability to incur additional indebtedness and requires lender approval for acquisitions funded with cash, promissory notes and/or other consideration in excess of $6.0 million and for acquisitions funded solely with equity in excess of $10.0 million.
	As of March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014, the Company had borrowings of $21.9 million and $21.5 million, respectively, outstanding under its Credit Agreement. As of March 31, 2015, the Company was in compliance with all financial covenants contained in the Credit Agreement, was subject to covenant and working capital borrowing restrictions and had available borrowing capacity under its Credit Agreement of $6.2 million.
	As of March 31, 2015, the weighted effective interest rates on the Company’s Term Loan, DDTL and Revolving Line borrowings were 3.96%, 3.55% and 2.68%, respectively.
	As of March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014, the Company’s borrowings were comprised of:
			March 31,		December 31,
			2015		2014
			(in thousands)
	Long-term debt:
	Term loan	$	9,000	$	9,750
	DDTL		7,000		7,500
	Revolving line		5,900		4,200
	Total debt		21,900		21,450
	Less: current installments		-5,000		-5,000
	Long-term debt	$	16,900	$	16,450

Derivatives

Derivatives	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015
Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities Disclosure [Abstract]
Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities Disclosure [Text Block]	15. Derivatives
	The Company uses interest-rate-related derivative instruments to manage its exposure related to changes in interest rates on its variable-rate debt instruments. The Company does not enter into derivative instruments for any purpose other than cash flow hedging. The Company does not speculate using derivative instruments.
	By using derivative financial instruments to hedge exposures to changes in interest rates, the Company exposes itself to credit risk and market risk. Credit risk is the failure of the counterparty to perform under the terms of the derivative contract. When the fair value of a derivative contract is positive, the counterparty owes the Company, which creates credit risk for the Company. When the fair value of a derivative contract is negative, the Company owes the counterparty and, therefore, the Company is not exposed to the counterparty’s credit risk in those circumstances. The Company minimizes counterparty credit risk in derivative instruments by entering into transactions with carefully selected major financial institutions based upon their credit profile.
	Market risk is the adverse effect on the value of a derivative instrument that results from a change in interest rates. The market risk associated with interest-rate contracts is managed by establishing and monitoring parameters that limit the types and degree of market risk that may be undertaken.
	The Company assesses interest rate risk by continually identifying and monitoring changes in interest rate exposures that may adversely impact expected future cash flows and by evaluating hedging opportunities. The Company maintains risk management control systems to monitor interest rate risk attributable to both the Company’s outstanding or forecasted debt obligations as well as the Company’s offsetting hedge positions. The risk management control systems involve the use of analytical techniques, including cash flow sensitivity analysis, to estimate the expected impact of changes in interest rates on the Company’s future cash flows.
	The Company uses variable-rate London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) debt to finance its operations. The debt obligations expose the Company to variability in interest payments due to changes in interest rates. Management believes that it is prudent to limit the variability of a portion of its interest payments. To meet this objective, management enters into LIBOR based interest rate swap agreements to manage fluctuations in cash flows resulting from changes in the benchmark interest rate of LIBOR. These swaps change the variable-rate cash flow exposure on the debt obligations to fixed cash flows. Under the terms of the interest rate swaps, the Company receives LIBOR based variable interest rate payments and makes fixed interest rate payments, thereby creating the equivalent of fixed-rate debt for the notional amount of its debt hedged. In accordance with its Credit Agreement, the Company was required to fix the rate of interest on at least 50% of its Term Loan and the DDTL through the purchase of interest rate swaps. On June 5, 2013, the Company entered into an interest rate swap contract with an original notional amount of $15.0 million and a maturity date of March 29, 2018 in order to hedge the risk of changes in the effective benchmark interest rate (LIBOR) associated with the Company’s Term Loan. On November 29, 2013, the Company entered into a second interest rate swap contract with an original notional amount of $5.0 million and a maturity date of March 29, 2018 in order to hedge the risk of changes in the effective benchmark interest rate (LIBOR) associated with the DDTL. The notional amount of the Company’s derivative instruments as of March 31, 2015 was $12.5 million. The Term Loan swap contract converted specific variable-rate debt into fixed-rate debt and fixed the LIBOR rate associated with the Term Loan at 0.96% plus a bank margin of 3.0%. The DDTL swap contract converted specific variable-rate debt into fixed-rate debt and fixed the LIBOR rate associated with the Term Loan at 0.93% plus a bank margin of 3.0%.The interest rate swaps were designated as cash flow hedges in accordance with ASC 815, Derivatives and Hedging.
	The following table presents the notional amount and fair value of the Company’s derivative instruments as of March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014.
						31-Mar-15		31-Mar-15
						Notional Amount		Fair Value (a)
	Derivatives designated as hedging instruments under ASC 815			Balance sheet classification		(in thousands)
	Interest rate swap			Other liabilities-non current	$	12,500	$	-51
						31-Dec-14		31-Dec-14
						Notional Amount		Fair Value (a)
	Derivatives designated as hedging instruments under ASC 815			Balance sheet classification		(in thousands)
	Interest rate swap			Other liabilities-non current	$	13,500	$	-18
		(a) See Note 16 for the fair value measurements related to these financial instruments.
	All of the Company’s derivative instruments are designated as hedging instruments.
	The Company has structured its interest rate swap agreements to be 100% effective and as a result, there was no impact to earnings resulting from hedge ineffectiveness. Changes in the fair value of interest rate swaps designated as hedging instruments that effectively offset the variability of cash flows associated with variable-rate, long-term debt obligations are reported in accumulated other comprehensive income (“AOCI”). These amounts subsequently are reclassified into interest expense as a yield adjustment of the hedged interest payments in the same period in which the related interest affects earnings. The Company’s interest rate swap agreement was deemed to be fully effective in accordance with ASC 815, and, as such, unrealized gains and losses related to these derivatives were recorded as AOCI.
	The following table summarizes the effect of derivatives designated as cash flow hedging instruments and their classification within comprehensive income for the three months ended March 31, 2015 and 2014:
	Derivatives in Hedging Relationships	Amount of gain or (loss) recognized in OCI on derivative (effective portion)
		Three Months Ended March 31,
		2015			2014
		(in thousands)
	Interest rate swaps	$	-59		$	-24
	The following table summarizes the reclassifications out of accumulated other comprehensive (loss) income for the three months ended March 31, 2015 and 2014:
	Details about AOCI Components	Amount reclassified from AOCI into income (effective portion)					Location of amount
		Three Months Ended March 31,					reclassified from AOCI
		2015			2014		into income (effective portion)
		(in thousands)
	Interest rate swaps	$	26		$	35	Interest expense
	As of March 31, 2015, $0.1 million of deferred losses on derivative instruments accumulated in AOCI are expected to be reclassified to earnings during the next twelve months. Transactions and events expected to occur over the next twelve months that will necessitate reclassifying these derivatives’ losses to earnings include the repricing of variable-rate debt. There were no cash flow hedges discontinued during 2015 or 2014.

Fair_Value_Measurements

Fair Value Measurements	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015
Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]
Fair Value Disclosures [Text Block]	16. Fair Value Measurements
	Fair value measurement is defined as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in the principal or most advantageous market for the asset or liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. A fair value hierarchy is established, which prioritizes the inputs used in measuring fair value into three broad levels as follows:
	Level 1—Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities.
	Level 2—Inputs, other than the quoted prices in active markets, that are observable either directly or indirectly.
	Level 3—Unobservable inputs based on the Company’s own assumptions.
	The following tables present the fair value hierarchy for those liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis:
		Fair Value as of March 31, 2015
	(In thousands)		Level 1		Level 2		Level 3		Total
	Liabilities:
	Interest rate swap agreements	$	-	$	51	$	-	$	51
		Fair Value as of December 31, 2014
	(In thousands)		Level 1		Level 2		Level 3		Total
	Liabilities:
	Interest rate swap agreements	$	-	$	18	$	-	$	18
	The Company uses the market approach technique to value its financial liabilities. The Company’s financial liabilities carried at fair value include derivative instruments used to hedge the Company’s interest rate risks. The fair value of the Company’s interest rate swap agreements was based on LIBOR yield curves at the reporting date.

Income_Taxes

Income Taxes	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015
Income Tax [Abstract]
Income Taxes Disclosure [Text Block]	17. Income Tax
	Income tax was approximately $0.4 million benefit and $0.3 million expense for the three months ended March 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively. The effective income tax rate was a benefit of 20.6% for the three months ended March 31, 2015, compared with expense of 29.4% for the same period in 2014. The difference between our effective tax rate quarter over quarter was primarily attributable to increased research and development tax credits and incentive stock option exercises partially offset by acquisition costs in 2015 versus 2014.

Subsequent_Events

Subsequent Events	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015
Subsequent Events [Abstract]
Subsequent Events [Text Block]	18. Subsequent Events
	Debt Amendment
	On April 24, 2015, the Company entered into the Third Amendment to the Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement (the “Third Amendment”) with Bank of America as agent, and Bank of America and Brown Brothers Harriman & Co as lenders. The Third Amendment extended the maturity date of the Revolving Line to March 29, 2018 and reduced the interest rate to the London Interbank Offered Rate plus 2.25%, 2.75% and 2.75% on the Revolving Line, Term Loan and DDTL, respectively.
	Director Retirement
	On April 28, 2015, the Company announced the appointment of James Green to its Board of Directors and the retirement of Robert Dishman from our Board of Directors. As part of Dr. Dishman’s retirement, the Company (i) awarded an unrestricted stock award to Dr. Dishman on April 28, 2015, having an aggregate cash value of $80,000, (ii) accelerated the vesting of all outstanding stock options and restricted stock units that were unvested as of April 28, 2015, and (iii) extended the post-retirement option exercise period for each option to the earlier to occur of the respective scheduled expiration date or April 28, 2016. Total compensation expense to be recognized in the second quarter of 2015, as part of these modifications, is approximately $0.1 million.

Summary_of_Significant_Account

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015
Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements [Abstract]
Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements Disclosure [Text Block]	2. Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements
	In May 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued Accounting Standards Update (ASU) 2014-09, “Revenue from Contracts with Customers,” a new accounting standard that provides for a comprehensive model to use in the accounting for revenue arising from contracts with customers that will replace most existing revenue recognition guidance in U.S. GAAP. Under this standard, revenue will be recognized to depict the transfer of promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the Company expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. This standard will be effective as of the beginning of the Company’s 2017 fiscal year. In April 2015 the FASB issued an exposure draft proposing a one-year delay of the effective date. Under the proposed amendments, the standard would take effect in 2018 for calendar year-end public entities. The proposal is open for comment through May 29, 2015. The Company is assessing the new standard and has not yet determined the impact to the consolidated financial statements.

Accumulated_Other_Comprehensiv1

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Abstract]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Table Text Block]			Foreign currency		Derivatives
			translation		qualifying as		Defined benefit
	(in thousands)		adjustments		hedges		pension plans		Total
	Balance at December 31, 2014	$	-4,658	$	-18	$	-3,557	$	-8,233
	Other comprehensive loss before reclassifications		-4,497		-59		-		-4,556
	Amounts reclassified from AOCI		-		26		-		26
	Other comprehensive loss		-4,497		-33		-		-4,530
	Balance at March 31, 2015	$	-9,155	$	-51	$	-3,557	$	-12,763
Reclassification out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Table Text Block]	Details about AOCI Components	Amount reclassified from AOCI into income (effective portion)						Location of amount
		Three Months Ended March 31,						reclassified from AOCI
		2015			2014			into income (effective portion)
		(in thousands)
	Interest rate swaps	$	26		$	35		Interest expense

Acquisitions_Tables

Acquisitions (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015
Acquisition Disclosure [Abstract]
Schedule of Business Acquisitions [Table Text Block]			(in thousands)
	Tangible assets	$	4,165
	Liabilities assumed		-2,819
	Net assets		1,346
	Goodwill and intangible assets:
	Goodwill		2,061
	Trade name		774
	Customer relationships		1,627
	Developed technology		1,338
	Non-compete agreements		27
	Deferred tax liabilities		-1,245
	Total goodwill and intangible assets, net of tax		4,582
	Acquisition purchase price	$	5,928
			Three Months Ended March 31,
			2015		2014
			(in thousands)
	Pro Forma
	Revenues	$	25,860	$	27,274
	Net (loss) income		-1,390		793
			(in thousands)
	Tangible assets	$	5,442
	Liabilities assumed		-1,207
	Net assets		4,235
	Goodwill and intangible assets:
	Goodwill		3,745
	Trade name		1,008
	Customer relationships		1,204
	Developed technology		2,452
	Non-compete agreements		148
	Deferred tax liabilities		-1,603
	Total goodwill and intangible assets, net of tax		6,954
	Acquisition purchase price	$	11,189
			Three Months Ended
			March 31,
			2014
			(in thousands)
	Pro Forma
	Revenues	$	27,713
	Net income		801
			(in thousands)
	Tangible assets	$	1,278
	Liabilities assumed		-530
	Net assets		748
	Goodwill and intangible assets:
	Goodwill		946
	Trade name		143
	Customer relationships		308
	Developed technology		363
	Non-compete agreements		30
	Deferred tax liabilities		-325
	Total goodwill and intangible assets, net of tax		1,465
	Acquisition purchase price	$	2,213

Goodwill_and_Other_Intangible_1

Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015
Goodwill And Other Intangible Assets Disclosure [Abstract]
Schedule of Intangible Assets and Goodwill [Table Text Block]											Weighted
											Average
			31-Mar-15					31-Dec-14			Life	(a)
			(in thousands)
	Amortizable intangible assets:		Gross			Accumulated Amortization		Gross		Accumulated Amortization
	Existing technology	$	15,981		$	-10,986	$	15,538	$	-11,198	7.7	Years
	Trade names		7,628			-2,665		7,114		-2,557	9.7	Years
	Distribution agreements/customer relationships		23,643			-10,876		22,730		-10,681	10.6	Years
	Patents		245			-59		256		-49	3.9	Years
	Total amortizable intangible assets		47,497		$	-24,586		45,638	$	-24,485
	Indefinite-lived intangible assets:
	Goodwill		40,339					39,822
	Other indefinite-lived intangible assets		1,222					1,252
	Total goodwill and other indefinite-lived intangible assets		41,561					41,074
	Total intangible assets	$	89,058				$	86,712
	(a) Weighted average life as of March 31, 2015.
Goodwill Rollforward [Table Text Block]				(in thousands)
	Balance at December 31, 2014		$	39,822
		Goodwill arising from business combinations		2,061
		Effect of change in currency translation		-1,544
	Balance at March 31, 2015		$	40,339

Inventories_Tables

Inventories (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015
Inventories Disclosure [Abstract]
Schedule of Inventory [Table Text Block]					March 31,		December 31,
					2015		2014
					(in thousands)
		Finished goods		$	10,269	$	10,138
		Work in process			1,355		946
		Raw materials			10,468		9,447
			Total	$	22,092	$	20,531

Property_Plant_and_Equipment_T

Property, Plant and Equipment (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015
Property, Plant and Equipment Disclosure [Abstract]
Schedule Of Property Plant And Equipment [Table Text Block]			March 31,		December 31,
			2015		2014
			(in thousands)
	Land, buildings and leasehold improvements	$	2,626	$	2,595
	Machinery and equipment		9,747		10,102
	Computer equipment and software		6,753		6,322
	Furniture and fixtures		1,304		1,125
	Automobiles		128		56
			20,558		20,200
	Less: accumulated depreciation		-14,977		-15,010
	Property, plant and equipment, net	$	5,581	$	5,190

Restructuring_and_Other_Exit_C1

Restructuring and Other Exit Costs (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015
Restructuring and Related Activities [Abstract]
Restructuring Plan Table [Table Text Block]			Severance Costs
			(in thousands)
	Restructuring charges	$	27
	Cash payments		-
	Restructuring balance at March 31, 2015	$	27
			Severance Costs		Other		Total
			(in thousands)
	Restructuring balance at December 31, 2014	$	626	$	-	$	626
	Restructuring charges		-		30		30
	Cash payments		-		-30		-30
	Effect of change in currency translation		-21		-		-21
	Restructuring balance at March 31, 2015	$	605	$	-	$	605
			Severance and
			Related Costs			Other			Total
			(in thousands)
	Restructuring balance at December 31, 2013	$	1,434		$	-		$	1,434
	Restructuring charges		161			78			239
	Non-cash reversal of restructuring charges		-99			-			-99
	Cash payments		-777			-			-777
	Restructuring balance at March 31, 2014	$	719		$	78		$	797
			Severance
			and Related Costs
			(in thousands)
	Restructuring balance at December 31, 2013	$	3
	Non-cash reversal of restructuring charges		-3
	Restructuring balance at March 31, 2014	$	-
			Three Months Ended
			March 31,
			2015			2014
			(in thousands)
	Restructuring charges	$	57		$	137

Warranties_Tables

Warranties (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015
Warranties Disclosure [Abstract]
Warranty Rollforward Disclosure [Table Text Block]			Beginning		Additions/			Ending
			Balance	Payments	(Credits)	Other		Balance
			(in thousands)
	Year ended December 31, 2014	$	305	-102	49	-	$	252
	Three months ended March 31, 2015	$	252	-2	-71	-19	$	160

Leases_Tables

Leases (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015
Leases Disclosure [Abstract]
Schedule of Future Minimum Rental Payments for Operating Leases [Table Text Block]			Operating
			Leases
			(in thousands)
	2016	$	1,708
	2017		1,531
	2018		1,489
	2019		1,302
	2020		1,304
	Thereafter		4,632
	Net minimum lease payments	$	11,966

Capital_Stock_Tables

Capital Stock (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015
Capital Stock Disclosure [Abstract]
Schedule Of Stock Options And Restricted Stock Units Activity Rollforward [Table Text Block]				Stock Options				Restricted Stock Units
							Weighted
				Stock			Average	Restricted
				Options			Exercise	Stock Units		Grant Date
				Outstanding			Price	Outstanding		Fair Value
	Balance at December 31, 2014			6,263,112		$	3.42	306,397	$	4.3
		Granted		499,500			5.51	-		-
		Exercised		-1,305,193			2.95	-		-
		Vested (RSUs)		-			-	-88,648		-
		Cancelled / forfeited		-125,598			3.65	-		-
	Balance at March 31, 2015			5,331,821		$	3.73	217,749	$	4.14
Table Of Assumptions [Table Text Block]		Three Months Ended
		March 31,
		2015			2014
	Volatility	42.34	%		44.21	%
	Risk-free interest rate	1.74	%		1.22	%
	Expected holding period (in years)	5.7	years		4.19	years
	Dividend yield	-	%		-	%
Stock Based Compensation Expense Activity By Function [Table Text Block]			Three Months Ended
			March 31,
			2015			2014
			(in thousands)
	Cost of revenues	$	21		$	28
	Sales and marketing		87			70
	General and administrative		449			341
	Research and development		23			8
	Total stock-based compensation	$	580		$	447
Basic and Diluted Shares [Table Text Block]			Three Months Ended
			March 31,
			2015		2014
	Basic		32,908,101		31,846,897
	Effect of assumed conversion of employee and director stock options and restricted stock units		-		1,077,964
	Diluted		32,908,101		32,924,861

Long_Term_Debt_Tables

Long Term Debt (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015
Long Term Debt Disclosure [Abstract]
Schedule of Debt [Table Text Block]			March 31,		December 31,
			2015		2014
			(in thousands)
	Long-term debt:
	Term loan	$	9,000	$	9,750
	DDTL		7,000		7,500
	Revolving line		5,900		4,200
	Total debt		21,900		21,450
	Less: current installments		-5,000		-5,000
	Long-term debt	$	16,900	$	16,450

Derivative_Tables

Derivative (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015
Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities Disclosure [Abstract]
Schedule of Derivative Instruments in Statement of Financial Position, Fair Value [Table Text Block]
						31-Mar-15		31-Mar-15
						Notional Amount		Fair Value (a)
	Derivatives designated as hedging instruments under ASC 815			Balance sheet classification		(in thousands)
	Interest rate swap			Other liabilities-non current	$	12,500	$	-51
						31-Dec-14		31-Dec-14
						Notional Amount		Fair Value (a)
	Derivatives designated as hedging instruments under ASC 815			Balance sheet classification		(in thousands)
	Interest rate swap			Other liabilities-non current	$	13,500	$	-18
		(a) See Note 16 for the fair value measurements related to these financial instruments.
Schedule of Cash Flow Hedges Included in AOCI [Table Text Block]	Derivatives in Hedging Relationships	Amount of gain or (loss) recognized in OCI on derivative (effective portion)
		Three Months Ended March 31,
		2015			2014
		(in thousands)
	Interest rate swaps	$	-59		$	-24
Reclassification out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Table Text Block]	Details about AOCI Components	Amount reclassified from AOCI into income (effective portion)					Location of amount
		Three Months Ended March 31,					reclassified from AOCI
		2015			2014		into income (effective portion)
		(in thousands)
	Interest rate swaps	$	26		$	35	Interest expense

Fair_Value_Measurements_Tables

Fair Value Measurements (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015
Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]
Schedule Of Fair Value Assets And Liabilities Measured On Recurring Basis [Table Text Block]		Fair Value as of March 31, 2015
	(In thousands)		Level 1		Level 2		Level 3		Total
	Liabilities:
	Interest rate swap agreements	$	-	$	51	$	-	$	51
		Fair Value as of December 31, 2014
	(In thousands)		Level 1		Level 2		Level 3		Total
	Liabilities:
	Interest rate swap agreements	$	-	$	18	$	-	$	18

Accumulated_Other_Comprehensiv2

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]
Opening Balance	($8,233)
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) before Reclassifications	-4,556	-4,556
Reclassification from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income	26
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, total	-4,530
Closing Balance	-12,763	-8,233
Foreign currency translation adjustment [Member]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]
Opening Balance	-4,658
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) before Reclassifications	-4,497	-4,497
Reclassification from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income	0	0
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, total	-4,497	-4,497
Closing Balance	-9,155	-4,658
Derivatives qualifying as hedges [Member]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]
Opening Balance	-18
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) before Reclassifications	-59	-59
Reclassification from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income	26	26
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, total	-33	-33
Closing Balance	-51	-18
Defined benefit pension plans [Member]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]
Opening Balance	-3,557
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) before Reclassifications	0	0
Reclassification from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income	0	0
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, total	0	0
Closing Balance	($3,557)	($3,557)

Accumulated_Other_Comprehensiv3

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Details 1) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2015	Mar. 31, 2014
Reclassifications Out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]
Derivatives Reclassification Adjustment from AOCI, net tax	($26)	($35)
Reclassification from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income	($26)

Acquisitions_Details_1

Acquisitions (Details 1) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2014	Mar. 31, 2015	Oct. 02, 2014	Jan. 08, 2015
Multi Channel Systems MCS GmbH [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Tangible Assets Acquired			$4,165
Liabilities Assumed			-2,819
Net Tangible Assets Acquired			1,346
Business Acquisition Purchase Price Allocation Intangible Assets [Abstract]
Purchase Price Allocation, Goodwill Amount			2,061
Deferred Tax Liabilities			-1,245
Business Acquisition Purchase Price Allocation Total Intangible Assets Amount Including Goodwill			4,582
Total Acquisition Purchase Price			5,928
Business Acquisition, Cost of Acquired Entity 1 [Abstract]
Business Acquisition Cost Of Acquired Entity Purchase Price 1			5,928
Business Acquisitions Pro Forma Revenue	27,713
Business Acquisitions Pro Forma Net Income Loss	801
Multi Channel Systems MCS GmbH [Member] | Unpatented Technology [Member]
Business Acquisition Purchase Price Allocation Intangible Assets [Abstract]
Purchase Price Allocation, Amortizable Intangible Assets			1,338
Multi Channel Systems MCS GmbH [Member] | Customer Relationships [Member]
Business Acquisition Purchase Price Allocation Intangible Assets [Abstract]
Purchase Price Allocation, Amortizable Intangible Assets			1,627
Multi Channel Systems MCS GmbH [Member] | Trade Names [Member]
Business Acquisition Purchase Price Allocation Intangible Assets [Abstract]
Purchase Price Allocation, Amortizable Intangible Assets			774
Multi Channel Systems MCS GmbH [Member] | Non compete Agreements [Member]
Business Acquisition Purchase Price Allocation Intangible Assets [Abstract]
Purchase Price Allocation, Amortizable Intangible Assets			27
Triangle BioSystems, Inc. [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Tangible Assets Acquired			1,278
Liabilities Assumed			-530
Net Tangible Assets Acquired			748
Business Acquisition Purchase Price Allocation Intangible Assets [Abstract]
Purchase Price Allocation, Goodwill Amount			946
Deferred Tax Liabilities			-325
Business Acquisition Purchase Price Allocation Total Intangible Assets Amount Including Goodwill			1,465
Total Acquisition Purchase Price			2,213
Business Acquisition, Cost of Acquired Entity 1 [Abstract]
Business Acquisition Cost Of Acquired Entity Purchase Price 1			2,213
Triangle BioSystems, Inc. [Member] | Customer Relationships [Member]
Business Acquisition Purchase Price Allocation Intangible Assets [Abstract]
Purchase Price Allocation, Amortizable Intangible Assets			308
Triangle BioSystems, Inc. [Member] | Trade Names [Member]
Business Acquisition Purchase Price Allocation Intangible Assets [Abstract]
Purchase Price Allocation, Amortizable Intangible Assets			143
Triangle BioSystems, Inc. [Member] | Patented Technology [Member]
Business Acquisition Purchase Price Allocation Intangible Assets [Abstract]
Purchase Price Allocation, Amortizable Intangible Assets			363
Triangle BioSystems, Inc. [Member] | Non compete Agreements [Member]
Business Acquisition Purchase Price Allocation Intangible Assets [Abstract]
Purchase Price Allocation, Amortizable Intangible Assets			30
HEKA Elektronik [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Tangible Assets Acquired				4,165
Liabilities Assumed				2,819
Net Tangible Assets Acquired				1,346
Business Acquisition Purchase Price Allocation Intangible Assets [Abstract]
Purchase Price Allocation, Goodwill Amount				2,061
Deferred Tax Liabilities				-1,245
Business Acquisition Purchase Price Allocation Total Intangible Assets Amount Including Goodwill				4,582
Total Acquisition Purchase Price				5,928
Business Acquisition, Cost of Acquired Entity 1 [Abstract]
Business Acquisition Cost Of Acquired Entity Purchase Price 1				5,928
Business Acquisitions Pro Forma Revenue	27,274	25,860
Business Acquisitions Pro Forma Net Income Loss	793	-1,390
HEKA Elektronik [Member] | Unpatented Technology [Member]
Business Acquisition Purchase Price Allocation Intangible Assets [Abstract]
Purchase Price Allocation, Amortizable Intangible Assets				1,338
HEKA Elektronik [Member] | Customer Relationships [Member]
Business Acquisition Purchase Price Allocation Intangible Assets [Abstract]
Purchase Price Allocation, Amortizable Intangible Assets				1,627
HEKA Elektronik [Member] | Trade Names [Member]
Business Acquisition Purchase Price Allocation Intangible Assets [Abstract]
Purchase Price Allocation, Amortizable Intangible Assets				774
HEKA Elektronik [Member] | Non compete Agreements [Member]
Business Acquisition Purchase Price Allocation Intangible Assets [Abstract]
Purchase Price Allocation, Amortizable Intangible Assets				$27

Goodwill_and_Other_Intangible_2

Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets (Narratives) (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015	Mar. 31, 2014
Goodwill And Other Intangible Assets Disclosure [Abstract]
Amortization of intangible assets	$793,000	$634,000
Estimated Amortization Expense Next Twelve Months	2,800,000
Estimated Amortization Expense Year 2	2,700,000
Estimated Amortization Expense Year 3	2,500,000
Estimated Amortization Expense Year 4	2,300,000
Estimated Amortization Expense Year 5	$2,200,000

Goodwill_and_Other_Intangible_3

Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets (Details 1) (USD $)	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Gross	$47,497	$47,497
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Accumulated Amortization	-24,586	-24,586
Goodwill	40,339	39,822
Other indefinite lived intangible assets	1,222	1,252
Total goodwill and other indefinite lived intangible assets	41,561	41,561
Total intangible assets	89,058	89,058
Developed Technology Rights [Member]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Gross	15,981	15,981
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Accumulated Amortization	-10,986	-10,986
Trade Names [Member]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Gross	7,628	7,628
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Accumulated Amortization	-2,665	-2,665
Customer Relationships [Member]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Gross	23,643	23,643
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Accumulated Amortization	-10,876	-10,876
Patents [Member]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Gross	245	245
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Accumulated Amortization	($59)	($59)

Goodwill_and_Other_Intangible_4

Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets (Details 2) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2015
Goodwill And Other Intangible Assets Disclosure [Abstract]
Goodwill, Beginning Balance	$39,822
Acquired during the period	2,061
Foreign currency translation adjustments related to goodwill balance	-1,544
Goodwill, Ending Balance	$40,339

Inventories_Details_1

Inventories (Details 1) (USD $)	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Inventories Disclosure [Abstract]
Finished Goods	$10,269	$10,138
Work in Process	1,355	946
Raw Materials	10,468	9,447
Total Inventories, Net	$22,092	$20,531

Property_Plant_and_Equipment_D

Property, Plant and Equipment (Details 1) (USD $)	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, Plant and Equipment, Gross	$20,558	$20,200
Accumulated Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization, Property, Plant, and Equipment	-14,977	-15,010
Property, plant and equipment, net	5,581	5,190
Land, Buildings and Improvements [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, Plant and Equipment, Gross	2,626	2,595
Machinery and Equipment [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, Plant and Equipment, Gross	9,747	10,102
Computer Equipment [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, Plant and Equipment, Gross	6,753	6,322
Furniture and Fixtures [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, Plant and Equipment, Gross	1,304	1,125
Automobiles [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, Plant and Equipment, Gross	$128	$56

Restructuring_and_Other_Exit_C2

Restructuring and Other Exit Cots (Narratives) (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2015	Mar. 31, 2014
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Restructuring charges (credits)	$57	$137
Restructuring Plan December 2013 [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Restructuring charges (credits)		239
Restructuring number of positions eliminated, percent	13.00%
Employee Severance [Member] | Restructuring Plan December 2013 [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Restructuring charges (credits)		161
Other Costs [Member] | Restructuring Plan December 2013 [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Restructuring charges (credits)		$78

Restructuring_and_Other_Exit_C3

Restructuring and Other Exit Costs (Details 1) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2015	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]
Restructuring charges (credits)	$57	$137
Restructuring Plan December 2013 [Member]
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]
Restructuring Reserve, Beginning Balance		1,434
Restructuring charges (credits)		239
Restructuring Reserve, Settled with Cash		-777
Restructuring Reserve, Accrual Adjustment		-99
Restructuring Reserve, Ending Balance	797
Restructuring Plan 2014 [Member]
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]
Restructuring Reserve, Beginning Balance	626
Restructuring charges (credits)	30
Restructuring Reserve, Settled with Cash	-30
Restructuring Reserve, Ending Balance	605
Restructuring Reserve, Translation Adjustment	-21
Employee Severance [Member] | Restructuring Plan 2012 [Member]
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]
Restructuring Reserve, Beginning Balance		3
Restructuring Reserve, Accrual Adjustment		-3
Restructuring Reserve, Ending Balance		0
Employee Severance [Member] | Restructuring Plan December 2013 [Member]
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]
Restructuring Reserve, Beginning Balance		1,434
Restructuring charges (credits)		161
Restructuring Reserve, Settled with Cash		-777
Restructuring Reserve, Accrual Adjustment		-99
Restructuring Reserve, Ending Balance	719
Employee Severance [Member] | Restructuring Plan 2014 [Member]
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]
Restructuring Reserve, Beginning Balance	626
Restructuring charges (credits)	0
Restructuring Reserve, Settled with Cash	0
Restructuring Reserve, Ending Balance	605
Restructuring Reserve, Translation Adjustment	-21
Employee Severance [Member] | Restructuring Plan Q1 2015 [Member]
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]
Restructuring charges (credits)	27
Restructuring Reserve, Settled with Cash	0
Restructuring Reserve, Ending Balance	27
Other Costs [Member] | Restructuring Plan December 2013 [Member]
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]
Restructuring Reserve, Beginning Balance		0
Restructuring charges (credits)		78
Restructuring Reserve, Settled with Cash		0
Restructuring Reserve, Accrual Adjustment		0
Other Costs [Member] | Restructuring Plan 2014 [Member]
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]
Restructuring Reserve, Beginning Balance			0
Restructuring charges (credits)	30
Restructuring Reserve, Settled with Cash	-30
Restructuring Reserve, Ending Balance	0		0
Restructuring Reserve, Translation Adjustment	$0

Related_Party_Transactions_Nar

Related Party Transactions (Narratives) (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Operating Leases, Rent Expense, Net	$600,000	$400,000	$600,000	$1,300,000
HART Sublease Rent	42,000,000,000	40,000
Transition Services Charged to HART		100,000
Distribution Revenues From Spinnee	48,000,000,000	100,000
Multi Channel Systems MCS GmbH [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Operating Leases, Rent Expense, Net	55,000
Triangle BioSystems, Inc. [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Operating Leases, Rent Expense, Net	11,000
HEKA Elektronik [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Operating Leases, Rent Expense, Net	$39,000

Warranties_Details_1

Warranties (Details 1) (USD $)	3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Product Warranty Disclosure [Abstract]
Warranty, Beginning Balance	$252
Warranty payments	-2	-102
Warranty additions	-71	49
Warranty Other	-19	0
Warranty, Ending Balance	$160	$252

Employee_Benefit_Plans_Narrati

Employee Benefit Plans (Narratives) (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Employee Benefit Plans Disclosure [Abstract]
Defined Contribution Plan Payments In Current Fiscal Year			$500,000	$600,000
Expected employer contribution in current remaining fiscal year	600,000
Defined Benefit Plan, Estimated Future Employer Contributions in Next Fiscal Year			800,000
Fair Value Impairment Of Pension Assets			600,000
Defined Benefit Plan Increase (Decrease) In Discount Rate Percentage			0.10%
Defined Benefit Plan Average Pension Plan Liability			15 years
Defined Benefit Plan Increase (Decrease) In Discount Rate Value			89,000
Defined Benefit Plan Increase (Decrease) In Asset Return Percentage			0.10%
Defined Benefit Plan Average Remaining Work Lifetime			15 years
Defined Benefit Plan Increase (Decrease) In Asset Return Value			17,000
Defined Benefit Plan Payments In Current Fiscal Year	200,000	200,000
Defined Benefit Plans Liabilities Noncurrent	$4,300,000		$4,400,000

Employee_Benefit_Plans_Details

Employee Benefit Plans (Details 1) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015	Mar. 31, 2014
Employee Benefit Plans Disclosure [Abstract]
Service Cost	$0	$8,000
Interest Cost	177,000	221,000
Expected Return on Plan Assets	-166,000	-163,000
Net Amortization Loss	75,000	45,000
Curtailment Gain	0	0
Net Periodic Benefit Cost, Total	86,000	111,000
Defined Benefit Plan, Change in Benefit Obligation [Roll Forward]
Interest Cost	177,000	221,000
Defined Benefit Plan, Change in Fair Value of Plan Assets [Roll Forward]
Defined Benefit Plan Payments In Current Fiscal Year	$200,000	$200,000

Leases_Narratives_Details

Leases (Narratives) (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2015	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
	sqft
Leases Disclosure [Abstract]
Estimated Rental Expenses Current Year	$2.20
Operating Leases, Rent Expense, Net	$0.60	$0.40	$0.60	$1.30
Square Footage of Real Estate Property	83,000
Lease Expiration Date			31-Aug-24
Expansion Area Of Real Estate Property	22,000

Leases_Details_1

Leases (Details 1) (USD $)	Mar. 31, 2015
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Leases Disclosure [Abstract]
2016	$1,708
2017	1,531
2018	1,489
2019	1,302
2020	1,304
Thereafter	4,632
Operating Leases, Total Future Minimum Payments Due	$11,966

Capital_Stock_Narratives_Detai

Capital Stock (Narratives) (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		183 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015	Mar. 31, 2014	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2012
Share-Based Compensation Arrangement By Share-Based Payment Award [Line Items]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Discount from Market Price, Offering Date	85.00%
Employee Stock Purchase Plan Shares Authorized	750,000		750,000
Stock issued during the year, Shares, Employee Stock Purchase Plans			585,188
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share, Amount	5,331,821	2,680,723
Percentage Of Outstanding Common Stock	20.00%		20.00%
Incentive Stock Options Granted To Date	10,218,057		10,218,057	10,218,057	8,990,395
Non Qualified Stock Options Granted To Date	11,527,574		11,527,574	11,028,074	8,906,684
Weighted Average Estimated Black Scholes Value Of Option Grants	$2.30	$1.69
Options Granted due to the Spin-off of HART				1,715,164
Restricted Stock Units Granted due to the Spin-off of HART				135,650
Preferred Stock - Shares Authorized	5,000,000		5,000,000	5,000,000

Capital_Stock_Details_1

Capital Stock (Details 1) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2014
Capital Stock Disclosure [Abstract]
Opening Balance Stock Options Outstanding	6,263,112
Begining Balance Weighted Average Exercise Price	$3.42
Options, Grants in Period, Gross	499,500
Options, Grants in Period, Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value	$5.51
Options, Forfeitures and Expirations in Period	-125,598
Options, Forfeitures and Expirations in Period, Weighted Average Exercise Price	$3.65
Closing Balance Stock Options Outstanding	5,331,821
Closing Balance Weighted Average Exercise Price	$3.73
Begining Balance Restricted Stock Units Outstanding	306,397
Equity Instruments Other than Options, Vested in Period	-88,648
Closing Balance Restricted Stock Units Outstanding	217,749
Begining Balance Grant Date Fair Value Of Restricted Stock Units	$4.30
Equity Instruments Other than Options, Grants in Period, Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value	$0
Closing Balance Grant Date Fair Value Of Restricted Stock Units	$4.14
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Fair Value Assumptions and Methodology [Abstract]
Fair Value Assumptions, Expected Volatility Rate	42.34%	44.21%
Fair Value Assumptions, Risk Free Interest Rate	1.74%	1.22%
Fair Value Assumptions, Expected Term	5 years 9 months 3 days	5 years 8 months 1 day
Fair Value Assumptions, Expected Dividend Rate	0.00%	0.00%
Options, Exercises in Period, Weighted Average Exercise Price	$2.95
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Equity Instruments Other than Options, Forfeited in Period, Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value	$0
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Equity Instruments Other than Options, Forfeited in Period	0
Preferred Stock - Shares Authorized	5,000,000		5,000,000
Stock Issued During Period Gross Stock Options Exercised	1,305,193

Capital_Stock_Details_2

Capital Stock (Details 2) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2015	Mar. 31, 2014
Employee Service Share-based Compensation, Allocation of Recognized Period Costs [Line Items]
Share-based Compensation	$580	$447
Weighted Average Number Diluted Shares Outstanding Adjustment [Abstract]
Basic	32,908,101	31,846,897
Weighted Average Number Diluted Shares Outstanding Adjustment	0	1,077,964
Diluted	32,908,101	32,924,861
Cost of Sales [Member]
Employee Service Share-based Compensation, Allocation of Recognized Period Costs [Line Items]
Share-based Compensation	21	28
Research and Development Expense [Member]
Employee Service Share-based Compensation, Allocation of Recognized Period Costs [Line Items]
Share-based Compensation	23	8
Selling and Marketing Expense [Member]
Employee Service Share-based Compensation, Allocation of Recognized Period Costs [Line Items]
Share-based Compensation	87	70
General and Administrative Expense [Member]
Employee Service Share-based Compensation, Allocation of Recognized Period Costs [Line Items]
Share-based Compensation	449	341
Discontinued Operations [Member]
Employee Service Share-based Compensation, Allocation of Recognized Period Costs [Line Items]
Share-based Compensation	$0	$0

Capital_Stock_Details_3

Capital Stock (Details 3)	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Share-Based Compensation Arrangement By Share-Based Payment Award [Line Items]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Outstanding, Number	5,331,821	6,263,112

Long_Term_Debt_Narratives_Deta

Long Term Debt (Narratives) (Details) (USD $)	0 Months Ended		3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended	0 Months Ended
	Oct. 31, 2013	Aug. 07, 2009	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Mar. 29, 2013
Credit Agreement [Line Items]
Previous Approved Credit Facility		$20,000,000
Secured Debt			21,900,000	21,450,000
Line of Credit Facility, Maximum Borrowing Capacity					50,000,000
Minimum percentage of Term Loan and the DDTL that company was required to fix the rate of interest on			50.00%	50.00%
Line of Credit Facility, Remaining Borrowing Capacity			6,200,000
Interest Rate In Excess Of LIBOR On Credit Facility		3.00%
DDTL Threshold For Dollar For Dollar Reduction In Revolving Line					10,000,000
Transfer Of Delayed Draw Down Term Loan Capacity To Revolver Capacity	5,000,000
Lender Approval To Fund Acquisition With Cash Promissory Note In Excess Of Threshold			6,000,000
Lender Approval To Fund Acquisition With Equity In Excess Of Threshold			10,000,000
Revolving Credit Facility [Member]
Credit Agreement [Line Items]
Secured Debt			5,900,000	4,200,000	25,000,000
Maturity Dates					29-Mar-16
Basis Spread Over LIBOR					2.50%
Interest Rate As Of Reporting Date			2.68%
Term Loan [Member]
Credit Agreement [Line Items]
Secured Debt			9,000,000	9,750,000	15,000,000
Maturity Dates					29-Mar-18
Basis Spread Over LIBOR					3.00%
Interest Rate As Of Reporting Date			3.96%
Delayed Drawdown Term Loan [Member]
Credit Agreement [Line Items]
Secured Debt			7,000,000	7,500,000	15,000,000
Maturity Dates					29-Mar-18
Maximum Borrowings Available Under The Current Credit Agreement	$10,000,000
Interest Rate As Of Reporting Date			3.55%

Long_Term_Debt_Details_1

Long Term Debt (Details 1) (USD $)	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Mar. 29, 2013
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Secured Debt	$21,900	$21,450
Current portion, long-term debt	-5,000	-5,000
Long-term debt	16,900	16,450
Revolving Credit Facility [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Secured Debt	5,900	4,200	25,000
Term Loan [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Secured Debt	9,000	9,750	15,000
Delayed Drawdown Term Loan [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Secured Debt	$7,000	$7,500	$15,000

Derivative_Narratives_Details

Derivative (Narratives) (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Nov. 30, 2013	Jun. 05, 2013
Derivative Instruments And Hedging Activities Disclosure [Line Items]
Minimum percentage of Term Loan and the DDTL that company was required to fix the rate of interest on	50.00%	50.00%
Deferred losses on derivative instruments accumulated in AOCI expected to be reclassified to earnings	$0.10
Derivative Interest Rate Swap Effective Percentage	100.00%
Delayed Drawdown Term Loan [Member]
Derivative Instruments And Hedging Activities Disclosure [Line Items]
Notional Amount of Interest Rate Swaps			5
LIBOR Fixed Rate	0.93%
Term Loan [Member]
Derivative Instruments And Hedging Activities Disclosure [Line Items]
Notional Amount of Interest Rate Swaps				$15
LIBOR Fixed Rate	0.96%

Derivative_Details_1

Derivative (Details 1) (Other liabilities-non current [Member], Derivatives qualifying as hedges [Member], USD $)	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Other liabilities-non current [Member] | Derivatives qualifying as hedges [Member]
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Notional Amount of Interest Rate Derivatives	$12,500	$13,500
Derivative Liability, Fair Value, Net	($51)	($18)

Derivative_Details_2

Derivative (Details 2) (Derivatives qualifying as hedges [Member], USD $)	3 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2015	Mar. 31, 2014
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items]
Derivative Instruments, Loss Recognized in Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Effective Portion	($59)	($24)
Interest Expense [Member]
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items]
Derivative Instruments, Loss Reclassified from Accumulated OCI into Income, Effective Portion	$26	$35

Fair_Value_Measurements_Detail

Fair Value Measurements (Details) (Derivatives qualifying as hedges [Member], USD $)	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Fair Value Assets And Liabilities Measured On Recurring And Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Derivative Liabilities	$51	$18
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 [Member]
Fair Value Assets And Liabilities Measured On Recurring And Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Derivative Liabilities	0	0
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member]
Fair Value Assets And Liabilities Measured On Recurring And Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Derivative Liabilities	51	18
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member]
Fair Value Assets And Liabilities Measured On Recurring And Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Derivative Liabilities	$0	$0

Income_Tax_Narratives_Details

Income Tax (Narratives) (Details)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015	Mar. 31, 2014
Income Tax [Abstract]
Effective Income Tax Rate	20.60%	29.40%

Subsequent_Events_Narratives_D

Subsequent Events (Narratives) (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended	0 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015	Apr. 28, 2015	Apr. 24, 2015	Jan. 08, 2015
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Description Of Variable Rate Basis	LIBOR
Subsequent Event [Member]
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Description Of Variable Rate Basis			LIBOR
Stock Issued During Period, Value, Restricted Stock Award, Gross		$80,000
Accelerated Share Based Compensation Expense		100,000
Subsequent Event [Member] | Delayed Drawdown Term Loan [Member]
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Basis Spread Over LIBOR			2.75%
Subsequent Event [Member] | Revolving Credit Facility [Member]
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Basis Spread Over LIBOR			2.25%
Subsequent Event [Member] | Term Loan [Member]
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Basis Spread Over LIBOR			2.75%
HEKA Elektronik [Member] | Subsequent Event [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Cash Paid For Acquisitions				$6,000,000