Vishay Precision (VPG) 10-K 9 Mar 16 2015 FY Annual report Financial data

Document and Entity Information

Document and Entity Information - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015	Mar. 09, 2016	Jun. 27, 2015
Document and Entity Informations [Abstract]
Entity Registrant Name	Vishay Precision Group, Inc.
Entity Central Index Key	1,487,952
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Trading Symbol	vpg
Entity Filer Category	Accelerated Filer
Document Type	10-K
Document Period End Date	Dec. 31, 2015
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2,015
Document Fiscal Period Focus	FY
Amendment Flag	false
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		12,152,803
Entity Well-Known Seasoned Issuer	No
Entity Voluntary Filers	No
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Public Float			$ 195,204

Consolidated Balance Sheets

Consolidated Balance Sheets - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Assets
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 62,641	$ 79,642
Accounts receivable, net of allowances for doubtful accounts of $334 and $552, respectively	35,553	37,427
Inventories:
Raw materials	15,062	14,223
Work in process	20,289	19,813
Finished goods	20,849	18,806
Inventories, net	56,200	52,842
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	7,814	10,601
Total current assets	162,208	180,512
Property and equipment, at cost:
Land	3,639	1,893
Buildings and improvements	55,003	49,909
Machinery and equipment	84,409	78,500
Software	7,284	6,837
Construction in progress	2,288	2,928
Accumulated depreciation	(95,992)	(89,374)
Property and equipment, net	56,631	50,693
Goodwill	12,603	12,788
Intangible assets, net	17,683	17,381
Other assets	15,176	25,549
Total assets	264,301	286,923
Liabilities and equity
Trade accounts payable	8,004	10,559
Payroll and related expenses	13,888	14,216
Other accrued expenses	16,604	16,770
Income taxes	527	2,133
Current portion of long-term debt	2,120	5,120
Total current liabilities	41,143	48,798
Long-term debt, less current portion	31,591	17,713
Deferred income taxes	334	531
Other liabilities	7,195	7,643
Accrued pension and other postretirement costs	11,597	12,353
Total liabilities	$ 91,860	$ 87,038
Commitments and contingencies
Equity:
Preferred stock, par value $1.00 per share: authorized - 1,000,000 shares; none issued	$ 0	$ 0
Common stock	1,276	1,273
Treasury stock, at cost - 619,667 shares held at December 31, 2015 and 2,000 shares held at December 31, 2014	(8,765)	(32)
Capital in excess of par value	190,436	189,532
Retained earnings	22,327	35,335
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(33,121)	(26,560)
Total Vishay Precision Group, Inc. stockholders' equity	172,256	199,651
Noncontrolling interests	185	234
Total equity	172,441	199,885
Total liabilities and equity	264,301	286,923
Class B Convertible Common Stock
Equity:
Common stock	$ 103	$ 103

Consolidated Balance Sheets _Pa

Consolidated Balance Sheets [Parenthetical] - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Allowance for doubtful accounts	$ 334	$ 552
Preferred stock, par value (in dollars per share)	$ 1	$ 1
Preferred stock, shares authorized	1,000,000	1,000,000
Preferred stock, shares issued	0	0
Common stock, par value (in dollars per share)	$ 0.10	$ 0.10
Common stock, shares authorized	25,000,000	25,000,000
Common stock, shares outstanding	12,144,485	12,729,837
Treasury Stock, shares	619,667	2,000
Class B Convertible Common Stock
Common stock, par value (in dollars per share)	$ 0.10	$ 0.10
Common stock, shares authorized	3,000,000	3,000,000
Common stock, shares outstanding	1,025,158	1,025,176

Consolidated Statements of Oper

Consolidated Statements of Operations - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Income Statement [Abstract]
Net revenues	$ 232,178	$ 250,028	$ 238,589
Costs of products sold	147,949	159,254	155,134
Gross profit	84,229	90,774	83,455
Selling, general, and administrative expenses	71,282	77,034	74,059
Acquisition costs	185	0	794
Impairment of goodwill and indefinite-lived intangibles	4,942	5,579	0
Restructuring costs	4,461	668	538
Operating income	3,359	7,493	8,064
Other income (expense):
Interest expense	(771)	(882)	(967)
Other	(2,082)	(740)	(1,354)
Other (expense) income - net	(2,853)	(1,622)	(2,321)
Income before taxes	506	5,871	5,743
Income tax expense	13,500	2,613	1,251
Net (loss) earnings	(12,994)	3,258	4,492
Less: net earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests	14	178	56
Net (loss) earnings attributable to VPG stockholders	$ (13,008)	$ 3,080	$ 4,436
Basic earnings per share attributable to VPG stockholders (in dollars per share)	$ (0.96)	$ 0.22	$ 0.33
Diluted earnings per share attributable to VPG stockholders (in dollars per share)	$ (0.96)	$ 0.22	$ 0.32
Weighted average shares outstanding - basic (in shares)	13,485	13,755	13,563
Weighted average shares outstanding - diluted (in shares)	13,485	13,977	13,944

Consolidated Statements of Comp

Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Net (loss) earnings	$ (12,994)	$ 3,258	$ 4,492
Other comprehensive (loss) income, net of tax:
Foreign currency translation adjustment	(6,947)	(8,015)	(4,465)
Pension and other postretirement actuarial items	386	(2,538)	1,674
Other comprehensive loss	(6,561)	(10,553)	(2,791)
Comprehensive (loss) income	(19,555)	(7,295)	1,701
Less: comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests	14	178	56
Comprehensive (loss) income attributable to VPG stockholders	$ (19,569)	$ (7,473)	$ 1,645

Consolidated Statements of Cash

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Operating activities
Net (loss) earnings	$ (12,994)	$ 3,258	$ 4,492
Adjustments to reconcile net earnings to net cash provided by operating activities
Impairment of goodwill and indefinite-lived intangibles	4,942	5,579	0
Depreciation and amortization	11,097	11,736	12,064
Loss on disposal of property and equipment	15	63	41
Share-based compensation expense	1,083	1,008	743
Inventory write-offs for obsolescence	1,354	1,290	951
Deferred income taxes	10,013	(3,562)	(2,221)
Other	2,182	722	396
Net changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of acquisition
Accounts receivable	982	318	(6,327)
Inventories	(3,961)	(349)	5,050
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	2,799	266	(107)
Trade accounts payable	(2,550)	618	459
Other current liabilities	(1,034)	2,307	(973)
Net cash provided by operating activities	13,928	23,254	14,568
Investing activities
Capital expenditures	(9,978)	(9,091)	(6,742)
Proceeds from sale of property and equipment	117	82	81
Purchase of business	(20,022)	0	(48,919)
Net cash used in investing activities	(29,883)	(9,009)	(55,580)
Financing activities
Proceeds from long-term debt	29,000	0	25,000
Repayments of principal upon termination of long-term debt	(14,000)	0	0
Principal payments on long-term debt	(4,119)	(4,137)	(3,148)
Debt issuance costs	(453)	0	(384)
Purchase of treasury stock	(8,733)	(32)	0
Distributions to noncontrolling interests	(63)	(77)	(82)
Excess tax benefit from share-based compensation plan	0	5	0
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	1,632	(4,241)	21,386
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents	(2,678)	(3,171)	(1,404)
(Decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents	(17,001)	6,833	(21,030)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year	79,642	72,809	93,839
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year	62,641	79,642	72,809
Conversion of exchangeable notes to common stock	$ 0	$ 0	$ 5,861

Consolidated Statements of Equi

Consolidated Statements of Equity - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Total	Common Stock	Class B Convertible Common Stock	Treasury Stock	Capital In Excess Of Par Value	Retained Earnings	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)	Total VPG Inc. Stockholders' Equity	Noncontrolling Interest
Balance at beginning at Dec. 31, 2012	$ 198,038	$ 1,235	$ 103	$ 0	$ 181,938	$ 27,819	$ (13,216)	$ 197,879	$ 159
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net (loss) earnings	4,492					4,436		4,436	56
Other comprehensive loss	(2,791)						(2,791)	(2,791)
Share-based compensation expense	359				359			359
Restricted stock issuances (106,283, 20,145 and 32,297 shares in 2013, 2014 and 2015)	302	10			292			302
Common stock issuance from conversion of exchangeable notes (259,687 shares)	5,861	26			5,835	0	0	5,861	0
Distributions to noncontrolling interests	(82)								(82)
Balance at end at Dec. 31, 2013	206,179	1,271	103	0	188,424	32,255	(16,007)	206,046	133
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net (loss) earnings	3,258					3,080		3,080	178
Other comprehensive loss	(10,553)						(10,553)	(10,553)
Share-based compensation expense	864				864			864
Restricted stock issuances (106,283, 20,145 and 32,297 shares in 2013, 2014 and 2015)	241	2			239			241
Common stock issuance from conversion of exchangeable notes (259,687 shares)	0
Purchase of treasury stock (2,000 shares)	(32)	0		(32)	0			(32)
Tax effects of share-based compensation plan	5				5			5
Distributions to noncontrolling interests	(77)								(77)
Balance at end at Dec. 31, 2014	199,885	1,273	103	(32)	189,532	35,335	(26,560)	199,651	234
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net (loss) earnings	(12,994)					(13,008)		(13,008)	14
Other comprehensive loss	(6,561)						(6,561)	(6,561)
Share-based compensation expense	1,083				1,083			1,083
Restricted stock issuances (106,283, 20,145 and 32,297 shares in 2013, 2014 and 2015)	(176)	3			(179)			(176)
Common stock issuance from conversion of exchangeable notes (259,687 shares)	0
Purchase of treasury stock (2,000 shares)	(8,733)			(8,733)				(8,733)
Distributions to noncontrolling interests	(63)								(63)
Balance at end at Dec. 31, 2015	$ 172,441	$ 1,276	$ 103	$ (8,765)	$ 190,436	$ 22,327	$ (33,121)	$ 172,256	$ 185

Consolidated Statements of Equ8

Consolidated Statements of Equity [Parenthetical] - shares	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Common stock issuance from conversion of convertible notes			259,687
Purchase of treasury stock, shares	617,667	2,000
Common Stock
Restricted stock issuances (in shares)	32,297	20,145	106,283

Background and Summary of Signi

Background and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015
Accounting Policies [Abstract]
Background and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies	Background and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies Background Vishay Precision Group, Inc. (“VPG” or the “Company”) is an internationally recognized designer, manufacturer and marketer of sensors, and sensor-based measurement systems, as well as specialty resistors and strain gages based upon the Company's proprietary technology. The Company provides precision products and solutions, many of which are “designed-in” by its customers, specializing in the growing markets of stress, force, weight, pressure, and current measurements. Principles of Consolidation The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the individual entities in which the Company maintained a controlling financial interest. For those subsidiaries in which the Company’s ownership is less than 100 percent , the outside stockholders’ interests are shown as noncontrolling interests in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets. All transactions, accounts, and profits between individual members comprising the Company have been eliminated in consolidation. Restatement of Previously Reported Financial Information In conjunction with the June 27, 2015 quarterly financial statement close process, the Company determined that transactions at one of its Indian subsidiaries had been recorded in their local currency, the Indian rupee, instead of their functional currency, the U.S. dollar, in prior periods. The principal line items impacted in the Indian subsidiary’s financial statements, and therefore the Company's consolidated financial statements, are inventory, property and equipment, net, depreciation expense, costs of products sold, foreign currency re-measurement gains and losses, and foreign currency translation gains and losses recorded as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income within stockholders’ equity. Consequently, the Company has restated certain prior period amounts to correct these errors. The Company has also corrected certain other identified immaterial errors related to prior periods. Based on an analysis of quantitative and qualitative factors in accordance with Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) Staff Accounting Bulletins 99 and 108, the Company concluded that these errors were not material to the consolidated financial position, results of operations, or cash flows as presented in the Company’s quarterly and annual financial statements that have been previously filed in the Company’s Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and Annual Reports on Form 10-K. As a result, amendment of such reports was not required. In preparing the Company’s consolidated financial statements for the quarterly and year to date period ended June 27, 2015 and for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2015, the Company made appropriate revisions to its financial statements for historical periods. Such changes were reflected in the financial results for the quarterly and year to date period ended June 27, 2015, and are also reflected in the historical financial results included in these consolidated financial statements. The effect of these errors decreased net earnings attributable to VPG stockholders by $0.8 million , or $0.06 per share, for the year ended December 31, 2014, and increased net earnings attributable to VPG stockholders by $0.1 million , or $0.01 per share, for the year ended December 31, 2013. These errors also decreased total assets by $2.7 million and decreased total liabilities by $1.5 million at December 31, 2014. Additional information about these corrections, including a reconciliation of each financial statement line item affected, has been included in Note 12 to the Company’s consolidated condensed financial statements contained in its Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended June 27, 2015. Use of Estimates The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes. Actual results could differ significantly from those estimates. Revenue Recognition The Company recognizes revenue on product sales during the period when the sales process is complete. This generally occurs when products are shipped to the customer in accordance with terms of an agreement of sale, title and risk of loss have been transferred, collectability is reasonably assured, and pricing is fixed or determinable. For sales where title and risk of loss pass at the point of delivery, the Company recognizes revenue upon delivery to the customer, assuming all other criteria for revenue recognition are met. The Company has post-shipment obligations, such as customer acceptance, training, or installation, with respect to some of its larger systems products. In such circumstances, revenue is deferred until the obligation has been completed, unless such obligation is deemed inconsequential or perfunctory. Given the specialized nature of the Company’s products, it generally does not allow product returns. Shipping and Handling Costs Shipping and handling costs are included in costs of products sold. Research and Development Expenses Research and development costs are expensed as incurred. The amount charged to expense for research and development was $9.6 million , $10.1 million , and $9.3 million for the years ended December 31, 2015 , 2014 , and 2013 , respectively. The Company spends additional amounts for the development of machinery and equipment for new processes, and for cost reduction measures. Income Taxes The Company accounts for income taxes under the asset and liability method, which requires the recognition of deferred tax assets and liabilities for the expected future tax consequences of events that have been included in the financial statements. Under this method, deferred tax assets and liabilities are determined based on the differences between the financial statements and tax basis of assets and liabilities using enacted tax rates in effect for the year in which the differences are expected to reverse. The effect of a change in tax rates on deferred tax assets and liabilities is recognized in income in the period that includes the enactment date. The Company records net deferred tax assets to the extent it believes these assets will more likely than not be realized. In making such a determination, the Company considers all available positive and negative evidence, including historic earnings, projected future income, and cost-effective tax-planning strategies. When the Company determines that its ability to realize its deferred tax assets is not more likely than not, the Company adjusts its deferred tax asset valuation allowance, which would increase income tax expense. The Company records uncertain tax positions in accordance with Accounting Standards Codification ("ASC") Topic 740, Income Taxes, on the basis of a two-step process whereby the Company first determines whether it is more likely than not that the tax positions will be sustained based on the technical merits of the position and then measures those tax positions that meet the more-likely-than-not recognition threshold. The Company recognizes the largest amount of tax benefit that is greater than 50 percent likely to be realized upon ultimate settlement with the tax authority. The Company recognizes interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits within the income tax expense line in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations. Accrued interest and penalties are included within the related tax liability line in the consolidated balance sheets. Cash and Cash Equivalents Cash and cash equivalents include demand deposits and highly liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less when purchased. Highly liquid investments with maturities greater than three months are classified as short-term investments. There were no investments classified as short-term investments at December 31, 2015 or 2014 . Allowance for Doubtful Accounts The Company maintains an allowance for doubtful accounts for estimated losses resulting from the inability of its customers to make required payments. The allowance is determined through an analysis of the aging of accounts receivable and assessments of risk that are based on historical trends and an evaluation of the impact of current and projected economic conditions. The Company evaluates the past-due status of its trade receivables based on contractual terms of sale. If the financial condition of the Company’s customers were to deteriorate, resulting in an impairment of their ability to make payments, additional allowances may be required. The allowance for doubtful accounts was $0.3 million and $0.6 million at December 31, 2015 and 2014 , respectively. Bad debt expense was $0.1 million , $0.2 million , $0.2 million for the years ended December 31, 2015 , 2014 , and 2013 , respectively. Inventories Inventories are stated at the lower of cost, determined by the first-in, first-out method, or market based on net realizable value. Inventories are adjusted for estimated excess and obsolescence and written down to net realizable value based upon estimates of future demand, technology developments, and market conditions. Property and Equipment Property and equipment is carried at cost and is depreciated principally by the straight-line method based upon the estimated useful lives of the assets. Machinery and equipment are being depreciated over useful lives of seven to ten years . Buildings and building improvements are being depreciated over useful lives of twenty to forty years or the life of the leased property. Software is being depreciated over useful lives of three to five years . Construction in progress is not depreciated until the assets are placed in service. Depreciation expense was $9.0 million , $9.1 million , and $9.0 million for the years ended December 31, 2015 , 2014 , and 2013 , respectively, which included software depreciation expense of $0.8 million , $1.0 million , and $0.9 million for the years ended December 31, 2015 , 2014 , and 2013 , respectively. Business Combinations The identifiable tangible and intangible assets acquired, and liabilities assumed, are recorded at their estimated fair values. To the extent that purchase price exceeds the fair value of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed, goodwill is recorded. The results of operations of the acquired businesses are included in the Company's consolidated statements of operations from the dates of acquisition. Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets Goodwill and indefinite-lived trade names are tested for impairment at least annually, and whenever events or changes in circumstances occur indicating that a possible impairment may have been incurred. The Company has the option to first assess qualitative factors to determine whether it is more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying amount as a basis for determining if it is necessary to perform the two-step goodwill impairment test. However, if the Company concludes otherwise, then the Company is required to perform the first step of the two-step impairment test by calculating the fair value of the reporting unit and comparing it against its carrying amount. These estimated fair values are based on financial projections, certain cash flow measures, and market information. If the carrying amount of a reporting unit exceeds its fair value, then the Company is required to perform the second step of the goodwill impairment. To measure the amount of the impairment, the Company determines the implied fair value of goodwill in the same manner as if the Company had acquired those reporting units. Specifically, the Company must allocate the fair value of the reporting unit to all of the net assets of that unit, including any unrecognized intangible assets, in a hypothetical calculation that would yield the implied fair value of goodwill. The impairment loss is measured as the difference between the book value of the goodwill and the implied fair value of the goodwill computed in step two. The Company's required goodwill annual impairment test is completed as of the first day of the fourth fiscal quarter each year. As more fully described in Note 4, an interim test for 2015 resulted in the Company recording an impairment charge in the third quarter of 2015 and the annual impairment test for 2014 resulted in the Company recording an impairment charge in the fourth quarter of 2014. There was no impairment identified through the annual impairment test which was completed in 2013. The indefinite-lived trade names are tested for impairment by comparing the carrying value to the fair value based on current revenue projections of the related operations, under the relief from royalty method. Any excess carrying value over the applicable fair value is recognized as impairment. Any impairment would be recognized in the reporting period in which it has been identified. As more fully described in Note 4, the impairment test for 2015 resulted in the Company recording an impairment charge in the third quarter of 2015. There was no impairment identified through the annual impairment tests completed in 2014 or 2013. Included in the Company's patents and acquired technology is an in-process research and development project acquired as part of the acquisition of the George Kelk Corporation ("KELK"). Until this project is ready for sale, it is analyzed as an indefinite-lived intangible asset. The Company's required annual indefinite-lived intangible asset impairment test is completed as of the first day of the fourth fiscal quarter each year. As more fully described in Note 4, the impairment test for 2014 resulted in the Company recording an impairment charge in the fourth quarter of 2014. There was no impairment identified through the annual impairment test which was completed in 2015 and 2013. Definite-lived assets, such as customer relationships, patents and acquired technology, non-competition agreements, and certain trade names are amortized on a straight-line method over their estimated useful lives. Patents and acquired technology are being amortized over useful lives of seven to twenty years . Customer relationships are being amortized over useful lives of five to fifteen years . Trade names are being amortized over useful lives of seven to ten years . Non-competition agreements are being amortized over periods of five to ten years . The Company continually evaluates the reasonableness of the useful lives of these assets. Additionally, the Company reviews the carrying values of these assets for possible impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value of an asset may not be recoverable based on undiscounted estimated cash flows expected to result from its use and eventual disposition. Impairment of Long-Lived Assets The carrying value of long-lived assets held-and-used, other than goodwill and other intangible assets, is evaluated when events or changes in circumstances indicate the carrying value may not be recoverable. The carrying value of a long-lived asset group is considered impaired when the total projected undiscounted cash flows from such asset group are separately identifiable and are less than the carrying value. In that event, a loss is recognized based on the amount by which the carrying value exceeds the fair market value of the long-lived asset group. Fair market value is determined primarily using present value techniques based on projected cash flows from the asset group. Losses on long-lived assets held-for-sale, other than goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets, are determined in a similar manner, except that fair market values are reduced for disposal costs. Foreign Currency Translation The Company has significant operations outside of the United States. The Company's operations in Europe, Canada, and certain locations in Asia primarily generate and expend cash in local currencies, and accordingly, these subsidiaries utilize the local currency as their functional currency. The Company’s operations in Israel and certain locations in Asia primarily generate cash in U.S. dollars, and accordingly, these subsidiaries utilize the U.S. dollar as their functional currency. For those subsidiaries where the local currency is the functional currency, assets and liabilities in the consolidated balance sheets have been translated at the rate of exchange as of the balance sheet date. Revenues and expenses are translated at the average exchange rate for the year. Translation adjustments do not impact the consolidated statements of operations and are reported as a separate component of accumulated other comprehensive loss. Foreign currency transaction gains and losses are included in the results of operations. For those foreign subsidiaries where the U.S. dollar is the functional currency, all foreign currency financial statement amounts are remeasured into U.S. dollars. Exchange gains and losses arising from remeasurement of foreign currency-denominated monetary assets and liabilities are included in the consolidated statements of operations. Share-Based Compensation Compensation costs related to share-based payments are recognized in the consolidated financial statements. The amount of compensation cost is measured based on the grant-date fair value of the equity instruments issued. Compensation cost is recognized over the period that an officer, employee, or non-employee director provides service in exchange for the award. For performance based awards, the Company recognizes compensation cost for awards that are expected to vest and for which performance criteria are expected to be met. For options and restricted stock units subject to graded vesting, the Company recognizes expense over the service period for each separately vesting portion of the award as if the award was comprised of multiple awards. Reclassifications Certain prior year amounts have been reclassified to conform to the current financial statement presentation. Commitments and Contingencies Liabilities for loss contingencies arising from claims, assessments, litigation, fines, penalties, and other sources are recorded when it is probable that a liability has been incurred and the amount of the assessment and/or remediation can be reasonably estimated. Recent Accounting Pronouncements In February 2016, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) No. 2016-02, “Leases (Topic 842),” a comprehensive new lease standard that amends various aspects of existing accounting guidance for leases. The core principle of this ASU will require lessees to present the assets and liabilities that arise from leases on their balance sheets. The ASU is effective for public companies for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2018, and interim periods within those fiscal years. Early adoption is permitted. The Company is evaluating the new standard to determine the impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements. In November 2015, FASB issued ASU No. 2015-17, "Income Taxes (Topic 740): Balance Sheet Classification of Deferred Taxes." The standard requires that deferred tax assets and liabilities be classified as non-current on the balance sheet rather than being separated into current and non-current. This ASU is effective for fiscal years and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2016. Early adoption is permitted and the standard may be applied either retrospectively or on a prospective basis to all deferred tax assets and liabilities. The Company has early adopted this ASU during the fourth quarter of 2015 on a retrospective basis. Accordingly, the Company reclassified the current deferred taxes to non-current on its December 31, 2015 consolidated balance sheets which increased net non-current deferred tax assets by $4.2 million , and decreased non-current deferred tax liabilities by $0.5 million . The Company reclassified the current deferred taxes to non-current on its December 31, 2014 consolidated balance sheets which increased net non-current deferred tax assets by $5.2 million , and decreased non-current deferred tax liabilities by $0.1 million . In September 2015, FASB issued ASU No. 2015-16, " Business Combinations (Topic 805)," which requires that an acquirer recognize adjustments to provisional amounts that are identified during the measurement period in the reporting period in which the adjustment amounts are determined. The amendment will be effective prospectively for reporting periods beginning on or after December 15, 2015, and early adoption is permitted. The adoption of this standard update is not expected to have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements. In July 2015, FASB issued ASU No. 2015-11, "Simplifying the Measurement of Inventory (Topic 330)," which simplifies the subsequent measurement of inventory by requiring inventory to be measured at the lower of cost and net realizable value. Net realizable value is the estimated selling price in the ordinary course of business, less reasonably predictable costs of completion, disposal and transportation. The ASU is effective for public companies for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2016, and interim periods within those fiscal years. Early adoption is permitted. The Company is evaluating the new standard to determine if this guidance will have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements. In April 2015, FASB issued ASU 2015-03, " Interest-Imputation of Interest (Subtopic 835-30): Simplifying the Presentation of Debt Issuance Costs. " This standard update requires an entity to present debt issuance costs on the balance sheet as a direct deduction from the related debt liability rather than as an asset. Amortization of the costs will continue to be reported as interest expense. The update is effective for annual reporting periods (including interim reporting periods within those periods) beginning after December 15, 2015. Early adoption is permitted for financial statements that have not been previously issued, and the new provisions will be applied retrospectively to all prior periods presented. The adoption of this standard update is not expected to have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements. In May 2014, FASB issued ASU No. 2014-09, " Revenue from Contracts with Customers ," which provides a single comprehensive model for entities to use in accounting for revenue arising from contracts with customers and will supersede most current revenue recognition guidance. The basis of the guidance is that an entity should recognize revenue to depict the transfer of promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods and services. The ASU is effective for public entities for annual and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2017. The ASU may be early adopted for annual and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2016 under U.S. generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP"), and either full or modified retrospective application is required. The Company has not yet selected a transition method and the effects of this standard on the Company's financial position, results of operations and cash flows are not yet known.

Related Party Transactions

Related Party Transactions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015
Related Party Transactions [Abstract]
Related Party Transactions	Related Party Transactions Until July 6, 2010, VPG was part of Vishay Intertechnology, and the assets and liabilities consisted of those that Vishay Intertechnology attributed to its precision measurement and foil resistor businesses. Following the spin-off on July 6, 2010, VPG is an independent, publicly-traded company, and Vishay Intertechnology does not retain any ownership interest in VPG. Subsequent to the spin-off, VPG and Vishay Intertechnology continue to share certain manufacturing locations. VPG owns one location in Japan at which it leases space to Vishay Intertechnology. Vishay Intertechnology owns one location in the United States, at which it leases space to VPG. Through July 2014, Vishay Intertechnology also leased a location in Israel to VPG. Lease receipts and payments related to the shared facilities are immaterial.

Acquisition Activity

Acquisition Activity	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015
Business Combinations [Abstract]
Acquisition Activity	Acquisition Activity Stress-Tek, Inc. On December 30, 2015, the Company completed the acquisition of Stress-Tek, Inc. ("Stress-Tek"), based in Kent, Washington, for an aggregate purchase price of $20.1 million . Stress-Tek is a designer and manufacturer of state-of-the-art, rugged and reliable strain gage-based load cells and force measurement systems primarily servicing the North American market. Their sensors and display systems are used in a wide range of industries, predominantly in transportation and trucking, for timber, refuse, aggregate, mining, and general trucking applications. Stress-Tek adds new products to the Company's Weighing and Control Systems reporting segment which enhances and broadens the Company's on-board weighing offerings with products that are recognized for high quality in their markets. The following table summarizes the preliminary fair values assigned to the assets and liabilities as of the December 30, 2015 acquisition date (in thousands): December 30, 2015 Working capital (a) $ 2,479 Property and equipment 6,338 Intangible assets: Patents and acquired technology 1,600 Non-competition agreements 60 Customer relationships 2,500 Trade names 700 Total intangible assets 4,860 Fair value of acquired identifiable assets 13,677 Purchase price $ 20,101 Goodwill $ 6,424 (a) Working capital accounts include cash, accounts receivable, inventory, prepaid expenses and other current assets, trade accounts payable, accrued payroll, and other accrued expenses. The Company utilizes certain valuations and studies to determine the fair value of the tangible and intangible assets acquired. These valuations and studies are currently being analyzed and have yet to be finalized. Accordingly, the assets and liabilities assumed, as detailed above, are subject to adjustment once the detailed analysis is completed. The Company has preliminarily determined the useful lives of the assets acquired. The estimated weighted average useful lives for the patents and acquired technology, non-competition agreements, and customer relationships are 20 , 5 , and 15 years, respectively. The Company recorded acquisition costs associated with this transaction in its consolidated statements of operations as follows (in thousands): Year ended Accounting and legal fees $ 70 Appraisal fees 62 Other 53 $ 185 George Kelk Corporation On January 31, 2013, the Company and its indirectly wholly owned subsidiary, Vishay Precision Group Canada ULC (“VPG Canada”), completed the acquisition of substantially all of the assets of the George Kelk Corporation, based in Toronto, Canada, for an aggregate purchase price of $49.0 million (CDN) ( $49.0 million USD). KELK engineers, designs and manufactures highly accurate electronic measurement and control equipment used by metals rolling mills and mining applications throughout the world. This acquisition expands the Company’s geographic and end market strength in the metals measurement processing market and adds new products to the Company’s Weighing and Control Systems reporting segment. For financial reporting purposes, the results of operations for this business have been included in the Weighing and Control Systems reporting segment beginning February 1, 2013. The amount of net revenues and net losses of VPG Canada included in the consolidated statements of operations were as follows (in thousands) : Year ended Net revenues $ 31,114 Net loss attributable to VPG stockholders (a) $ (1,323 ) (a) The net loss attributable to VPG stockholders includes the effect of purchase accounting adjustments, acquisition costs, restructuring costs, and intercompany interest expense. The following table summarizes the fair values assigned to the assets and liabilities as of the January 31, 2013 acquisition date (in thousands): Working capital (a) $ 7,400 Property and equipment 2,100 Intangible assets: Patents and acquired technology 4,300 Non-competition agreements 200 Customer relationships 12,200 In-process research and development 1,000 Trade names 1,600 Total intangible assets 19,300 Fair value of acquired identifiable assets 28,800 Purchase price $ 49,000 Goodwill $ 20,200 (a) Working capital accounts include accounts receivable, inventory, prepaid expenses and other current assets, net deferred tax assets, trade accounts payable, accrued payroll, other accrued expenses, and non-current deferred tax liability. The weighted average useful lives for patents and acquired technology, non-competition agreements and customer relationships are 17 , 5 , and 15 years , respectively. In-process research and development and trade names are treated as indefinite-lived intangible assets. Seventy-five percent of the goodwill associated with this transaction is deductible for income tax purposes. The Company recorded acquisition costs in its consolidated statements of operations as follows (in thousands) : Year ended Accounting and legal fees $ 652 Appraisal fees 84 Other 58 $ 794

Goodwill and Other Intangible A

Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015
Goodwill and Intangible Assets Disclosure [Abstract]
Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets	Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets Goodwill represents the excess of the cost of businesses acquired over the fair value of the net assets acquired at the date of acquisition. The Company has recorded preliminary goodwill of $6.4 million associated with the acquisition of Stress-Tek on December 30, 2015. As described in Note 3, this balance is preliminary and is subject to change based on finalizing the fair value of the assets and liabilities acquired. The remaining balance of goodwill at December 31, 2015 is a result of the goodwill associated with the acquisition of KELK. In accordance with ASC subtopic 350-20-35, Goodwill - Subsequent Measurements, goodwill must be tested for impairment on an annual basis, or more frequently if events or changes in circumstances indicate that the asset might be impaired. There has been a slow-down in the steel industry due to excess capacity, particularly in China, which impacted the Company's KELK business reporting unit. As a result of the presence of indicators of impairment in the unit having goodwill, during the third quarter of 2015 the Company performed an interim impairment test for the unit's goodwill. The Company performed the first step of the two-step impairment test as of the last day of the fiscal 2015 third quarter by calculating the fair value of the unit and comparing it against its carrying amount. The Company estimated the fair value of its reporting unit by considering both an income approach and a market approach to valuation. The income approach to valuation used the Company’s estimates of the future cash flows of the reporting unit discounted to their net present value applying a discount rate determined using the capital asset pricing model and adjusted for the forecast risk inherent in the Company’s projections of future cash flows. The income approach to valuation is dependent on inputs from management such as expected revenue growth, profitability, capital expenditures and working capital requirements. The market approach to valuation used the market capitalization of public companies similar to the reporting unit to calculate an implied EBITDA multiple. The Company applied that calculated EBITDA multiple to the expected EBITDA of the reporting unit to estimate the fair value of the reporting unit. Both of these approaches to estimating the fair value of the unit use inputs that are considered “Level 3” inputs to the fair value estimate (see Note 15 for a definition of Level 3 valuation inputs within the fair value hierarchy). The Company equally weighted the results of the income approach and the market approach to arrive at the estimated fair value of the reporting unit. After completing step one, the Company determined that the carrying amount of the reporting unit exceeded its fair value. Therefore, the Company performed the second step of the goodwill impairment test. To measure the amount of the impairment, the Company preliminarily estimated the implied fair value of goodwill in the same manner as if the Company had acquired that reporting unit. The Company allocated the fair value of the reporting unit to all of the assets of that unit, including any unrecognized intangible assets, in a hypothetical calculation that yielded the implied fair value of goodwill. The impairment loss is measured as the difference between the book value of the goodwill and the implied fair value of the goodwill computed in step two. Based on the preliminary results of the second step of the goodwill impairment test, the Company determined that goodwill was impaired and recorded a $4.8 million impairment charge in the third quarter of 2015. The Company finalized the second step of the goodwill impairment test during the fourth quarter of 2015 and it was determined that no additional impairment needed to be recorded. In 2014, as a result of its annual impairment test, the Company recorded an impairment charge of $4.6 million in the fourth quarter of 2014 associated with its KELK business. The determination of the fair value of the reporting unit and the allocation of that value to individual assets and liabilities within the reporting unit requires the Company to make significant estimates and assumptions. These estimates and assumptions include the selection of appropriate peer group companies, control premiums appropriate for acquisitions in the industries in which the Company competes, the discount rate, terminal growth rates, and forecasts of revenue, operating income, depreciation and amortization, and capital expenditures. Due to the inherent uncertainty involved in making these estimates, actual financial results could differ from those estimates. Changes in assumptions concerning future financial results or other underlying assumptions could have a significant impact on either the fair value of the reporting unit or the amount of the goodwill impairment charges. The change in the carrying amount of goodwill by segment is as follows ( in thousands) : Total Weighing and Control Systems Segment KELK Acquisition Stress-Tek Acquisition Balance at January 1, 2013 $ — $ — $ — Goodwill acquired 20,200 20,200 — Foreign currency translation adjustment (1,320 ) (1,320 ) — Balance at December 31, 2013 $ 18,880 $ 18,880 $ — Impairment charges (4,612 ) (4,612 ) — Foreign currency translation adjustment (1,480 ) (1,480 ) — Balance at December 31, 2014 $ 12,788 $ 12,788 $ — Goodwill acquired 6,424 — 6,424 Impairment charges (4,761 ) (4,761 ) — Foreign currency translation adjustment (1,848 ) (1,848 ) — Balance at December 31, 2015 $ 12,603 $ 6,179 $ 6,424 Intangible assets were as follows (in thousands) : December 31, 2015 2014 Intangible assets subject to amortization (Definite-lived): Patents and acquired technology $ 8,499 $ 7,599 Customer relationships 17,395 16,734 Trade names 1,688 1,722 Non-competition agreements 11,297 11,687 38,879 37,742 Accumulated amortization: Patents and acquired technology (3,629 ) (3,477 ) Customer relationships (7,288 ) (6,772 ) Trade names (1,668 ) (1,677 ) Non-competition agreements (10,371 ) (9,906 ) (22,956 ) (21,832 ) Net intangible assets subject to amortization $ 15,923 $ 15,910 Intangible assets not subject to amortization (Indefinite-lived): Trade names 1,680 1,376 In-process research and development 80 95 $ 17,683 $ 17,381 Certain intangible assets are subject to foreign currency translation. In conjunction with the acquisition of Stress-Tek on December 30, 2015 (see Note 3), the Company has preliminarily allocated $4.2 million of the purchase price to definite-lived intangible assets and $0.7 million to indefinite-lived intangible assets at December 31, 2015. The Company has preliminarily determined that the trade name is an indefinite-lived intangible asset. The Company performed an interim impairment test on the indefinite-lived trade names as of the last day of the fiscal 2015 third quarter, determined that there was an impairment, and recorded an impairment charge of $0.2 million . Given the current economic conditions in the steel industry, the revenue projections have come down significantly for the products utilizing the trade names, thereby impacting their fair value. The value of the trade names was determined using an income approach to valuation, whereby the Company estimated the future cash flows associated with the trade names and discounted those cash flows back to their net present value using a discount rate of 17.0% , determined using the capital asset pricing model and adjusted for the forecast risk inherent in the Company’s projections of cash flows associated with this asset. The Company’s estimates of cash flows include revenues to be generated by the products supported by the trade names and the expected profits on those product sales. This approach to determining the fair value of the trade names uses inputs that are considered Level 3 inputs to the fair value estimate. The Company's annual impairment test on the indefinite-lived trade names as of the first day of the fiscal 2014 fourth quarter determined that there was no impairment. The Company has performed an interim impairment test on the indefinite-lived in-process research and development ("IPRD") asset as of the last day of the fiscal 2015 third quarter and determined that there was no impairment. The Company recorded an impairment charge in the fourth quarter of 2014 of $0.8 million , as a result of its annual impairment test. Amortization expense was $2.1 million , $2.6 million , and $3.1 million , for the years ended December 31, 2015 , 2014 , and 2013 , respectively. Estimated annual amortization expense for each of the next five years is as follows (in thousands) : 2016 $ 1,577 2017 1,582 2018 1,367 2019 1,187 2020 1,184 As part of certain acquisitions, the Company entered into non-competition agreements with certain employees, former employees, and owners of acquired companies. Some payments under these agreements are made over the non-competition period. Pursuant to these agreements, at December 31, 2015 and 2014 , the Company had liabilities of $0.0 million and $0.2 million , respectively, recorded in other liabilities in the consolidated balance sheets.

Restructuring Costs

Restructuring Costs	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015
Restructuring and Related Activities [Abstract]
Restructuring Costs	Restructuring Costs Restructuring costs reflect the cost reduction programs implemented by the Company. Restructuring costs are expensed during the period in which the Company determines it will incur those costs and all requirements for accrual are met. Because these costs are recorded based upon estimates, actual expenditures for the restructuring activities may differ from the initially recorded costs. If the initial estimates are too low or too high, the Company could be required to either record additional expense in future periods or to reverse part of the previously recorded charges. On November 16, 2015, the Company announced a cost reduction program as part of its efforts to improve efficiency and operating performance. The cash cost of this program, primarily severance, is expected to be approximately $4.0 million . Approximately $3.6 million was recorded during the fourth quarter of 2015. Complete implementation of this program is expected to occur by the end of the second quarter of 2017. The Company recorded restructuring costs of $4.5 million , $0.7 million , and $0.5 million during the years ended December 31, 2015 , 2014 , and 2013 , respectively. Restructuring costs were comprised of employee termination costs, including severance and statutory retirement allowances, and were incurred in connection with various cost reduction programs. The following table summarizes the activity to date related to these programs. The accrued restructuring liability balance as of December 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively, is included in other accrued expenses in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets (in thousands) : Restructuring charges in 2013 $ 538 Cash payments (464 ) Foreign currency translation (23 ) Balance at December 31, 2013 $ 51 Restructuring charges in 2014 668 Adjustment 8 Cash payments (367 ) Foreign currency translation (9 ) Balance at December 31, 2014 $ 351 Restructuring charges in 2015 4,461 Cash payments (1,964 ) Foreign currency translation (21 ) Balance at December 31, 2015 $ 2,827

Income Taxes

Income Taxes	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]
Income Taxes	Income Taxes For financial reporting purposes, income before taxes includes the following components (in thousands) : Years ended December 31, 2015 2014 2013 Domestic $ (4,874 ) $ (3,575 ) $ (4,212 ) Foreign 5,380 9,446 9,955 $ 506 $ 5,871 $ 5,743 The expense (benefit) for income taxes is comprised of (in thousands) : Years ended December 31, 2015 2014 2013 Current: Federal $ 492 $ 1,934 $ 127 State and local (12 ) 36 164 Foreign 3,007 4,205 3,181 3,487 6,175 3,472 Deferred: Federal 10,039 (3,376 ) 586 State and local 630 (46 ) (35 ) Foreign (656 ) (140 ) (2,772 ) 10,013 (3,562 ) (2,221 ) Total income tax expense $ 13,500 $ 2,613 $ 1,251 A reconciliation of income tax expense (benefit) at the U.S. federal statutory income tax rate to the actual income tax provision is as follows (in thousands) : Years ended December 31, 2015 2014 2013 Tax at statutory rate $ 177 $ 2,055 $ 2,010 State income taxes, net of U.S. federal tax benefit 383 (10 ) 83 Effect of foreign operations 803 (1,026 ) (1,657 ) Residual U.S. tax on foreign earnings — 2,426 (190 ) Change in valuation allowance 12,309 (1,361 ) 2,113 Change in unrecognized tax benefits, net 12 273 150 Impairment of goodwill and indefinite-lived intangibles 360 303 — Specialty tax credits (216 ) (362 ) (341 ) Statutory rate changes 114 (166 ) (1,324 ) Other (442 ) 481 407 Total income tax expense $ 13,500 $ 2,613 $ 1,251 Deferred income taxes reflect the net tax effects of temporary differences between the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities for financial reporting purposes and the amounts for income tax purposes. Significant components of the Company’s deferred tax assets and liabilities are as follows (in thousands) : December 31, 2015 2014 Deferred tax assets: Pension and other postretirement costs $ 4,843 $ 5,093 Inventories 2,275 2,286 Net operating/capital loss carryforwards 9,482 7,362 Tax credit carryforwards 4,712 4,550 Deferred compensation 2,392 2,055 Other accruals and reserves 3,480 3,704 Intangible assets, including tax deductible goodwill 784 — Total gross deferred tax assets 27,968 25,050 Less: valuation allowance (19,144 ) (5,768 ) 8,824 19,282 Deferred tax liabilities: Tax over book depreciation (255 ) (508 ) Intangible assets, including tax deductible goodwill — (166 ) Total gross deferred tax liabilities (255 ) (674 ) Net deferred tax assets $ 8,569 $ 18,608 During the fourth quarter of 2015, the Company established a valuation allowance with respect to substantially all of its U.S. deferred tax assets due to uncertainty regarding the realization of these assets. The Company analyzes its ability to realize its deferred tax assets on a regular basis, including a review of both positive and negative evidence regarding realization. The most significant negative evidence is cumulative operating losses in the U.S. In addition, our recent Stress-Tek acquisition will result in additional interest expense and will generate significant tax deductions in future years. Both the cumulative losses and additional deductions make utilization of our U.S. net operating loss and foreign tax credit carryforwards uncertain. The Company also considered positive evidence such as tax planning strategies and the projected benefits of our restructuring efforts. However, there was insufficient positive evidence to overcome the negative evidence. We will continue to monitor the realization of U.S. deferred tax assets and reduce the valuation allowance if, and when, sufficient positive evidence of realization exists. At December 31, 2015, the valuation allowance on U.S. deferred tax assets was approximately $16.7 million . The Company also has valuation allowances of $2.5 million at December 31, 2015 with respect to certain foreign net operating loss and capital loss carryforwards. At December 31, 2014, the Company had valuation allowances of $5.8 million with respect to state net operating losses, certain foreign net operating loss and capital loss carryforwards, and a partial valuation allowance with respect to U.S. foreign tax credits. Significant valuation allowances are as follows (in thousands) : December 31, Jurisdiction 2015 2014 U.S. federal $ 12,454 $ 365 U.S. state (net of U.S. federal tax benefit) 4,206 3,034 Israel - capital losses 1,783 1,799 The following table summarizes significant net operating losses and credit carryforwards as of December 31, 2015 (in thousands): December 31, Jurisdiction 2015 Expiring U.S. federal net operating losses $ 4,826 2035 U.S. foreign tax credit 4,411 2020-2024 U.S state net operating losses 50,038 2023-2035 Israel net operating losses 17,835 No expiration Undistributed earnings of the Company’s foreign subsidiaries amounted to approximately $89.2 million at December 31, 2015 compared to $101.5 million at December 31, 2014 . Substantially all of the undistributed earnings are considered to be indefinitely reinvested and accordingly, no provision has been made for U.S. federal and state income taxes. If those earnings were distributed to the U.S., the Company could be subject to U.S. income taxes, state income taxes, incremental foreign income taxes, and withholding taxes. Determination of the amount of unrecognized deferred U.S. income tax liability is not practicable because of the uncertainty regarding the timing of any such distribution, the impact on existing valuation allowances, and complexities associated with the U.S. foreign tax credit rules. Withholding taxes of approximately $14.5 million are estimated to be payable upon remittance of all previously unremitted earnings as of December 31, 2015 . Net income taxes paid were $4.5 million , $3.1 million , and $3.4 million for the years ended December 31, 2015 , 2014 , and 2013 , respectively. The Company and its subsidiaries are subject to income taxes imposed by the U.S., various states, and the foreign jurisdictions in which we operate. Each jurisdiction has its own rules that determine which years are subject to examination by its tax authorities. While the Company believes the tax positions taken on its tax returns for each jurisdiction are supportable, they may still be challenged by the jurisdiction's tax authorities. In anticipation of such challenges, the Company has established reserves for tax-related uncertainties. These liabilities are based on the Company’s best estimate of the potential tax exposures in each respective jurisdiction. It may take a number of years for a tax liability in a jurisdiction to be finally determined, particularly in the event of an audit. If the matter is determined favorably, there could be a reduction in the Company’s tax expense. An unfavorable determination could increase tax expense and could require a cash payment, including interest and penalties. Since the Company and its affiliates have been included in tax returns filed by Vishay Intertechnology, our former parent, for periods prior to, and including, July 6, 2010, the Company has joint and several liability in multiple tax jurisdictions with respect to those tax returns. Under the terms of the Tax Matters Agreement entered into with Vishay Intertechnology, they have agreed to indemnify us for any such liability including interest and penalties, and any similar liability related to U.S. federal, state, local, and foreign income taxes whether determined on a separate company, consolidated, combined, unitary, or similar basis for each tax period during which the Company or its subsidiaries were part of Vishay Intertechnology’s affiliated group. During 2015, the Company received $0.2 million from Vishay Intertechnology under this agreement. As of December 31, 2015 , the Company recorded a gross tax liability of $0.1 million , which includes interest and penalties, related to these uncertain tax positions. The Company has also recorded a corresponding receivable, net of payments received, from Vishay Intertechnology. The following table summarizes changes in the Company's gross liabilities, excluding interest and penalties, associated with unrecognized tax benefits (in thousands) : December 31, 2015 2014 2013 Balance at beginning of year $ 1,704 $ 1,373 $ 1,203 Addition based on tax positions related to current year 109 238 132 Addition based on tax positions related to prior years 13 249 78 Currency translation adjustments (29 ) (100 ) 38 Reduction for payments made (241 ) — — Reduction for lapses of statute of limitations (50 ) (56 ) (78 ) Balance before indemnification receivable 1,506 1,704 1,373 Receivable from Vishay Intertechnology for indemnification (107 ) (281 ) (350 ) Balance at end of year $ 1,399 $ 1,423 $ 1,023 The Company recognizes accrued interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits as a component of income tax expense. Related to the unrecognized tax benefits noted above, the Company accrued total penalties and interest of $0.3 million as of December 31, 2015 , none of which was included in the indemnification receivable. As of December 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013 , the Company accrued total penalties and interest of $0.5 million , of which $0.3 million and $0.4 million , respectively, were recorded within the indemnification receivable from Vishay Intertechnology. Included in the balance of unrecognized tax benefits as of December 31, 2015 , 2014 , and 2013 is $1.5 million , $1.7 million , and $1.4 million , respectively, of tax benefits that, if recognized, would impact the effective tax rate. The Company believes that it is reasonably possible that an increase in unrecognized tax benefits related to foreign exposures of between $0.1 million and $0.2 million may be necessary in 2016. As of December 31, 2015 , the Company anticipates that it is reasonably possible that it will reverse approximately $0.3 million to $0.5 million of its current unrecognized tax benefits within the calendar year due to the expiration of the statute of limitations in certain jurisdictions. In addition, the Company believes it is reasonably possible that it may recognize approximately $0.1 million to $0.3 million of current unrecognized tax benefits within the calendar year as the result of cash payments made to the taxing authorities. Approximately $0.1 million of unrecognized tax benefits the Company expects to reverse due to statute lapses are covered by the Tax Matters Agreement. Upon reversal, the Company will recognize a pretax expense and a corresponding income tax benefit. The Company and its subsidiaries file U.S. federal income tax returns, as well as income tax returns in various state, local, and foreign jurisdictions. The Company files federal, state, and local income tax returns on a combined, unitary, or stand-alone basis. The statute of limitations in those jurisdictions generally ranges from 3 to 4 years . Additionally, the Company's foreign subsidiaries file income tax returns in the countries in which they have operations and the statutes of limitations in those jurisdictions generally range from 3 to 10 years . Currently, the Company has an ongoing income tax audit in India for the years 2010 through 2013, and has been notified that an audit will be conducted in Israel for the years 2012 through 2014. As a consequence of an on-going Vishay Intertechnology audit, the Company’s Israeli subsidiary may also be subject to audit for the years 2008 through 2010.

Long-Term Debt

Long-Term Debt	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015
Debt Disclosure [Abstract]
Long-Term Debt	Long-Term Debt Long-term debt consists of the following (in thousands) : December 31, 2015 2014 2015 Credit Agreement - Revolving Facility $ 4,000 $ — 2015 Credit Agreement - U.S. Closing Date Term Facility 4,500 — 2015 Credit Agreement - U.S. Delayed Draw Term Facility 11,000 — 2015 Credit Agreement - Canadian Term Facility 9,500 — 2013 Credit Agreement - Revolving Facility — — 2013 Credit Agreement - U.S. Term Facility — 6,000 2013 Credit Agreement - Canadian Term Facility — 12,000 Exchangeable Unsecured Notes, due 2102 4,097 4,097 Other debt 614 736 33,711 22,833 Less: current portion 2,120 5,120 $ 31,591 $ 17,713 2015 Credit Agreement On December 30, 2015, the Company entered into a Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement (the “2015 Credit Agreement”) among the Company, VPG Canada, the lenders, Citizens Bank, National Association and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association as joint book-runners and JPMorgan Chase Bank, National Association as agent for such lenders (the “Agent”), pursuant to which the terms of the Company’s multi-currency, secured credit facility were revised and expanded to provide for the following facilities: (1) a secured revolving facility (the “2015 Revolving Facility”) in an aggregate principal amount of $30.0 million , with a sublimit of $10.0 million which can be used for letters of credit for the account of the Company or its U.S. and Canadian subsidiaries, the proceeds of which may be used for working capital and general corporate purposes, and a portion of which was used to fund the Stress-Tek acquisition ; (2) a secured closing date term facility for the Company (the “2015 U.S. Closing Date Term Facility”) in an aggregate principal amount of $4.5 million , the proceeds of which were used by the Company to refinance indebtedness under its existing term loan; (3) a secured delayed draw term facility for the Company (the "2015 U.S. Delayed Draw Term Facility") in an aggregate principal amount of $11.0 million , the proceeds of which were used to fund a portion of the Stress-Tek acquisition; and (4) a secured term facility for VPG Canada (the “2015 Canadian Term Facility”) in an aggregate principal amount of $9.5 million , the proceeds of which were used by VPG Canada to refinance indebtedness under its existing term loan. The aggregate principal amount of the 2015 Revolving Facility may be increased by a maximum of $15.0 million upon the request of the Company, subject to the terms of the 2015 Credit Agreement. The 2015 Credit Agreement terminates on December 30, 2020 . The term loans are being repaid in quarterly installments. Interest payable on amounts borrowed under the 2015 Revolving Facility, the 2015 U.S. Closing Date Term Facility, the 2015 U.S. Delayed Draw Term Facility, and the 2015 Canadian Term Facility (collectively, the “Facilities”) is based upon, at the Company’s option, (1) the greatest of: the Agent’s prime rate, the Federal Funds rate, or a LIBOR floor (the “Base Rate”), or (2) LIBOR plus a specified margin. An interest margin of 0.25% is added to Base Rate loans. Depending upon the Company’s leverage ratio, an interest rate margin ranging from 2.00% to 3.50% per annum is added to the applicable LIBOR rate to determine the interest payable on the Facilities. The Company is required to pay a quarterly commitment fee of 0.30% per annum to 0.50% per annum on the unused portion of the 2015 Revolving Facility, which is determined based on the Company’s leverage ratio each quarter. Additional customary fees apply with respect to letters of credit. The total interest rate at December 31, 2015 was 3.75% for the 2015 Revolving and U.S. Delayed Draw Term Facilities and 3.11% for the 2015 U.S. Closing Date Term and 2015 Canadian Term Facilities. The obligations of the Company and VPG Canada under the 2015 Credit Agreement are secured by pledges of stock in certain domestic and foreign subsidiaries, as well as guarantees by substantially all of the Company’s domestic subsidiaries and of the Company (with respect to the 2015 Canadian Term Facility). The obligations of the Company and the guarantors under the 2015 Credit Agreement are secured by substantially all the assets (excluding real estate) of the Company and such guarantors. The 2015 Canadian Term Facility is secured by substantially all the assets of VPG Canada and by a secured guarantee by the Company and its domestic subsidiaries. The 2015 Credit Agreement restricts the Company from paying cash dividends and requires the Company to comply with other customary covenants, representations, and warranties, including the maintenance of specific financial ratios. The financial maintenance covenants include a tangible net worth ratio, a leverage ratio, and a fixed charges coverage ratio, with a minimum liquidity covenant as an alternative to the fixed charges coverage ratio. The Company was in compliance with its financial maintenance covenants at December 31, 2015 . If the Company is not in compliance with any of these covenant restrictions, the credit facility could be terminated by the lenders, and all amounts outstanding pursuant to the credit facility could become immediately payable. 2013 Credit Agreement On January 29, 2013, the Company entered into an Amended and Restated Credit Agreement (the “2013 Credit Agreement”) among the Company, VPG Canada, the lenders, RBS Citizens, National Association as joint book-runner and JPMorgan Chase Bank, National Association as agent for such lenders (the “Agent”), pursuant to which the terms of the Company’s multi-currency, secured credit facility were revised and expanded to provide for the following facilities: (1) a secured revolving facility (the “2013 Revolving Facility”) in an aggregate principal amount of $15.0 million ; (2) a secured term facility for the Company (the “2013 U.S. Term Facility”) in an aggregate principal amount of $10.0 million ; and (3) a secured term facility for VPG Canada (the “2013 Canadian Term Facility”) in an aggregate principal amount of $15.0 million . The 2013 Credit Agreement was terminated on December 30, 2015 . Interest payable on amounts borrowed under the 2013 Revolving Facility, the 2013 U.S. Term Facility and the 2013 Canadian Term Facility (collectively, the “Facilities”) was based upon LIBOR plus a specified margin. The Company was required to pay a quarterly commitment fee of 0.30% per annum to 0.50% per annum on the unused portion of the 2013 Revolving Facility. The total interest rate was 2.76% at December 31, 2014. Other Lines of Credit In addition to the 2015 and 2013 Revolving Facilities discussed above, certain subsidiaries of the Company had committed short-term lines of credit with various foreign banks aggregating approximately $3.0 million and $3.9 million at December 31, 2015 and 2014 , respectively. There are no outstanding balances related to these arrangements. Exchangeable Unsecured Notes, due 2102 By reason of the spin-off, Vishay Intertechnology was required to take action so that the existing exchangeable notes of Vishay Intertechnology were deemed exchanged as of the date of the spin-off, for a combination of new notes of Vishay Intertechnology and notes issued by VPG. VPG assumed the liability for an aggregate $10.0 million principal amount of exchangeable notes effective July 6, 2010. The maturity date of the notes is December 13, 2102 . The notes are subject to a put and call agreement under which the holders may at any time put the notes to the Company in exchange for shares of the Company’s common stock, and the Company may call the notes in exchange for cash or for shares of its common stock at any time after January 1, 2018. The put/call rate of the VPG notes is $22.57 per share of common stock. Effective August 28, 2013, a holder of the Company's exchangeable notes exercised its option to exchange approximately $5.9 million principal amount of the notes for 259,687 shares of VPG common stock. Following this transaction, VPG has outstanding exchangeable unsecured notes with a principal amount of approximately $4.1 million , which are exchangeable for an aggregate of 181,537 shares of VPG common stock. (See also Note 13). The notes bear interest at LIBOR . Interest is payable quarterly on March 31, June 30, September 30, and December 31 of each calendar year. The total interest rate was 0.61% at December 31, 2015 . Other Debt Other debt consists of debt held by VPG’s Japanese subsidiary and is payable monthly over the next 6 years at a zero percent interest rate. Aggregate annual maturities of long-term debt are as follows (in thousands) : 2016 $ 2,120 2017 2,620 2018 3,870 2019 5,120 2020 15,870 Thereafter 4,111 Interest paid on third-party debt was $0.6 million , $0.8 million , and $0.7 million during the years ended December 31, 2015 , 2014 , and 2013 , respectively.

Stockholders' Equity

Stockholders' Equity	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015
Stockholders' Equity Note [Abstract]
Stockholders' Equity	Stockholders’ Equity The Company’s Class B convertible common stock carries ten votes per share. The common stock carries one vote per share. Class B shares are transferable only to certain permitted transferees while the common stock is freely transferable. Class B shares are convertible on a one -for- one basis at any time into shares of common stock. Transfers of Class B shares other than to permitted transferees result in the automatic conversion of the Class B shares into common stock. The Board of Directors may only declare dividends or other distributions with respect to the common stock or the Class B convertible common stock if it grants such dividends or distributions in the same amount per share with respect to the other class of stock. As discussed in Note 7, the Company is restricted from paying cash dividends. Stock dividends or distributions, on any class of stock, are payable only in shares of stock of that class. Shares of either common stock or Class B convertible common stock cannot be split, divided, or combined unless the other is also split, divided, or combined equally. The Board of Directors is authorized, without further stockholder approval, to issue from time to time up to an aggregate of 1,000,000 shares of preferred stock in one or more series. The Board of Directors may fix or alter the designation, preferences, rights and any qualification, limitations, restrictions of the shares of any series, including the dividend rights, dividend rates, conversion rights, voting rights, redemption terms and prices, liquidation preferences and the number of shares constituting any series. No shares of the Company’s preferred stock are currently outstanding. On September 23, 2014, the Board of Directors approved a stock repurchase plan, authorizing the Company to repurchase, in the aggregate, up to 500,000 shares of its outstanding common stock. On May 21, 2015, the Board of Directors approved an increase in the shares of the Company's outstanding common stock available for repurchase, in the aggregate, from 500,000 shares to 2,000,000 shares. The stock repurchase plan will expire in May 2016. The stock repurchase plan does not obligate the Company to acquire any particular amount of common stock, and it may be terminated or suspended at any time at the Company's direction. The Company repurchased 617,667 and 2,000 shares of its common stock during the fiscal years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively. Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) The cumulative balance of each component of other comprehensive income (loss) and the income tax effects allocated to each component are as follows (in thousands) : Beginning Before-Tax Tax Net-of-Tax Ending December 31, 2013 Pension and other postretirement actuarial items $ (3,939 ) $ 1,888 $ (353 ) $ 1,535 $ (2,404 ) Reclassification adjustment for recognition of actuarial items 191 (52 ) 139 139 Foreign currency translation adjustment (9,277 ) (4,465 ) — (4,465 ) (13,742 ) $ (13,216 ) $ (2,386 ) $ (405 ) $ (2,791 ) $ (16,007 ) December 31, 2014 Pension and other postretirement actuarial items $ (2,265 ) $ (3,357 ) $ 782 $ (2,575 ) $ (4,840 ) Reclassification adjustment for recognition of actuarial items 60 (23 ) 37 37 Foreign currency translation adjustment (13,742 ) (8,015 ) — (8,015 ) (21,757 ) $ (16,007 ) $ (11,312 ) $ 759 $ (10,553 ) $ (26,560 ) December 31, 2015 Pension and other postretirement actuarial items $ (4,803 ) $ 141 $ (21 ) $ 120 $ (4,683 ) Reclassification adjustment for recognition of actuarial items 304 (38 ) 266 266 Foreign currency translation adjustment (21,757 ) (6,947 ) — (6,947 ) (28,704 ) $ (26,560 ) $ (6,502 ) $ (59 ) $ (6,561 ) $ (33,121 ) Reclassifications of pension and other postretirement actuarial items out of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) are included in the computation of net periodic benefit cost (see Note 9).

Pensions and Other Postretireme

Pensions and Other Postretirement Benefits Pensions and Other Postretirement Benefits (Notes)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015
Compensation and Retirement Disclosure [Abstract]
Pension and Other Postretirement Benefits	Pensions and Other Postretirement Benefits Defined Benefit Plans Employees of the Company participate in various defined benefit pension and other postretirement benefit plans. U.S. Pension Plan The Vishay Precision Group Non-Qualified Retirement Plan, like all nonqualified plans, is considered to be unfunded. The Company maintains a nonqualified trust, referred to as a “rabbi” trust, to fund benefits under this plan. Rabbi trust assets are subject to creditor claims under certain conditions and are not the property of employees. Therefore, they are accounted for as other noncurrent assets within the consolidated balance sheets. The assets held in the rabbi trust are invested in money market funds and company-owned life insurance policies. The consolidated balance sheets include assets held in trust related to the nonqualified pension plan of $1.6 million at December 31, 2015 and $1.7 million at December 31, 2014 , and the related liabilities of $2.0 million and $2.1 million at December 31, 2015 and 2014 , respectively. The Vishay Precision Group Non-Qualified Retirement Plan is frozen. Accordingly, no new employees may participate in the plan, no further participant contributions are permitted, and no further benefits accrue. Benefits accumulated prior to the freezing of the U.S. pension plan will be paid to employees upon retirement, and the Company will likely need to make additional cash contributions to the rabbi trust to fund this accumulated benefit obligation. Non-U.S. Pension Plans The Company provides pension and similar benefits to employees of certain non-U.S. subsidiaries consistent with local practices. Pension benefits earned are generally based on years of service and compensation during active employment. Other Postretirement Benefit Plans In the U.S., the Company maintains two unfunded non-pension other postretirement benefit plans (“OPEB”) which are funded as costs are incurred. These plans provide medical and death benefits to retirees. The following table sets forth a reconciliation of the benefit obligation, plan assets, and funded status related to pension and other postretirement benefit plans (in thousands) : December 31, 2015 December 31, 2014 Pension OPEB Pension OPEB Change in benefit obligation: Benefit obligation at beginning of year $ 24,655 $ 3,331 $ 22,351 $ 2,826 Service cost (adjusted for actual employee contributions) 413 88 417 62 Interest cost 857 126 938 131 Contributions by participants 44 — 53 — Actuarial (gains) losses (413 ) 72 3,409 534 Benefits paid (1,223 ) (244 ) (978 ) (222 ) Curtailments and settlements (14 ) — — — Currency translation (971 ) — (1,535 ) — Benefit obligation at end of year $ 23,348 $ 3,373 $ 24,655 $ 3,331 Change in plan assets: Fair value of plan assets at beginning of year $ 15,697 $ — $ 15,354 $ — Actual return on plan assets 194 — 875 — Company contributions 1,160 244 1,349 222 Contributions by participants 44 — 53 — Benefits paid (1,223 ) (244 ) (978 ) (222 ) Curtailments and settlements (14 ) — — — Currency translation (736 ) — (956 ) — Fair value of plan assets at end of year $ 15,122 $ — $ 15,697 $ — Funded status at end of year $ (8,226 ) $ (3,373 ) $ (8,958 ) $ (3,331 ) Amounts recognized in the consolidated balance sheets consist of the following pretax amounts (in thousands) : December 31, 2015 December 31, 2014 Pension OPEB Pension OPEB Accrued pension and other postretirement costs $ (8,226 ) $ (3,373 ) $ (8,958 ) $ (3,331 ) Unrecognized actuarial gains and losses arise from several factors, including experience and assumption changes with respect to the obligations and from the difference between expected returns and actual returns on plan assets. Actuarial items consist of the following (in thousands) : December 31, 2015 December 31, 2014 Pension OPEB Pension OPEB Unrecognized net actuarial loss $ 4,950 $ 1,138 $ 5,375 $ 1,139 Unrecognized prior service cost 2 — 2 — Unamortized transition obligation 4 — 5 — $ 4,956 $ 1,138 $ 5,382 $ 1,139 The following table sets forth additional information regarding the projected and accumulated benefit obligations for the pension plans (in thousands) : December 31, 2015 2014 Accumulated benefit obligation, all plans $ 21,931 $ 23,760 Plans for which the accumulated benefit obligation exceeds plan assets: Projected benefit obligation $ 22,274 $ 23,678 Accumulated benefit obligation 21,256 23,160 Fair value of plan assets 14,204 14,890 Unrecognized gains and losses are amortized into future net periodic pension cost using the 10% corridor method over the expected remaining service life of the employee group. The following table sets forth the components of net periodic cost of pension and other postretirement benefit plans (in thousands) : Years ended December 31, 2015 2014 2013 Pension OPEB Pension OPEB Pension OPEB Annual service cost $ 457 $ 88 $ 470 $ 62 $ 506 $ 77 Less: employee contributions 44 — 53 — 53 — Net service cost 413 88 417 62 453 77 Interest cost 857 126 938 131 860 114 Expected return on plan assets (656 ) — (789 ) — (605 ) — Amortization of actuarial losses 232 72 26 33 166 23 Amortization of transition obligation 1 — 1 — 4 — Curtailment and settlement losses 1 — — — — — Net periodic benefit cost $ 848 $ 286 $ 593 $ 226 $ 878 $ 214 See Note 8 for the pretax, tax effect, and after tax amounts included in other comprehensive income during the years ended December 31, 2015 , 2014 , and 2013 . The estimated actuarial items that will be amortized from accumulated other comprehensive loss into net periodic pension cost during 2016 is $0.3 million . The following weighted-average assumptions were used to determine benefit obligations at December 31 of the respective years: 2015 2014 Pension OPEB Pension OPEB Discount rate 3.65 % 3.98 % 3.56 % 3.69 % Rate of compensation increase 2.82 % N/A 2.70 % N/A Expected return on plan assets 4.47 % N/A 4.19 % N/A The following weighted-average assumptions were used to determine the net periodic pension costs for the years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014 : 2015 2014 Pension OPEB Pension OPEB Discount rate 3.56 % 3.69 % 4.22 % 4.57 % Rate of compensation increase 2.70 % N/A 3.56 % N/A Expected return on plan assets 4.19 % N/A 5.05 % N/A Health care trend rate N/A 7.52 % N/A 5.10 % The health care trend ultimate rate is 4.20% per the terms of the plan. The impact of a one-percentage-point change in assumed health care cost trend rates on the net periodic benefit cost and postretirement benefit obligation is not material. The plans’ expected return on assets is based on management’s expectation of long-term average rates of return to be achieved by the underlying investment portfolios. In establishing this assumption, management considers historical and expected returns for the asset classes in which the plans are invested, advice from pension consultants and investment advisors, and current economic and capital market conditions. The investment mix between equity securities and fixed income securities is based upon achieving a desired return, balancing higher return, more volatile equity securities, and lower return, less volatile fixed income securities. The target allocation of plan assets approximates the actual allocation of plan assets at December 31, 2015 and 2014 . Plan assets are comprised of: December 31, 2015 December 31, 2014 Pension OPEB Pension OPEB Equity securities 56 % — 53 % — Fixed income securities 38 % — 41 % — Cash and cash equivalents 6 % — 6 % — Total 100 % — 100 % — The Company maintains defined benefit retirement plans in certain of its subsidiaries. The assets of the plans are measured at fair value. Equity securities held by the defined benefit retirement plans consist of equity securities that are valued based on quoted market prices on the last business day of the year. The fair value measurement of the equity securities is considered a Level 1 measurement within the fair value hierarchy. Fixed income securities held by the defined benefit retirement plans consist of government bonds and corporate notes that are valued based on quoted market prices on the last business day of the year. The fair value measurement of the fixed income securities is considered a Level 1 measurement within the fair value hierarchy. Cash held by the defined benefit retirement plans consists of deposits on account in various financial institutions. The carrying amount of the cash approximates its fair value. A summary of the Company’s pension plan assets for each fair value hierarchy level are as follows for the periods presented (see Note 15 for further description of the levels within the fair value hierarchy (in thousands)) : As of December 31, 2015 Fair value measurements at reporting date using: Total Fair Value Level 1 Inputs Level 2 Inputs Level 3 Inputs Defined benefit pension plan assets Equity securities $ 8,522 $ 8,522 $ — $ — Fixed income securities 5,670 5,670 — — Cash and cash equivalents 930 930 — — $ 15,122 $ 15,122 $ — $ — As of December 31, 2014 Fair value measurements at reporting date using: Total Fair Value Level 1 Inputs Level 2 Inputs Level 3 Inputs Defined benefit pension plan assets Equity securities $ 8,338 $ 8,338 $ — $ — Fixed income securities 6,482 6,482 — — Cash and cash equivalents 877 877 — — $ 15,697 $ 15,697 $ — $ — Estimated future benefit payments are as follows (in thousands) : Pension OPEB 2016 $ 737 $ 217 2017 635 213 2018 678 163 2019 647 183 2020 642 197 2021 - 2025 4,503 1,245 The Company anticipates making contributions to its funded and unfunded pension and postretirement benefit plans of approximately $1.4 million during 2016. Other Retirement Obligations The Company participates in various other defined contribution and government-mandated retirement plans based on local law or custom. The Company periodically makes required contributions for certain of these plans. At December 31, 2015 and 2014 , the consolidated balance sheets include $0.7 million and $0.8 million , respectively, within accrued pension and other postretirement costs related to these plans. Most of the Company’s U.S. employees are eligible to participate in 401(k) savings plans which provide company matching under various formulas. The Company’s matching expense for the plans was $0.6 million , $0.6 million , and $0.7 million for the years ended December 31, 2015 , 2014 , and 2013 , respectively. No material amounts are included in the consolidated balance sheets related to unfunded 401(k) contributions. Certain key employees participate in a nonqualified deferred compensation plan, which allows these employees to defer a portion of their compensation until retirement, or elect shorter deferral periods. The accompanying consolidated balance sheets include a liability within other noncurrent liabilities related to these deferrals. The Company maintains a nonqualified trust, referred to as a “rabbi” trust, to fund payments under this plan. Rabbi trust assets are subject to creditor claims under certain conditions and are not the property of employees. Therefore, they are accounted for as other noncurrent assets within the consolidated balance sheets. The assets held in the rabbi trust are invested in money market funds and company-owned life insurance policies. The consolidated balance sheets include assets held in trust related to the nonqualified deferred compensation plan of $3.1 million at December 31, 2015 and $3.0 million at December 31, 2014 , and the related liabilities of $3.8 million and $3.7 million at December 31, 2015 and 2014 , respectively.

Share-Based Compensation

Share-Based Compensation	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015
Disclosure of Compensation Related Costs, Share-based Payments [Abstract]
Share-Based Compensation	Share-Based Compensation The Amended and Restated Vishay Precision Group, Inc. Stock Incentive Plan (as amended and restated, the “Plan”) permits the issuance of up to 1,000,000 shares of common stock. At December 31, 2015 , the Company had reserved 484,766 shares of common stock for future grant of equity awards (restricted stock, unrestricted stock, restricted stock units (“RSUs”), or stock options). If any outstanding awards are forfeited by the holder or cancelled by the Company, the underlying shares would be available for future grants under the Plan. Stock Options In connection with the spin-off, VPG agreed to issue certain replacement awards to VPG employees holding equity-based awards of Vishay Intertechnology based on VPG’s common stock. The vesting schedule, expiration date, and other terms of these awards are generally the same as those of the Vishay Intertechnology equity-based awards they replaced. The following table summarizes the Company’s stock option activity (number of options in thousands) : Years ended December 31, 2015 2014 2013 Number Weighted Number Weighted Number Weighted Outstanding: Beginning of year 18 $ 18.92 27 $ 18.06 32 $ 18.03 Granted — — — — — — Exercised — — (4 ) 11.92 — — Expired — — (5 ) 20.58 (5 ) 17.87 End of year 18 $ 18.92 18 $ 18.92 27 $ 18.06 Vested and expected to vest 18 18 27 Exercisable: End of year 18 18 27 The following table summarizes information concerning stock options outstanding and exercisable at December 31, 2015 (number of options in thousands) : Ranges of Exercise Prices Options Outstanding Options Exercisable Number of Options Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Life Weighted Average Exercise Price Number of Options Weighted Average Exercise Price $18.92 18 1.16 $ 18.92 18 $ 18.92 The fair value of each option award is estimated on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model. There were no options granted in 2015 , 2014 , or 2013 . The pretax aggregate intrinsic value (the difference between the closing stock price of VPG’s common stock on the last trading day of 2015 of $11.32 per share and the exercise price, multiplied by the number of in-the-money options) that would have been received by the option holders had all option holders exercised their options on December 31, 2015 is not material, as no options were in-the-money. No options were exercised during the year ended December 31, 2015. Restricted Stock Units Pursuant to the Plan, the Company issued RSUs to board members, executive officers, and certain employees of the Company during 2014. The amount of compensation cost related to share-based payment transactions is measured based on the grant-date fair value of the equity instruments issued. VPG determines compensation cost for RSUs based on the grant-date fair value of the underlying common stock. Compensation cost is recognized over the period that the participant provides service in exchange for the award. The Company recognizes compensation cost for RSUs that are expected to vest and for which performance criteria are expected to be met. On January 20, 2015, VPG’s three executive officers at that time were granted annual equity awards in the form of RSUs, of which 75% are performance-based. The awards have an aggregate target grant-date fair value of $1.0 million and were comprised of 59,325 RSUs, as determined using the average of the closing stock prices of the Company's common stock for the last 5 trading days immediately preceding January 1, 2015. Twenty-five percent of these awards will vest on January 1, 2018 , subject to the executives' continued employment. The performance-based portion of the RSUs will also vest on January 1, 2018, subject to the satisfaction of certain performance objectives relating to three -year cumulative “free cash” and net earnings goals, each weighted equally, and their continued employment. The awards issued in 2013 and 2014 have similar allocations and vesting criteria. Effective December 23, 2015, the former Chief Technology Officer is no longer an executive officer of the Company; however, his previously granted RSUs remain in effect. On March 30, 2015, certain VPG employees were granted annual equity awards in the form of RSUs, of which 75% are performance-based. The awards have an aggregate target grant-date fair value of $0.3 million and were comprised of 21,743 RSUs. Twenty-five percent of these awards will vest on January 1, 2018 subject to the employees' continued employment. The performance-based portion of the RSUs will also vest on January 1, 2018, subject to the satisfaction of certain performance objectives relating to three -year cumulative earnings goals and cash flow goals, and their continued employment. On May 21, 2015, the Board of Directors approved the issuance of an aggregate of 13,300 RSUs to the three independent board members and to the non-executive Chairman of the Board, with a grant-date fair value of $0.2 million . These RSUs will vest on May 21, 2016. RSU activity is presented below (number of RSUs in thousands) : Years ended December 31, 2015 2014 2013 Number Weighted Number Weighted Number Weighted Outstanding: Beginning of year 236 $ 14.89 146 $ 14.72 193 $ 15.98 Granted 94 15.90 112 15.30 67 13.07 Vested (52 ) 15.93 (22 ) 15.84 (114 ) 15.88 End of year 278 $ 15.04 236 $ 14.89 146 $ 14.72 The fair value of the RSUs vested during 2015 approximates the grant-date fair value. RSUs with performance-based vesting criteria are expected to vest as follows (number of RSUs in thousands) : Vesting Date Expected to Vest Not Expected to Vest Total January 1, 2016 — 47 47 January 1, 2017 66 10 76 January 1, 2018 58 3 61 Share-Based Compensation Expense The following table summarizes pre-tax share-based compensation expense recognized (in thousands) : Years ended December 31, 2015 2014 2013 Stock options $ — $ — $ 3 Restricted stock units 1,083 1,008 740 Total $ 1,083 $ 1,008 $ 743 Share-based compensation expense is recognized ratably over the vesting period of the awards and for RSUs with performance criteria, is recognized for RSU's that are expected to vest and for which performance criteria are expected to be met. The deferred tax benefit on share-based compensation expense was $0.0 million , $0.2 million , and $0.3 million for the years ended December 31, 2015 , 2014 , and 2013 , respectively. As of December 31, 2015 , the Company had $1.4 million of unrecognized share-based compensation expense related to share-based awards that will be recognized over a weighted-average period of approximately two years.

Commitments, Contingencies, and

Commitments, Contingencies, and Concentrations	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]
Commitments Contingencies and Concentrations	Commitments, Contingencies, and Concentrations Leases The Company uses various leased facilities and equipment in its operations. In the normal course of business, operating leases are generally renewed or replaced by other leases. Certain operating leases include escalation clauses. Total rental expense under operating leases was $3.9 million , $4.1 million , and $3.8 million for the years ended December 31, 2015 , 2014 , and 2013 , respectively. Future minimum lease payments for operating leases (excluding related party leases as described in Note 2) with initial or remaining noncancellable lease terms in excess of one year are as follows (in thousands) : 2016 $ 3,023 2017 2,328 2018 1,617 2019 1,273 2020 1,009 Thereafter 1,029 Litigation The Company is subject to various legal proceedings that constitute ordinary, routine litigation incidental to its business. The Company is of the opinion that the disposition of these proceedings will not have a material adverse effect on its business or its financial condition, results of operations, and cash flows. Executive Employment Agreements The Company has employment agreements with its executive officers which outline base salary, incentive compensation, and equity-based compensation. The initial employment agreement with the Company’s President and Chief Executive Officer also provided for a special sign-on bonus of $0.4 million , which became payable on July 6, 2010, and was ratably amortized to selling, general, and administrative expense over the initial term of his employment agreement. The special sign-on bonus was fully amortized as of December 31, 2013. The employment agreements with the Company’s executive officers also provide for incremental compensation in the event of termination without cause or for good reason. Sources of Supplies Although most materials incorporated in the Company’s products are available from a number of sources, certain materials are available only from a relatively limited number of suppliers. Some of the most highly specialized materials for the Company’s sensors are sourced from a single vendor. The Company maintains a safety stock inventory of certain critical materials at its facilities. Certain metals used in the manufacture of the Company’s products are traded on active markets, and can be subject to significant price volatility. Market Concentrations No single customer comprises greater than 10% of net revenues. The vast majority of the Company’s products are used in the broad industrial market, with selected uses in military and aerospace, medical, agriculture, and construction. Within the broad industrial segment, the Company’s products serve wide applications in the waste management, bulk hauling, logging, scale manufacturing, engineering systems, pharmaceutical, oil, chemical, steel, paper, and food industries. Credit Risk Concentrations Financial instruments with potential credit risk consist principally of cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable, and notes receivable. The Company maintains cash and cash equivalents with various major financial institutions. Concentrations of credit risk with respect to receivables are generally limited due to the Company’s large number of customers and their dispersion across many countries and industries. At December 31, 2015 and 2014 , the Company had no significant concentrations of credit risk. Geographic Concentrations At December 31, 2015 and 2014 , a significant percentage of the Company’s cash and cash equivalents are held outside the United States. See the following table for the percentage of cash and cash equivalents by region at December 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014 : December 31, 2015 2014 Asia 26 % 18 % United States 10 % 27 % Israel 24 % 23 % Europe 17 % 14 % United Kingdom 13 % 10 % Canada 10 % 8 % Total 100 % 100 %

Segment and Geographic Data

Segment and Geographic Data	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015
Segment Reporting [Abstract]
Segment and Geographic Data	Segment and Geographic Data VPG reports in three product segments: the Foil Technology Products segment, the Force Sensors segment, and the Weighing and Control Systems segment. The Foil Technology Products reporting segment is comprised of the foil resistor and strain gage operating segments. The Force Sensors reporting segment is comprised of transducers, load cells, and modules. The Weighing and Control Systems reporting segment is comprised of instruments, complete systems for process control, and on-board weighing applications. VPG evaluates reporting segment performance based on multiple performance measures including gross profits, revenues, and operating income, exclusive of certain items. Management believes that evaluating segment performance, excluding items such as restructuring and severance costs, and other items is meaningful because it provides insight with respect to the intrinsic operating results of VPG. The accounting policies of the segments are the same as those described in the summary of significant accounting policies (see Note 1). Reporting segment assets are the owned or allocated assets used by each segment. Products are transferred between segments on a basis intended to reflect, as nearly as practicable, the market value of the products. The following table sets forth reporting segment information (in thousands) : Foil Technology Products Force Sensors Weighing and Control Systems Corporate/ Other Total 2015 Net third-party revenues $ 104,460 $ 61,048 $ 66,670 $ — $ 232,178 Intersegment revenues 2,400 2,105 760 (5,265 ) — Gross profit 41,640 12,510 30,079 — 84,229 Segment operating income (loss) 24,285 3,459 11,289 (35,674 ) 3,359 Acquisition costs — — 185 — 185 Impairment of goodwill and indefinite-lived intangibles — — 4,942 — 4,942 Restructuring costs 613 2,932 517 399 4,461 Depreciation and amortization expense 5,098 3,080 1,956 963 11,097 Capital expenditures 7,585 1,486 467 440 9,978 Total assets 86,709 65,445 100,015 12,132 264,301 2014 Net third-party revenues $ 107,758 $ 68,301 $ 73,969 $ — $ 250,028 Intersegment revenues 3,190 1,773 1,039 (6,002 ) — Gross profit 41,991 14,880 33,903 — 90,774 Segment operating income (loss) 23,210 5,374 11,619 (32,710 ) 7,493 Impairment of goodwill and indefinite-lived intangibles — — 5,579 — 5,579 Restructuring costs 153 — 515 — 668 Depreciation and amortization expense 5,192 3,556 2,112 876 11,736 Capital expenditures 6,156 1,801 775 359 9,091 Total assets 87,727 66,574 96,612 36,010 286,923 2013 Net third-party revenues $ 97,045 $ 64,846 $ 76,698 $ — $ 238,589 Intersegment revenues 1,989 2,140 1,175 (5,304 ) — Gross profit 37,276 13,667 32,512 — 83,455 Segment operating income (loss) 19,912 4,549 10,274 (26,671 ) 8,064 Acquisition costs — — 794 — 794 Restructuring costs 388 — 150 — 538 Depreciation and amortization expense 5,371 3,535 2,096 1,062 12,064 Capital expenditures 3,353 2,479 704 206 6,742 Total assets 84,694 70,921 108,036 31,051 294,702 The “Corporate/Other” column for segment operating income (loss) includes unallocated selling, general, and administrative expenses and certain items which management excludes from segment results when evaluating segment performance, as follows (in thousands) : Years ended December 31, 2015 2014 2013 Unallocated selling, general, and administrative expenses $ (26,086 ) $ (26,463 ) $ (25,339 ) Acquisition costs (185 ) — (794 ) Impairment of goodwill and indefinite-lived intangibles (4,942 ) (5,579 ) — Restructuring costs (4,461 ) (668 ) (538 ) $ (35,674 ) $ (32,710 ) $ (26,671 ) The following geographic data include net revenues based on revenues generated by subsidiaries located within that geographic area, and property and equipment based on physical location (in thousands) : Years ended December 31, Net Revenues 2015 2014 2013 United States $ 92,332 $ 93,004 $ 86,897 United Kingdom 30,684 36,358 32,915 Other Europe 50,857 57,014 53,691 Israel 3,435 3,661 2,226 Asia 34,893 37,916 32,410 Canada 19,977 22,075 30,450 $ 232,178 $ 250,028 $ 238,589 December 31, Property and Equipment - Net 2015 2014 United States $ 11,989 $ 5,750 United Kingdom 5,092 5,628 Other Europe 1,300 1,569 Israel 20,278 18,663 Asia 16,751 17,146 Canada and Other 1,221 1,937 $ 56,631 $ 50,693

Earnings Per Share

Earnings Per Share	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]
Earnings Per Share	Earnings Per Share Basic earnings per share are computed using the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the periods presented. Diluted earnings per share is computed using the weighted average number of common shares outstanding, adjusted to include the potentially dilutive effect of stock options and restricted stock units (see Note 10), and other potentially dilutive securities. The following table sets forth the computation of basic and diluted earnings per share attributable to VPG stockholders (in thousands, except earnings per share) : Years ended December 31, 2015 2014 2013 Numerator: Numerator for basic earnings per share: Net (loss) earnings attributable to VPG stockholders $ (13,008 ) $ 3,080 $ 4,436 Adjustment to the numerator for net earnings: Interest savings assuming conversion of dilutive exchangeable notes, net of tax — 6 15 Numerator for diluted earnings per share: Net (loss) earnings attributable to VPG stockholders $ (13,008 ) $ 3,086 $ 4,451 Denominator: Denominator for basic earnings per share: Weighted average shares 13,485 13,755 13,563 Effect of dilutive securities: Exchangeable notes — 181 311 Employee stock options — 1 1 Restricted stock units — 40 69 Dilutive potential common shares — 222 381 Denominator for diluted earnings per share: Adjusted weighted average shares 13,485 13,977 13,944 Basic (loss) earnings per share attributable to VPG stockholders $ (0.96 ) $ 0.22 $ 0.33 Diluted (loss) earnings per share attributable to VPG stockholders $ (0.96 ) $ 0.22 $ 0.32 Diluted earnings per share for the periods presented do not reflect the following weighted average potential common shares, as the effect would be antidilutive (in thousands) : Years ended December 31, 2015 2014 2013 Weighted average employee stock options 18 18 23 Weighted average exchangeable notes 181 — — Weighted average restricted stock units 36 — —

Additional Financial Statement

Additional Financial Statement Information	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]
Additional Financial Information Statement Information	Additional Financial Statement Information The caption “Other” on the consolidated statements of operations consists of the following (in thousands) : Years ended December 31, 2015 2014 2013 Foreign exchange loss $ (2,146 ) $ (945 ) $ (1,460 ) Interest income 225 261 266 Other (161 ) (56 ) (160 ) $ (2,082 ) $ (740 ) $ (1,354 ) Other accrued expenses consist of the following (in thousands) : December 31, 2015 2014 Customer advance payments $ 3,004 $ 5,167 Accrued restructuring 2,827 351 Goods received, not yet invoiced 2,332 3,265 Accrued taxes, other than income taxes 1,468 1,879 Accrued commissions 1,785 1,649 Accrued professional fees 1,874 1,465 Other 3,314 2,994 $ 16,604 $ 16,770

Fair Value Measurements

Fair Value Measurements	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015
Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]
Fair Value Measurements	Fair Value Measurements ASC Topic 820, Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures, establishes a valuation hierarchy of the inputs used to measure fair value. This hierarchy prioritizes the inputs to valuation techniques used to measure fair value into three broad levels. The following is a brief description of those three levels: Level 1: Observable inputs such as quoted prices (unadjusted) in active markets for identical assets or liabilities. Level 2: Inputs other than quoted prices that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly. These include quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in active markets and quoted prices for identical or similar assets or liabilities in markets that are not active. Level 3: Unobservable inputs that reflect the Company’s own assumptions. An asset or liability’s classification within the hierarchy is determined based on the lowest level input that is significant to the fair value measurement. The following tables provide the financial assets and liabilities carried at fair value measured on a recurring basis (in thousands) : As of December 31, 2015 Fair value measurements at reporting date using: Total Fair Value Level 1 Inputs Level 2 Inputs Level 3 Inputs Assets: Assets held in rabbi trusts $ 4,676 $ 739 $ 3,937 $ — As of December 31, 2014 Fair value measurements at reporting date using: Total Fair Value Level 1 Inputs Level 2 Inputs Level 3 Inputs Assets: Assets held in rabbi trusts $ 4,725 $ 915 $ 3,810 $ — The Company maintains nonqualified trusts, referred to as “rabbi” trusts, to fund payments under deferred compensation and nonqualified pension plans. Rabbi trust assets consist primarily of marketable securities, classified as available-for-sale money market funds at December 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014 , and company-owned life insurance assets. The marketable securities held in the rabbi trusts are valued using quoted market prices on the last business day of the year. The company-owned life insurance assets are valued in consultation with the Company’s insurance brokers using the value of underlying assets of the insurance contracts. The fair value measurement of the marketable securities held in the rabbi trust is considered a Level 1 measurement and the measurement of the company-owned life insurance assets is considered a Level 2 measurement within the fair value hierarchy. The fair value of the long-term debt at December 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014 is approximately $31.9 million and $21.7 million , respectively, compared to its carrying value of $ 33.7 million and $ 22.8 million , respectively. The Company estimates the fair value of its long-term debt using a combination of quoted market prices for similar financing arrangements and expected future payments discounted at risk-adjusted rates. The fair value measurement of long-term debt is considered a Level 2 measurement. The Company’s financial instruments include cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable, short-term notes payable, and accounts payable. The carrying amounts for these financial instruments reported in the consolidated balance sheets approximate their fair values.

Subsequent Events

Subsequent Events	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015
Subsequent Events [Abstract]
Subsequent Events	Subsequent Events Executive RSU grant On January 19, 2016, VPG’s three current executive officers were granted annual equity awards in the form of RSUs, of which 75% are performance-based. The awards have an aggregate target grant-date fair value of $1.0 million and were comprised of 86,798 RSUs, as determined using the average of the closing stock prices of the Company's common stock for the last 5 trading days immediately preceding January 1, 2016. Twenty-five percent of these awards will vest on January 1, 2019, subject to the executives continued employment. The performance-based portion of the RSUs will also vest on January 1, 2019, subject to the executives continued employment and the satisfaction of certain performance objectives relating to three -year cumulative “free cash” and net earnings goals. Restructuring Restructuring costs of $0.4 million were recorded in January 2016. These costs were comprised of employee termination costs, including severance, and exit costs. It is anticipated that the restructuring costs will be fully paid in the first quarter of 2016. In March 2016, the Company approved additional cost reduction actions to improve efficiency and operating performance. The cash cost of these actions is expected to be approximately $0.5 million which is anticipated to be completed by the third quarter of 2016.

Summary of Quarterly Financial

Summary of Quarterly Financial information (Unaudited)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015
Quarterly Financial Information Disclosure [Abstract]
Summary of Quarterly Financial Information (Unaudited)	Summary of Quarterly Financial Information (Unaudited) (in thousands, except per share amounts) 2015 (a) 2014 (a) First Second Third Fourth First Second Third Fourth Statement of Operations data: Net revenues $ 56,608 $ 59,508 $ 57,149 $ 58,913 $ 61,240 $ 65,162 $ 63,402 $ 60,224 Gross profit 20,979 21,035 21,450 20,765 21,710 24,909 23,670 20,485 Operating income (loss) 2,153 2,335 (1,711 ) 582 2,223 5,005 3,879 (3,614 ) Net earnings (loss) 847 1,460 (1,952 ) (13,349 ) 1,242 3,570 3,264 (4,818 ) Less: net (loss) earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests (13 ) (16 ) (9 ) 52 67 (8 ) 30 89 Net earnings (loss) attributable to VPG stockholders 860 1,476 (1,943 ) (13,401 ) 1,175 3,578 3,234 (4,907 ) Per Share Data: (b) Basic earnings (loss) per share $ 0.06 $ 0.11 $ (0.15 ) $ (1.02 ) $ 0.09 $ 0.26 $ 0.24 $ (0.36 ) Diluted earnings (loss) per share $ 0.06 $ 0.11 $ (0.15 ) $ (1.02 ) $ 0.08 $ 0.26 $ 0.23 $ (0.36 ) Certain Items Recorded during the Quarters: Acquisition purchase accounting adjustments $ — $ 26 $ — $ 146 $ 39 $ 2 $ 15 $ 19 Acquisition costs — — — 185 — — — — Impairment of goodwill and indefinite-lived intangibles — — 4,942 — — — — 5,579 Restructuring costs 78 304 459 3,620 324 7 144 193 Tax effect of adjustments for purchase accounting, acquisition costs, impairment charges and restructuring costs, and discrete tax items 16 41 1,081 (12,118 ) 92 2 54 (504 ) (a) The Company reports interim financial information for the 13-week periods beginning on a Sunday and ending on a Saturday, except for the first fiscal quarter, which always begins on January 1, and the fourth fiscal quarter, which always ends on December 31. The first, second, third, and fourth quarters of 2015 ended on March 28 , June 27 , September 26 , and December 31 , respectively. The first, second, third, and fourth quarters of 2014 ended on March 29 , June 28 , September 27 , and December 31 , respectively. (b) Quarterly amounts may not agree in total to the corresponding annual amounts due to rounding.

Background and Summary of Sig26

Background and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015
Accounting Policies [Abstract]
Principles of Consolidation, Policy	Principles of Consolidation The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the individual entities in which the Company maintained a controlling financial interest. For those subsidiaries in which the Company’s ownership is less than 100 percent , the outside stockholders’ interests are shown as noncontrolling interests in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets. All transactions, accounts, and profits between individual members comprising the Company have been eliminated in consolidation.
Restatement of Previously Reported Financial Information	Restatement of Previously Reported Financial Information In conjunction with the June 27, 2015 quarterly financial statement close process, the Company determined that transactions at one of its Indian subsidiaries had been recorded in their local currency, the Indian rupee, instead of their functional currency, the U.S. dollar, in prior periods. The principal line items impacted in the Indian subsidiary’s financial statements, and therefore the Company's consolidated financial statements, are inventory, property and equipment, net, depreciation expense, costs of products sold, foreign currency re-measurement gains and losses, and foreign currency translation gains and losses recorded as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income within stockholders’ equity. Consequently, the Company has restated certain prior period amounts to correct these errors. The Company has also corrected certain other identified immaterial errors related to prior periods. Based on an analysis of quantitative and qualitative factors in accordance with Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) Staff Accounting Bulletins 99 and 108, the Company concluded that these errors were not material to the consolidated financial position, results of operations, or cash flows as presented in the Company’s quarterly and annual financial statements that have been previously filed in the Company’s Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and Annual Reports on Form 10-K. As a result, amendment of such reports was not required. In preparing the Company’s consolidated financial statements for the quarterly and year to date period ended June 27, 2015 and for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2015, the Company made appropriate revisions to its financial statements for historical periods. Such changes were reflected in the financial results for the quarterly and year to date period ended June 27, 2015, and are also reflected in the historical financial results included in these consolidated financial statements.
Use of Estimates, Policy	Use of Estimates The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes. Actual results could differ significantly from those estimates.
Revenue Recognition, Policy	Revenue Recognition The Company recognizes revenue on product sales during the period when the sales process is complete. This generally occurs when products are shipped to the customer in accordance with terms of an agreement of sale, title and risk of loss have been transferred, collectability is reasonably assured, and pricing is fixed or determinable. For sales where title and risk of loss pass at the point of delivery, the Company recognizes revenue upon delivery to the customer, assuming all other criteria for revenue recognition are met. The Company has post-shipment obligations, such as customer acceptance, training, or installation, with respect to some of its larger systems products. In such circumstances, revenue is deferred until the obligation has been completed, unless such obligation is deemed inconsequential or perfunctory. Given the specialized nature of the Company’s products, it generally does not allow product returns.
Shipping and Handling Cost, Policy	Shipping and Handling Costs Shipping and handling costs are included in costs of products sold.
Research and Development Expense, Policy	Research and Development Expenses Research and development costs are expensed as incurred. The amount charged to expense for research and development was $9.6 million , $10.1 million , and $9.3 million for the years ended December 31, 2015 , 2014 , and 2013 , respectively. The Company spends additional amounts for the development of machinery and equipment for new processes, and for cost reduction measures.
Income Taxes, Policy	Income Taxes The Company accounts for income taxes under the asset and liability method, which requires the recognition of deferred tax assets and liabilities for the expected future tax consequences of events that have been included in the financial statements. Under this method, deferred tax assets and liabilities are determined based on the differences between the financial statements and tax basis of assets and liabilities using enacted tax rates in effect for the year in which the differences are expected to reverse. The effect of a change in tax rates on deferred tax assets and liabilities is recognized in income in the period that includes the enactment date. The Company records net deferred tax assets to the extent it believes these assets will more likely than not be realized. In making such a determination, the Company considers all available positive and negative evidence, including historic earnings, projected future income, and cost-effective tax-planning strategies. When the Company determines that its ability to realize its deferred tax assets is not more likely than not, the Company adjusts its deferred tax asset valuation allowance, which would increase income tax expense. The Company records uncertain tax positions in accordance with Accounting Standards Codification ("ASC") Topic 740, Income Taxes, on the basis of a two-step process whereby the Company first determines whether it is more likely than not that the tax positions will be sustained based on the technical merits of the position and then measures those tax positions that meet the more-likely-than-not recognition threshold. The Company recognizes the largest amount of tax benefit that is greater than 50 percent likely to be realized upon ultimate settlement with the tax authority. The Company recognizes interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits within the income tax expense line in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations. Accrued interest and penalties are included within the related tax liability line in the consolidated balance sheets.
Cash and Cash Equivalents, Policy	Cash and Cash Equivalents Cash and cash equivalents include demand deposits and highly liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less when purchased. Highly liquid investments with maturities greater than three months are classified as short-term investments. There were no investments classified as short-term investments at December 31, 2015 or 2014 .
Allowance For Doubtful Accounts	Allowance for Doubtful Accounts The Company maintains an allowance for doubtful accounts for estimated losses resulting from the inability of its customers to make required payments. The allowance is determined through an analysis of the aging of accounts receivable and assessments of risk that are based on historical trends and an evaluation of the impact of current and projected economic conditions. The Company evaluates the past-due status of its trade receivables based on contractual terms of sale. If the financial condition of the Company’s customers were to deteriorate, resulting in an impairment of their ability to make payments, additional allowances may be required. The allowance for doubtful accounts was $0.3 million and $0.6 million at December 31, 2015 and 2014 , respectively. Bad debt expense was $0.1 million , $0.2 million , $0.2 million for the years ended December 31, 2015 , 2014 , and 2013 , respectively.
Inventories, Policy	Inventories Inventories are stated at the lower of cost, determined by the first-in, first-out method, or market based on net realizable value. Inventories are adjusted for estimated excess and obsolescence and written down to net realizable value based upon estimates of future demand, technology developments, and market conditions.
Property and Equipment, Policy	Property and Equipment Property and equipment is carried at cost and is depreciated principally by the straight-line method based upon the estimated useful lives of the assets. Machinery and equipment are being depreciated over useful lives of seven to ten years . Buildings and building improvements are being depreciated over useful lives of twenty to forty years or the life of the leased property. Software is being depreciated over useful lives of three to five years . Construction in progress is not depreciated until the assets are placed in service. Depreciation expense was $9.0 million , $9.1 million , and $9.0 million for the years ended December 31, 2015 , 2014 , and 2013 , respectively, which included software depreciation expense of $0.8 million , $1.0 million , and $0.9 million for the years ended December 31, 2015 , 2014 , and 2013 , respectively.
Business Combinations, Policy	Business Combinations The identifiable tangible and intangible assets acquired, and liabilities assumed, are recorded at their estimated fair values. To the extent that purchase price exceeds the fair value of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed, goodwill is recorded. The results of operations of the acquired businesses are included in the Company's consolidated statements of operations from the dates of acquisition.
Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets, Policy	Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets Goodwill and indefinite-lived trade names are tested for impairment at least annually, and whenever events or changes in circumstances occur indicating that a possible impairment may have been incurred. The Company has the option to first assess qualitative factors to determine whether it is more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying amount as a basis for determining if it is necessary to perform the two-step goodwill impairment test. However, if the Company concludes otherwise, then the Company is required to perform the first step of the two-step impairment test by calculating the fair value of the reporting unit and comparing it against its carrying amount. These estimated fair values are based on financial projections, certain cash flow measures, and market information. If the carrying amount of a reporting unit exceeds its fair value, then the Company is required to perform the second step of the goodwill impairment. To measure the amount of the impairment, the Company determines the implied fair value of goodwill in the same manner as if the Company had acquired those reporting units. Specifically, the Company must allocate the fair value of the reporting unit to all of the net assets of that unit, including any unrecognized intangible assets, in a hypothetical calculation that would yield the implied fair value of goodwill. The impairment loss is measured as the difference between the book value of the goodwill and the implied fair value of the goodwill computed in step two. The Company's required goodwill annual impairment test is completed as of the first day of the fourth fiscal quarter each year. As more fully described in Note 4, an interim test for 2015 resulted in the Company recording an impairment charge in the third quarter of 2015 and the annual impairment test for 2014 resulted in the Company recording an impairment charge in the fourth quarter of 2014. There was no impairment identified through the annual impairment test which was completed in 2013. The indefinite-lived trade names are tested for impairment by comparing the carrying value to the fair value based on current revenue projections of the related operations, under the relief from royalty method. Any excess carrying value over the applicable fair value is recognized as impairment. Any impairment would be recognized in the reporting period in which it has been identified. As more fully described in Note 4, the impairment test for 2015 resulted in the Company recording an impairment charge in the third quarter of 2015. There was no impairment identified through the annual impairment tests completed in 2014 or 2013. Included in the Company's patents and acquired technology is an in-process research and development project acquired as part of the acquisition of the George Kelk Corporation ("KELK"). Until this project is ready for sale, it is analyzed as an indefinite-lived intangible asset. The Company's required annual indefinite-lived intangible asset impairment test is completed as of the first day of the fourth fiscal quarter each year. As more fully described in Note 4, the impairment test for 2014 resulted in the Company recording an impairment charge in the fourth quarter of 2014. There was no impairment identified through the annual impairment test which was completed in 2015 and 2013.
Finite-lived intangible assets, Policy	Definite-lived assets, such as customer relationships, patents and acquired technology, non-competition agreements, and certain trade names are amortized on a straight-line method over their estimated useful lives. Patents and acquired technology are being amortized over useful lives of seven to twenty years . Customer relationships are being amortized over useful lives of five to fifteen years . Trade names are being amortized over useful lives of seven to ten years . Non-competition agreements are being amortized over periods of five to ten years . The Company continually evaluates the reasonableness of the useful lives of these assets. Additionally, the Company reviews the carrying values of these assets for possible impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value of an asset may not be recoverable based on undiscounted estimated cash flows expected to result from its use and eventual disposition.
Impairment of Long-Lived Assets, Policy	Impairment of Long-Lived Assets The carrying value of long-lived assets held-and-used, other than goodwill and other intangible assets, is evaluated when events or changes in circumstances indicate the carrying value may not be recoverable. The carrying value of a long-lived asset group is considered impaired when the total projected undiscounted cash flows from such asset group are separately identifiable and are less than the carrying value. In that event, a loss is recognized based on the amount by which the carrying value exceeds the fair market value of the long-lived asset group. Fair market value is determined primarily using present value techniques based on projected cash flows from the asset group. Losses on long-lived assets held-for-sale, other than goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets, are determined in a similar manner, except that fair market values are reduced for disposal costs.
Foreign Currency Translation, Policy	Foreign Currency Translation The Company has significant operations outside of the United States. The Company's operations in Europe, Canada, and certain locations in Asia primarily generate and expend cash in local currencies, and accordingly, these subsidiaries utilize the local currency as their functional currency. The Company’s operations in Israel and certain locations in Asia primarily generate cash in U.S. dollars, and accordingly, these subsidiaries utilize the U.S. dollar as their functional currency. For those subsidiaries where the local currency is the functional currency, assets and liabilities in the consolidated balance sheets have been translated at the rate of exchange as of the balance sheet date. Revenues and expenses are translated at the average exchange rate for the year. Translation adjustments do not impact the consolidated statements of operations and are reported as a separate component of accumulated other comprehensive loss. Foreign currency transaction gains and losses are included in the results of operations. For those foreign subsidiaries where the U.S. dollar is the functional currency, all foreign currency financial statement amounts are remeasured into U.S. dollars. Exchange gains and losses arising from remeasurement of foreign currency-denominated monetary assets and liabilities are included in the consolidated statements of operations.
Share-Based Compensation, Policy	Share-Based Compensation Compensation costs related to share-based payments are recognized in the consolidated financial statements. The amount of compensation cost is measured based on the grant-date fair value of the equity instruments issued. Compensation cost is recognized over the period that an officer, employee, or non-employee director provides service in exchange for the award. For performance based awards, the Company recognizes compensation cost for awards that are expected to vest and for which performance criteria are expected to be met. For options and restricted stock units subject to graded vesting, the Company recognizes expense over the service period for each separately vesting portion of the award as if the award was comprised of multiple awards.
Reclassifications, Policy	Reclassifications Certain prior year amounts have been reclassified to conform to the current financial statement presentation.
Commitments and Contingencies, Policy	Commitments and Contingencies Liabilities for loss contingencies arising from claims, assessments, litigation, fines, penalties, and other sources are recorded when it is probable that a liability has been incurred and the amount of the assessment and/or remediation can be reasonably estimated.
New Accounting Pronouncements, Policy	Recent Accounting Pronouncements In February 2016, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) No. 2016-02, “Leases (Topic 842),” a comprehensive new lease standard that amends various aspects of existing accounting guidance for leases. The core principle of this ASU will require lessees to present the assets and liabilities that arise from leases on their balance sheets. The ASU is effective for public companies for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2018, and interim periods within those fiscal years. Early adoption is permitted. The Company is evaluating the new standard to determine the impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements. In November 2015, FASB issued ASU No. 2015-17, "Income Taxes (Topic 740): Balance Sheet Classification of Deferred Taxes." The standard requires that deferred tax assets and liabilities be classified as non-current on the balance sheet rather than being separated into current and non-current. This ASU is effective for fiscal years and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2016. Early adoption is permitted and the standard may be applied either retrospectively or on a prospective basis to all deferred tax assets and liabilities. The Company has early adopted this ASU during the fourth quarter of 2015 on a retrospective basis. Accordingly, the Company reclassified the current deferred taxes to non-current on its December 31, 2015 consolidated balance sheets which increased net non-current deferred tax assets by $4.2 million , and decreased non-current deferred tax liabilities by $0.5 million . The Company reclassified the current deferred taxes to non-current on its December 31, 2014 consolidated balance sheets which increased net non-current deferred tax assets by $5.2 million , and decreased non-current deferred tax liabilities by $0.1 million . In September 2015, FASB issued ASU No. 2015-16, " Business Combinations (Topic 805)," which requires that an acquirer recognize adjustments to provisional amounts that are identified during the measurement period in the reporting period in which the adjustment amounts are determined. The amendment will be effective prospectively for reporting periods beginning on or after December 15, 2015, and early adoption is permitted. The adoption of this standard update is not expected to have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements. In July 2015, FASB issued ASU No. 2015-11, "Simplifying the Measurement of Inventory (Topic 330)," which simplifies the subsequent measurement of inventory by requiring inventory to be measured at the lower of cost and net realizable value. Net realizable value is the estimated selling price in the ordinary course of business, less reasonably predictable costs of completion, disposal and transportation. The ASU is effective for public companies for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2016, and interim periods within those fiscal years. Early adoption is permitted. The Company is evaluating the new standard to determine if this guidance will have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements. In April 2015, FASB issued ASU 2015-03, " Interest-Imputation of Interest (Subtopic 835-30): Simplifying the Presentation of Debt Issuance Costs. " This standard update requires an entity to present debt issuance costs on the balance sheet as a direct deduction from the related debt liability rather than as an asset. Amortization of the costs will continue to be reported as interest expense. The update is effective for annual reporting periods (including interim reporting periods within those periods) beginning after December 15, 2015. Early adoption is permitted for financial statements that have not been previously issued, and the new provisions will be applied retrospectively to all prior periods presented. The adoption of this standard update is not expected to have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements. In May 2014, FASB issued ASU No. 2014-09, " Revenue from Contracts with Customers ," which provides a single comprehensive model for entities to use in accounting for revenue arising from contracts with customers and will supersede most current revenue recognition guidance. The basis of the guidance is that an entity should recognize revenue to depict the transfer of promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods and services. The ASU is effective for public entities for annual and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2017. The ASU may be early adopted for annual and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2016 under U.S. generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP"), and either full or modified retrospective application is required. The Company has not yet selected a transition method and the effects of this standard on the Company's financial position, results of operations and cash flows are not yet known.

Acquisition Activity (Tables)

Acquisition Activity (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015
Stress-Tek, Inc.
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Schedule of Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed	The following table summarizes the preliminary fair values assigned to the assets and liabilities as of the December 30, 2015 acquisition date (in thousands): December 30, 2015 Working capital (a) $ 2,479 Property and equipment 6,338 Intangible assets: Patents and acquired technology 1,600 Non-competition agreements 60 Customer relationships 2,500 Trade names 700 Total intangible assets 4,860 Fair value of acquired identifiable assets 13,677 Purchase price $ 20,101 Goodwill $ 6,424 (a) Working capital accounts include cash, accounts receivable, inventory, prepaid expenses and other current assets, trade accounts payable, accrued payroll, and other accrued expenses.
Schedule of Acquisition Costs	The Company recorded acquisition costs associated with this transaction in its consolidated statements of operations as follows (in thousands): Year ended Accounting and legal fees $ 70 Appraisal fees 62 Other 53 $ 185
George Kelk Corporation (KELK)
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Schedule of Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed	The following table summarizes the fair values assigned to the assets and liabilities as of the January 31, 2013 acquisition date (in thousands): Working capital (a) $ 7,400 Property and equipment 2,100 Intangible assets: Patents and acquired technology 4,300 Non-competition agreements 200 Customer relationships 12,200 In-process research and development 1,000 Trade names 1,600 Total intangible assets 19,300 Fair value of acquired identifiable assets 28,800 Purchase price $ 49,000 Goodwill $ 20,200 (a) Working capital accounts include accounts receivable, inventory, prepaid expenses and other current assets, net deferred tax assets, trade accounts payable, accrued payroll, other accrued expenses, and non-current deferred tax liability.
Schedule of Revenue and Earnings	The amount of net revenues and net losses of VPG Canada included in the consolidated statements of operations were as follows (in thousands) : Year ended Net revenues $ 31,114 Net loss attributable to VPG stockholders (a) $ (1,323 ) (a) The net loss attributable to VPG stockholders includes the effect of purchase accounting adjustments, acquisition costs, restructuring costs, and intercompany interest expense.
Schedule of Acquisition Costs	The Company recorded acquisition costs in its consolidated statements of operations as follows (in thousands) : Year ended Accounting and legal fees $ 652 Appraisal fees 84 Other 58 $ 794

Goodwill and Other Intangible28

Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015
Goodwill and Intangible Assets Disclosure [Abstract]
Schedule of Goodwill	The change in the carrying amount of goodwill by segment is as follows ( in thousands) : Total Weighing and Control Systems Segment KELK Acquisition Stress-Tek Acquisition Balance at January 1, 2013 $ — $ — $ — Goodwill acquired 20,200 20,200 — Foreign currency translation adjustment (1,320 ) (1,320 ) — Balance at December 31, 2013 $ 18,880 $ 18,880 $ — Impairment charges (4,612 ) (4,612 ) — Foreign currency translation adjustment (1,480 ) (1,480 ) — Balance at December 31, 2014 $ 12,788 $ 12,788 $ — Goodwill acquired 6,424 — 6,424 Impairment charges (4,761 ) (4,761 ) — Foreign currency translation adjustment (1,848 ) (1,848 ) — Balance at December 31, 2015 $ 12,603 $ 6,179 $ 6,424
Schedule of Finite-Lived Intangible Assets	Intangible assets were as follows (in thousands) : December 31, 2015 2014 Intangible assets subject to amortization (Definite-lived): Patents and acquired technology $ 8,499 $ 7,599 Customer relationships 17,395 16,734 Trade names 1,688 1,722 Non-competition agreements 11,297 11,687 38,879 37,742 Accumulated amortization: Patents and acquired technology (3,629 ) (3,477 ) Customer relationships (7,288 ) (6,772 ) Trade names (1,668 ) (1,677 ) Non-competition agreements (10,371 ) (9,906 ) (22,956 ) (21,832 ) Net intangible assets subject to amortization $ 15,923 $ 15,910 Intangible assets not subject to amortization (Indefinite-lived): Trade names 1,680 1,376 In-process research and development 80 95 $ 17,683 $ 17,381
Schedule of Expected Amortization Expense	Estimated annual amortization expense for each of the next five years is as follows (in thousands) : 2016 $ 1,577 2017 1,582 2018 1,367 2019 1,187 2020 1,184

Restructuring Costs (Tables)

Restructuring Costs (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015
Restructuring and Related Activities [Abstract]
Restructuring and Related Costs	The following table summarizes the activity to date related to these programs. The accrued restructuring liability balance as of December 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively, is included in other accrued expenses in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets (in thousands) : Restructuring charges in 2013 $ 538 Cash payments (464 ) Foreign currency translation (23 ) Balance at December 31, 2013 $ 51 Restructuring charges in 2014 668 Adjustment 8 Cash payments (367 ) Foreign currency translation (9 ) Balance at December 31, 2014 $ 351 Restructuring charges in 2015 4,461 Cash payments (1,964 ) Foreign currency translation (21 ) Balance at December 31, 2015 $ 2,827

Income Taxes (Tables)

Income Taxes (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]
Schedule of Income before Income Tax, Domestic and Foreign	For financial reporting purposes, income before taxes includes the following components (in thousands) : Years ended December 31, 2015 2014 2013 Domestic $ (4,874 ) $ (3,575 ) $ (4,212 ) Foreign 5,380 9,446 9,955 $ 506 $ 5,871 $ 5,743
Schedule of Components of Income Tax Expense (Benefit)	The expense (benefit) for income taxes is comprised of (in thousands) : Years ended December 31, 2015 2014 2013 Current: Federal $ 492 $ 1,934 $ 127 State and local (12 ) 36 164 Foreign 3,007 4,205 3,181 3,487 6,175 3,472 Deferred: Federal 10,039 (3,376 ) 586 State and local 630 (46 ) (35 ) Foreign (656 ) (140 ) (2,772 ) 10,013 (3,562 ) (2,221 ) Total income tax expense $ 13,500 $ 2,613 $ 1,251
Schedule of Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation	A reconciliation of income tax expense (benefit) at the U.S. federal statutory income tax rate to the actual income tax provision is as follows (in thousands) : Years ended December 31, 2015 2014 2013 Tax at statutory rate $ 177 $ 2,055 $ 2,010 State income taxes, net of U.S. federal tax benefit 383 (10 ) 83 Effect of foreign operations 803 (1,026 ) (1,657 ) Residual U.S. tax on foreign earnings — 2,426 (190 ) Change in valuation allowance 12,309 (1,361 ) 2,113 Change in unrecognized tax benefits, net 12 273 150 Impairment of goodwill and indefinite-lived intangibles 360 303 — Specialty tax credits (216 ) (362 ) (341 ) Statutory rate changes 114 (166 ) (1,324 ) Other (442 ) 481 407 Total income tax expense $ 13,500 $ 2,613 $ 1,251
Schedule of Deferred Tax Assets and Liabilities	Significant components of the Company’s deferred tax assets and liabilities are as follows (in thousands) : December 31, 2015 2014 Deferred tax assets: Pension and other postretirement costs $ 4,843 $ 5,093 Inventories 2,275 2,286 Net operating/capital loss carryforwards 9,482 7,362 Tax credit carryforwards 4,712 4,550 Deferred compensation 2,392 2,055 Other accruals and reserves 3,480 3,704 Intangible assets, including tax deductible goodwill 784 — Total gross deferred tax assets 27,968 25,050 Less: valuation allowance (19,144 ) (5,768 ) 8,824 19,282 Deferred tax liabilities: Tax over book depreciation (255 ) (508 ) Intangible assets, including tax deductible goodwill — (166 ) Total gross deferred tax liabilities (255 ) (674 ) Net deferred tax assets $ 8,569 $ 18,608
Summary of Operating Loss Carryforwards	The following table summarizes significant net operating losses and credit carryforwards as of December 31, 2015 (in thousands): December 31, Jurisdiction 2015 Expiring U.S. federal net operating losses $ 4,826 2035 U.S. foreign tax credit 4,411 2020-2024 U.S state net operating losses 50,038 2023-2035 Israel net operating losses 17,835 No expiration
Summary of Valuation Allowance	December 31, Jurisdiction 2015 2014 U.S. federal $ 12,454 $ 365 U.S. state (net of U.S. federal tax benefit) 4,206 3,034 Israel - capital losses 1,783 1,799
Summary of Income Tax Contingencies	The following table summarizes changes in the Company's gross liabilities, excluding interest and penalties, associated with unrecognized tax benefits (in thousands) : December 31, 2015 2014 2013 Balance at beginning of year $ 1,704 $ 1,373 $ 1,203 Addition based on tax positions related to current year 109 238 132 Addition based on tax positions related to prior years 13 249 78 Currency translation adjustments (29 ) (100 ) 38 Reduction for payments made (241 ) — — Reduction for lapses of statute of limitations (50 ) (56 ) (78 ) Balance before indemnification receivable 1,506 1,704 1,373 Receivable from Vishay Intertechnology for indemnification (107 ) (281 ) (350 ) Balance at end of year $ 1,399 $ 1,423 $ 1,023

Long-Term Debt (Tables)

Long-Term Debt (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015
Debt Disclosure [Abstract]
Schedule of Long-term Debt	Long-term debt consists of the following (in thousands) : December 31, 2015 2014 2015 Credit Agreement - Revolving Facility $ 4,000 $ — 2015 Credit Agreement - U.S. Closing Date Term Facility 4,500 — 2015 Credit Agreement - U.S. Delayed Draw Term Facility 11,000 — 2015 Credit Agreement - Canadian Term Facility 9,500 — 2013 Credit Agreement - Revolving Facility — — 2013 Credit Agreement - U.S. Term Facility — 6,000 2013 Credit Agreement - Canadian Term Facility — 12,000 Exchangeable Unsecured Notes, due 2102 4,097 4,097 Other debt 614 736 33,711 22,833 Less: current portion 2,120 5,120 $ 31,591 $ 17,713
Schedule of Maturities of Long-term Debt	Aggregate annual maturities of long-term debt are as follows (in thousands) : 2016 $ 2,120 2017 2,620 2018 3,870 2019 5,120 2020 15,870 Thereafter 4,111

Stockholders' Equity (Tables)

Stockholders' Equity (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015
Stockholders' Equity Note [Abstract]
Schedule of Comprehensive Income (Loss)	The cumulative balance of each component of other comprehensive income (loss) and the income tax effects allocated to each component are as follows (in thousands) : Beginning Before-Tax Tax Net-of-Tax Ending December 31, 2013 Pension and other postretirement actuarial items $ (3,939 ) $ 1,888 $ (353 ) $ 1,535 $ (2,404 ) Reclassification adjustment for recognition of actuarial items 191 (52 ) 139 139 Foreign currency translation adjustment (9,277 ) (4,465 ) — (4,465 ) (13,742 ) $ (13,216 ) $ (2,386 ) $ (405 ) $ (2,791 ) $ (16,007 ) December 31, 2014 Pension and other postretirement actuarial items $ (2,265 ) $ (3,357 ) $ 782 $ (2,575 ) $ (4,840 ) Reclassification adjustment for recognition of actuarial items 60 (23 ) 37 37 Foreign currency translation adjustment (13,742 ) (8,015 ) — (8,015 ) (21,757 ) $ (16,007 ) $ (11,312 ) $ 759 $ (10,553 ) $ (26,560 ) December 31, 2015 Pension and other postretirement actuarial items $ (4,803 ) $ 141 $ (21 ) $ 120 $ (4,683 ) Reclassification adjustment for recognition of actuarial items 304 (38 ) 266 266 Foreign currency translation adjustment (21,757 ) (6,947 ) — (6,947 ) (28,704 ) $ (26,560 ) $ (6,502 ) $ (59 ) $ (6,561 ) $ (33,121 )

Pensions and Other Postretire33

Pensions and Other Postretirement Benefits (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015
Compensation and Retirement Disclosure [Abstract]
Reconciliation of the Benefit Obligation, Plan Assets, and Funded Status to Benefit Plans	The following table sets forth a reconciliation of the benefit obligation, plan assets, and funded status related to pension and other postretirement benefit plans (in thousands) : December 31, 2015 December 31, 2014 Pension OPEB Pension OPEB Change in benefit obligation: Benefit obligation at beginning of year $ 24,655 $ 3,331 $ 22,351 $ 2,826 Service cost (adjusted for actual employee contributions) 413 88 417 62 Interest cost 857 126 938 131 Contributions by participants 44 — 53 — Actuarial (gains) losses (413 ) 72 3,409 534 Benefits paid (1,223 ) (244 ) (978 ) (222 ) Curtailments and settlements (14 ) — — — Currency translation (971 ) — (1,535 ) — Benefit obligation at end of year $ 23,348 $ 3,373 $ 24,655 $ 3,331 Change in plan assets: Fair value of plan assets at beginning of year $ 15,697 $ — $ 15,354 $ — Actual return on plan assets 194 — 875 — Company contributions 1,160 244 1,349 222 Contributions by participants 44 — 53 — Benefits paid (1,223 ) (244 ) (978 ) (222 ) Curtailments and settlements (14 ) — — — Currency translation (736 ) — (956 ) — Fair value of plan assets at end of year $ 15,122 $ — $ 15,697 $ — Funded status at end of year $ (8,226 ) $ (3,373 ) $ (8,958 ) $ (3,331 )
Amounts Recognized in the Consolidated Balance Sheet Pretax Amounts	Amounts recognized in the consolidated balance sheets consist of the following pretax amounts (in thousands) : December 31, 2015 December 31, 2014 Pension OPEB Pension OPEB Accrued pension and other postretirement costs $ (8,226 ) $ (3,373 ) $ (8,958 ) $ (3,331 )
Actuarial Items	Actuarial items consist of the following (in thousands) : December 31, 2015 December 31, 2014 Pension OPEB Pension OPEB Unrecognized net actuarial loss $ 4,950 $ 1,138 $ 5,375 $ 1,139 Unrecognized prior service cost 2 — 2 — Unamortized transition obligation 4 — 5 — $ 4,956 $ 1,138 $ 5,382 $ 1,139
Additional Information Regarding Projected and Accumulated Benefit Obligations for the Pension Plans	The following table sets forth additional information regarding the projected and accumulated benefit obligations for the pension plans (in thousands) : December 31, 2015 2014 Accumulated benefit obligation, all plans $ 21,931 $ 23,760 Plans for which the accumulated benefit obligation exceeds plan assets: Projected benefit obligation $ 22,274 $ 23,678 Accumulated benefit obligation 21,256 23,160 Fair value of plan assets 14,204 14,890
Components of Net Periodic Costs of Benefit Plans	The following table sets forth the components of net periodic cost of pension and other postretirement benefit plans (in thousands) : Years ended December 31, 2015 2014 2013 Pension OPEB Pension OPEB Pension OPEB Annual service cost $ 457 $ 88 $ 470 $ 62 $ 506 $ 77 Less: employee contributions 44 — 53 — 53 — Net service cost 413 88 417 62 453 77 Interest cost 857 126 938 131 860 114 Expected return on plan assets (656 ) — (789 ) — (605 ) — Amortization of actuarial losses 232 72 26 33 166 23 Amortization of transition obligation 1 — 1 — 4 — Curtailment and settlement losses 1 — — — — — Net periodic benefit cost $ 848 $ 286 $ 593 $ 226 $ 878 $ 214
Weighted-average Assumptions Used for Benefit Obligations and Net Periodic Pension Costs	The following weighted-average assumptions were used to determine benefit obligations at December 31 of the respective years: 2015 2014 Pension OPEB Pension OPEB Discount rate 3.65 % 3.98 % 3.56 % 3.69 % Rate of compensation increase 2.82 % N/A 2.70 % N/A Expected return on plan assets 4.47 % N/A 4.19 % N/A The following weighted-average assumptions were used to determine the net periodic pension costs for the years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014 : 2015 2014 Pension OPEB Pension OPEB Discount rate 3.56 % 3.69 % 4.22 % 4.57 % Rate of compensation increase 2.70 % N/A 3.56 % N/A Expected return on plan assets 4.19 % N/A 5.05 % N/A Health care trend rate N/A 7.52 % N/A 5.10 %
Composition of Plan Assets	Plan assets are comprised of: December 31, 2015 December 31, 2014 Pension OPEB Pension OPEB Equity securities 56 % — 53 % — Fixed income securities 38 % — 41 % — Cash and cash equivalents 6 % — 6 % — Total 100 % — 100 % —
Changes in Fair Value of Plan Assets for Each Hierarchy Level	A summary of the Company’s pension plan assets for each fair value hierarchy level are as follows for the periods presented (see Note 15 for further description of the levels within the fair value hierarchy (in thousands)) : As of December 31, 2015 Fair value measurements at reporting date using: Total Fair Value Level 1 Inputs Level 2 Inputs Level 3 Inputs Defined benefit pension plan assets Equity securities $ 8,522 $ 8,522 $ — $ — Fixed income securities 5,670 5,670 — — Cash and cash equivalents 930 930 — — $ 15,122 $ 15,122 $ — $ — As of December 31, 2014 Fair value measurements at reporting date using: Total Fair Value Level 1 Inputs Level 2 Inputs Level 3 Inputs Defined benefit pension plan assets Equity securities $ 8,338 $ 8,338 $ — $ — Fixed income securities 6,482 6,482 — — Cash and cash equivalents 877 877 — — $ 15,697 $ 15,697 $ — $ —
Estimated future Benefit Payments	Estimated future benefit payments are as follows (in thousands) : Pension OPEB 2016 $ 737 $ 217 2017 635 213 2018 678 163 2019 647 183 2020 642 197 2021 - 2025 4,503 1,245

Share-Based Compensation (Table

Share-Based Compensation (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015
Disclosure of Compensation Related Costs, Share-based Payments [Abstract]
Stock Options Activity	The following table summarizes the Company’s stock option activity (number of options in thousands) : Years ended December 31, 2015 2014 2013 Number Weighted Number Weighted Number Weighted Outstanding: Beginning of year 18 $ 18.92 27 $ 18.06 32 $ 18.03 Granted — — — — — — Exercised — — (4 ) 11.92 — — Expired — — (5 ) 20.58 (5 ) 17.87 End of year 18 $ 18.92 18 $ 18.92 27 $ 18.06 Vested and expected to vest 18 18 27 Exercisable: End of year 18 18 27
Stock Options Outstanding and Exercisable	The following table summarizes information concerning stock options outstanding and exercisable at December 31, 2015 (number of options in thousands) : Ranges of Exercise Prices Options Outstanding Options Exercisable Number of Options Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Life Weighted Average Exercise Price Number of Options Weighted Average Exercise Price $18.92 18 1.16 $ 18.92 18 $ 18.92
Restricted Stock Units Activity	RSU activity is presented below (number of RSUs in thousands) : Years ended December 31, 2015 2014 2013 Number Weighted Number Weighted Number Weighted Outstanding: Beginning of year 236 $ 14.89 146 $ 14.72 193 $ 15.98 Granted 94 15.90 112 15.30 67 13.07 Vested (52 ) 15.93 (22 ) 15.84 (114 ) 15.88 End of year 278 $ 15.04 236 $ 14.89 146 $ 14.72
Restricted Stock Units Performance-based Vesting Criteria	RSUs with performance-based vesting criteria are expected to vest as follows (number of RSUs in thousands) : Vesting Date Expected to Vest Not Expected to Vest Total January 1, 2016 — 47 47 January 1, 2017 66 10 76 January 1, 2018 58 3 61
Pre-tax Share-based Compensation Expense Recognized	The following table summarizes pre-tax share-based compensation expense recognized (in thousands) : Years ended December 31, 2015 2014 2013 Stock options $ — $ — $ 3 Restricted stock units 1,083 1,008 740 Total $ 1,083 $ 1,008 $ 743

Commitments, Contingencies, a35

Commitments, Contingencies, and Concentrations (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]
Schedule of Future Minimum Rental Payments for Operating Leases	Future minimum lease payments for operating leases (excluding related party leases as described in Note 2) with initial or remaining noncancellable lease terms in excess of one year are as follows (in thousands) : 2016 $ 3,023 2017 2,328 2018 1,617 2019 1,273 2020 1,009 Thereafter 1,029
Schedule Of Percentage Of Cash and Cash Equivalents Reported By Region	See the following table for the percentage of cash and cash equivalents by region at December 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014 : December 31, 2015 2014 Asia 26 % 18 % United States 10 % 27 % Israel 24 % 23 % Europe 17 % 14 % United Kingdom 13 % 10 % Canada 10 % 8 % Total 100 % 100 %

Segment and Geographic Data (Ta

Segment and Geographic Data (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015
Segment and Geographic Data [Line Items]
Reporting Segment Information	The following table sets forth reporting segment information (in thousands) : Foil Technology Products Force Sensors Weighing and Control Systems Corporate/ Other Total 2015 Net third-party revenues $ 104,460 $ 61,048 $ 66,670 $ — $ 232,178 Intersegment revenues 2,400 2,105 760 (5,265 ) — Gross profit 41,640 12,510 30,079 — 84,229 Segment operating income (loss) 24,285 3,459 11,289 (35,674 ) 3,359 Acquisition costs — — 185 — 185 Impairment of goodwill and indefinite-lived intangibles — — 4,942 — 4,942 Restructuring costs 613 2,932 517 399 4,461 Depreciation and amortization expense 5,098 3,080 1,956 963 11,097 Capital expenditures 7,585 1,486 467 440 9,978 Total assets 86,709 65,445 100,015 12,132 264,301 2014 Net third-party revenues $ 107,758 $ 68,301 $ 73,969 $ — $ 250,028 Intersegment revenues 3,190 1,773 1,039 (6,002 ) — Gross profit 41,991 14,880 33,903 — 90,774 Segment operating income (loss) 23,210 5,374 11,619 (32,710 ) 7,493 Impairment of goodwill and indefinite-lived intangibles — — 5,579 — 5,579 Restructuring costs 153 — 515 — 668 Depreciation and amortization expense 5,192 3,556 2,112 876 11,736 Capital expenditures 6,156 1,801 775 359 9,091 Total assets 87,727 66,574 96,612 36,010 286,923 2013 Net third-party revenues $ 97,045 $ 64,846 $ 76,698 $ — $ 238,589 Intersegment revenues 1,989 2,140 1,175 (5,304 ) — Gross profit 37,276 13,667 32,512 — 83,455 Segment operating income (loss) 19,912 4,549 10,274 (26,671 ) 8,064 Acquisition costs — — 794 — 794 Restructuring costs 388 — 150 — 538 Depreciation and amortization expense 5,371 3,535 2,096 1,062 12,064 Capital expenditures 3,353 2,479 704 206 6,742 Total assets 84,694 70,921 108,036 31,051 294,702
Reporting Segment Information, Corporate Other and Excluded Items	The “Corporate/Other” column for segment operating income (loss) includes unallocated selling, general, and administrative expenses and certain items which management excludes from segment results when evaluating segment performance, as follows (in thousands) : Years ended December 31, 2015 2014 2013 Unallocated selling, general, and administrative expenses $ (26,086 ) $ (26,463 ) $ (25,339 ) Acquisition costs (185 ) — (794 ) Impairment of goodwill and indefinite-lived intangibles (4,942 ) (5,579 ) — Restructuring costs (4,461 ) (668 ) (538 ) $ (35,674 ) $ (32,710 ) $ (26,671 )
Sales Revenue, Segment
Segment and Geographic Data [Line Items]
Revenue From External Customers and Long-Lived Assets, by Geographical Areas	The following geographic data include net revenues based on revenues generated by subsidiaries located within that geographic area, and property and equipment based on physical location (in thousands) : Years ended December 31, Net Revenues 2015 2014 2013 United States $ 92,332 $ 93,004 $ 86,897 United Kingdom 30,684 36,358 32,915 Other Europe 50,857 57,014 53,691 Israel 3,435 3,661 2,226 Asia 34,893 37,916 32,410 Canada 19,977 22,075 30,450 $ 232,178 $ 250,028 $ 238,589
Property Plant And Equipment Segment
Segment and Geographic Data [Line Items]
Revenue From External Customers and Long-Lived Assets, by Geographical Areas	December 31, Property and Equipment - Net 2015 2014 United States $ 11,989 $ 5,750 United Kingdom 5,092 5,628 Other Europe 1,300 1,569 Israel 20,278 18,663 Asia 16,751 17,146 Canada and Other 1,221 1,937 $ 56,631 $ 50,693

Earnings Per Share (Tables)

Earnings Per Share (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]
Schedule of Earnings Per Share, Basic and Diluted	The following table sets forth the computation of basic and diluted earnings per share attributable to VPG stockholders (in thousands, except earnings per share) : Years ended December 31, 2015 2014 2013 Numerator: Numerator for basic earnings per share: Net (loss) earnings attributable to VPG stockholders $ (13,008 ) $ 3,080 $ 4,436 Adjustment to the numerator for net earnings: Interest savings assuming conversion of dilutive exchangeable notes, net of tax — 6 15 Numerator for diluted earnings per share: Net (loss) earnings attributable to VPG stockholders $ (13,008 ) $ 3,086 $ 4,451 Denominator: Denominator for basic earnings per share: Weighted average shares 13,485 13,755 13,563 Effect of dilutive securities: Exchangeable notes — 181 311 Employee stock options — 1 1 Restricted stock units — 40 69 Dilutive potential common shares — 222 381 Denominator for diluted earnings per share: Adjusted weighted average shares 13,485 13,977 13,944 Basic (loss) earnings per share attributable to VPG stockholders $ (0.96 ) $ 0.22 $ 0.33 Diluted (loss) earnings per share attributable to VPG stockholders $ (0.96 ) $ 0.22 $ 0.32
Schedule of Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share	Diluted earnings per share for the periods presented do not reflect the following weighted average potential common shares, as the effect would be antidilutive (in thousands) : Years ended December 31, 2015 2014 2013 Weighted average employee stock options 18 18 23 Weighted average exchangeable notes 181 — — Weighted average restricted stock units 36 — —

Additional Financial Statemen38

Additional Financial Statement Information (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]
Schedule of Other Nonoperating Income (Expense)	The caption “Other” on the consolidated statements of operations consists of the following (in thousands) : Years ended December 31, 2015 2014 2013 Foreign exchange loss $ (2,146 ) $ (945 ) $ (1,460 ) Interest income 225 261 266 Other (161 ) (56 ) (160 ) $ (2,082 ) $ (740 ) $ (1,354 )
Schedule of Accrued Liabilities	Other accrued expenses consist of the following (in thousands) : December 31, 2015 2014 Customer advance payments $ 3,004 $ 5,167 Accrued restructuring 2,827 351 Goods received, not yet invoiced 2,332 3,265 Accrued taxes, other than income taxes 1,468 1,879 Accrued commissions 1,785 1,649 Accrued professional fees 1,874 1,465 Other 3,314 2,994 $ 16,604 $ 16,770

Fair Value Measurements (Tables

Fair Value Measurements (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015
Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]
Schedule of Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring Basis	The following tables provide the financial assets and liabilities carried at fair value measured on a recurring basis (in thousands) : As of December 31, 2015 Fair value measurements at reporting date using: Total Fair Value Level 1 Inputs Level 2 Inputs Level 3 Inputs Assets: Assets held in rabbi trusts $ 4,676 $ 739 $ 3,937 $ — As of December 31, 2014 Fair value measurements at reporting date using: Total Fair Value Level 1 Inputs Level 2 Inputs Level 3 Inputs Assets: Assets held in rabbi trusts $ 4,725 $ 915 $ 3,810 $ —

Summary of Quarterly Financia40

Summary of Quarterly Financial information (Unaudited) (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015
Quarterly Financial Information Disclosure [Abstract]
Schedule of Quarterly Financial Information	(in thousands, except per share amounts) 2015 (a) 2014 (a) First Second Third Fourth First Second Third Fourth Statement of Operations data: Net revenues $ 56,608 $ 59,508 $ 57,149 $ 58,913 $ 61,240 $ 65,162 $ 63,402 $ 60,224 Gross profit 20,979 21,035 21,450 20,765 21,710 24,909 23,670 20,485 Operating income (loss) 2,153 2,335 (1,711 ) 582 2,223 5,005 3,879 (3,614 ) Net earnings (loss) 847 1,460 (1,952 ) (13,349 ) 1,242 3,570 3,264 (4,818 ) Less: net (loss) earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests (13 ) (16 ) (9 ) 52 67 (8 ) 30 89 Net earnings (loss) attributable to VPG stockholders 860 1,476 (1,943 ) (13,401 ) 1,175 3,578 3,234 (4,907 ) Per Share Data: (b) Basic earnings (loss) per share $ 0.06 $ 0.11 $ (0.15 ) $ (1.02 ) $ 0.09 $ 0.26 $ 0.24 $ (0.36 ) Diluted earnings (loss) per share $ 0.06 $ 0.11 $ (0.15 ) $ (1.02 ) $ 0.08 $ 0.26 $ 0.23 $ (0.36 ) Certain Items Recorded during the Quarters: Acquisition purchase accounting adjustments $ — $ 26 $ — $ 146 $ 39 $ 2 $ 15 $ 19 Acquisition costs — — — 185 — — — — Impairment of goodwill and indefinite-lived intangibles — — 4,942 — — — — 5,579 Restructuring costs 78 304 459 3,620 324 7 144 193 Tax effect of adjustments for purchase accounting, acquisition costs, impairment charges and restructuring costs, and discrete tax items 16 41 1,081 (12,118 ) 92 2 54 (504 ) (a) The Company reports interim financial information for the 13-week periods beginning on a Sunday and ending on a Saturday, except for the first fiscal quarter, which always begins on January 1, and the fourth fiscal quarter, which always ends on December 31. The first, second, third, and fourth quarters of 2015 ended on March 28 , June 27 , September 26 , and December 31 , respectively. The first, second, third, and fourth quarters of 2014 ended on March 29 , June 28 , September 27 , and December 31 , respectively. (b) Quarterly amounts may not agree in total to the corresponding annual amounts due to rounding.

Background and Summary of Sig41

Background and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands

3 Months Ended

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2015

Sep. 26, 2015

[1]

Jun. 27, 2015

[1]

Mar. 28, 2015

[1]

Dec. 31, 2014

Sep. 27, 2014

[1]

Jun. 28, 2014

[1]

Mar. 29, 2014

[1]

Dec. 31, 2015

Dec. 31, 2014

Dec. 31, 2013

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]

Minimum ownership of fully controlled entities

100.00%

100.00%

Restatement of prior year income, net

$ 13,401

[1]

$ 1,943

$ (1,476)

$ (860)

$ 4,907

[1]

$ (3,234)

$ (3,578)

$ (1,175)

$ 13,008

$ (3,080)

$ (4,436)

Basic earnings per share attributable to VPG stockholders (in dollars per share)

$ 1.02

[1],[2]

$ 0.15

[2]

$ (0.11)

[2]

$ (0.06)

[2]

$ 0.36

[1],[2]

$ (0.24)

[2]

$ (0.26)

[2]

$ (0.09)

[2]

$ 0.96

$ (0.22)

$ (0.33)

Impact of restatement on assets

$ (264,301)

$ (286,923)

$ (264,301)

$ (286,923)

$ (294,702)

Impact of restatement on liabilities

(91,860)

(87,038)

(91,860)

(87,038)

Research and development expense

$ 9,600

10,100

9,300

Recognized tax benefit to be realized upon ultimate settlement

greater than 50 percent likely to be realized

Allowance for doubtful accounts

300

600

$ 300

600

Bad debt expense

100

200

200

Depreciation expense

9,000

9,100

9,000

Deferred tax liabilities, net, noncurrent

(334)

(531)

$ (334)

(531)

Minimum | Patents and acquired technology

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]

Finite-lived intangible assets, useful life (in years)

7 years

Minimum | Customer relationships

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]

Finite-lived intangible assets, useful life (in years)

5 years

Minimum | Trade names

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]

Finite-lived intangible assets, useful life (in years)

7 years

Minimum | Non-competition agreements

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]

Finite-lived intangible assets, useful life (in years)

5 years

Maximum | Patents and acquired technology

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]

Finite-lived intangible assets, useful life (in years)

20 years

Maximum | Customer relationships

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]

Finite-lived intangible assets, useful life (in years)

15 years

Maximum | Trade names

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]

Finite-lived intangible assets, useful life (in years)

10 years

Maximum | Non-competition agreements

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]

Finite-lived intangible assets, useful life (in years)

10 years

Machinery and Equipment | Minimum

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]

Property, plant and equipment, useful life (in years)

7 years

Machinery and Equipment | Maximum

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]

Property, plant and equipment, useful life (in years)

10 years

Building and Building Improvements | Minimum

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]

Property, plant and equipment, useful life (in years)

20 years

Building and Building Improvements | Maximum

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]

Property, plant and equipment, useful life (in years)

40 years

Software

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]

Depreciation expense

$ 800

1,000

900

Software | Minimum

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]

Property, plant and equipment, useful life (in years)

3 years

Software | Maximum

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]

Property, plant and equipment, useful life (in years)

5 years

New Accounting Pronouncement, Early Adoption, Effect

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]

Deferred tax assets, net, noncurrent

4,200

5,200

$ 4,200

5,200

Deferred tax liabilities, net, noncurrent

$ 500

100

$ 500

100

Change in Accounting Measurement Principle Effect on Net Earnings | Restatement Adjustment

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]

Restatement of prior year income, net

$ 800

$ (100)

Basic earnings per share attributable to VPG stockholders (in dollars per share)

$ 0.06

$ (0.01)

Effect on Assets | Restatement Adjustment

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]

Impact of restatement on assets

2,700

$ 2,700

Effect on Liabilities | Restatement Adjustment

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]

Impact of restatement on liabilities

$ 1,500

$ 1,500

[1]

The Company reports interim financial information for the 13-week periods beginning on a Sunday and ending on a Saturday, except for the first fiscal quarter, which always begins on January 1, and the fourth fiscal quarter, which always ends on December 31. The first, second, third, and fourth quarters of 2015 ended on March 28, June 27, September 26, and December 31, respectively. The first, second, third, and fourth quarters of 2014 ended on March 29, June 28, September 27, and December 31, respectively.

[2]

Quarterly amounts may not agree in total to the corresponding annual amounts due to rounding.

Related Party Transactions (Det

Related Party Transactions (Details Textual) - Vishay Intertechnology	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015facility
Japan
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Manufacturing facility	1
United States
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Manufacturing facilities leased from related party	1

Acquisition Activity (Narrative

Acquisition Activity (Narrative) (Details) $ in Thousands, CAD in Millions	Dec. 30, 2015USD ($)	Jan. 31, 2013CAD	Jan. 31, 2013USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2015
Stress-Tek, Inc.
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Purchase price	$ 20,101
Stress-Tek, Inc. | Patents and Acquired Technology
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Finite-lived intangible assets, weighted average useful lives				20 years
Stress-Tek, Inc. | Non-competition agreements
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Finite-lived intangible assets, weighted average useful lives				5 years
Stress-Tek, Inc. | Customer relationships
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Finite-lived intangible assets, weighted average useful lives				15 years
George Kelk Corporation (KELK)
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Purchase price		CAD 49	$ 49,000
Percentage of goodwill		75.00%	75.00%
George Kelk Corporation (KELK) | Patents and Acquired Technology
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Finite-lived intangible assets, weighted average useful lives				17 years
George Kelk Corporation (KELK) | Non-competition agreements
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Finite-lived intangible assets, weighted average useful lives				5 years
George Kelk Corporation (KELK) | Customer relationships
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Finite-lived intangible assets, weighted average useful lives				15 years

Acquisition Activity (Schedule

Acquisition Activity (Schedule of Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed) (Details) $ in Thousands, CAD in Millions		Dec. 30, 2015USD ($)	Jan. 31, 2013CAD	Jan. 31, 2013USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2015USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2014USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2013USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2012USD ($)
Intangible assets:
Goodwill					$ 12,603	$ 12,788	$ 18,880	$ 0
Stress-Tek, Inc.
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Working capital	[1]	$ 2,479
Property and equipment		6,338
Intangible assets:
Total intangible assets		4,860
Fair value of acquired identifiable assets		13,677
Purchase price		20,101
Goodwill		6,424
Stress-Tek, Inc. | Trade names
Intangible assets:
Total intangible assets		700
Stress-Tek, Inc. | Patents and Acquired Technology
Intangible assets:
Total intangible assets		1,600
Stress-Tek, Inc. | Non-competition agreements
Intangible assets:
Total intangible assets		60
Stress-Tek, Inc. | Customer relationships
Intangible assets:
Total intangible assets		$ 2,500
George Kelk Corporation (KELK)
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Working capital	[2]			$ 7,400
Property and equipment				2,100
Intangible assets:
Total intangible assets				19,300
Fair value of acquired identifiable assets				28,800
Purchase price			CAD 49	49,000
Goodwill				20,200
George Kelk Corporation (KELK) | In-process research and development
Intangible assets:
Total intangible assets				1,000
George Kelk Corporation (KELK) | Trade names
Intangible assets:
Total intangible assets				1,600
George Kelk Corporation (KELK) | Patents and Acquired Technology
Intangible assets:
Total intangible assets				4,300
George Kelk Corporation (KELK) | Non-competition agreements
Intangible assets:
Total intangible assets				200
George Kelk Corporation (KELK) | Customer relationships
Intangible assets:
Total intangible assets				$ 12,200
[1]	Working capital accounts include cash, accounts receivable, inventory, prepaid expenses and other current assets, trade accounts payable, accrued payroll, and other accrued expenses.
[2]	Working capital accounts include accounts receivable, inventory, prepaid expenses and other current assets, net deferred tax assets, trade accounts payable, accrued payroll, other accrued expenses, and non-current deferred tax liability.

Acquisition Activity (Schedul45

Acquisition Activity (Schedule of Acquisition Costs) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands

3 Months Ended

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2015

[1]

Sep. 26, 2015

[1]

Jun. 27, 2015

[1]

Mar. 28, 2015

[1]

Dec. 31, 2014

[1]

Sep. 27, 2014

[1]

Jun. 28, 2014

[1]

Mar. 29, 2014

[1]

Dec. 31, 2015

Dec. 31, 2014

Dec. 31, 2013

Business Acquisition [Line Items]

Acquisition costs

$ 185

$ 0

$ 0

$ 0

$ 0

$ 0

$ 0

$ 0

$ 185

$ 0

$ 794

Stress-Tek, Inc.

Business Acquisition [Line Items]

Acquisition costs

185

George Kelk Corporation (KELK)

Business Acquisition [Line Items]

Acquisition costs

794

Accounting and Legal Fees | Stress-Tek, Inc.

Business Acquisition [Line Items]

Acquisition costs

70

Accounting and Legal Fees | George Kelk Corporation (KELK)

Business Acquisition [Line Items]

Acquisition costs

652

Appraisal Fees | Stress-Tek, Inc.

Business Acquisition [Line Items]

Acquisition costs

62

Appraisal Fees | George Kelk Corporation (KELK)

Business Acquisition [Line Items]

Acquisition costs

84

Other | Stress-Tek, Inc.

Business Acquisition [Line Items]

Acquisition costs

$ 53

Other | George Kelk Corporation (KELK)

Business Acquisition [Line Items]

Acquisition costs

$ 58

[1]

The Company reports interim financial information for the 13-week periods beginning on a Sunday and ending on a Saturday, except for the first fiscal quarter, which always begins on January 1, and the fourth fiscal quarter, which always ends on December 31. The first, second, third, and fourth quarters of 2015 ended on March 28, June 27, September 26, and December 31, respectively. The first, second, third, and fourth quarters of 2014 ended on March 29, June 28, September 27, and December 31, respectively.

Acquisition Activity (Schedul46

Acquisition Activity (Schedule of Revenues and Earnings) (Details) - George Kelk Corporation (KELK) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013USD ($)
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Net revenues	$ 31,114
Net loss attributable to VPG stockholders	$ (1,323)	[1]
[1]	The net loss attributable to VPG stockholders includes the effect of purchase accounting adjustments, acquisition costs, restructuring costs, and intercompany interest expense.

Goodwill and Other Intangible47

Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets (Details Textual) - USD ($)	Dec. 30, 2015	Dec. 31, 2015	Sep. 26, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Goodwill acquired					$ 6,424,000		$ 20,200,000
Impairment of goodwill		$ 0	$ 4,800,000	$ 4,600,000	4,761,000	$ 4,612,000
Amortization expense					2,100,000	2,600,000	$ 3,100,000
Other liabilities non compete agreements		$ 0		200,000	$ 0	$ 200,000
Trade names
Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Impairment of indefinite-lived intangible assets			200,000	0
Discount rate					17.00%
In-process research and development
Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Impairment of indefinite-lived intangible assets			$ 0	$ 800,000
Stress-Tek, Inc.
Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Goodwill acquired	$ 6,400,000
Finite-lived intangible assets acquired	4,200,000
Indefinite-lived intangible assets acquired	$ 700,000

Goodwill and Other Intangible48

Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets (Summary of Goodwill Activity) (Details) - USD ($)	Dec. 30, 2015	Dec. 31, 2015	Sep. 26, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance					$ 12,788,000	$ 18,880,000	$ 0
Goodwill acquired					6,424,000		20,200,000
Foreign currency translation adjustment					(1,848,000)	(1,480,000)	(1,320,000)
Impairment charges		$ 0	$ (4,800,000)	$ (4,600,000)	(4,761,000)	(4,612,000)
Ending balance		12,603,000		12,788,000	12,603,000	12,788,000	18,880,000
George Kelk Corporation (KELK) | Weighing and Control Systems
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance					12,788,000	18,880,000	0
Goodwill acquired					0		20,200,000
Foreign currency translation adjustment					(1,848,000)	(1,480,000)	(1,320,000)
Impairment charges					(4,761,000)	(4,612,000)
Ending balance		6,179,000		12,788,000	6,179,000	12,788,000	18,880,000
Stress-Tek, Inc.
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill acquired	$ 6,400,000
Ending balance	$ 6,424,000
Stress-Tek, Inc. | Weighing and Control Systems
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance					0	0	0
Goodwill acquired					6,424,000		0
Foreign currency translation adjustment					0	0	0
Impairment charges					0	0
Ending balance		$ 6,424,000		$ 0	$ 6,424,000	$ 0	$ 0

Goodwill and Other Intangible49

Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Intangible assets subject to amortization (Definite-lived)	$ 38,879	$ 37,742
Accumulated amortization	(22,956)	(21,832)
Net intangible assets subject to amortization	15,923	15,910
Intangible assets, net	17,683	17,381
Trade names
Indefinite-Lived Intangible Assets (Excluding Goodwill) [Abstract]
Intangible assets not subject to amortization (Indefinite-lived)	1,680	1,376
In-process research and development
Indefinite-Lived Intangible Assets (Excluding Goodwill) [Abstract]
Intangible assets not subject to amortization (Indefinite-lived)	80	95
Patents and acquired technology
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Intangible assets subject to amortization (Definite-lived)	8,499	7,599
Accumulated amortization	(3,629)	(3,477)
Customer relationships
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Intangible assets subject to amortization (Definite-lived)	17,395	16,734
Accumulated amortization	(7,288)	(6,772)
Trade names
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Intangible assets subject to amortization (Definite-lived)	1,688	1,722
Accumulated amortization	(1,668)	(1,677)
Non-competition agreements
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Intangible assets subject to amortization (Definite-lived)	11,297	11,687
Accumulated amortization	$ (10,371)	$ (9,906)

Goodwill and Other Intangible50

Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets (Details 1) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2015USD ($)
Goodwill and Intangible Assets Disclosure [Abstract]
2,016	$ 1,577
2,017	1,582
2,018	1,367
2,019	1,187
2,020	$ 1,184

Restructuring Costs Restructuri

Restructuring Costs Restructuring Costs (Details Textual) - USD ($) $ in Thousands

3 Months Ended

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2015

[1]

Sep. 26, 2015

[1]

Jun. 27, 2015

[1]

Mar. 28, 2015

[1]

Dec. 31, 2014

[1]

Sep. 27, 2014

[1]

Jun. 28, 2014

[1]

Mar. 29, 2014

[1]

Dec. 31, 2015

Dec. 31, 2014

Dec. 31, 2013

Nov. 16, 2015

Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]

Cost reduction program

$ 4,000

Restructuring costs

$ 3,620

$ 459

$ 304

$ 78

$ 193

$ 144

$ 7

$ 324

$ 4,461

$ 668

$ 538

Employee Severance

Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]

Restructuring costs

$ 4,461

$ 668

$ 538

[1]

The Company reports interim financial information for the 13-week periods beginning on a Sunday and ending on a Saturday, except for the first fiscal quarter, which always begins on January 1, and the fourth fiscal quarter, which always ends on December 31. The first, second, third, and fourth quarters of 2015 ended on March 28, June 27, September 26, and December 31, respectively. The first, second, third, and fourth quarters of 2014 ended on March 29, June 28, September 27, and December 31, respectively.

Restructuring Costs (Details)

Restructuring Costs (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended																12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015		Sep. 26, 2015	[1]	Jun. 27, 2015	[1]	Mar. 28, 2015	[1]	Dec. 31, 2014		Sep. 27, 2014	[1]	Jun. 28, 2014	[1]	Mar. 29, 2014	[1]	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Restructuring Charges [Abstract]
Restructuring costs	$ 3,620	[1]	$ 459		$ 304		$ 78		$ 193	[1]	$ 144		$ 7		$ 324		$ 4,461	$ 668	$ 538
Restructuring reserve	2,827								351								2,827	351
Employee Severance
Restructuring Charges [Abstract]
Restructuring costs																	4,461	668	538
Paid restructuring costs																	(1,964)	(367)	(464)
Translation adjustment																	(21)	(9)	(23)
Accrual adjustment																		8
Restructuring reserve	$ 2,827								$ 351								$ 2,827	$ 351	$ 51
[1]	The Company reports interim financial information for the 13-week periods beginning on a Sunday and ending on a Saturday, except for the first fiscal quarter, which always begins on January 1, and the fourth fiscal quarter, which always ends on December 31. The first, second, third, and fourth quarters of 2015 ended on March 28, June 27, September 26, and December 31, respectively. The first, second, third, and fourth quarters of 2014 ended on March 29, June 28, September 27, and December 31, respectively.

Income Taxes (Details)

Income Taxes (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]
Domestic	$ (4,874)	$ (3,575)	$ (4,212)
Foreign	5,380	9,446	9,955
Income before taxes	$ 506	$ 5,871	$ 5,743

Income Taxes (Details 1)

Income Taxes (Details 1) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Current:
Federal	$ 492	$ 1,934	$ 127
State and local	(12)	36	164
Foreign	3,007	4,205	3,181
Current Income Tax Expense (Benefit)	3,487	6,175	3,472
Deferred:
Federal	10,039	(3,376)	586
State and local	630	(46)	(35)
Foreign	(656)	(140)	(2,772)
Deferred income tax expense (benefit)	10,013	(3,562)	(2,221)
Total income tax expense	$ 13,500	$ 2,613	$ 1,251

Income Taxes (Details 2)

Income Taxes (Details 2) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]
Tax at statutory rate	$ 177	$ 2,055	$ 2,010
State income taxes, net of U.S. federal tax benefit	383	(10)	83
Effect of foreign operations	803	(1,026)	(1,657)
Residual U.S. tax on foreign earnings	0	2,426	(190)
Change in valuation allowance	12,309	(1,361)	2,113
Change in unrecognized tax benefits, net	12	273	150
Impairment of goodwill and indefinite-lived intangibles	360	303	0
Specialty tax credits	(216)	(362)	(341)
Statutory rate changes	114	(166)	(1,324)
Other	(442)	481	407
Total income tax expense	$ 13,500	$ 2,613	$ 1,251

Income Taxes (Details 3)

Income Taxes (Details 3) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Deferred tax assets:
Pension and other postretirement costs	$ 4,843	$ 5,093
Inventories	2,275	2,286
Net operating/capital loss carryforwards	9,482	7,362
Tax credit carryforwards	4,712	4,550
Deferred compensation	2,392	2,055
Other accruals and reserves	3,480	3,704
Intangible assets, including tax deductible goodwill	784	0
Total gross deferred tax assets	27,968	25,050
Less: valuation allowance	(19,144)	(5,768)
Deferred Tax Assets, Net of Valuation Allowance	8,824	19,282
Deferred tax liabilities:
Tax over book depreciation	(255)	(508)
Intangible assets, including tax deductible goodwill	0	(166)
Total gross deferred tax liabilities	(255)	(674)
Net deferred tax assets	$ 8,569	$ 18,608

Income Taxes (Details 4)

Income Taxes (Details 4) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Tax Credit Carryforward [Line Items]
Valuation allowance	$ 19,144	$ 5,768
United States
Tax Credit Carryforward [Line Items]
Valuation allowance	16,700
Domestic Tax Authority | United States
Tax Credit Carryforward [Line Items]
Valuation allowance	12,454	365
State and Local Jurisdiction | United States
Tax Credit Carryforward [Line Items]
Valuation allowance	4,206	3,034
Capital Loss Carryforward | Israel
Tax Credit Carryforward [Line Items]
Valuation allowance	$ 1,783	$ 1,799

Income Taxes (Details 5)

Income Taxes (Details 5) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2015USD ($)
United States | Domestic Tax Authority
Operating Loss Carryforwards [Line Items]
Operating loss carryforwards	$ 4,826
United States | Foreign Tax Authority
Operating Loss Carryforwards [Line Items]
Operating loss carryforwards	4,411
United States | State and Local Jurisdiction
Operating Loss Carryforwards [Line Items]
Operating loss carryforwards	50,038
Israel
Operating Loss Carryforwards [Line Items]
Operating loss carryforwards	$ 17,835

Income Taxes (Details 6)

Income Taxes (Details 6) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Reconciliation of Unrecognized Tax Benefits [Roll Forward]
Balance at beginning of year	$ 1,704	$ 1,373	$ 1,203
Addition based on tax positions related to current year	109	238	132
Addition based on tax positions related to prior years	13	249	78
Decrease resulting from foreign currency translation	(29)	(100)
Increase resulting from foreign currency translation			38
Reduction for payments made	(241)	0	0
Reduction for lapses of statute of limitations	(50)	(56)	(78)
Balance before indemnification receivable	1,506	1,704	1,373
Receivable from Vishay Intertechnology for indemnification	(107)	(281)	(350)
Balance at end of year	$ 1,399	$ 1,423	$ 1,023

Income Taxes (Details Textual)

Income Taxes (Details Textual) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Income Taxes [Line Items]
Valuation allowance	$ 19,144	$ 5,768
Undistributed earnings of foreign subsidiaries	89,200	101,500
Unremitted earnings withholdings taxes	14,500
Net income taxes paid	4,500	3,100	$ 3,400
Proceeds from tax sharing agreement	200
Unrecognized tax benefits including income tax penalties and interest accrued income tax indemnification receivable	100
Unrecognized tax benefits, income tax penalties and interest accrued	300	500	500
Income tax examination, penalties and interest accrued in current income tax Indemnification receivable		300	400
Unrecognized tax benefits that would impact effective tax rate	1,500	1,700	$ 1,400
Expected change in unrecognized tax benefits statute lapse	100
Minimum
Income Taxes [Line Items]
Expected change in unrecognized tax benefits statute lapse	300
Maximum
Income Taxes [Line Items]
Expected change in unrecognized tax benefits statute lapse	$ 500
State and Local Jurisdiction | Minimum
Income Taxes [Line Items]
Statutes of limitations range	3 years
State and Local Jurisdiction | Maximum
Income Taxes [Line Items]
Statutes of limitations range	4 years
Foreign Tax Authority | Minimum
Income Taxes [Line Items]
Increase in unrecognized tax benefits is reasonably possible	$ (100)
Statutes of limitations range	3 years
Foreign Tax Authority | Maximum
Income Taxes [Line Items]
Increase in unrecognized tax benefits is reasonably possible	$ (200)
Statutes of limitations range	10 years
United States
Income Taxes [Line Items]
Valuation allowance	$ 16,700
United States | State and Local Jurisdiction
Income Taxes [Line Items]
Valuation allowance	4,206	$ 3,034
Cash | Minimum
Income Taxes [Line Items]
Increase in unrecognized tax benefits is reasonably possible	100
Cash | Maximum
Income Taxes [Line Items]
Increase in unrecognized tax benefits is reasonably possible	300
Net Operating and Capital Loss Carryforward
Income Taxes [Line Items]
Valuation allowance	$ 2,500

Long-Term Debt (Schedule of Lon

Long-Term Debt (Schedule of Long-term Debt) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Exchangeable Unsecured Notes, due 2102	$ 4,097	$ 4,097
Other debt	614	736
Long-Term Debt	33,711	22,833
Less current portion	2,120	5,120
Long-term debt, less current portion	31,591	17,713
Revolving Credit Facility | 2015 Credit Agreement
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Secured debt	4,000	0
Revolving Credit Facility | 2013 Credit Agreement
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Secured debt	0	0
U.S. Closing Date Term Facility | 2015 Credit Agreement
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Secured debt	4,500	0
U.S. Delayed Draw Term Facility | 2015 Credit Agreement
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Secured debt	11,000	0
U.S. Term Facility | 2013 Credit Agreement
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Secured debt	0	6,000
Canadian Term Facility | 2015 Credit Agreement
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Secured debt	9,500	0
Canadian Term Facility | 2013 Credit Agreement
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Secured debt	$ 0	$ 12,000

Long-Term Debt (Maturity of Lon

Long-Term Debt (Maturity of Long-term Debt) (Details) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2015USD ($)
Debt Disclosure [Abstract]
2,016	$ 2,120
2,017	2,620
2,018	3,870
2,019	5,120
2,020	15,870
Thereafter	$ 4,111

Long-Term Debt (Narrative) (Det

Long-Term Debt (Narrative) (Details)	Dec. 30, 2015USD ($)	Aug. 28, 2013USD ($)shares	Jan. 29, 2013USD ($)	Jul. 06, 2010USD ($)$ / shares	Dec. 31, 2015USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2014USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2013USD ($)shares
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Exchangeable Unsecured Notes, due 2102					$ 4,097,000	$ 4,097,000
Conversion of exchangeable notes to common stock (in shares) | shares							259,687
Interest paid					$ 600,000	800,000	$ 700,000
Other Debt
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument term (in years)					6 years
Stated interest rate					0.00%
Revolving Credit Facility
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Principle amount	$ 30,000,000		$ 15,000,000
Letter Of Credit
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Principle amount	10,000,000
U.S. Closing Date Term Facility
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Principle amount	4,500,000
U.S. Delayed Draw Term Facility
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Principle amount	11,000,000
Domestic Term Facility
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Principle amount			10,000,000
Foreign Term Facility
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Principle amount	9,500,000		$ 15,000,000
Domestic Revolving Facility
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Principle amount	$ 15,000,000
2015 Credit Agreement
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Expiration date	Dec. 30, 2020
2015 Credit Agreement | U.S. Closing Date Term and Canadian Term Facilities
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, interest rate					3.11%
2013 Credit Agreement
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Expiration date			Dec. 30, 2015
Other Lines of Credit | Line of Credit
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Principle amount					$ 3,000,000	$ 3,900,000
Line of credit facility, amount outstanding					$ 0
Exchangeable Unsecured Notes due 2102 | Unsecured Debt
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Exchangeable Unsecured Notes, due 2102		$ 4,100,000		$ 10,000,000
Maturity date				Dec. 13, 2102
Exchangeable Notes Conversion Price Amount (in dollars per share) | $ / shares				$ 22.57
Principal amount of notes exchanged for common stock		$ 5,900,000
Conversion of exchangeable notes to common stock (in shares) | shares		259,687
Number of shares of common stock the notes are exchangeable into (in shares) | shares		181,537
London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) | 2015 Credit Agreement
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
LIBOR	LIBOR
Interest rate in addition to LIBOR	0.25%
London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) | 2015 Credit Agreement | Revolving and U.S. Delayed Draw Term Facilities
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, interest rate					3.75%
London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) | 2015 Credit Agreement | Minimum
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate in addition to LIBOR	2.00%
Quarterly commitment fee	0.30%
London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) | 2015 Credit Agreement | Maximum
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate in addition to LIBOR	3.50%
Quarterly commitment fee	0.50%
London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) | 2013 Credit Agreement
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
LIBOR			LIBOR
Debt Instrument, interest rate						2.76%
London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) | 2013 Credit Agreement | Minimum
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Quarterly commitment fee			0.30%
London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) | 2013 Credit Agreement | Maximum
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Quarterly commitment fee			0.50%
London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) | Exchangeable Unsecured Notes due 2102 | Unsecured Debt
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
LIBOR				LIBOR
Debt Instrument, interest rate					0.61%

Stockholders' Equity (Details)

Stockholders' Equity (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Stockholders' Equity Note [Abstract]
Pension and other postretirement actuarial items, Beginning Balance	$ (4,803)	$ (2,265)	$ (3,939)
Pension and other postretirement actuarial items, Before-Tax Amount	141	(3,357)	1,888
Pension and other postretirement actuarial items, Tax Effect	(21)	782	(353)
Pension and other postretirement actuarial items, Net-of-Tax Amount	120	(2,575)	1,535
Pension and other postretirement actuarial items, Ending Balance	(4,683)	(4,840)	(2,404)
Reclassification adjustment for recognition of actuarial items, Before-Tax Amount	304	60	191
Reclassification adjustment for recognition of actuarial items, Tax Effect	(38)	(23)	(52)
Reclassification adjustment for recognition of actuarial items, Net-of-Tax Amount	266	37	139
Reclassification adjustment for recognition of actuarial items, Ending Balance	266	37	139
Foreign Currency translation adjustment, Beginning Balance	(21,757)	(13,742)	(9,277)
Foreign Currency translation adjustment, Before Tax Amount	(6,947)	(8,015)	(4,465)
Foreign Currency translation adjustment, Tax Effect	0	0	0
Foreign Currency translation adjustment, Net-of-Tax Amount	(6,947)	(8,015)	(4,465)
Foreign Currency translation adjustment, Ending Balance	(28,704)	(21,757)	(13,742)
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), Net Of Tax, Beginning Balance	(26,560)	(16,007)	(13,216)
Other comprehensive income (loss), Before Tax Amount	(6,502)	(11,312)	(2,386)
Other comprehensive income, Tax Effect	(59)	759	(405)
Other comprehensive loss	(6,561)	(10,553)	(2,791)
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), Net Of Tax, Ending Balance	$ (33,121)	$ (26,560)	$ (16,007)

Stockholders' Equity (Details T

Stockholders' Equity (Details Textual)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015voteshares	May. 21, 2015shares	Dec. 31, 2014shares	Sep. 23, 2014shares
Class of Stock [Line Items]
Common stock, number of votes | vote	1
Preferred stock, shares authorized	1,000,000		1,000,000
Preferred stock, shares outstanding	0
Treasury stock, shares	619,667		2,000
Common Class B
Class of Stock [Line Items]
Common stock, number of votes | vote	10
Conversion ratio	1
Common Stock
Class of Stock [Line Items]
Common stock, shares authorized to be repurchased		2,000,000		500,000
Treasury stock, shares	617,667		2,000

Pensions and Other Postretire66

Pensions and Other Postretirement Benefits (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Change in plan assets:
Fair value of plan assets at beginning of year	$ 15,697
Fair value of plan assets at end of year	15,122	$ 15,697
Pension Plans
Change in benefit obligation:
Benefit obligation at beginning of year	24,655	22,351
Service cost (adjusted for actual employee contributions)	413	417	$ 453
Interest cost	857	938	860
Contributions by participants	44	53	53
Actuarial (gains) losses	(413)	3,409
Benefits paid	(1,223)	(978)
Curtailments and settlements	(14)	0
Currency translation	(971)	(1,535)
Benefit obligation at end of year	23,348	24,655	22,351
Change in plan assets:
Fair value of plan assets at beginning of year	15,697	15,354
Actual return on plan assets	194	875
Company contributions	1,160	1,349
Contributions by participants	44	53	53
Benefits paid	(1,223)	(978)
Curtailments and settlements	(14)	0
Currency translation	(736)	(956)
Fair value of plan assets at end of year	15,122	15,697	15,354
Funded status at end of year	(8,226)	(8,958)
OPEB Plans
Change in benefit obligation:
Benefit obligation at beginning of year	3,331	2,826
Service cost (adjusted for actual employee contributions)	88	62	77
Interest cost	126	131	114
Contributions by participants	0	0	0
Actuarial (gains) losses	72	534
Benefits paid	(244)	(222)
Curtailments and settlements	0	0
Currency translation	0	0
Benefit obligation at end of year	3,373	3,331	2,826
Change in plan assets:
Fair value of plan assets at beginning of year	0	0
Actual return on plan assets	0	0
Company contributions	244	222
Contributions by participants	0	0	0
Benefits paid	(244)	(222)
Curtailments and settlements	0	0
Currency translation	0	0
Fair value of plan assets at end of year	0	0	$ 0
Funded status at end of year	$ (3,373)	$ (3,331)

Pensions and Other Postretire67

Pensions and Other Postretirement Benefits (Details 1) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Accrued pension and other postretirement costs	$ (11,597)	$ (12,353)
Pension Plans
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Accrued pension and other postretirement costs	(8,226)	(8,958)
OPEB Plans
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Accrued pension and other postretirement costs	$ (3,373)	$ (3,331)

Pensions and Other Postretire68

Pensions and Other Postretirement Benefits (Details 2) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Pension Plans
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Unrecognized net actuarial loss	$ 4,950	$ 5,375
Unrecognized prior service cost	2	2
Unamortized transition obligation	4	5
Benefit plans, accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) before tax	4,956	5,382
OPEB Plans
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Unrecognized net actuarial loss	1,138	1,139
Unrecognized prior service cost	0	0
Unamortized transition obligation	0	0
Benefit plans, accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) before tax	$ 1,138	$ 1,139

Pensions and Other Postretire69

Pensions and Other Postretirement Benefits (Details 3) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Compensation and Retirement Disclosure [Abstract]
Accumulated benefit obligation, all plans	$ 21,931	$ 23,760
Plans for which the accumulated benefit obligation exceeds plan assets:
Projected benefit obligation	22,274	23,678
Accumulated benefit obligation	21,256	23,160
Fair value of plan assets	$ 14,204	$ 14,890

Pensions and Other Postretire70

Pensions and Other Postretirement Benefits (Details 4) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Pension Plans
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Annual service cost	$ 457	$ 470	$ 506
Less: employee contributions	44	53	53
Net service cost	413	417	453
Interest cost	857	938	860
Expected return on plan assets	(656)	(789)	(605)
Amortization of actuarial losses	232	26	166
Amortization of transition obligation	1	1	4
Curtailment and settlement losses	1	0	0
Net periodic benefit cost	848	593	878
OPEB Plans
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Annual service cost	88	62	77
Less: employee contributions	0	0	0
Net service cost	88	62	77
Interest cost	126	131	114
Expected return on plan assets	0	0	0
Amortization of actuarial losses	72	33	23
Amortization of transition obligation	0	0	0
Curtailment and settlement losses	0	0	0
Net periodic benefit cost	$ 286	$ 226	$ 214

Pensions and Other Postretire71

Pensions and Other Postretirement Benefits (Details 5)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Pension Plans
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Discount rate, benefit obligation	3.65%	3.56%
Rate of compensation increase, benefit obligation	2.82%	2.70%
Expected return on plan assets, benefit obligation	4.47%	4.19%
Discount rate, net periodic pension cost	3.56%	4.22%
Rate of compensation increase, net periodic pension cost	2.70%	3.56%
Expected return on plan assets, net periodic pension cost	4.19%	5.05%
OPEB Plans
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Discount rate, benefit obligation	3.98%	3.69%
Discount rate, net periodic pension cost	3.69%	4.57%
Health care trend rate	7.52%	5.10%

Pensions and Other Postretire72

Pensions and Other Postretirement Benefits (Details 6)	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Pension Plans
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Plan assets	100.00%	100.00%
Pension Plans | Equity securities
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Plan assets	56.00%	53.00%
Pension Plans | Fixed income securities
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Plan assets	38.00%	41.00%
Pension Plans | Cash and cash equivalents
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Plan assets	6.00%	6.00%
OPEB Plans
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Plan assets	0.00%	0.00%
OPEB Plans | Equity securities
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Plan assets	0.00%	0.00%
OPEB Plans | Fixed income securities
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Plan assets	0.00%	0.00%
OPEB Plans | Cash and cash equivalents
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Plan assets	0.00%	0.00%

Pensions and Other Postretire73

Pensions and Other Postretirement Benefits (Details 7) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Defined benefit pension plan assets	$ 15,122	$ 15,697
Level 1 Inputs
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Defined benefit pension plan assets	15,122	15,697
Equity securities
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Defined benefit pension plan assets	8,522	8,338
Equity securities | Level 1 Inputs
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Defined benefit pension plan assets	8,522	8,338
Equity securities | Level 2 Inputs
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Defined benefit pension plan assets	0	0
Equity securities | Level 3 Inputs
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Defined benefit pension plan assets	0	0
Fixed income securities
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Defined benefit pension plan assets	5,670	6,482
Fixed income securities | Level 1 Inputs
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Defined benefit pension plan assets	5,670	6,482
Fixed income securities | Level 2 Inputs
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Defined benefit pension plan assets	0	0
Fixed income securities | Level 3 Inputs
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Defined benefit pension plan assets	0	0
Cash and cash equivalents
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Defined benefit pension plan assets	930	877
Cash and cash equivalents | Level 1 Inputs
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Defined benefit pension plan assets	930	877
Cash and cash equivalents | Level 2 Inputs
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Defined benefit pension plan assets	0	0
Cash and cash equivalents | Level 3 Inputs
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Defined benefit pension plan assets	$ 0	$ 0

Pensions and Other Postretire74

Pensions and Other Postretirement Benefits (Details 8) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2015USD ($)
Pension Plans
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
2,016	$ 737
2,017	635
2,018	678
2,019	647
2,020	642
2021-2025	4,503
OPEB Plans
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
2,016	217
2,017	213
2,018	163
2,019	183
2,020	197
2021-2025	$ 1,245

Pensions and Other Postretire75

Pensions and Other Postretirement Benefits (Details Textual) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]
Estimated actuarial items that will be amortized from AOCI loss	$ 300
Ultimate health care cost trend rate	4.20%
Defined benefit plan, employer contribution in 2016	$ 1,400
Defined contribution plan matching expense	600	$ 600	$ 700
Accrued pension and other postretirement costs	11,597	12,353
Non Qualified Deferred Compensation Plan
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]
Assets held-in-trust	3,100	3,000
Accrued pension and other postretirement costs	3,800	3,700
Other Retirement Obligations
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]
Other retirement obligations	700	800
Non Qualified Retirement Plan
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]
Assets held-in-trust	1,600	1,700
Non qualified pension plan liabilities	$ 2,000	$ 2,100

Share-Based Compensation (Detai

Share-Based Compensation (Details) - $ / shares shares in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Outstanding [Roll Forward]
Number of options, beginning of year	18	27	32
Number of options, granted	0	0	0
Number of options, exercised	0	(4)	0
Number of options, expired	0	(5)	(5)
Number of options, end of Year	18	18	27
Number of options, vested and expected to vest	18	18	27
Number of options exercisable, end of year	18	18	27
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Outstanding, Weighted Average Exercise Price [Abstract]
Weighted average exercise price, beginning of year (in dollars per share)	$ 18.92	$ 18.06	$ 18.03
Weighted average exercise price, granted (in dollars per share)	0	0	0
Weighted average exercise price, exercised (in dollars per share)	0	11.92	0
Weighted average exercise price, expired (in dollars per share)	0	20.58	17.87
Weighted average exercise price, end of year (in dollars per share)	$ 18.92	$ 18.92	$ 18.06

Share-Based Compensation (Det77

Share-Based Compensation (Details 1) - $ / shares shares in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Disclosure of Compensation Related Costs, Share-based Payments [Abstract]
Number of options	18	18	27	32
Options outstanding, weighted average remaining contractual life	1 year 1 month 28 days
Options outstanding, weighted average exercise price (in dollars per share)	$ 18.92	$ 18.92	$ 18.06	$ 18.03
Options exercisable, number of options	18	18	27
Options exercisable, weighted average exercise price (in dollars per share)	$ 18.92

Share-Based Compensation (Det78

Share-Based Compensation (Details 2) - Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) - $ / shares	May. 21, 2015	Mar. 30, 2015	Jan. 20, 2015	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Equity Instruments Other than Options, Nonvested, Number of Shares [Roll Forward]
Number of RSUs, beginning of year				236,000	146,000	193,000
Number of RSUs, granted	13,300	21,743	59,325	94,000	112,000	67,000
Number of RSUs, vested				(52,000)	(22,000)	(114,000)
Number of RSUs, end of year				278,000	236,000	146,000
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based payment Award, Equity Instruments Other than Options, Nonvested, Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value [Abstract]
Weighted average grant-date fair value, beginning of year (in dollars per share)				$ 14.89	$ 14.72	$ 15.98
Weighted average grant-date fair value, granted (in dollars per share)				15.90	15.30	13.07
Weighted average grant-date fair value, vested (in dollars per share)				15.93	15.84	15.88
Weighted average grant-date fair value, end of year (in dollars per share)				$ 15.04	$ 14.89	$ 14.72

Share-Based Compensation (Det79

Share-Based Compensation (Details 3) - Performance Based Restricted Stock Units shares in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2015shares
Vesting on January 1, 2016
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Expected to Vest	0
Not Expected to Vest	47
Total	47
Vesting on January 1, 2017
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Expected to Vest	66
Not Expected to Vest	10
Total	76
Vesting on January 1, 2018
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Expected to Vest	58
Not Expected to Vest	3
Total	61

Share-Based Compensation (Det80

Share-Based Compensation (Details 4) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Disclosure of Compensation Related Costs, Share-based Payments [Abstract]
Stock options	$ 0	$ 0	$ 3
Restricted stock units	1,083	1,008	740
Total	$ 1,083	$ 1,008	$ 743

Share-Based Compensation (Det81

Share-Based Compensation (Details Textual) $ / shares in Units, $ in Millions	May. 21, 2015USD ($)peopleshares	Mar. 30, 2015USD ($)shares	Jan. 20, 2015USD ($)peopleshares	Dec. 31, 2015USD ($)$ / sharesshares	Dec. 31, 2014USD ($)shares	Dec. 31, 2013USD ($)shares
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Number of shares authorized (in shares)				1,000,000
Number of shares available for grant (in shares)				484,766
Number of options granted				0	0	0
Number of options, exercised				0	(4,000)	0
Share price (in dollars per share) | $ / shares				$ 11.32
Deferred tax benefit | $				$ 0	$ 0.2	$ 0.3
Unrecognized share-based compensation expense | $				$ 1.4
Unrecognized share-based compensation expense recognition period				2 years
Restricted Stock Units Performance
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Number of people granted awards | people			3
Percentage of performance based units on total units approved		75.00%	75.00%
Grant date fair value | $		$ 0.3	$ 1
Number of RSUs, granted	13,300	21,743	59,325	94,000	112,000	67,000
Number of trading days used in grant date fair value calculation			5 days
Share-based compensation arrangement, other than options, vesting conditions (in dollars per share)		Twenty-five percent of these awards will vest on January 1, 2018	Twenty-five percent of these awards will vest on January 1, 2018
Award vesting period		3 years	3 years
Independent Board Members and Non Executive Chairman
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Number of people granted awards | people	3
Grant date fair value | $	$ 0.2
Board of Directors Chairman
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Number of people granted awards | people	1
Vesting on January 1, 2018 | Restricted Stock Units Performance
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Award vesting rights (percentage)		25.00%	25.00%

Commitments, Contingencies, a82

Commitments, Contingencies, and Concentrations (Details) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2015USD ($)
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]
2,016	$ 3,023
2,017	2,328
2,018	1,617
2,019	1,273
2,020	1,009
Thereafter	$ 1,029

Commitments, Contingencies, a83

Commitments, Contingencies, and Concentrations (Details 1)	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Cash and Cash Equivalents by Region [Line Items]
Percentage of cash and cash equivalents by region	100.00%	100.00%
Asia
Cash and Cash Equivalents by Region [Line Items]
Percentage of cash and cash equivalents by region	26.00%	18.00%
United States
Cash and Cash Equivalents by Region [Line Items]
Percentage of cash and cash equivalents by region	10.00%	27.00%
Israel
Cash and Cash Equivalents by Region [Line Items]
Percentage of cash and cash equivalents by region	24.00%	23.00%
Europe
Cash and Cash Equivalents by Region [Line Items]
Percentage of cash and cash equivalents by region	17.00%	14.00%
United Kingdom
Cash and Cash Equivalents by Region [Line Items]
Percentage of cash and cash equivalents by region	13.00%	10.00%
Canada
Cash and Cash Equivalents by Region [Line Items]
Percentage of cash and cash equivalents by region	10.00%	8.00%

Commitments, Contingencies, a84

Commitments, Contingencies, and Concentrations (Details Textual) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Jul. 06, 2010	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Commitments, Contingencies, and Concentrations [Line Items]
Operating lease, rent expense		$ 3.9	$ 4.1	$ 3.8
Concentration risk, benchmark description		No single customer comprises greater than 10% of net revenues.
President and Chief Executive Officer
Commitments, Contingencies, and Concentrations [Line Items]
Employment agreement, special sign on bonus	$ 0.4

Segment and Geographic Data (De

Segment and Geographic Data (Details Textual)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015segment
Segment Reporting [Abstract]
Number of reportable segments	3

Segment and Geographic Data (86

Segment and Geographic Data (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended																12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015		Sep. 26, 2015		Jun. 27, 2015		Mar. 28, 2015		Dec. 31, 2014		Sep. 27, 2014	[1]	Jun. 28, 2014	[1]	Mar. 29, 2014	[1]	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net revenues	$ 58,913		$ 57,149		$ 59,508		$ 56,608		$ 60,224	[1]	$ 63,402		$ 65,162		$ 61,240		$ 232,178	$ 250,028	$ 238,589
Gross profit	20,765	[1]	21,450	[1]	21,035	[1]	20,979	[1]	20,485	[1]	23,670		24,909		21,710		84,229	90,774	83,455
Segment operating income (loss)	582	[1]	(1,711)	[1]	2,335	[1]	2,153	[1]	(3,614)	[1]	3,879		5,005		2,223		3,359	7,493	8,064
Impairment of goodwill and indefinite-lived intangibles	0	[1]	4,942	[1]	0	[1]	0	[1]	5,579	[1]	0		0		0		4,942	5,579	0
Restructuring costs	3,620	[1]	459	[1]	304	[1]	78	[1]	193	[1]	144		7		324		4,461	668	538
Depreciation and amortization expense																	11,097	11,736	12,064
Capital expenditures																	9,978	9,091	6,742
Acquisition costs	185	[1]	$ 0	[1]	$ 0	[1]	$ 0	[1]	0	[1]	$ 0		$ 0		$ 0		185	0	794
Total assets	264,301								286,923								264,301	286,923	294,702
Foil Technology Products
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net revenues																	104,460	107,758	97,045
Gross profit																	41,640	41,991	37,276
Segment operating income (loss)																	24,285	23,210	19,912
Impairment of goodwill and indefinite-lived intangibles																	0	0
Restructuring costs																	613	153	388
Depreciation and amortization expense																	5,098	5,192	5,371
Capital expenditures																	7,585	6,156	3,353
Acquisition costs																	0		0
Total assets	86,709								87,727								86,709	87,727	84,694
Force Sensors
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net revenues																	61,048	68,301	64,846
Gross profit																	12,510	14,880	13,667
Segment operating income (loss)																	3,459	5,374	4,549
Impairment of goodwill and indefinite-lived intangibles																	0	0
Restructuring costs																	2,932	0	0
Depreciation and amortization expense																	3,080	3,556	3,535
Capital expenditures																	1,486	1,801	2,479
Acquisition costs																	0		0
Total assets	65,445								66,574								65,445	66,574	70,921
Weighing and Control Systems
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net revenues																	66,670	73,969	76,698
Gross profit																	30,079	33,903	32,512
Segment operating income (loss)																	11,289	11,619	10,274
Impairment of goodwill and indefinite-lived intangibles																	4,942	5,579
Restructuring costs																	517	515	150
Depreciation and amortization expense																	1,956	2,112	2,096
Capital expenditures																	467	775	704
Acquisition costs																	185		794
Total assets	100,015								96,612								100,015	96,612	108,036
Corporate/ Other
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net revenues																	0	0	0
Gross profit																	0	0	0
Segment operating income (loss)																	(35,674)	(32,710)	(26,671)
Impairment of goodwill and indefinite-lived intangibles																	0	0
Restructuring costs																	399	0	0
Depreciation and amortization expense																	963	876	1,062
Capital expenditures																	440	359	206
Acquisition costs																	0		0
Total assets	$ 12,132								$ 36,010								12,132	36,010	31,051
Intersegment revenues
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net revenues																	(5,265)	(6,002)	(5,304)
Intersegment revenues | Foil Technology Products
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net revenues																	2,400	3,190	1,989
Intersegment revenues | Force Sensors
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net revenues																	2,105	1,773	2,140
Intersegment revenues | Weighing and Control Systems
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net revenues																	$ 760	$ 1,039	$ 1,175
[1]	The Company reports interim financial information for the 13-week periods beginning on a Sunday and ending on a Saturday, except for the first fiscal quarter, which always begins on January 1, and the fourth fiscal quarter, which always ends on December 31. The first, second, third, and fourth quarters of 2015 ended on March 28, June 27, September 26, and December 31, respectively. The first, second, third, and fourth quarters of 2014 ended on March 29, June 28, September 27, and December 31, respectively.

Segment and Geographic Data (87

Segment and Geographic Data (Details 1) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended																12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015	[1]	Sep. 26, 2015	[1]	Jun. 27, 2015	[1]	Mar. 28, 2015	[1]	Dec. 31, 2014	[1]	Sep. 27, 2014	[1]	Jun. 28, 2014	[1]	Mar. 29, 2014	[1]	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Segment Reporting, Reconciling Item for Operating Profit (Loss) from Segment to Consolidated [Line Items]
Unallocated selling, general, and administrative expenses																	$ (71,282)	$ (77,034)	$ (74,059)
Acquisition costs	$ (185)		$ 0		$ 0		$ 0		$ 0		$ 0		$ 0		$ 0		(185)	0	(794)
Impairment of goodwill and indefinite-lived intangibles	0		(4,942)		0		0		(5,579)		0		0		0		(4,942)	(5,579)	0
Restructuring costs	(3,620)		(459)		(304)		(78)		(193)		(144)		(7)		(324)		(4,461)	(668)	(538)
Operating income (loss)	$ 582		$ (1,711)		$ 2,335		$ 2,153		$ (3,614)		$ 3,879		$ 5,005		$ 2,223		3,359	7,493	8,064
Corporate, Non-Segment
Segment Reporting, Reconciling Item for Operating Profit (Loss) from Segment to Consolidated [Line Items]
Unallocated selling, general, and administrative expenses																	(26,086)	(26,463)	(25,339)
Acquisition costs																	0		0
Impairment of goodwill and indefinite-lived intangibles																	0	0
Restructuring costs																	(399)	0	0
Operating income (loss)																	$ (35,674)	$ (32,710)	$ (26,671)
[1]	The Company reports interim financial information for the 13-week periods beginning on a Sunday and ending on a Saturday, except for the first fiscal quarter, which always begins on January 1, and the fourth fiscal quarter, which always ends on December 31. The first, second, third, and fourth quarters of 2015 ended on March 28, June 27, September 26, and December 31, respectively. The first, second, third, and fourth quarters of 2014 ended on March 29, June 28, September 27, and December 31, respectively.

Segment and Geographic Data (88

Segment and Geographic Data (Details 2) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended												12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015	Sep. 26, 2015	Jun. 27, 2015	Mar. 28, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	[1]	Sep. 27, 2014	[1]	Jun. 28, 2014	[1]	Mar. 29, 2014	[1]	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]
Net revenues	$ 58,913	$ 57,149	$ 59,508	$ 56,608	$ 60,224		$ 63,402		$ 65,162		$ 61,240		$ 232,178	$ 250,028	$ 238,589
United States
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]
Net revenues													92,332	93,004	86,897
United Kingdom
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]
Net revenues													30,684	36,358	32,915
Other Europe
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]
Net revenues													50,857	57,014	53,691
Israel
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]
Net revenues													3,435	3,661	2,226
Asia
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]
Net revenues													34,893	37,916	32,410
Canada
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]
Net revenues													$ 19,977	$ 22,075	$ 30,450
[1]	The Company reports interim financial information for the 13-week periods beginning on a Sunday and ending on a Saturday, except for the first fiscal quarter, which always begins on January 1, and the fourth fiscal quarter, which always ends on December 31. The first, second, third, and fourth quarters of 2015 ended on March 28, June 27, September 26, and December 31, respectively. The first, second, third, and fourth quarters of 2014 ended on March 29, June 28, September 27, and December 31, respectively.

Segment and Geographic Data (89

Segment and Geographic Data (Details 3) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]
Property and equipment, net	$ 56,631	$ 50,693
United States
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]
Property and equipment, net	11,989	5,750
United Kingdom
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]
Property and equipment, net	5,092	5,628
Other Europe
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]
Property and equipment, net	1,300	1,569
Israel
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]
Property and equipment, net	20,278	18,663
Asia
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]
Property and equipment, net	16,751	17,146
Canada and Other
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]
Property and equipment, net	$ 1,221	$ 1,937

Earnings Per Share (Details)

Earnings Per Share (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended																12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015	[1]	Sep. 26, 2015	[1]	Jun. 27, 2015	[1]	Mar. 28, 2015	[1]	Dec. 31, 2014	[1]	Sep. 27, 2014	[1]	Jun. 28, 2014	[1]	Mar. 29, 2014	[1]	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Numerator for basic earnings per share:
Net (loss) earnings attributable to VPG stockholders	$ (13,401)		$ (1,943)		$ 1,476		$ 860		$ (4,907)		$ 3,234		$ 3,578		$ 1,175		$ (13,008)	$ 3,080	$ 4,436
Adjustment to the numerator for net earnings:
Interest savings assuming conversion of dilutive exchangeable notes, net of tax																	0	6	15
Numerator for diluted earnings per share:
Net (loss) earnings attributable to VPG stockholders																	$ (13,008)	$ 3,086	$ 4,451
Denominator:
Weighted average shares																	13,485	13,755	13,563
Effect of dilutive securities:
Exchangeable notes (in shares)																	0	181	311
Employee stock options (in shares)																	0	1	1
Restricted stock units (in shares)																	0	40	69
Dilutive potential common shares (in shares)																	0	222	381
Denominator for diluted earnings per share:
Adjusted weighted average shares																	13,485	13,977	13,944
Basic earnings per share attributable to VPG stockholders (in dollars per share)	$ (1.02)	[2]	$ (0.15)	[2]	$ 0.11	[2]	$ 0.06	[2]	$ (0.36)	[2]	$ 0.24	[2]	$ 0.26	[2]	$ 0.09	[2]	$ (0.96)	$ 0.22	$ 0.33
Diluted earnings per share attributable to VPG stockholders (in dollars per share)	$ (1.02)	[2]	$ (0.15)	[2]	$ 0.11	[2]	$ 0.06	[2]	$ (0.36)	[2]	$ 0.23	[2]	$ 0.26	[2]	$ 0.08	[2]	$ (0.96)	$ 0.22	$ 0.32
[1]	The Company reports interim financial information for the 13-week periods beginning on a Sunday and ending on a Saturday, except for the first fiscal quarter, which always begins on January 1, and the fourth fiscal quarter, which always ends on December 31. The first, second, third, and fourth quarters of 2015 ended on March 28, June 27, September 26, and December 31, respectively. The first, second, third, and fourth quarters of 2014 ended on March 29, June 28, September 27, and December 31, respectively.
[2]	Quarterly amounts may not agree in total to the corresponding annual amounts due to rounding.

Earnings Per Share (Details 1)

Earnings Per Share (Details 1) - shares shares in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Stock Options
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share [Line Items]
Antidilutive securities excluded from computation of earnings per share (in shares)	18	18	23
Exchangeable Unsecured Notes due 2102
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share [Line Items]
Antidilutive securities excluded from computation of earnings per share (in shares)	181	0	0
Restricted Stock Units (RSUs)
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share [Line Items]
Antidilutive securities excluded from computation of earnings per share (in shares)	36	0	0

Additional Financial Statemen92

Additional Financial Statement Information (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]
Foreign exchange loss	$ (2,146)	$ (945)	$ (1,460)
Interest income	225	261	266
Other	(161)	(56)	(160)
Other nonoperating income (expense)	$ (2,082)	$ (740)	$ (1,354)

Additional Financial Statemen93

Additional Financial Statement Information (Details 1) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]
Customer advance payments	$ 3,004	$ 5,167
Accrued restructuring	2,827	351
Goods received, not yet invoiced	2,332	3,265
Accrued taxes, other than income taxes	1,468	1,879
Accrued commissions	1,785	1,649
Accrued professional fees	1,874	1,465
Other	3,314	2,994
Accrued liabilities, current	$ 16,604	$ 16,770

Fair Value Measurements (Detail

Fair Value Measurements (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Assets held in rabbi trusts	$ 4,676	$ 4,725
Level 1 Inputs
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Assets held in rabbi trusts	739	915
Level 2 Inputs
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Assets held in rabbi trusts	3,937	3,810
Level 3 Inputs
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Assets held in rabbi trusts	$ 0	$ 0

Fair Value Measurements (Deta95

Fair Value Measurements (Details Textual) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]
Long-term debt, fair value	$ 31,900	$ 21,700
Long-term debt	$ 33,711	$ 22,833

Subsequent Events (Details Text

Subsequent Events (Details Textual) $ in Thousands

Jan. 19, 2016USD ($)peopleshares

May. 21, 2015shares

Mar. 30, 2015shares

Jan. 20, 2015peopleshares

Jan. 31, 2016USD ($)

Oct. 01, 2016USD ($)

Dec. 31, 2015USD ($)

[1]

Sep. 26, 2015USD ($)

[1]

Jun. 27, 2015USD ($)

[1]

Mar. 28, 2015USD ($)

[1]

Dec. 31, 2014USD ($)

[1]

Sep. 27, 2014USD ($)

[1]

Jun. 28, 2014USD ($)

[1]

Mar. 29, 2014USD ($)

[1]

Dec. 31, 2015USD ($)shares

Dec. 31, 2014USD ($)shares

Dec. 31, 2013USD ($)shares

Subsequent Event [Line Items]

Restructuring costs

$ 3,620

$ 459

$ 304

$ 78

$ 193

$ 144

$ 7

$ 324

$ 4,461

$ 668

$ 538

Restricted Stock Units (RSUs)

Subsequent Event [Line Items]

Number of people granted awards | people

3

Number of RSUs granted (in shares) | shares

13,300

21,743

59,325

94,000

112,000

67,000

Number of trading days used in grant date fair value calculation

5 days

Award vesting period

3 years

3 years

Subsequent Event

Subsequent Event [Line Items]

Restructuring costs

$ 400

Subsequent Event | Restricted Stock Units (RSUs)

Subsequent Event [Line Items]

Restricted stock units grant date fair value

$ 1,000

Number of RSUs granted (in shares) | shares

86,798

Number of trading days used in grant date fair value calculation

5 days

Subsequent Event | Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) | Vesting on January 1, 2019

Subsequent Event [Line Items]

Award vesting rights (percentage)

25.00%

Subsequent Event | Performance Based Units

Subsequent Event [Line Items]

Percentage of annual equity awards for executive officers

75.00%

Award vesting period

3 years

Subsequent Event | Executive Officer | Restricted Stock Units (RSUs)

Subsequent Event [Line Items]

Number of people granted awards | people

3

Scenario, Forecast | Subsequent Event

Subsequent Event [Line Items]

Expected payment to be made

$ 500

[1]

The Company reports interim financial information for the 13-week periods beginning on a Sunday and ending on a Saturday, except for the first fiscal quarter, which always begins on January 1, and the fourth fiscal quarter, which always ends on December 31. The first, second, third, and fourth quarters of 2015 ended on March 28, June 27, September 26, and December 31, respectively. The first, second, third, and fourth quarters of 2014 ended on March 29, June 28, September 27, and December 31, respectively.

Summary of Quarterly Financia97

Summary of Quarterly Financial information (Unaudited) (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands		3 Months Ended																12 Months Ended
		Dec. 31, 2015		Sep. 26, 2015		Jun. 27, 2015		Mar. 28, 2015		Dec. 31, 2014		Sep. 27, 2014		Jun. 28, 2014		Mar. 29, 2014		Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Statement of Operations data:
Net revenues		$ 58,913		$ 57,149		$ 59,508		$ 56,608		$ 60,224	[1]	$ 63,402	[1]	$ 65,162	[1]	$ 61,240	[1]	$ 232,178	$ 250,028	$ 238,589
Gross profit		20,765	[1]	21,450	[1]	21,035	[1]	20,979	[1]	20,485	[1]	23,670	[1]	24,909	[1]	21,710	[1]	84,229	90,774	83,455
Operating income (loss)		582	[1]	(1,711)	[1]	2,335	[1]	2,153	[1]	(3,614)	[1]	3,879	[1]	5,005	[1]	2,223	[1]	3,359	7,493	8,064
Net earnings (loss)		(13,349)	[1]	(1,952)	[1]	1,460	[1]	847	[1]	(4,818)	[1]	3,264	[1]	3,570	[1]	1,242	[1]	(12,994)	3,258	4,492
Less: net (loss) earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests		52	[1]	(9)	[1]	(16)	[1]	(13)	[1]	89	[1]	30	[1]	(8)	[1]	67	[1]	14	178	56
Net earnings (loss) attributable to VPG stockholders		$ (13,401)	[1]	$ (1,943)	[1]	$ 1,476	[1]	$ 860	[1]	$ (4,907)	[1]	$ 3,234	[1]	$ 3,578	[1]	$ 1,175	[1]	$ (13,008)	$ 3,080	$ 4,436
Per Share Data:
Basic earnings (loss) per share (in dollars per share)		$ (1.02)	[1],[2]	$ (0.15)	[1],[2]	$ 0.11	[1],[2]	$ 0.06	[1],[2]	$ (0.36)	[1],[2]	$ 0.24	[1],[2]	$ 0.26	[1],[2]	$ 0.09	[1],[2]	$ (0.96)	$ 0.22	$ 0.33
Diluted earnings (loss) per share (in dollars per share)		$ (1.02)	[1],[2]	$ (0.15)	[1],[2]	$ 0.11	[1],[2]	$ 0.06	[1],[2]	$ (0.36)	[1],[2]	$ 0.23	[1],[2]	$ 0.26	[1],[2]	$ 0.08	[1],[2]	$ (0.96)	$ 0.22	$ 0.32
Certain Items Recorded during the Quarters:
Acquisition purchase accounting adjustments	[1]	$ 146		$ 0		$ 26		$ 0		$ 19		$ 15		$ 2		$ 39
Acquisition costs		185	[1]	0	[1]	0	[1]	0	[1]	0	[1]	0	[1]	0	[1]	0	[1]	$ 185	$ 0	$ 794
Impairment of goodwill and indefinite-lived intangibles		0	[1]	4,942	[1]	0	[1]	0	[1]	5,579	[1]	0	[1]	0	[1]	0	[1]	4,942	5,579	0
Restructuring costs		3,620	[1]	459	[1]	304	[1]	78	[1]	193	[1]	144	[1]	7	[1]	324	[1]	$ 4,461	$ 668	$ 538
Tax effect of adjustments for purchase accounting, acquisition costs, impairment charges and restructuring costs, and discrete tax items	[1]	$ (12,118)		$ 1,081		$ 41		$ 16		$ (504)		$ 54		$ 2		$ 92
[1]	The Company reports interim financial information for the 13-week periods beginning on a Sunday and ending on a Saturday, except for the first fiscal quarter, which always begins on January 1, and the fourth fiscal quarter, which always ends on December 31. The first, second, third, and fourth quarters of 2015 ended on March 28, June 27, September 26, and December 31, respectively. The first, second, third, and fourth quarters of 2014 ended on March 29, June 28, September 27, and December 31, respectively.
[2]	Quarterly amounts may not agree in total to the corresponding annual amounts due to rounding.