CTS (CTS) 10-Q 28 Apr 15 2015 Q1 Quarterly report Financial data

Document_and_Entity_Informatio

Document and Entity Information	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 29, 2015	Apr. 20, 2015
Document And Entity Information [Abstract]
Document Type	10-Q
Amendment Flag	FALSE
Document Period End Date	29-Mar-15
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2015
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q1
Trading Symbol	CTS
Entity Registrant Name	CTS CORP
Entity Central Index Key	26058
Current Fiscal Year End Date	-19
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Filer Category	Accelerated Filer
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		33,197,233

Consolidated_Statements_of_Ear

Consolidated Statements of Earnings - Unaudited (USD $)	3 Months Ended
In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 29, 2015	Mar. 30, 2014
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EARNINGS (LOSS) UNAUDITED
Net sales	$98,311	$100,706
Costs and expenses:
Cost of goods sold	66,175	70,091
Selling, general and administrative expenses	15,711	13,641
Research and development expenses	5,199	5,626
Restructuring and impairment charges	738	503
Operating earnings	10,488	10,845
Other (expense) income:
Interest expense	-588	-613
Interest income	788	564
Other	-1,684	-1,771
Total other (expense) income	-1,484	-1,820
Earnings before income taxes	9,004	9,025
Income tax expense	2,717	3,945
Net earnings	$6,287	$5,080
Earnings per share:
Basic (in dollars per share)	$0.19	$0.15
Diluted (in dollars per share)	$0.19	$0.15
Basic weighted - average common shares outstanding (in shares):	33,411	33,708
Effect of dilutive securities (in shares)	524	572
Diluted weighted - average common shares outstanding (in shares)	33,935	34,280
Cash dividends declared per share (in dollars per share)	$0.04	$0.04

Condensed_Consolidated_Stateme

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Earnings - Unaudited (USD $)	3 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 29, 2015	Mar. 30, 2014
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE EARNINGS UNAUDITED
Net earnings	$6,287	$5,080
Other comprehensive (loss) earnings:
Changes in fair market value of hedges, net of tax	-86	40
Changes in unrealized pension cost, net of tax	1,257	914
Cumulative translation adjustment, net of tax	-1,103	204
Other comprehensive (loss) earnings	68	1,158
Comprehensive earnings	$6,355	$6,238

Condensed_Consolidated_Balance

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets - Unaudited (USD $)	Mar. 29, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Current Assets
Cash and cash equivalents	$138,333	$134,508
Accounts receivable, net	67,056	56,894
Inventories, net	28,580	27,887
Other current assets	20,741	21,112
Total current assets	254,710	240,401
Long-lived assets	70,462	71,414
Other assets
Prepaid pension asset	34,304	32,099
Goodwill	32,047	32,047
Indefinite-lived intangible asset	690	690
Intangible assets, other than goodwill	34,929	35,902
Deferred income taxes	42,586	43,120
Other assets	1,469	1,253
Total other assets	146,025	145,111
Total Assets	471,197	456,926
Current Liabilities
Accounts payable	44,168	43,343
Accrued salaries, wages and vacation	9,211	11,283
Increase in other accrued liabilities due to fair value adjustment	29,471	25,356
Total current liabilities	82,850	79,982
Long-term debt	83,200	75,000
Post retirement obligations	2,963	3,049
Other long-term obligations	9,050	9,106
Shareholders' Equity
Common stock	300,706	299,892
Additional contributed capital	39,554	39,153
Retained earnings	385,100	380,145
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	-104,165	-104,233
Total shareholder's equity before treasury stock	621,195	614,957
Treasury stock	-328,061	-325,168
Total shareholders' equity	293,134	289,789
Total Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity	$471,197	$456,926

Condensed_Consolidated_Stateme1

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows - Unaudited (USD $)	3 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 29, 2015	Mar. 30, 2014
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net earnings	$6,287	$5,080
Adjustments to reconcile net earnings to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	4,065	4,248
Amortization of retirement benefit adjustments	1,648	1,473
Equity-based compensation	1,520	779
Restructuring charges	738	503
Prepaid pension asset	-2,211	-2,102
Pension liability		-919
Gain on sale of EMS business		-1,772
Changes in assets and liabilities, net of acquisitions and divestitures:
Accounts receivable	-10,942	-5,551
Inventories	-1,231	5,118
Accounts payable	264	-2,886
Accrued liabilities	-58	-11,743
Income taxes payable	860	820
Other	-457	874
Total adjustments	-5,804	-11,158
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	483	-6,078
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Capital expenditures	-1,192	-2,775
Proceeds from sale of assets	-1	-1,824
Net cash used in investing activities	-1,191	-951
Cash flows from financing activities:
Payments of long-term debt	-240,900	-234,400
Proceeds from borrowings of long-term debt	249,100	236,000
Payments of short-term notes payable		-507
Proceeds from borrowings of short-term notes payable		507
Purchase of treasury stock	-2,893	-495
Dividends paid	-1,336	-1,351
Exercise of stock options		1,328
Other	117	222
Net cash provided by financing activities	4,088	1,304
Effect of exchange rate on cash and cash equivalents	445	326
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	3,825	-5,399
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year	134,508	124,368
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year	138,333	118,969
Supplemental cash flow information
Cash paid for Interest	454	432
Cash paid for Income taxes, net	$1,608	$1,102

Basis_of_Presentation

Basis of Presentation	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 29, 2015
Basis of Presentation
Basis of Presentation	NOTE 1—Basis of Presentation
	The accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared by CTS Corporation (“CTS” or “the Company”), without audit, pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission.  Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles have been omitted pursuant to such rules and regulations. The unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the financial statements, notes thereto, and other information included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014.
	The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements reflect, in the opinion of management, all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring items) necessary for a fair statement, in all material respects, of the financial position and results of operations for the periods presented.  The preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reported period.  Actual results could differ materially from those estimates.  The results of operations for the interim periods are not necessarily indicative of the results for the entire year.

Accounts_Receivable

Accounts Receivable	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 29, 2015
Accounts Receivable
Accounts Receivable	NOTE 2 – Accounts Receivable
	The components of accounts receivable are as follows:
		As of
		March 29,		December 31,
	($ in thousands)	2015		2014
	Accounts receivable, gross	$	67,172	$	56,994
	Less: Allowance for doubtful accounts		-116		-100
	Accounts receivable, net	$	67,056	$	56,894

Inventories

Inventories	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 29, 2015
Inventories
Inventories	NOTE 3 – Inventories
	Inventories consist of the following:
		As of
		March 29,		December 31,
	($ in thousands)	2015		2014
	Finished goods	$	11,934	$	11,728
	Work-in-process		6,840		7,297
	Raw materials		16,718		15,562
	Less: Inventory reserves		-6,912		-6,700
	Inventories, net	$	28,580	$	27,887

Retirement_Plans

Retirement Plans	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 29, 2015
Retirement Plans
Retirement Plans	NOTE 4 – Retirement Plans
	Pension Plans
	Net pension income for our domestic and foreign plans was as follows:
			Three Months Ended
	($ in thousands)		March 29, 2015		March 30, 2014
	Net pension income		$	-528	$	-626
	Net pension (income) expense breakdown for our domestic and foreign plans include the following components:
			Domestic Pension Plans				Foreign Pension Plans
	Three months:		Three Months Ended				Three Months Ended
	($ in thousands)		March 29, 2015		March 30, 2014		March 29, 2015		March 30, 2014
	Service cost		$	42	$	48	$	17	$	21
	Interest cost			2,815		3,058		123		150
	Expected return on plan assets (1)			-5,068		-5,208		-133		-167
	Amortization of loss			1,585		1,413		91		59
	(Income) expense, net		$	-626	$	-689	$	98	$	63
		-1		Expected return on plan assets is net of expected investment expenses and certain administrative expenses.
	Other Postretirement Benefit Plan
	Net postretirement expense for our postretirement plan includes the following components:
			Three Months Ended
	($ in thousands)		March 29, 2015		March 30, 2014
	Other postretirement benefit plan
	Service cost		$	1	$	1
	Interest cost			51		57
	Amortization of gain			-25		-39
	Postretirement expense		$	27	$	19

Other_Intangible_Assets

Other Intangible Assets	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 29, 2015
Other Intangible Assets.
Other Intangible Assets	NOTE 5 – Other Intangible Assets
	Intangible assets consist of the following components:
		As of
		March 29, 2015
	($ in thousands)	Gross		Accumulated		Net Amount
		Carrying		Amortization
		Amount
	Amortized intangible assets:
	Customer lists/relationships	$	51,804	$	-25,082	$	26,722
	Patents		10,319		-10,319		—
	Other intangibles		12,270		-4,063		8,207
	Other intangible assets, net	$	74,393	$	-39,464	$	34,929
	Amortization expense for the three months ended March 29, 2015			$	973
		As of
		December 31, 2014
	($ in thousands)	Gross		Accumulated		Net Amount
		Carrying		Amortization
		Amount
	Amortized intangible assets:
	Customer lists/relationships	$	51,804	$	-24,415	$	27,389
	Patents		10,319		-10,319		—
	Other intangibles		12,270		-3,757		8,513
	Other intangible assets, net	$	74,393	$	-38,491	$	35,902
	Amortization expense for the three months ended March 30, 2014			$	1,034
	Amortization expense remaining for other intangible assets is as follows:
	($ in thousands)	Amortization
		expense
	2015	$	2,976
	2016		3,647
	2017		3,569
	2018		3,484
	2019		3,475
	Thereafter		17,778
	Total amortization expense	$	34,929

Costs_Associated_with_Exit_and

Costs Associated with Exit and Restructuring Activities	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 29, 2015
Costs Associated with Exit and Restructuring Activities
Costs Associated with Exit and Restructuring Activities	NOTE 6 – Costs Associated with Exit and Restructuring Activities
	Costs associated with exit and restructuring activities are recorded in the Consolidated Statement of Earnings as follows: restructuring related charges are recorded as a component of Cost of Goods Sold, and restructuring and impairment charges are reported on a separate line and included in Operating Earnings.  Total restructuring, impairment and restructuring related charges were $813,000 for the three month period ended March 29, 2015.
	Restructuring related charges were $75,000 for three month period ended March 29, 2015.  Restructuring and impairment charges were $738,000 for the three month period ended March 29, 2015.
	During April 2014, CTS announced plans to restructure its operations and consolidate its Canadian operations into other existing CTS facilities as part of CTS’ overall plan to simplify its business model and rationalize its global footprint (“April 2014 Plan”).
	These restructuring actions will result in the elimination of approximately 120 positions. These actions are expected to be completed in 2015. The following table displays the planned restructuring and restructuring-related charges associated with the April 2014 Plan, as well as a summary of the actual costs incurred through March 29, 2015:
				Actual costs
		Planned		incurred through
	($ in thousands)                                                           April 2014 Plan	Costs		March 29, 2015
	Inventory write-down	$	250	$	—
	Equipment relocation		500		—
	Other charges		350		—
	Restructuring related charges, included in cost of goods sold	$	1,100	$	—
	Workforce reduction	$	4,100	$	3,677
	Asset impairment charge		—		—
	Other charges, including pension termination costs		500		154
	Restructuring and impairment charges	$	4,600	$	3,831
	Total restructuring, impairment and restructuring related charges	$	5,700	$	3,831
	Under the April 2014 Plan, restructuring and impairment charges were $361,000 in the three month period ended March 29, 2015.
	During June 2013, CTS announced a restructuring plan to simplify CTS’ global footprint by consolidating manufacturing facilities into existing locations (“June 2013 Plan”).  The June 2013 Plan includes the consolidation of operations from the U.K. manufacturing facility into the Czech Republic facility, the Carol Stream, Illinois manufacturing facility into the Juarez, Mexico facility and to discontinue manufacturing at its Singapore facility.   Certain Corporate functions were consolidated or eliminated as a result of the June 2013 Plan and also as a result of the sale of CTS’ EMS business.
	These restructuring actions will result in the elimination of approximately 350 positions. The above actions are expected to be completed in 2015.
	During the fourth quarter of 2014, CTS management revised the June 2013 Plan.  The amendment added an additional $4,000,000 in planned costs.  Future settlement of the U.K. pension plan is estimated to account for $2,000,000 of the added cost.  The remaining $2,000,000 in restructuring and impairment charges are for severance costs and will result in the elimination of approximately 130 additional positions. The positions eliminated will be spread globally throughout CTS businesses.  The above actions are expected to be substantially complete in 2015.
	The following table displays the planned restructuring and restructuring-related charges associated with the realignment, as well as a summary of the actual costs incurred through March 29, 2015:
		Planned		Actual costs
				incurred through
	($ in thousands)                                                           June 2013 Plan	Costs		March 29, 2015
	Inventory write-down	$	800	$	1,143
	Equipment relocation		900		1,792
	Other charges		100		652
	Restructuring-related charges, included in cost of goods sold	$	1,800	$	3,587
	Workforce reduction	$	10,150	$	8,698
	Asset impairment charge		3,000		4,258
	Other charges, including pension termination costs		7,650		1,233
	Restructuring and impairment charges	$	20,800	$	14,189
	Total restructuring and restructuring-related charges	$	22,600	$	17,776
	Under the June 2013 Plan, total restructuring, impairment and restructuring related charges incurred were $452,000 for the three month period ended March 29, 2015 and were $1,074,000 for the three month period ended March 30, 2014. For the three month period ended March 29, 2015, the restructuring related charges were $75,000 and the restructuring and impairment charges were $377,000.
	The following table displays the restructuring reserve activity for the period ended March 29, 2015:
	($ in thousands)                                    June 2013 Plan and April 2014 Plan
	Restructuring liability at January 1, 2015	$	3,904
	Restructuring and restructuring-related charges, excluding asset impairments and write-offs		813
	Cost paid		-1,266
	Restructuring liability at March 29, 2015	$	3,451

Accrued_Liabilities

Accrued Liabilities	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 29, 2015
Accrued Liabilities.
Accrued Liabilities	NOTE 7 – Accrued Liabilities
	The components of Accrued liabilities are as follows:
		As of
		March 29,		December 31,
	($ in thousands)	2015		2014
	Accrued product related costs	$	5,804	$	5,216
	Accrued income taxes		4,593		3,346
	Accrued property and other taxes		4,554		2,547
	Dividends payable		1,332		1,336
	Remediation and monitoring reserves		4,530		3,918
	Other accrued liabilities		8,658		8,993
	Total accrued liabilities	$	29,471	$	25,356

Contingencies

Contingencies	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 29, 2015
Contingencies
Contingencies	NOTE 8 – Contingencies
	Certain processes in the manufacture of CTS’ current and past products create hazardous waste by-products as currently defined by federal and state laws and regulations. CTS has been notified by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, state environmental agencies and, in some cases, generator groups, that it is or may be a potentially responsible party regarding hazardous substances at several sites either owned, not owned or operated by CTS. Some sites are Superfund sites such as in Asheville, North Carolina and Mountain View, California. In addition to these non-CTS sites, CTS has an ongoing practice of providing reserves for probable remediation activities at certain of its manufacturing locations and for claims and proceedings against CTS with respect to other environmental matters. CTS records reserves on an undiscounted basis. In the opinion of management, based upon presently available information relating to all such matters, adequate provision for probable costs has been made.
	CTS manufactures accelerator pedals for a number of automobile manufacturers, including subsidiaries of Toyota Motor Corporation (“Toyota”). In January 2010, Toyota initiated a recall of a substantial number of vehicles in North America containing pedals manufactured by CTS. The recall expanded to include vehicles in Europe and Asia.  The pedal recall and associated events have led to CTS being named as a co-defendant with Toyota in certain litigation in the United States and Canada.  CTS is not aware of any legal actions filed in Asia or Europe against CTS at this time.  In February 2010, CTS entered into an agreement with Toyota whereby Toyota agreed that it will indemnify, defend, and hold CTS harmless from, and the parties will cooperate in the defense of, third-party civil claims and actions that are filed or asserted in the United States or Canada and that arise from or relate to alleged incidents of unintended acceleration of Toyota and Lexus vehicles. The limited exceptions to indemnification restrict CTS’ share of any liability to amounts collectable from its insurers.  CTS cannot assure that Toyota will not seek to recover a portion of its recall-related costs from CTS, or that the insurance CTS carries will be sufficient to cover such costs.
	Certain other claims are pending against CTS with respect to matters arising out of the ordinary conduct of CTS’ business. These claims, in the opinion of management, based upon past experience and presently available information, either adequate provision for anticipated costs has been reserved or the ultimate anticipated costs will not materially affect CTS’ consolidated financial position, results of operations, or cash flows.

Debt

Debt	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 29, 2015
Debt
Debt	NOTE 9 - Debt
	Long-term debt was comprised of the following:
		As of
		March 29,			December 31,
	($ in thousands)	2015			2014
	Revolving credit facility due in 2017	$	83,200		$	75,000
	Weighted average interest rate		1.4	%		1.5	%
	Amount available	$	114,335		$	122,535
	Total credit facility	$	200,000		$	200,000
	Standby letters of credit	$	2,465		$	2,465
	Commitment fee percentage per annum		0.25			0.25
	The revolving credit facility requires, among other things, that CTS comply with a maximum total leverage ratio and a minimum fixed charge coverage ratio.  Failure of CTS to comply with these covenants could reduce the borrowing availability under the revolving credit facility.  CTS was in compliance with all debt covenants at March 29, 2015.  The revolving credit facility requires CTS to deliver quarterly financial statements, annual financial statements, auditors certifications and compliance certificates within a specified number of days after the end of a quarter and year. Additionally, the revolving credit facility contains restrictions limiting CTS' ability to: dispose of assets; incur certain additional debt; repay other debt or amend subordinated debt instruments; create liens on assets; make investments, loans or advances; make acquisitions or engage in mergers or consolidations; engage in certain transactions with CTS' subsidiaries and affiliates; and make stock repurchases and dividend payments.  Interest rates on the revolving credit facility fluctuate based upon the London Interbank Offered Rate and the Company’s quarterly total leverage ratio.  CTS pays a commitment fee on the undrawn portion of the revolving credit facility.  The commitment fee varies based on the quarterly leverage ratio.
	CTS has debt issuance costs related to its long-term debt that are being amortized using the straight-line method over the life of the debt.  Amortization expense was approximately $50,000 in the three months ended March 29, 2015 and was recognized as interest expense.
	CTS uses interest rate swaps to convert the revolving credit facility’s variable rate of interest into a fixed rate. In the second quarter of 2012, CTS entered into four separate interest rate swap agreements to fix interest rates on $50,000,000 of long-term debt for the periods January 2013 to January 2017. In the third quarter of 2012, CTS entered into four separate interest rate swap agreements to fix interest rates on $25,000,000 of long-term debt for the periods January 2013 to January 2017. The difference to be paid or received under the terms of the swap agreements will be recognized as an adjustment to interest expense when settled.
	These swaps are treated as cash flow hedges and consequently, the changes in fair value were recorded in Other comprehensive income. The estimated net amount of the existing gains or losses that are reported in accumulated other comprehensive income that is expected to be reclassified into earnings within the next twelve months is approximately $450,000.  Interest rate swaps activity recorded in Other comprehensive earnings before tax includes the following:
		Three Months Ended
	($ in thousands)	March 29, 2015			March 30, 2014
	Unrealized loss	$	-327		$	-54
	Realized gain reclassified to interest expense	$	190		$	118
	Interest rate swaps included on the balance sheets are comprised of the following:
		As of
		March 29,			December 31,
	($ in thousands)	2015			2014
	Accrued liabilities	$	733		$	640
	Other long-term obligations	$	424		$	380

Other_Comprehensive_Income

Other Comprehensive Income	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 29, 2015
Other Comprehensive Income
Other Comprehensive Income	NOTE 10 – Other Comprehensive Income
	Shareholders’ equity includes certain items classified as Accumulated other comprehensive (loss) income (“AOCI”) in the Consolidated Balance Sheets, including:
		·		Unrealized gains (losses) on hedges relate to interest rate swaps to convert the line of credit’s variable rate of interest into a fixed rate. These hedges are designated as cash flow hedges, and CTS has deferred income statement recognition of gains and losses until the hedged transaction occurs.  Amounts reclassified to income from AOCI for hedges are included in interest expense.  Further information related to CTS’ interest rate swaps is included in NOTE 13 – Fair Value Measurement.
		·		Unrealized gains (losses) on pension obligations are deferred from income statement recognition until the gains or losses are realized.  Amounts reclassified to income from AOCI are included in net periodic pension expense.  Further information related to CTS’ pension obligations is included in NOTE 4 – Retirement Plans.
		·		Cumulative translation adjustment relates to our non-U.S. subsidiary companies that have designated a functional currency other than the U.S. dollar. CTS is required to translate the subsidiary functional currency financial statements to dollars using a combination of historical, period-end, and average foreign exchange rates. This combination of rates creates the foreign currency translation adjustment component of other comprehensive income.  Changes in exchange rates between the functional currency and the currency in which a transaction is denominated is a foreign exchange transaction gain or loss. A transaction loss for the period ended March 29, 2015 was $1,688,000 which is included in Other in the Condensed Consolidated Statement of Earnings.
	The components of other comprehensive loss for the three months ended March 29, 2015 are as follows:
							Gain (Loss)
			As of		Gain (Loss)		reclassified		As of
			December 31,		Recognized		from AOCI		March 29,
	($ in thousands)		2014		in OCI		to income		2015
	Changes in fair market value of hedges:
	Gross		$	-1,020	$	-327	$	190	$	-1,157
	Income tax (benefit)			-384		-123		72		-435
	Net			-636		-204		118		-722
	Changes in unrealized pension cost:
	Gross			-169,291		1,930		—		-167,361
	Income tax (benefit)			-65,124		673		—		-64,451
	Net			-104,167		1,257		—		-102,910
	Cumulative translation adjustment:
	Gross			245		-736		—		-491
	Income tax (benefit)			-325		367		—		42
	Net			570		-1,103		—		-533
	Total accumulated other comprehensive (loss) income		$	-104,233	$	-50	$	118	$	-104,165
	The components of other comprehensive loss for the three months ended March 30, 2014 are as follows:
							Gain (Loss)
			As of		Gain (Loss)		reclassified		As of
			December 31,		Recognized		from AOCI		March 30,
	($ in thousands)		2013		in OCI		to income		2014
	Changes in fair market value of hedges:
	Gross		$	-998	$	-54	$	118	$	-934
	Income tax (benefit)			-402		-21		45		-378
	Net			-596		-33		73		-556
	Changes in unrealized pension cost:
	Gross			-138,133		1,450		—		-136,683
	Income tax (benefit)			-55,028		536		—		-54,492
	Net			-83,105		914		—		-82,191
	Cumulative translation adjustment:
	Gross			949		133		—		1,082
	Income tax (benefit)			-855		-71		—		-926
	Net			1,804		204		—		2,008
	Total accumulated other comprehensive (loss) income		$	-81,897	$	1,085	$	73	$	-80,739

Shareholders_Equity

Shareholders' Equity	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 29, 2015
Stockholders' Equity
Shareholders' Equity	NOTE 11 – Shareholders’ Equity
	Share count and par value data related to shareholders’ equity are as follows:
		As of
		March 29,		December 31,
		2015		2014
	Preferred Stock
	Par value per share		No par value		No par value
	Shares authorized		25,000,000		25,000,000
	Shares outstanding		—		—
	Common Stock
	Par value per share		No par value		No par value
	Shares authorized		75,000,000		75,000,000
	Shares issued		56,176,739		56,101,700
	Shares outstanding		33,302,247		33,392,060
	Treasury stock
	Shares held		22,874,492		22,709,640
	CTS uses the cost method to account for its common stock purchases. During the three month period March 29, 2015, CTS purchased 164,852 shares of common stock for an aggregate of $2,892,729 under a board-authorized share repurchase plan. For the three month period ended March 30, 2014, CTS purchased 27,598 shares of common stock for an aggregate of $495,167.  Approximately 9,055,892 shares are available for future issuances.
	A roll forward of common shares outstanding is as follows:
		Three Months Ended
		March 29, 2015		March 30, 2014
	Balance at the beginning of the year		33,392,060		33,558,864
	Repurchases		-164,852		-27,598
	Stock option issuances		—		101,350
	Restricted share issuances		75,039		169,770
	Restricted share forfeitures		—		—
	Shares withheld for tax obligations		—		—
	Balance at the end of the period		33,302,247		33,802,386

EquityBased_Compensation

Equity-Based Compensation	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 29, 2015
Equity-Based Compensation
Equity-Based Compensation	NOTE 12 - Equity-Based Compensation
	At March 29, 2015, CTS had five equity-based compensation plans:  the 2001 Stock Option Plan (“2001 Plan”), the Nonemployee Directors’ Stock Retirement Plan (“Directors’ Plan”), the 2004 Omnibus Long-Term Incentive Plan (“2004 Plan”), the 2009 Omnibus Equity and Performance Incentive Plan (“2009 Plan”), and the 2014 Performance & Incentive Plan (“2014 Plan”).  Future grants can only be made under the 2014 Plan.
	The 2009 Plan, and previously the 2001 Plan and 2004 Plan, provides for grants of incentive stock options or nonqualified stock options to officers, key employees, and nonemployee members of CTS’ Board of Directors.  In addition, the 2014 Plan, the 2009 Plan and the 2004 Plan allow for grants of stock appreciation rights, restricted stock, RSUs, performance shares, performance units, and other stock awards.
	The following table summarizes the compensation expense included in Selling, general and administrative expenses in the Consolidated Statements of Earnings related to equity-based compensation plans:
		Three Months Ended
	($ in thousands)	March 29, 2015			March 30, 2014
	Service-Based RSUs	$	549		$	473
	Performance-Based RSUs		520			174
	Market-Based RSUs		451			132
	Total	$	1,520		$	779
	Income tax benefit	$	571		$	298
	The following table summarizes the unrecognized compensation expense related to non-vested RSUs by type and the weighted-average period in which the expense is to be recognized:
		Unrecognized
		compensation			Weighted-
		expense at			average
	($ in thousands)	March 29, 2015			period
	Service-Based RSUs	$	2,479		1.3	years
	Performance-Based RSUs		1,975		1.6	years
	Market-Based RSUs		1,214		1.4	years
	Total	$	5,668
	CTS recognizes expense on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period for each separately vesting portion of the award as if the award was, in substance, multiple awards.
	The following table summarizes the status of these plans as of March 29, 2015:
		2014 Plan		2009 Plan		2004 Plan	2001 Plan
	Awards originally available	1,500,000		3,400,000		6,500,000	2,000,000
	Stock options outstanding	—		—		5,200	—
	RSUs outstanding	144,025		281,687		101,223	—
	Options exercisable	—		—		5,200	—
	Awards available for grant	1,343,675		1,616,597		106,423	—
	Stock Options
	Stock options are exercisable in cumulative annual installments over a maximum 10-year period, commencing at least one year from the date of grant.   Stock options are generally granted with an exercise price equal to the market price of CTS’ stock on the date of grant.  The stock options generally vest over four years and have a 10-year contractual life.  The awards generally contain provisions to either accelerate vesting or allow vesting to continue on schedule upon retirement if certain service and age requirements are met.   The awards also provide for accelerated vesting if there is a change in control event.
	CTS estimated the fair value of the stock option on the grant date using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model and assumptions for expected price volatility, option term, risk-free interest rate, and dividend yield.  Expected price volatilities were based on historical volatilities of CTS’ common stock.  The expected option term is derived from historical data on exercise behavior. The dividend yield was based on historical dividend payments.  The risk-free rate for periods within the contractual life of the option was based on the U.S. Treasury yield curve in effect at the time of grant.
	A summary of the status of stock options as of March 29, 2015, and changes during the period then ended, is presented below:
		Three Months Ended
		March 29, 2015
				Weighted
				Average
				Exercise
		Options		Price
	Outstanding at beginning of year	5,200		$	12.35
	Exercised	—		$	—
	Expired	—		$	—
	Forfeited	—		$	—
	Outstanding at end of period	5,200		$	12.35
	Exercisable at end of period	5,200		$	12.35
	<
		Three Months Ended
		March 29, 2015
	Weighted average remaining contractual life		0.7	years
	Aggregate intrinsic values of options outstanding and options exercisable	$	27,583
	There are no unvested stock options at March 29, 2015.
	Service-Based Restricted Stock Units
	Service-based RSUs entitle the holder to receive one share of common stock for each unit when the unit vests.  RSUs are issued to officers, key employees and non-employee directors as compensation.  Generally, the RSUs vest over a three-year period.  RSUs granted to non-employee directors vest one month after granted.  Upon vesting, the non-employee directors elect to either receive the stock associated with the RSU immediately, or defer receipt of the stock until their retirement from the Board of Directors.  The fair value of the RSUs is equivalent to the trading value of CTS’ common stock on the grant date.
	A summary of the status of RSUs is presented below:
		Three Months Ended
		March 29, 2015
				Weighted
				Average
				Grant Date
		Units		Fair Value
	Outstanding at January 1, 2015	517,965		$	12.06
	Granted	114,025			16.93
	Converted	-104,424			13.12
	Forfeited	-631			10.12
	Outstanding at March 29, 2015	526,935		$	12.90
Performance-Based Restricted Stock Units
CTS grants performance-based restricted stock unit awards for certain executives. Vesting may occur in the range from zero percent to 200% of the target amount.   Vesting is subject to certification of the fiscal results of the year prior to the target year by CTS’ independent auditors. Vesting is dependent upon CTS’ achievement of either sales growth targets or cash flow targets as noted in the table below.
Performance-Based RSUs include the following components:
	Target		Vesting		Vesting	Units
Grant Date	Units		Year		Dependency	Awarded
11-Feb-13	47,164		2016		Sales growth	—
11-Feb-13	40,425		2016		Cash flow	—
14-Feb-14	22,538		2017		Sales growth	—
14-Feb-14	19,319		2017		Cash flow	—
13-Feb-15	32,743		2018		Sales growth	—
13-Feb-15	28,065		2018		Cash flow	—
Market-Based Restricted Stock Units
CTS grants market-based restricted stock unit awards for certain executives and key employees. Vesting may occur in the range from zero percent to 200% of the target amount.   Vesting is subject to certification of the fiscal results of the year prior to the target year by CTS’ independent auditors.  The vesting rate will be determined using a matrix based on a percentile ranking of CTS total stockholder return with peer group total shareholder return over a three-year period. Vesting is tied exclusively to CTS total stockholder return relative to peer group companies’ total stockholder return rates.
Market-Based RSUs include the following components:
					Number of
	Target		Vesting		Peer Group	Units
Grant Date	Units		Year		Companies	Awarded
11-Feb-13	40,425		2016		20	—
11-Feb-13	48,750		2016		20	—
14-Feb-14	22,538		2017		15	—
13-Feb-15	32,743		2018		23	—

Income_Taxes

Income Taxes	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 29, 2015
Income Taxes
Income Taxes	NOTE 14 — Income Taxes
	The effective tax rates for first quarter 2015 and 2014 are as follows:
		Three Months Ended
		March 29, 2015		March 30, 2014
	Effective tax rate	30.2	%	43.7	%
	The 2015 effective tax rate reflects a change in the mix of earnings by jurisdiction, and the effect of discrete period expense that decreased the rate by 3.3% in the first quarter of 2015.  Tax expense during the three months ended March 30, 2014 includes a discrete period tax expense that increased the rate by 8.4% due to tax adjustments in the quarter.
	CTS’ continuing practice is to recognize interest and/or penalties related to income tax matters as income tax expense. For the three months ended March 29, 2015 and March 30, 2014, CTS did not accrue any interest or penalties into income tax expense.

Recent_Accounting_Pronouncemen

Recent Accounting Pronouncements	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 29, 2015
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
Recent Accounting Pronouncements	NOTE 15 — Recent Accounting Pronouncements
	In April 2015, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2015-04, “Compensation –Retirement Benefits (Topic 715): Practical Expedient for the Measurement Date of an Employer’s Defined Benefit Obligation and Plan Assets”.  The amended guidance permits companies to use a practical expedient which allows an employer to measure defined benefit plan assets and obligations as of the month-end date that is closest to the employer’s fiscal year-end (alternative measurement date).  An employer using this policy election must apply it consistently to all of its defined benefit plans.
	In accordance with this ASU, an employer using the practical expedient is required to adjust the funded status for contributions and other significant events (as defined in paragraph 715-30-35-66) occurring between the alternative measurement date and its fiscal year-end.  Paragraph 715-30-35-66 defines a significant event as: a plan amendment, settlement, or curtailment that calls for remeasurement.  This ASU also allows employers the use of the practical expedient in interim remeasurements of significant events.
	The employer would be required to disclose the election to use the practical expedient and the measurement date of the plan assets and obligations.  Early application of this ASU is permitted.  Entities must apply the guidance prospectively.
	The guidance is effective for financial statements for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2015, and interim periods within those fiscal years.  The changes would be effective for employee benefit plans for financial statements issued for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2016, and interim periods within fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017. These provisions are not anticipated to have a material impact on our financial statements.
	In April 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-05, “Intangibles—Goodwill and Other—Internal-Use Software (Subtopic 350-40) Customer’s Accounting for Fees Paid in a Cloud Computing Arrangement”.  The amendments in this ASU provide guidance to customers about a customer’s accounting for fees paid in a cloud computing arrangement.  This ASU clarifies that if a cloud computing arrangement includes a software license, then the customer should account for the software license element of the arrangement consistent with the acquisition of other software licenses. If a cloud computing arrangement does not include a software license, the customer should account for the arrangement as a service contract. The guidance will not change U.S. GAAP for a customer’s accounting for service contracts.  All software licenses within the scope of Subtopic 350-40 will be accounted for consistent with other licenses of intangible assets.
	The amendments will be effective for annual periods, including interim periods within those annual periods, beginning after December 15, 2015.  Early adoption is permitted. An entity can elect to adopt the amendments either prospectively to all arrangements entered into or materially modified after the effective date or retrospectively. For prospective transition, the disclosure requirements at transition include the nature of and reason for the change in accounting principle, the transition method, and a qualitative description of the financial statement line items affected by the change. For retrospective transition, the disclosure requirements at transition include the requirements for prospective transition and quantitative information about the effects of the accounting change. These provisions are not anticipated to have a material impact on our financial statements.
	In April 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-03, “Interest – Imputation of Interest (Subtopic 835-30): Simplifying the Presentation of Debt Issuance Costs”.  The amended guidance require that debt issuance costs related to a recognized debt liability be presented in the balance sheet as a direct deduction from the carrying amount of that debt liability, consistent with debt discounts. The recognition and measurement guidance for debt issuance costs are not affected by the amendments in this ASU. The amendments in this ASU are effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2015, and interim periods within those fiscal years.
	Early adoption of this ASU is permitted for financial statements that have not been previously issued.  Entities must apply the new guidance on a retrospective basis, wherein the balance sheet of each individual period presented should be adjusted to reflect the period-specific effects of applying the new guidance. Upon transition, an entity is required to comply with the applicable disclosures for a change in an accounting principle.  These provisions are not anticipated to have a material impact on our financial statements.
	In June 2014, the FASB issued ASU 2014-12, “Compensation — Stock Compensation (Topic 718): Accounting for Share-Based Payments When the Terms of an Award Provide That a Performance Target Could Be Achieved after the Requisite Service Period”. The amended guidance requires that a performance target that affects vesting and that could be achieved after the requisite service period should be treated as a performance condition.
	Current U.S. GAAP does not contain explicit guidance on whether to treat a performance target that could be achieved after the requisite service period as a performance condition that affects vesting or as a nonvesting condition that affects the grant-date fair value of an award. The amendments in this update provide explicit guidance for those awards.
	The amendments are effective for annual periods and interim periods within those annual periods beginning after December 15, 2015. Earlier adoption is permitted. Entities may apply the amendments either prospectively to all awards granted or modified after the effective date, or retrospectively to all awards with performance targets that are outstanding as of the beginning of the earliest annual period presented in the financial statements and to all new or modified awards thereafter. These provisions are not anticipated to have a material impact on our financial statements.
	In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU 2014-09, “Revenue from Contracts with Customers”. The guidance in this ASU affects any entity that either enters into contracts with customers to transfer goods or services or enters into contracts for the transfer of nonfinancial assets unless those contracts are within the scope of other standards (for example, insurance contracts or lease contracts). The new revenue recognition guidance more closely aligns U.S. GAAP with International Financial Reporting Standards ("IFRS"). The core principle 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 or services.
	To achieve that core principle, an entity should apply the following steps:
	Step 1:Identify the contract(s) with a customer.
	Step 2:Identify the performance obligations in the contract.
	Step 3:Determine the transaction price.
	Step 4:Allocate the transaction price to the performance obligations in the contract.
	Step 5:Recognize revenue when (or as) the entity satisfies a performance obligation.
	The guidance is effective for annual periods beginning on or after December 15, 2016 and interim periods within that reporting period. Early adoption is not permitted. These provisions of this guidance are still being evaluated. The impact on CTS' financial statements has not yet been determined.

Basis_of_Presentation_Policies

Basis of Presentation (Policies)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 29, 2015
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
Basis of Presentation	The accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared by CTS Corporation (“CTS” or “the Company”), without audit, pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission.  Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles have been omitted pursuant to such rules and regulations. The unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the financial statements, notes thereto, and other information included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014.
	The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements reflect, in the opinion of management, all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring items) necessary for a fair statement, in all material respects, of the financial position and results of operations for the periods presented.  The preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reported period.  Actual results could differ materially from those estimates.  The results of operations for the interim periods are not necessarily indicative of the results for the entire year.

Recent_Accounting_Pronouncemen1

Recent Accounting Pronouncements (Policies)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 29, 2015
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
Recent Accounting Pronouncements	In April 2015, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2015-04, “Compensation –Retirement Benefits (Topic 715): Practical Expedient for the Measurement Date of an Employer’s Defined Benefit Obligation and Plan Assets”.  The amended guidance permits companies to use a practical expedient which allows an employer to measure defined benefit plan assets and obligations as of the month-end date that is closest to the employer’s fiscal year-end (alternative measurement date).  An employer using this policy election must apply it consistently to all of its defined benefit plans.
	In accordance with this ASU, an employer using the practical expedient is required to adjust the funded status for contributions and other significant events (as defined in paragraph 715-30-35-66) occurring between the alternative measurement date and its fiscal year-end.  Paragraph 715-30-35-66 defines a significant event as: a plan amendment, settlement, or curtailment that calls for remeasurement.  This ASU also allows employers the use of the practical expedient in interim remeasurements of significant events.
	The employer would be required to disclose the election to use the practical expedient and the measurement date of the plan assets and obligations.  Early application of this ASU is permitted.  Entities must apply the guidance prospectively.
	The guidance is effective for financial statements for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2015, and interim periods within those fiscal years.  The changes would be effective for employee benefit plans for financial statements issued for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2016, and interim periods within fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017. These provisions are not anticipated to have a material impact on our financial statements.
	In April 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-05, “Intangibles—Goodwill and Other—Internal-Use Software (Subtopic 350-40) Customer’s Accounting for Fees Paid in a Cloud Computing Arrangement”.  The amendments in this ASU provide guidance to customers about a customer’s accounting for fees paid in a cloud computing arrangement.  This ASU clarifies that if a cloud computing arrangement includes a software license, then the customer should account for the software license element of the arrangement consistent with the acquisition of other software licenses. If a cloud computing arrangement does not include a software license, the customer should account for the arrangement as a service contract. The guidance will not change U.S. GAAP for a customer’s accounting for service contracts.  All software licenses within the scope of Subtopic 350-40 will be accounted for consistent with other licenses of intangible assets.
	The amendments will be effective for annual periods, including interim periods within those annual periods, beginning after December 15, 2015.  Early adoption is permitted. An entity can elect to adopt the amendments either prospectively to all arrangements entered into or materially modified after the effective date or retrospectively. For prospective transition, the disclosure requirements at transition include the nature of and reason for the change in accounting principle, the transition method, and a qualitative description of the financial statement line items affected by the change. For retrospective transition, the disclosure requirements at transition include the requirements for prospective transition and quantitative information about the effects of the accounting change. These provisions are not anticipated to have a material impact on our financial statements.
	In April 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-03, “Interest – Imputation of Interest (Subtopic 835-30): Simplifying the Presentation of Debt Issuance Costs”.  The amended guidance require that debt issuance costs related to a recognized debt liability be presented in the balance sheet as a direct deduction from the carrying amount of that debt liability, consistent with debt discounts. The recognition and measurement guidance for debt issuance costs are not affected by the amendments in this ASU. The amendments in this ASU are effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2015, and interim periods within those fiscal years.
	Early adoption of this ASU is permitted for financial statements that have not been previously issued.  Entities must apply the new guidance on a retrospective basis, wherein the balance sheet of each individual period presented should be adjusted to reflect the period-specific effects of applying the new guidance. Upon transition, an entity is required to comply with the applicable disclosures for a change in an accounting principle.  These provisions are not anticipated to have a material impact on our financial statements.
	In June 2014, the FASB issued ASU 2014-12, “Compensation — Stock Compensation (Topic 718): Accounting for Share-Based Payments When the Terms of an Award Provide That a Performance Target Could Be Achieved after the Requisite Service Period”. The amended guidance requires that a performance target that affects vesting and that could be achieved after the requisite service period should be treated as a performance condition.
	Current U.S. GAAP does not contain explicit guidance on whether to treat a performance target that could be achieved after the requisite service period as a performance condition that affects vesting or as a nonvesting condition that affects the grant-date fair value of an award. The amendments in this update provide explicit guidance for those awards.
	The amendments are effective for annual periods and interim periods within those annual periods beginning after December 15, 2015. Earlier adoption is permitted. Entities may apply the amendments either prospectively to all awards granted or modified after the effective date, or retrospectively to all awards with performance targets that are outstanding as of the beginning of the earliest annual period presented in the financial statements and to all new or modified awards thereafter. These provisions are not anticipated to have a material impact on our financial statements.
	In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU 2014-09, “Revenue from Contracts with Customers”. The guidance in this ASU affects any entity that either enters into contracts with customers to transfer goods or services or enters into contracts for the transfer of nonfinancial assets unless those contracts are within the scope of other standards (for example, insurance contracts or lease contracts). The new revenue recognition guidance more closely aligns U.S. GAAP with International Financial Reporting Standards ("IFRS"). The core principle 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 or services.
	To achieve that core principle, an entity should apply the following steps:
	Step 1:Identify the contract(s) with a customer.
	Step 2:Identify the performance obligations in the contract.
	Step 3:Determine the transaction price.
	Step 4:Allocate the transaction price to the performance obligations in the contract.
	Step 5:Recognize revenue when (or as) the entity satisfies a performance obligation.
	The guidance is effective for annual periods beginning on or after December 15, 2016 and interim periods within that reporting period. Early adoption is not permitted. These provisions of this guidance are still being evaluated. The impact on CTS' financial statements has not yet been determined.

Accounts_Receivable_Tables

Accounts Receivable (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 29, 2015
Accounts Receivable
Components of Accounts Receivable
		As of
		March 29,		December 31,
	($ in thousands)	2015		2014
	Accounts receivable, gross	$	67,172	$	56,994
	Less: Allowance for doubtful accounts		-116		-100
	Accounts receivable, net	$	67,056	$	56,894

Inventories_Tables

Inventories (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 29, 2015
Inventories
Summary of Inventories
		As of
		March 29,		December 31,
	($ in thousands)	2015		2014
	Finished goods	$	11,934	$	11,728
	Work-in-process		6,840		7,297
	Raw materials		16,718		15,562
	Less: Inventory reserves		-6,912		-6,700
	Inventories, net	$	28,580	$	27,887

Retirement_Plans_Tables

Retirement Plans (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 29, 2015
Retirement Plans
Net Pension Income or Postretirement Expense	Net pension income for our domestic and foreign plans was as follows:
			Three Months Ended
	($ in thousands)		March 29, 2015		March 30, 2014
	Net pension income		$	-528	$	-626
	Net pension (income) expense breakdown for our domestic and foreign plans include the following components:
			Domestic Pension Plans				Foreign Pension Plans
	Three months:		Three Months Ended				Three Months Ended
	($ in thousands)		March 29, 2015		March 30, 2014		March 29, 2015		March 30, 2014
	Service cost		$	42	$	48	$	17	$	21
	Interest cost			2,815		3,058		123		150
	Expected return on plan assets (1)			-5,068		-5,208		-133		-167
	Amortization of loss			1,585		1,413		91		59
	(Income) expense, net		$	-626	$	-689	$	98	$	63
		-1		Expected return on plan assets is net of expected investment expenses and certain administrative expenses.
	Other Postretirement Benefit Plan
	Net postretirement expense for our postretirement plan includes the following components:
			Three Months Ended
	($ in thousands)		March 29, 2015		March 30, 2014
	Other postretirement benefit plan
	Service cost		$	1	$	1
	Interest cost			51		57
	Amortization of gain			-25		-39
	Postretirement expense		$	27	$	19

Other_Intangible_Assets_Tables

Other Intangible Assets (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 29, 2015
Other Intangible Assets.
Summary of other intangible assets
		As of
		March 29, 2015
	($ in thousands)	Gross		Accumulated		Net Amount
		Carrying		Amortization
		Amount
	Amortized intangible assets:
	Customer lists/relationships	$	51,804	$	-25,082	$	26,722
	Patents		10,319		-10,319		—
	Other intangibles		12,270		-4,063		8,207
	Other intangible assets, net	$	74,393	$	-39,464	$	34,929
	Amortization expense for the three months ended March 29, 2015			$	973
		As of
		December 31, 2014
	($ in thousands)	Gross		Accumulated		Net Amount
		Carrying		Amortization
		Amount
	Amortized intangible assets:
	Customer lists/relationships	$	51,804	$	-24,415	$	27,389
	Patents		10,319		-10,319		—
	Other intangibles		12,270		-3,757		8,513
	Other intangible assets, net	$	74,393	$	-38,491	$	35,902
	Amortization expense for the three months ended March 30, 2014			$	1,034
Summary of amortization expense remaining for other intangible assets
	($ in thousands)	Amortization
		expense
	2015	$	2,976
	2016		3,647
	2017		3,569
	2018		3,484
	2019		3,475
	Thereafter		17,778
	Total amortization expense	$	34,929

Costs_Associated_with_Exit_and1

Costs Associated with Exit and Restructuring Activities (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 29, 2015
Restructuring Reserve Activity
	($ in thousands)                                    June 2013 Plan and April 2014 Plan
	Restructuring liability at January 1, 2015	$	3,904
	Restructuring and restructuring-related charges, excluding asset impairments and write-offs		813
	Cost paid		-1,266
	Restructuring liability at March 29, 2015	$	3,451
April 2014 Plan
Restructuring and Restructuring Related Charges of Actual Costs
				Actual costs
		Planned		incurred through
	($ in thousands)                                                           April 2014 Plan	Costs		March 29, 2015
	Inventory write-down	$	250	$	—
	Equipment relocation		500		—
	Other charges		350		—
	Restructuring related charges, included in cost of goods sold	$	1,100	$	—
	Workforce reduction	$	4,100	$	3,677
	Asset impairment charge		—		—
	Other charges, including pension termination costs		500		154
	Restructuring and impairment charges	$	4,600	$	3,831
	Total restructuring, impairment and restructuring related charges	$	5,700	$	3,831
June 2013 Plan
Restructuring and Restructuring Related Charges of Actual Costs
		Planned		Actual costs
				incurred through
	($ in thousands)                                                           June 2013 Plan	Costs		March 29, 2015
	Inventory write-down	$	800	$	1,143
	Equipment relocation		900		1,792
	Other charges		100		652
	Restructuring-related charges, included in cost of goods sold	$	1,800	$	3,587
	Workforce reduction	$	10,150	$	8,698
	Asset impairment charge		3,000		4,258
	Other charges, including pension termination costs		7,650		1,233
	Restructuring and impairment charges	$	20,800	$	14,189
	Total restructuring and restructuring-related charges	$	22,600	$	17,776

Accrued_Liabilities_Tables

Accrued Liabilities (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 29, 2015
Accrued Liabilities.
Components of Accrued Liabilities
		As of
		March 29,		December 31,
	($ in thousands)	2015		2014
	Accrued product related costs	$	5,804	$	5,216
	Accrued income taxes		4,593		3,346
	Accrued property and other taxes		4,554		2,547
	Dividends payable		1,332		1,336
	Remediation and monitoring reserves		4,530		3,918
	Other accrued liabilities		8,658		8,993
	Total accrued liabilities	$	29,471	$	25,356

Debt_Tables

Debt (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 29, 2015
Debt
Summary of Long-Term Debt
		As of
		March 29,			December 31,
	($ in thousands)	2015			2014
	Revolving credit facility due in 2017	$	83,200		$	75,000
	Weighted average interest rate		1.4	%		1.5	%
	Amount available	$	114,335		$	122,535
	Total credit facility	$	200,000		$	200,000
	Standby letters of credit	$	2,465		$	2,465
	Commitment fee percentage per annum		0.25			0.25
Summary of Interest Rate Swaps Activity Recorded in Other Comprehensive Income Before Tax
		Three Months Ended
	($ in thousands)	March 29, 2015			March 30, 2014
	Unrealized loss	$	-327		$	-54
	Realized gain reclassified to interest expense	$	190		$	118
Summary of Interest Rate Swaps Included on Balance Sheets
		As of
		March 29,			December 31,
	($ in thousands)	2015			2014
	Accrued liabilities	$	733		$	640
	Other long-term obligations	$	424		$	380

Other_Comprehensive_Income_Tab

Other Comprehensive Income (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 29, 2015
Other Comprehensive Income
Changes in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Earnings/(Loss)	The components of other comprehensive loss for the three months ended March 29, 2015 are as follows:
						Gain (Loss)
		As of		Gain (Loss)		reclassified		As of
		December 31,		Recognized		from AOCI		March 29,
	($ in thousands)	2014		in OCI		to income		2015
	Changes in fair market value of hedges:
	Gross	$	-1,020	$	-327	$	190	$	-1,157
	Income tax (benefit)		-384		-123		72		-435
	Net		-636		-204		118		-722
	Changes in unrealized pension cost:
	Gross		-169,291		1,930		—		-167,361
	Income tax (benefit)		-65,124		673		—		-64,451
	Net		-104,167		1,257		—		-102,910
	Cumulative translation adjustment:
	Gross		245		-736		—		-491
	Income tax (benefit)		-325		367		—		42
	Net		570		-1,103		—		-533
	Total accumulated other comprehensive (loss) income	$	-104,233	$	-50	$	118	$	-104,165
	The components of other comprehensive loss for the three months ended March 30, 2014 are as follows:
						Gain (Loss)
		As of		Gain (Loss)		reclassified		As of
		December 31,		Recognized		from AOCI		March 30,
	($ in thousands)	2013		in OCI		to income		2014
	Changes in fair market value of hedges:
	Gross	$	-998	$	-54	$	118	$	-934
	Income tax (benefit)		-402		-21		45		-378
	Net		-596		-33		73		-556
	Changes in unrealized pension cost:
	Gross		-138,133		1,450		—		-136,683
	Income tax (benefit)		-55,028		536		—		-54,492
	Net		-83,105		914		—		-82,191
	Cumulative translation adjustment:
	Gross		949		133		—		1,082
	Income tax (benefit)		-855		-71		—		-926
	Net		1,804		204		—		2,008
	Total accumulated other comprehensive (loss) income	$	-81,897	$	1,085	$	73	$	-80,739

Shareholders_Equity_Tables

Shareholders' Equity (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 29, 2015
Stockholders' Equity
Summary of Share Count and Par Value Data Related to Shareholders' Equity
		As of
		March 29,		December 31,
		2015		2014
	Preferred Stock
	Par value per share		No par value		No par value
	Shares authorized		25,000,000		25,000,000
	Shares outstanding		—		—
	Common Stock
	Par value per share		No par value		No par value
	Shares authorized		75,000,000		75,000,000
	Shares issued		56,176,739		56,101,700
	Shares outstanding		33,302,247		33,392,060
	Treasury stock
	Shares held		22,874,492		22,709,640
Summary of Common Shares Outstanding
		Three Months Ended
		March 29, 2015		March 30, 2014
	Balance at the beginning of the year		33,392,060		33,558,864
	Repurchases		-164,852		-27,598
	Stock option issuances		—		101,350
	Restricted share issuances		75,039		169,770
	Restricted share forfeitures		—		—
	Shares withheld for tax obligations		—		—
	Balance at the end of the period		33,302,247		33,802,386

EquityBased_compensation_Table

Equity-Based compensation (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 29, 2015
Equity-Based Compensation
Summary of Equity-Based Compensation Expense
		Three Months Ended
	($ in thousands)	March 29, 2015			March 30, 2014
	Service-Based RSUs	$	549		$	473
	Performance-Based RSUs		520			174
	Market-Based RSUs		451			132
	Total	$	1,520		$	779
	Income tax benefit	$	571		$	298
Schedule of Unrecognized Equity-Based Compensation Expense
		Unrecognized
		compensation			Weighted-
		expense at			average
	($ in thousands)	March 29, 2015			period
	Service-Based RSUs	$	2,479		1.3	years
	Performance-Based RSUs		1,975		1.6	years
	Market-Based RSUs		1,214		1.4	years
	Total	$	5,668
Summary of Status of Equity-Based Compensation Plans
		2014 Plan		2009 Plan		2004 Plan	2001 Plan
	Awards originally available	1,500,000		3,400,000		6,500,000	2,000,000
	Stock options outstanding	—		—		5,200	—
	RSUs outstanding	144,025		281,687		101,223	—
	Options exercisable	—		—		5,200	—
	Awards available for grant	1,343,675		1,616,597		106,423	—
Summary of Changes of Stock Options
		Three Months Ended
		March 29, 2015
				Weighted
				Average
				Exercise
		Options		Price
	Outstanding at beginning of year	5,200		$	12.35
	Exercised	—		$	—
	Expired	—		$	—
	Forfeited	—		$	—
	Outstanding at end of period	5,200		$	12.35
	Exercisable at end of period	5,200		$	12.35
Summary of Intrinsic Value and Weighted Average Remaining Contractul Life of Stock Options
		Three Months Ended
		March 29, 2015
	Weighted average remaining contractual life		0.7	years
	Aggregate intrinsic values of options outstanding and options exercisable	$	27,583
Summary of Service-Based Restricted Stock Units
		Three Months Ended
		March 29, 2015
				Weighted
				Average
				Grant Date
		Units		Fair Value
	Outstanding at January 1, 2015	517,965		$	12.06
	Granted	114,025			16.93
	Converted	-104,424			13.12
	Forfeited	-631			10.12
	Outstanding at March 29, 2015	526,935		$	12.90
Schedule of Components of Performance-Based RSU's
		Target		Vesting		Vesting	Units
	Grant Date	Units		Year		Dependency	Awarded
	11-Feb-13	47,164		2016		Sales growth	—
	11-Feb-13	40,425		2016		Cash flow	—
	14-Feb-14	22,538		2017		Sales growth	—
	14-Feb-14	19,319		2017		Cash flow	—
	13-Feb-15	32,743		2018		Sales growth	—
	13-Feb-15	28,065		2018		Cash flow	—
Schedule of Components of Market-Based RSU's
						Number of
		Target		Vesting		Peer Group	Units
	Grant Date	Units		Year		Companies	Awarded
	11-Feb-13	40,425		2016		20	—
	11-Feb-13	48,750		2016		20	—
	14-Feb-14	22,538		2017		15	—
	13-Feb-15	32,743		2018		23	—

Fair_Value_Measurement_Tables

Fair Value Measurement (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 29, 2015
Fair Value Measurements
Summary of Financial Liability Measured at Fair Value on a Recurring Basis	The table below summarizes CTS’ financial liability that was measured at fair value as of three month period ended March 29, 2015 and the loss recorded during the three month period March 29, 2015:
				Quoted
				Prices		Significant
		Carrying		in Active		Other		Significant		Loss for
		Value at		Markets for		Observable		Unobservable		Three Months Ended
		March 29,		Identical		Inputs		Inputs		March 29,
	($ in thousands)	2015		(Level 1)		(Level 2)		(Level 3)		2015
	Interest rate swap – cash flow hedge	$	1,157	$	—	$	1,157	$	—	$	137
	The table below summarizes the financial liability that was measured at fair value on a recurring basis as of December 31, 2014 and the loss recorded during the year ended December 31, 2014:
				Quoted
				Prices		Significant
		Carrying		in Active		Other		Significant		Loss for
		Value at		Markets for		Observable		Unobservable		Year Ended
		December 31,		Identical		Inputs		Inputs		December 31,
	($ in thousands)	2014		(Level 1)		(Level 2)		(Level 3)		2014
	Interest rate swap – cash flow hedge	$	1,020	$	—	$	1,020	$	—	$	22
Reconciliation of Recurring Financial Liability Related to Interest Rate Swaps
		Interest
	($ in thousands)	Rate Swaps
	Balance at January 1, 2014	$	-998
	Total gains (losses) for the period:
	Included in earnings		488
	Included in other comprehensive earnings		-510
	Balance at December 31, 2014	$	-1,020
	Total gains (losses) for the period:
	Included in earnings		190
	Included in other comprehensive earnings		-327
	Balance at March 29, 2015	$	-1,157

Income_Taxes_Tables

Income Taxes (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 29, 2015
Income Taxes
Reconciliation of Effective Income Taxes Rate
		Three Months Ended
		March 29, 2015		March 30, 2014
	Effective tax rate	30.2	%	43.7	%

Accounts_Receivable_Components

Accounts Receivable - Components of Accounts Receivable (Details) (USD $)	Mar. 29, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Accounts Receivable
Accounts receivable, gross	$67,172	$56,994
Less: Allowance for doubtful accounts	-116	-100
Accounts receivable, net	$67,056	$56,894

Inventories_Summary_of_Invento

Inventories - Summary of Inventories (Details) (USD $)	Mar. 29, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Inventories
Finished goods	$11,934	$11,728
Work-in-process	6,840	7,297
Raw materials	16,718	15,562
Less: Inventory reserves	-6,912	-6,700
Inventories, net	$28,580	$27,887

Retirement_Plans_Net_Pension_I

Retirement Plans - Net Pension Income or Postretirement Expense (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 29, 2015	Mar. 30, 2014
Net pension expense (income)
Net expense/(income)	($528)	($626)
Domestic Pension Plans
Net pension expense (income)
Service cost	42	48
Interest cost	2,815	3,058
Expected return on plan assets	-5,068	-5,208
Amortization of loss (gain)	1,585	1,413
Net expense/(income)	-626	-689
Foreign Pension Plans
Net pension expense (income)
Service cost	17	21
Interest cost	123	150
Expected return on plan assets	-133	-167
Amortization of loss (gain)	91	59
Net expense/(income)	98	63
Other Postretirement Benefit Plan
Net pension expense (income)
Service cost	1	1
Interest cost	51	57
Amortization of loss (gain)	-25	-39
Net expense/(income)	$27	$19

Other_Intangible_Assets_Summar

Other Intangible Assets - Summary of Intangible Assets (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 29, 2015	Mar. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2014
Other Intangible Assets
Gross Carrying Amount	$74,393		$74,393
Accumulated Amortization	-39,464		-38,491
Total amortization expense	34,929		35,902
Amortization expense	973	1,034
Customer lists/relationships
Other Intangible Assets
Gross Carrying Amount	51,804		51,804
Accumulated Amortization	-25,082		-24,415
Total amortization expense	26,722		27,389
Patents
Other Intangible Assets
Gross Carrying Amount	10,319		10,319
Accumulated Amortization	-10,319		-10,319
Other intangibles
Other Intangible Assets
Gross Carrying Amount	12,270		12,270
Accumulated Amortization	-4,063		-3,757
Total amortization expense	$8,207		$8,513

Other_Intangible_Assets_Summar1

Other Intangible Assets - Summary of Amortization Expense (Details) (USD $)	Mar. 29, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Other intangible assets
2015	$2,976
2016	3,647
2017	3,569
2018	3,484
2019	3,475
Thereafter	17,778
Total amortization expense	$34,929	$35,902

Costs_Associated_with_Exit_and2

Costs Associated with Exit and Restructuring Activities - April 2014 Plan (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 29, 2015
Restructuring charges
Restructuring and impairment charges	$813,000
Cost of Goods
Restructuring charges
Restructuring charges	75,000
Operating Earnings
Restructuring charges
Restructuring and impairment charges	738,000
April 2014 Plan
Restructuring charges
Planned Costs	5,700,000
Actual costs incurred	3,831,000
April 2014 Plan | Cost of Goods
Restructuring charges
Planned Costs	1,100,000
April 2014 Plan | Operating Earnings
Restructuring charges
Planned Costs	4,600,000
Actual costs incurred	3,831,000
Restructuring and impairment charges	361,000
April 2014 Plan | Forecast
Restructuring charges
Elimination of workforce	120
April 2014 Plan | Inventory write-down | Cost of Goods
Restructuring charges
Planned Costs	250,000
April 2014 Plan | Equipment relocation | Cost of Goods
Restructuring charges
Planned Costs	500,000
April 2014 Plan | Other charges | Cost of Goods
Restructuring charges
Planned Costs	350,000
April 2014 Plan | Workforce reduction | Operating Earnings
Restructuring charges
Planned Costs	4,100,000
Actual costs incurred	3,677,000
April 2014 Plan | Other charges, including pension termination costs | Operating Earnings
Restructuring charges
Planned Costs	500,000
Actual costs incurred	$154,000

Costs_Associated_with_Exit_and3

Costs Associated with Exit and Restructuring Activities - June 2013 Plan (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 29, 2015	Mar. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2014
			employee
Restructuring charges
Restructuring and impairment charges	$813,000
Cost of Goods
Restructuring charges
Restructuring charges	75,000
Operating Earnings
Restructuring charges
Restructuring and impairment charges	738,000
June 2013 Plan
Restructuring charges
Planned Costs	22,600,000
Actual costs incurred	17,776,000
Restructuring and impairment charges	452,000	1,074,000
June 2013 Plan | Cost of Goods
Restructuring charges
Planned Costs	1,800,000
Actual costs incurred	3,587,000
Restructuring charges	75,000
June 2013 Plan | Operating Earnings
Restructuring charges
Planned Costs	20,800,000
Actual costs incurred	14,189,000
Restructuring and impairment charges	377,000
June 2013 Plan | Forecast
Restructuring charges
Elimination of workforce	350
June 2013 Plan | Inventory write-down
Restructuring charges
Planned Costs	800,000
Actual costs incurred	1,143,000
June 2013 Plan | Equipment relocation
Restructuring charges
Planned Costs	900,000
Actual costs incurred	1,792,000
June 2013 Plan | Other charges
Restructuring charges
Planned Costs	100,000
Actual costs incurred	652,000
June 2013 Plan | Workforce reduction
Restructuring charges
Planned Costs	10,150,000
Actual costs incurred	8,698,000
June 2013 Plan | Asset impairment charge
Restructuring charges
Planned Costs	3,000,000
Actual costs incurred	4,258,000
June 2013 Plan | Other charges, including pension termination costs
Restructuring charges
Planned Costs	7,650,000
Actual costs incurred	1,233,000
Amended June 2013 Plan
Restructuring charges
Planned Costs			4,000,000
Amended June 2013 Plan | Workforce reduction | Forecast
Restructuring charges
Elimination of workforce			130
Foreign Pension Plans | Amended June 2013 Plan | UNITED KINGDOM
Restructuring charges
Planned Costs			2,000,000
Foreign Pension Plans | Amended June 2013 Plan | Workforce reduction
Restructuring charges
Planned Costs			2,000,000

Costs_Associated_with_Exit_and4

Costs Associated with Exit and Restructuring Activities - Restructuring Reserve Activity (Details) (June 2013 Plan and April 2014 Plan, USD $)	3 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 29, 2015
June 2013 Plan and April 2014 Plan
Restructuring reserve activity
Restructuring liability at beginning	$3,904
Restructuring and restructuring-related charges	813
Cost paid	-1,266
Restructuring liability at ending	$3,451

Accrued_Liabilities_Components

Accrued Liabilities - Components of Accrued Liabilities (Details) (USD $)	Mar. 29, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Accrued Liabilities
Accrued product related costs	$5,804	$5,216
Accrued Income taxes	4,593	3,346
Accrued property and other taxes	4,554	2,547
Dividends payable	1,332	1,336
Remediation and monitoring reserves	4,530	3,918
Other accrued liabilities	8,658	8,993
Total accrued liabilities	$29,471	$25,356

Debt_LongTerm_Debt_Details

Debt - Long-Term Debt - (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Mar. 29, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Long-term debt
Revolving credit facility due in 2017	$83,200,000	$75,000,000
Amortization expenses	50,000
Revolving credit facility due in 2017 | Line of Credit
Long-term debt
Revolving credit facility due in 2017	83,200,000	75,000,000
Weighted-average interest rate	1.40%	1.50%
Amount available	114,335,000	122,535,000
Total credit facility	200,000,000	200,000,000
Standby letters of credit	$2,465,000	$2,465,000
Commitment fee percentage per annum	0.25%	0.25%

Debt_Additional_Information_De

Debt - Additional Information (Details) (Interest Rate Swap, Designated, Cash Flow Hedge, USD $)	Sep. 30, 2012	Jul. 01, 2012
	agreement	agreement
Interest Rate Swap | Designated | Cash Flow Hedge
Interest rate swap
Number of interest rate derivatives held	4	4
Amount of swap agreement	$25,000,000	$50,000,000

Debt_Summary_of_Interest_Rate_

Debt - Summary of Interest Rate Swaps Activity Recorded in Other Comprehensive Income Before Tax (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 30, 2014	Mar. 29, 2015
Interest rate swap activity recorded in Other comprehensive earnings before tax
Amount expected to be reclassified in the next twelve months		$450
Unrealized gain (loss)	-54
Interest Expense
Interest rate swap activity recorded in Other comprehensive earnings before tax
Realized loss reclassified to interest expense	118
Interest Rate Swap | Designated | Cash Flow Hedge
Interest rate swap activity recorded in Other comprehensive earnings before tax
Unrealized gain (loss)		-327
Interest Rate Swap | Designated | Cash Flow Hedge | Interest Expense
Interest rate swap activity recorded in Other comprehensive earnings before tax
Realized loss reclassified to interest expense		$190

Debt_Summary_of_Interest_Rate_1

Debt - Summary of Interest Rate Swaps Included on Balance Sheets (Details) (Interest Rate Swap, Designated, Cash Flow Hedge, USD $)	Mar. 29, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Accrued Liabilities
Interest rate swaps included on the balance sheet
Accrued liabilities	$733	$640
Other long-term obligations
Interest rate swaps included on the balance sheet
Other long-term obligations	$424	$380

Other_Comprehensive_Income_Sum

Other Comprehensive Income - Summary of Components of Other Comprehensive Loss (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 29, 2015	Mar. 30, 2014
Foreign currency transaction loss
Foreign currency transaction loss	$1,688
Changes in AOCI, Net
Total accumulated other comprehensive (loss) income, beginning of period	-104,233	-81,897
Gain (Loss) recognized in OCI, Net	-50	1,085
Gain (Loss) reclassified from AOCI to income, Net	118	73
Total accumulated other comprehensive (loss) income, end of period	-104,165	-80,739
Changes in fair market value of hedges
Changes in AOCI, Gross
Gross, beginning of the period	-1,020	-998
Gain (Loss) recognized in OCI, Gross	-327	-54
Gain (Loss) reclassified from AOCI to income, Gross	190	118
Gross, end of the period	-1,157	-934
Changes in AOCI, Income tax (benefit)
Income tax (benefit), beginning of period	-384	-402
Income tax (benefit), Gain (Loss) recognized in OCI	-123	-21
Income tax (benefit), Gain (Loss) reclassified from AOCI to income	72	45
Income tax (benefit), end of period	-435	-378
Changes in AOCI, Net
Total accumulated other comprehensive (loss) income, beginning of period	-636	-596
Gain (Loss) recognized in OCI, Net	-204	-33
Gain (Loss) reclassified from AOCI to income, Net	118	73
Total accumulated other comprehensive (loss) income, end of period	-722	-556
Changes in unrealized pension cost
Changes in AOCI, Gross
Gross, beginning of the period	-169,291	-138,133
Gain (Loss) recognized in OCI, Gross	1,930	1,450
Gross, end of the period	-167,361	-136,683
Changes in AOCI, Income tax (benefit)
Income tax (benefit), beginning of period	-65,124	-55,028
Income tax (benefit), Gain (Loss) recognized in OCI	673	536
Income tax (benefit), end of period	-64,451	-54,492
Changes in AOCI, Net
Total accumulated other comprehensive (loss) income, beginning of period	-104,167	-83,105
Gain (Loss) recognized in OCI, Net	1,257	914
Total accumulated other comprehensive (loss) income, end of period	-102,910	-82,191
Cumulative translation adjustment
Changes in AOCI, Gross
Gross, beginning of the period	245	949
Gain (Loss) recognized in OCI, Gross	-736	133
Gross, end of the period	-491	1,082
Changes in AOCI, Income tax (benefit)
Income tax (benefit), beginning of period	-325	-855
Income tax (benefit), Gain (Loss) recognized in OCI	367	-71
Income tax (benefit), end of period	42	-926
Changes in AOCI, Net
Total accumulated other comprehensive (loss) income, beginning of period	570	1,804
Gain (Loss) recognized in OCI, Net	-1,103	204
Total accumulated other comprehensive (loss) income, end of period	($533)	$2,008

Shareholders_Equity_Summary_of

Shareholders' Equity - Summary of Share Count and Par Value Data Related to Shareholders' Equity (Details) (USD $)	Mar. 29, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Mar. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Preferred Stock
Preferred stock, par value per share
Preferred stock, shares authorized	25,000,000	25,000,000
Preferred stock, shares outstanding	0	0
Common Stock
Common stock, par value per share
Common stock, shares authorized	75,000,000	75,000,000
Common stock, shares issued	56,176,739	56,101,700
Common stock, shares outstanding	33,302,247	33,392,060	33,802,386	33,558,864
Treasury stock
Treasury stock, shares held	22,874,492	22,709,640

Shareholders_Equity_Additional

Shareholders' Equity - Additional Information (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 29, 2015	Mar. 30, 2014
Stockholders' Equity
Common stock repurchased, Shares	164,852	27,598
Common stock repurchased, Value	$2,892,729	$495,167
Shares are available for future issuances	9,055,892

Shareholders_Equity_Summary_of1

Shareholders' Equity - Summary of Common Shares Outstanding (Details)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 29, 2015	Mar. 30, 2014
Roll forward of common shares outstanding
Balance at the beginning of the year	33,392,060	33,558,864
Repurchases	-164,852	-27,598
Stock option issuances		101,350
Restricted stock issued	75,039	169,770
Balance at the end of the period	33,302,247	33,802,386

EquityBased_Compensation_Summa

Equity-Based Compensation - Summary of Equity-Based Compensation Expense (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 29, 2015	Mar. 30, 2014
	plan
Share-based Compensation
Number of Equity-Based Compensation Plans	5
Restricted stock units	$1,520	$779
Service-Based RSUs
Share-based Compensation
Restricted stock units	549	473
Performance-Based RSUs
Share-based Compensation
Restricted stock units	520	174
Market-Based RSUs
Share-based Compensation
Restricted stock units	451	132
RSUs
Share-based Compensation
Restricted stock units	1,520	779
Income tax benefit	$571	$298

EquityBased_Compensation_Summa1

Equity-Based Compensation - Summary of Equity-Based Compensation Expense related to Non-Vested RSUs (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 29, 2015
Service-Based RSUs
Share-based Compensation
Unrecognized compensation cost	$2,479
Weighted average period	1 year 3 months 18 days
Performance-Based RSUs
Share-based Compensation
Unrecognized compensation cost	1,975
Weighted average period	1 year 7 months 6 days
Market-Based RSUs
Share-based Compensation
Unrecognized compensation cost	1,214
Weighted average period	1 year 4 months 24 days
RSUs
Share-based Compensation
Unrecognized compensation cost	$5,668

EquityBased_Compensation_Summa2

Equity-Based Compensation - Summary of Status of Equity-Based Compensation Plans (Details)	Mar. 29, 2015
2014 Plan
Summary of Status of Equity-Based Compensation Plans
Awards originally available	1,500,000
Awards available for grant	1,343,675
2009 Plan
Summary of Status of Equity-Based Compensation Plans
Awards originally available	3,400,000
Awards available for grant	1,616,597
2004 Plan
Summary of Status of Equity-Based Compensation Plans
Awards originally available	6,500,000
Stock options outstanding	5,200
Options exercisable	5,200
Awards available for grant	106,423
2001 Plan
Summary of Status of Equity-Based Compensation Plans
Awards originally available	2,000,000
RSUs | 2014 Plan
Summary of Status of Equity-Based Compensation Plans
RSU's outstanding	144,025
RSUs | 2009 Plan
Summary of Status of Equity-Based Compensation Plans
RSU's outstanding	281,687
RSUs | 2004 Plan
Summary of Status of Equity-Based Compensation Plans
RSU's outstanding	101,223

EquityBased_Compensation_Stock

Equity-Based Compensation - Stock Options (Details) (Stock Options, USD $)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 29, 2015
Share-based Compensation
Vesting period	4 years
Stock option contractual term	10 years
Summary of Status of Stock Options
Outstanding, Options at beginning of year	5,200
Outstanding, Options at end of period	5,200
Exercisable, Options at end of period	5,200
Outstanding, Weighted - Average Exercise Price at beginning of year	$12.35
Outstanding, Weighted - Average Exercise Price at end of period	$12.35
Exercisable, Weighted - Average Exercise Price at end of period	$12.35
Additional disclosures - Stock Options
Weighted average remaining contractual life	8 months 12 days
Outstanding, Aggregate intrinsic Value at beginning of period	$27,583
Nonvested stock options outstanding	0
Minimum
Share-based Compensation
Stock option exercises, commencement period from date of grant	P1Y
Maximum
Share-based Compensation
Stock options exercisable cumulative annual installments period	10 years

EquityBased_Compensation_Summa3

Equity-Based Compensation - Summary of Service-Based Restricted Stock Units (Details) (Service-Based RSUs, USD $)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 29, 2015
Officers, key employees, and non-employee directors
Share-based Compensation
Number of shares issuable, against each unit of RSU	1
Summary of Service-Based Restricted Stock Units
Outstanding at beginning of year	517,965
Granted	114,025
Converted	-104,424
Forfeited	-631
Outstanding at end of year	526,935
Beginning of year, Weighted-average Grant-Date Fair Value	$12.06
Granted, Weighted-average Grant-Date Fair Value	$16.93
Converted, Weighted-average Grant-Date Fair Value	$13.12
Forfeited, Weighted-average Grant-Date Fair Value	$10.12
End of year, Weighted-average Grant-Date Fair Value	$12.90
Certain executives and key employees
Share-based Compensation
Vesting period	3 years
Non-employee directors
Share-based Compensation
Vesting period	1 month

EquityBased_Compensation_Sched

Equity-Based Compensation - Schedule of Performance-Based RSUs (Details) (Certain executives, Performance-Based RSUs)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 29, 2015
February 11, 2013 | Sales growth
Share-based Compensation
Target based Vesting of performance-based restricted stock unit	47,164
February 11, 2013 | Cash flow
Share-based Compensation
Target based Vesting of performance-based restricted stock unit	40,425
February 14, 2014 | Sales growth
Share-based Compensation
Target based Vesting of performance-based restricted stock unit	22,538
February 14, 2014 | Cash flow
Share-based Compensation
Target based Vesting of performance-based restricted stock unit	19,319
February 13, 2015 | Sales growth
Share-based Compensation
Target based Vesting of performance-based restricted stock unit	32,743
February 13, 2015 | Cash flow
Share-based Compensation
Target based Vesting of performance-based restricted stock unit	28,065
Minimum
Share-based Compensation
Vesting percent	0.00%
Maximum
Share-based Compensation
Vesting percent	200.00%

EquityBased_Compensation_Sched1

Equity-Based Compensation - Schedule of Market-Based RSUs (Details) (Market-Based RSUs)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 29, 2015
Market-Based RSUs
Vesting period	3 years
February 11, 2013 | CEO
Market-Based RSUs
Target based Vesting of market-based restricted stock unit	48,750
Number of enumerated peer group companies	20
February 11, 2013 | Certain executives and key employees
Market-Based RSUs
Target based Vesting of market-based restricted stock unit	40,425
Number of enumerated peer group companies	20
February 14, 2014 | Certain executives and key employees
Market-Based RSUs
Target based Vesting of market-based restricted stock unit	22,538
Number of enumerated peer group companies	15
February 13, 2015 | Certain executives and key employees
Market-Based RSUs
Target based Vesting of market-based restricted stock unit	32,743
Number of enumerated peer group companies	23
Minimum
Market-Based RSUs
Vesting percent	0.00%
Maximum
Market-Based RSUs
Vesting percent	200.00%

Fair_Value_Measurements_Summar

Fair Value Measurements - Summary of Financial Liability Measured at Fair Value on a Recurring Basis (Details) (Interest Rate Swap, Cash Flow Hedge, USD $)	3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 29, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Designated
Recurring financial liability that was measured at carrying value
Interest rate swap - cash flow hedge	$1,157	$1,020	$998
Interest rate swap - cash flow hedge, loss	190	488
Recurring
Recurring financial liability that was measured at carrying value
Interest rate swap - cash flow hedge, loss	137
Recurring | Designated
Recurring financial liability that was measured at carrying value
Interest rate swap - cash flow hedge, loss		22
Recurring | Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)
Recurring financial liability that was measured at carrying value
Interest rate swap - cash flow hedge	1,157
Recurring | Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) | Designated
Recurring financial liability that was measured at carrying value
Interest rate swap - cash flow hedge		1,020
Recurring | Carrying Value
Recurring financial liability that was measured at carrying value
Interest rate swap - cash flow hedge	1,157
Recurring | Carrying Value | Designated
Recurring financial liability that was measured at carrying value
Interest rate swap - cash flow hedge		$1,020

Fair_Value_Measurements_Reconc

Fair Value Measurements - Reconciliation of Recurring Financial Liability Related to Interest Rate Swaps (Details) (Interest Rate Swap, Designated, Cash Flow Hedge, USD $)	3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 29, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Interest Rate Swap | Designated | Cash Flow Hedge
Reconciliation of the recurring financial liability related to interest rate swaps
Beginning balance	($1,020)	($998)
Total gains/(losses) for the period:
Included in earnings	190	488
Included in other comprehensive earnings	-327	-510
Ending balance	($1,157)	($1,020)

Income_Taxes_Schedule_of_Effec

Income Taxes - Schedule of Effective Income Tax Rate (Details)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 29, 2015	Mar. 30, 2014
Income Taxes
Effective income tax rate	30.20%	43.70%

Income_Taxes_Additional_Inform

Income Taxes - Additional Information (Details)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 29, 2015	Mar. 30, 2014
Income Taxes
Increase (decrease) in effective tax rate	-3.30%	8.40%