Kulicke and Soffa Industries (KLIC) 10-K 12 Nov 14 2014 FY Annual report Financial data

DOCUMENT_AND_ENTITY_INFORMATIO

DOCUMENT AND ENTITY INFORMATION (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Millions, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 27, 2014	Nov. 07, 2014	Mar. 29, 2014
Document and Entity Information [Abstract]	'	'	'
Entity Registrant Name	'KULICKE & SOFFA INDUSTRIES INC	'	'
Entity Central Index Key	'0000056978	'	'
Current Fiscal Year End Date	'--09-27	'	'
Entity Filer Category	'Large Accelerated Filer	'	'
Trading Symbol	'klic	'	'
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding	'	76,988,338	'
Document Type	'10-K	'	'
Amendment Flag	'false	'	'
Document Period End Date	27-Sep-14	'	'
Document Fiscal Period Focus	'FY	'	'
Document Fiscal Year Focus	'2014	'	'
Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer	'No	'	'
Entity Voluntary Filers	'No	'	'
Entity Current Reporting Status	'Yes	'	'
Entity Public Float	'	'	$1,001.80

CONSOLIDATED_BALANCE_SHEETS

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (USD $)	Sep. 27, 2014	Sep. 28, 2013
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Current assets:	'	'
Cash and cash equivalents	$587,981	$521,788
Short-term Investments	9,105	3,252
Accounts and notes receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $143 and $504, respectively	171,530	162,714
Inventories, net	49,694	38,135
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	15,090	24,012
Deferred income taxes	4,291	4,487
Total current assets	837,691	754,388
Property, plant and equipment, net	52,755	47,541
Goodwill	41,546	41,546
Intangible assets, net	5,891	11,209
Other assets	6,565	8,310
TOTAL ASSETS	944,448	862,994
Current liabilities:	'	'
Accounts payable	35,132	37,030
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities	43,731	38,868
Income taxes payable	2,488	1,504
Total current liabilities	81,351	77,402
Financing obligation	19,102	19,396
Deferred income taxes	44,963	40,709
Other liabilities	9,790	8,822
TOTAL LIABILITIES	155,206	146,329
Commitments and contingent liabilities (Note 13)	'	'
SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY:	'	'
Preferred stock, without par value: Authorized 5,000 shares; issued - none	0	0
Authorized 200,000 shares; issued 81,624 and 80,237, respectively; outstanding 76,626 and 75,283 shares, respectively	479,116	467,525
Treasury stock, at cost, 4,998 and 4,954 shares, respectively	-46,984	-46,356
Accumulated income	354,866	291,878
Accumulated other comprehensive income	2,244	3,618
TOTAL SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY	789,242	716,665
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY	$944,448	$862,994

CONSOLIDATED_BALANCE_SHEETS_Pa

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (Parenthetical) (USD $)	Sep. 27, 2014	Sep. 28, 2013
In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified
Consolidated Balance Sheets Parenthetical [Abstract]	'	'
Allowance for doubtful accounts and notes receivable	$143	$504
Preferred stock, without par value (usd per share)	$0	$0
Preferred stock, shares authorized	5,000	5,000
Preferred stock, shares issued	0	0
Common stock, no par value (usd per share)	$0	$0
Common stock, shares authorized	200,000	200,000
Common stock, shares issued	81,624	80,237
Common stock, shares outstanding	76,626	75,283
Treasury stock, shares	4,998	4,954

CONSOLIDATED_STATEMENTS_OF_OPE

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 27, 2014	Sep. 28, 2013	Sep. 29, 2012
Income Statement [Abstract]	'	'	'
Net revenue	$568,569	$534,938	$791,023
Cost of sales	295,015	287,993	423,633
Gross profit	273,554	246,945	367,390
Selling, general and administrative	113,514	119,519	124,718
Research and development	83,056	61,620	63,446
Operating expenses	196,570	181,139	188,164
Income from operations	76,984	65,806	179,226
Interest income	1,197	883	833
Interest expense	-1,048	-21	-5,808
Income from operations before income taxes	77,133	66,668	174,251
Provision for income taxes	14,145	7,310	13,671
Net income	$62,988	$59,358	$160,580
Net income per share:	'	'	'
Basic (in dollars per share)	$0.82	$0.79	$2.17
Diluted (in dollars per share)	$0.81	$0.78	$2.13
Weighted average shares outstanding:	'	'	'
Basic (in shares)	76,396	75,132	73,887
Diluted (in shares)	77,292	76,190	75,502

CONSOLIDATED_STATEMENTS_OF_COM

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 27, 2014	Sep. 28, 2013	Sep. 29, 2012
Statement of Comprehensive Income [Abstract]	'	'	'
Net income	$62,988	$59,358	$160,580
Other comprehensive income:	'	'	'
Foreign currency translation adjustment	-983	1,186	207
Unrecognized actuarial gain, Switzerland pension plan, net of tax	-391	51	-370
Total other comprehensive (loss) income	-1,374	1,237	-163
Comprehensive income	$61,614	$60,595	$160,417

CONSOLIDATED_STATEMENTS_OF_CHA

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY (USD $)	Total	Common stock [Member]	Treasury Stock [Member]	Accumulated Income (Deficit) [Member]	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Member]
In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified
Beginning Balance at Oct. 01, 2011	$469,877	$441,749	($46,356)	$71,940	$2,544
Beginning Balance, shares at Oct. 01, 2011	'	72,779,000	'	'	'
Issuance of stock for services rendered	720	720	'	'	'
Issuance of stock for services rendered, shares	'	78,000	'	'	'
Exercise of stock options	3,325	3,325	'	'	'
Exercise of stock options, shares	'	436,000	'	'	'
Issuance of shares for market-based restricted stock and time-based restricted stock	0	0	'	'	'
Issuance of shares for market-based restricted stock and time-based restricted stock, shares	'	852,000	'	'	'
Excess tax benefits from stock based compensation	1,537	1,537	'	'	'
Equity-based compensation expense	7,791	7,791	'	'	'
Components of comprehensive income:	'	'	'	'	'
Net income	160,580	'	'	160,580	'
Translation adjustment	207	'	'	'	207
Unamortized pension costs	-370	'	'	'	-370
Comprehensive income	160,417	'	'	160,580	-163
Ending Balance at Sep. 29, 2012	643,667	455,122	-46,356	232,520	2,381
Ending Balance, shares at Sep. 29, 2012	'	74,145,000	'	'	'
Issuance of stock for services rendered	840	840	'	'	'
Issuance of stock for services rendered, shares	'	74,000	'	'	'
Exercise of stock options	908	908	'	'	'
Exercise of stock options, shares	'	101,000	'	'	'
Issuance of shares for market-based restricted stock and time-based restricted stock	0	0	'	'	'
Issuance of shares for market-based restricted stock and time-based restricted stock, shares	'	963,000	'	'	'
Excess tax benefits from stock based compensation	825	825	'	'	'
Equity-based compensation expense	9,830	9,830	'	'	'
Components of comprehensive income:	'	'	'	'	'
Net income	59,358	'	'	59,358	'
Translation adjustment	1,186	'	'	'	1,186
Unamortized pension costs	51	'	'	'	51
Comprehensive income	60,595	'	'	59,358	1,237
Ending Balance at Sep. 28, 2013	716,665	467,525	-46,356	291,878	3,618
Ending Balance, shares at Sep. 28, 2013	'	75,283,000	'	'	'
Issuance of stock for services rendered	809	809	'	'	'
Treasury Stock, Shares, Acquired	'	'	43,000	'	'
Issuance of stock for services rendered, shares	'	63,000	'	'	'
Repurchase of common stock	-628	'	-628	'	'
Exercise of stock options	1,080	1,080	'	'	'
Exercise of stock options, shares	'	131,000	'	'	'
Issuance of shares for market-based restricted stock and time-based restricted stock	0	0	'	'	'
Issuance of shares for market-based restricted stock and time-based restricted stock, shares	'	1,192,000	'	'	'
Excess tax benefits from stock based compensation	-825	-825	'	'	'
Equity-based compensation expense	10,527	10,527	'	'	'
Components of comprehensive income:	'	'	'	'	'
Net income	62,988	'	'	62,988	'
Translation adjustment	-983	'	'	'	-983
Unamortized pension costs	-391	'	'	'	-391
Comprehensive income	61,614	'	'	62,988	-1,374
Ending Balance at Sep. 27, 2014	$789,242	$479,116	($46,984)	$354,866	$2,244
Ending Balance, shares at Sep. 27, 2014	'	76,626,000	'	'	'

CONSOLIDATED_STATEMENTS_OF_CAS

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 27, 2014	Sep. 28, 2013	Sep. 29, 2012
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:	'	'	'
Net income	$62,988	$59,358	$160,580
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:	'	'	'
Depreciation and amortization	13,520	18,489	17,265
Amortization of debt discount and debt issuance costs	0	0	5,174
Equity-based compensation	11,336	10,670	8,511
Reversal of excess tax benefits (Excess tax benefits from stock based compensation)	825	-825	-1,537
Adjustment for doubtful accounts	320	371	-1,239
Adjustment for inventory valuation	3,060	3,561	6,060
Deferred taxes	4,494	5,901	3,964
Impairment of buildings and building improvements	0	0	206
Switzerland pension plan curtailment gain	-84	-2,100	-1,690
Loss (Gain) on disposal of property, plant and equipment	90	-147	0
Asset retirement obligation	0	-368	0
Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of businesses acquired or sold:	'	'	'
Accounts and notes receivable	-9,294	26,408	-49,111
Inventory	-14,618	17,056	8,144
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	8,866	-2,421	-46
Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other current liabilities	-1,269	-36,066	33,550
Income taxes payable	1,030	-6,832	-6,071
Other, net	1,196	1,769	209
Net cash provided by continuing operations	82,460	94,824	183,969
Net cash used in discontinued operations	0	0	-1,498
Net cash provided by operating activities	82,460	94,824	182,471
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:	'	'	'
Purchases of property, plant and equipment	-10,138	-17,172	-6,902
Proceeds from sales of property, plant and equipment	44	5,310	0
Purchases of short term investment	-18,236	-3,252	0
Proceeds from maturity of short term investment	12,356	0	0
Sales of investments classified as available-for-sale	0	0	6,364
Earnout payment related to prior acquisition	0	0	-14,848
Net cash used in investing activities	-15,974	-15,114	-15,386
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:	'	'	'
Payments on debt	0	0	-110,000
Proceeds from exercise of common stock options	1,080	908	3,325
Repurchase of common stock	-419	0	0
(Reversal of excess tax benefits) Excess tax benefits from stock based compensation	-825	825	1,537
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities	-164	1,733	-105,138
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents	-129	101	109
Changes in cash and cash equivalents	66,193	81,544	62,056
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	521,788	440,244	378,188
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	587,981	521,788	440,244
CASH PAID FOR:	'	'	'
Interest	1,048	0	633
Income taxes	$4,603	$8,382	$10,854

BASIS_OF_PRESENTATION

BASIS OF PRESENTATION	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 27, 2014
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]	'
BASIS OF PRESENTATION	'
	BASIS OF PRESENTATION
	These consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Kulicke and Soffa Industries, Inc. and its subsidiaries (the “Company”), with appropriate elimination of intercompany balances and transactions.
	Fiscal Year
	Each of the Company's first three fiscal quarters ends on the Saturday that is 13 weeks after the end of the immediately preceding fiscal quarter. The fourth quarter of each fiscal year ends on the Saturday closest to September 30th. In fiscal years consisting of 53 weeks, the fourth quarter will consist of 14 weeks. The 2014, 2013, and 2012 fiscal years ended on September 27, 2014, September 28, 2013 and September 29, 2012, respectively.
	Nature of Business
	The Company designs, manufactures and sells capital equipment and expendable tools as well as services, maintains, repairs and upgrades equipment, all used to assemble semiconductor devices. The Company's operating results depend upon the capital and operating expenditures of semiconductor manufacturers and outsourced semiconductor assembly and test providers (“OSATs”) worldwide which, in turn, depend on the current and anticipated market demand for semiconductors and products utilizing semiconductors. The semiconductor industry is highly volatile and experiences downturns and slowdowns which can have a severe negative effect on the semiconductor industry's demand for semiconductor capital equipment, including assembly equipment manufactured and sold by the Company and, to a lesser extent, expendable tools, including those sold by the Company. These downturns and slowdowns have in the past adversely affected the Company's operating results. The Company believes such volatility will continue to characterize the industry and the Company's operations in the future.
	Use of Estimates
	The preparation of consolidated financial statements requires management to make assumptions, estimates and judgments that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, net revenue and expenses during the reporting periods, and disclosures of contingent assets and liabilities as of the date of the consolidated financial statements. On an ongoing basis, management evaluates estimates, including but not limited to, those related to accounts receivable, reserves for excess and obsolete inventory, carrying value and lives of fixed assets, goodwill and intangible assets, valuation allowances for deferred tax assets and deferred tax liabilities, repatriation of un-remitted foreign subsidiary earnings, equity-based compensation expense, restructuring, and warranties. Management bases its estimates on historical experience and on various other assumptions believed to be reasonable. As a result, management makes judgments regarding the carrying values of its assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. Authoritative pronouncements, historical experience and assumptions are used as the basis for making estimates, and on an ongoing basis, management evaluates these estimates. Actual results may differ from these estimates.
	Vulnerability to Certain Concentrations
	Financial instruments which may subject the Company to concentrations of credit risk as of September 27, 2014 and September 28, 2013 consisted primarily of short-term investments and trade receivables. The Company manages credit risk associated with investments by investing its excess cash in highly rated debt instruments of the U.S. Government and its agencies, financial institutions, and corporations. The Company has established investment guidelines relative to diversification and maturities designed to maintain safety and liquidity. These guidelines are periodically reviewed and modified as appropriate. The Company does not have any exposure to sub-prime financial instruments or auction rate securities.
	The Company's trade receivables result primarily from the sale of semiconductor equipment, related accessories and replacement parts, and expendable tools to a relatively small number of large manufacturers in a highly concentrated industry. Write-offs of uncollectible accounts have historically not been significant; however, the Company monitors its customers' financial strength to reduce the risk of loss.
	The Company's products are complex and require raw materials, components and subassemblies having a high degree of reliability, accuracy and performance. The Company relies on subcontractors to manufacture many of these components and subassemblies and it relies on sole source suppliers for some important components and raw material inventory.
	The Company's international operations are exposed to changes in foreign currency exchange rates due to transactions denominated in currencies other than the location's functional currency. The Company is also exposed to foreign currency fluctuations that impact the remeasurement of net monetary assets of those operations whose functional currency, the U.S. dollar, differs from their respective local currencies, most notably in Israel, Malaysia, Singapore and Switzerland. In addition to net monetary remeasurement, the Company has exposures related to the translation of subsidiary financial statements from their functional currency, the local currency, into its reporting currency, the U.S. dollar, most notably in China, Taiwan, Japan and Germany. The Company's U.S. operations also have foreign currency exposure due to net monetary assets denominated in currencies other than the U.S. dollar.
	Foreign Currency Translation
	The majority of the Company's business is transacted in U.S. dollars; however, the functional currencies of some of the Company's subsidiaries are their local currencies. In accordance with ASC No. 830, Foreign Currency Matters (“ASC 830”), for a subsidiary of the Company that has a functional currency other than the U.S. dollar, gains and losses resulting from the translation of the functional currency into U.S. dollars for financial statement presentation are not included in determining net income, but are accumulated in the cumulative translation adjustment account as a separate component of shareholders' equity (accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)). Under ASC 830, cumulative translation adjustments are not adjusted for income taxes as they relate to indefinite investments in non-U.S. subsidiaries. Gains and losses resulting from foreign currency transactions are included in the determination of net income.
	Derivative Financial Instruments
	The Company’s primary objective for holding derivative financial instruments is to manage the fluctuation in foreign exchange rates and accordingly is not speculative in nature. The Company’s international operations are exposed to changes in foreign exchange rates as described above. The Company has established a program to monitor the forecasted transaction currency risk to protect against foreign exchange rate volatility. Generally, the Company uses foreign exchange forward contracts in these hedging programs. The instruments, which have maturities of up to six months, are recorded at fair value and are included in prepaid expenses and other current assets, or other accrued expenses and other current liabilities.
	Our accounting policy for derivative financial instruments is based on whether they meet the criteria for designation as a cash flow hedge. A designated hedge with exposure to variability in the functional currency equivalent of the future foreign currency cash flows of a forecasted transaction is referred to as a cash flow hedge. The criteria for designating a derivative as a cash flow hedge include the assessment of the instrument’s effectiveness in risk reduction, matching of the derivative instrument to its underlying transaction, and the assessment of the probability that the underlying transaction will occur. For derivatives with cash flow hedge accounting designation, we report the after-tax gain / (loss) from the effective portion of the hedge as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income / (loss) and reclassify it into earnings in the same period in which the hedged transaction affects earnings and in the same line item on the consolidated statement of income as the impact of the hedged transaction. Derivatives that we designate as cash flow hedges are classified in the consolidated statement of cash flows in the same section as the underlying item, primarily within cash flows from operating activities.
	The hedge effectiveness of these derivative instruments is evaluated by comparing the cumulative change in the fair value of the hedge contract with the cumulative change in the fair value of the forecasted cash flows of the hedged item.
	If a cash flow hedge is discontinued because it is no longer probable that the original hedged transaction will occur as previously anticipated, the cumulative unrealized gain or loss on the related derivative is reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income / (loss) into earnings. Subsequent gain / (loss) on the related derivative instrument is recognized into earnings in each period until the instrument matures, is terminated, is re-designated as a qualified cash flow hedge, or is sold. Ineffective portions of cash flow hedges, as well as amounts excluded from the assessment of effectiveness, are recognized in earnings.
	Cash Equivalents
	The Company considers all highly liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less when purchased to be cash equivalents. Cash equivalents are measured at fair value based on level one measurement, or quoted market prices, as defined by ASC No. 820, Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures. As of September 27, 2014 and September 28, 2013, fair value approximated the cost basis for cash equivalents.
	Investments
	Investments, other than cash equivalents, are classified as “trading,” “available-for-sale” or “held-to-maturity,” in accordance with ASC No. 320, Investments-Debt & Equity Securities, and depending upon the nature of the investment, its ultimate maturity date in the case of debt securities, and management's intentions with respect to holding the securities. Investments classified as “trading” are reported at fair market value, with unrealized gains or losses included in earnings. Investments classified as “available-for-sale” are reported at fair market value, with net unrealized gains or losses reflected as a separate component of shareholders' equity (accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)). The fair market value of trading and available-for-sale securities is determined using quoted market prices at the balance sheet date. Investments classified as held-to-maturity are reported at amortized cost. Realized gains and losses are determined on the basis of specific identification of the securities sold.
	Allowance for Doubtful Accounts
	The Company maintains allowances for doubtful accounts for estimated losses resulting from its customers' failure to make required payments. 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 Company is also subject to concentrations of customers and sales to a few geographic locations, which could also impact the collectability of certain receivables. If global economic conditions deteriorate or political conditions were to change in some of the countries where the Company does business, it could have a significant impact on the results of operations, and the Company's ability to realize the full value of its accounts receivable.
	Inventories
	Inventories are stated at the lower of cost (on a first-in first-out basis) or market value. The Company generally provides reserves for obsolete inventory and for inventory considered to be in excess of demand. Demand is generally defined as 18 months forecasted future consumption for equipment, 24 months forecasted future consumption for all spare parts, and 12 months forecasted future consumption for expendable tools. Forecasted consumption is based upon internal projections, historical sales volumes, customer order activity and a review of consumable inventory levels at customers' facilities. The Company communicates forecasts of its future consumption to its suppliers and adjusts commitments to those suppliers accordingly. If required, the Company reserves the difference between the carrying value of its inventory and the lower of cost or market value, based upon assumptions about future consumption, and market conditions. If actual market conditions are less favorable than projections, additional inventory reserves may be required.
	Property, Plant and Equipment
	Property, plant and equipment are carried at cost. The cost of additions and those improvements which increase the capacity or lengthen the useful lives of assets are capitalized while repair and maintenance costs are expensed as incurred. Depreciation and amortization are provided on a straight-line basis over the estimated useful lives as follows: buildings 25 years; machinery and equipment 3 to 10 years; and leasehold improvements are based on the shorter of the life of lease or life of asset. Purchased computer software costs related to business and financial systems are amortized over a five-year period on a straight-line basis.
	Valuation of Long-Lived Assets
	In accordance with ASC No. 360, Property, Plant & Equipment ("ASC 360"), the Company's property, plant and equipment is tested for impairment based on undiscounted cash flows when triggering events occur, and if impaired, written-down to fair value based on either discounted cash flows or appraised values. ASC 360 also provides a single accounting model for long-lived assets to be disposed of by sale and establishes additional criteria that would have to be met to classify an asset as held for sale. The carrying amount of an asset or asset group is not recoverable to the extent it exceeds the sum of the undiscounted cash flows expected to result from the use and eventual disposition of the asset or asset group. Estimates of future cash flows used to test the recoverability of a long-lived asset or asset group must incorporate the entity's own assumptions about its use of the asset or asset group and must factor in all available evidence.
	ASC 360 requires that long-lived assets be tested for recoverability whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that their carrying amount may not be recoverable. Such events include significant under-performance relative to historical internal forecasts or projected future operating results; significant changes in the manner of use of the assets; significant negative industry or economic trends; and significant changes in market capitalization. During the fiscal years ended September 27, 2014 and September 28, 2013, no triggering events occurred.
	Accounting for Impairment of Goodwill
	The Company operates two reportable segments: Equipment and Expendable Tools. Goodwill was recorded in 2009 for the acquisition of Orthodyne Electronics Corporation ("Orthodyne"), which added wedge bonder products (also known as "reporting unit") to the Equipment business.
	Accounting Standard Update 2011-08, Testing Goodwill for Impairment (“ASU 2011-08”), provides companies with the option to 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 value. If, after assessing the qualitative factors, a company determines that it is not more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying value, then performing the two-step impairment test is unnecessary. However, if a company concludes otherwise, then it is required to perform the first step of the two-step goodwill impairment test. If the carrying value of a reporting unit exceeds its fair value in the first step of the test, then a company is required to perform the second step of the goodwill impairment test to measure the amount of the reporting unit’s goodwill impairment loss, if any.
	In fiscal 2013 and 2014, the Company chose to bypass the qualitative assessment and proceed directly to performing the quantitative evaluation of the fair value of the reporting unit, to compare against the carrying value of the reporting unit.
	As part of our annual evaluation, the Company performs an impairment test of its goodwill in the fourth quarter of each fiscal year to coincide with the completion of its annual forecasting and refreshing of its business outlook processes. On an ongoing basis, the Company monitors if a “triggering” event has occurred that may have the effect of reducing the fair value of a reporting unit below its respective carrying value. Adverse changes in expected operating results and/or unfavorable changes in other economic factors used to estimate fair values could result in a non-cash impairment charge in the future.
	As of September 27, 2014, the Company concluded that the fair value of the Wedge bonder reporting unit exceeded its carrying value. Accordingly, no impairment of goodwill has been recorded. Impairment assessments inherently involve judgment as to assumptions about expected future cash flows and the impact of market conditions on those assumptions. The assumptions include prices, costs, and growth rates. The Company will perform interim goodwill impairment assessments if there are indicators of potential impairment. These include significant and unforeseen customer losses, a significant adverse change in legal factors or in the business climate, a significant adverse action or assessment by a regulator, a significant stock price decline, unforeseen changes in technology or unanticipated competition.
	For further information on goodwill and other intangible assets, see Note 3 below.
	Revenue Recognition
	In accordance with ASC No. 605, Revenue Recognition, the Company recognizes revenue when persuasive evidence of an arrangement exists, delivery has occurred or services have been rendered, the price is fixed or determinable, the collectability is reasonably assured, and customer acceptance, when applicable, has been received or we otherwise have been released from customer acceptance obligations. If terms of the sale provide for a customer acceptance period, revenue is recognized upon the expiration of the acceptance period or customer acceptance, whichever occurs first. The Company’s standard terms are ex works (the Company’s factory), with title transferring to its customer at the Company’s loading dock or upon embarkation. The Company has a small percentage of sales with other terms, and revenue is recognized in accordance with the terms of the related customer purchase order.
	Shipping and handling costs billed to customers are recognized in net revenue. Shipping and handling costs paid by the Company are included in cost of sales.
	Research and Development
	The Company charges research and development costs associated with the development of new products to expense when incurred. In certain circumstances, pre-production machines which the Company intends to sell are carried as inventory until sold.
	Income Taxes
	In accordance with ASC No. 740, Income Taxes, deferred income taxes are determined using the liability method. The Company records a valuation allowance to reduce its deferred tax assets to the amount it expects is more likely than not to be realized. While the Company has considered future taxable income and its ongoing tax planning strategies in assessing the need for the valuation allowance, if it were to determine that it would be able to realize its deferred tax assets in the future in excess of its net recorded amount, an adjustment to the deferred tax asset would increase income in the period such determination was made. Likewise, should the Company determine it would not be able to realize all or part of its net deferred tax assets in the future, an adjustment to the deferred tax asset would decrease income in the period such determination was made.
	In accordance with ASC No. 740 Topic 10, Income Taxes, General (“ASC 740.10”), the Company accounts for uncertain tax positions taken or expected to be taken in its income tax return. Under ASC 740.10, the Company utilizes a two-step approach for evaluating uncertain tax positions. Step one, or recognition, requires a company to determine if the weight of available evidence indicates a tax position is more likely than not to be sustained upon audit, including resolution of related appeals or litigation processes, if any. Step two, or measurement, is based on the largest amount of benefit, which is more likely than not to be realized on settlement with the taxing authority.
	Equity-Based Compensation
	The Company accounts for equity-based compensation under the provisions of ASC No. 718, Compensation - Stock Compensation (“ASC 718”). ASC 718 requires the recognition of the fair value of the equity-based compensation in net income. Compensation expense associated with market-based restricted stock is determined using a Monte-Carlo valuation model, and compensation expense associated with time-based and performance-based restricted stock is determined based on the number of shares granted and the fair value on the date of grant. The fair value of the Company's stock option awards are estimated using a Black-Scholes option valuation model. In addition, the calculation of equity-based compensation costs requires that the Company estimate the number of awards that will be forfeited during the vesting period. The fair value of equity-based awards is amortized over the vesting period of the award and the Company elected to use the straight-line method for awards granted after the adoption of ASC 718.
	Earnings per Share
	Earnings per share (“EPS”) are calculated in accordance with ASC No. 260, Earnings per Share. Basic EPS include only the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period. Diluted EPS includes the weighted average number of common shares and the dilutive effect of stock options, restricted stock and share unit awards and convertible subordinated notes outstanding during the period, when such instruments are dilutive.
	In accordance with ASC No. 260.10.55, Earnings per Share - Implementation & Guidance, the Company treats all outstanding unvested share-based payment awards that contain rights to nonforfeitable dividends as participating in undistributed earnings with common shareholders. Awards of this nature are considered participating securities and the two-class method of computing basic and diluted EPS must be applied.
	Prior Period Adjustment
	During the three months ended December 28, 2013, the Company identified a prior period adjustment of $0.8 million relating to the provision of input tax receivables that resulted in increased selling, general and administrative expense and a reduction of input tax receivable that should have been recorded during the three months ended September 28, 2013. This error was corrected during the quarter ended December 28, 2013 and management has deemed that the adjustment was not material to the quarter ended September 28, 2013, the fiscal year ended September 28, 2013, or the fiscal year ended September 27, 2014.
	During the three months ended June 28, 2014, the Company identified a prior period adjustment of $1.6 million relating to the pricing discounts given to certain distributors that resulted in the decrease of the selling, general and administrative expense and the revenue that should have been recorded during the six months ended March 29, 2014. This error was corrected during the quarter ended June 28, 2014 and management has assessed that the adjustment was not material to the six months ended March 29, 2014, or the fiscal year ended September 27, 2014.
	Recent Accounting Pronouncements
	In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606), which supersedes the revenue recognition requirements in Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 605, Revenue Recognition. The new revenue recognition standard requires entities to recognize revenue in a way that reflects the transfer of promised goods or services to customers in an amount based on the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled to in exchange for those goods or services. ASU 2014-09 is effective for interim and annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2016 and early adoption is not permitted. The Company is currently assessing the impact of this new guidance.

BALANCE_SHEET_COMPONENTS

BALANCE SHEET COMPONENTS	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 27, 2014
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]	'
BALANCE SHEET COMPONENTS	'
	BALANCE SHEET COMPONENTS
	The following tables reflect the components of significant balance sheet accounts as of September 27, 2014 and September 28, 2013:
			As of
	(in thousands)		September 27, 2014			September 28, 2013
	Short term investments, available-for-sale:
	Deposits maturing within one year (1)		$	9,105		$	3,252
	Inventories, net:
	Raw materials and supplies		$	22,184		$	19,703
	Work in process		18,783			12,219
	Finished goods		22,590			20,333
			63,557			52,255
	Inventory reserves		(13,863		)	(14,120		)
			$	49,694		$	38,135
	Property, plant and equipment, net:
	Buildings and building improvements		$	31,159		$	3,060
	Leasehold improvements		13,962			15,763
	Data processing equipment and software		27,538			24,549
	Machinery, equipment, furniture and fixtures		45,442			48,998
	Construction in progress (2)		—			19,396
			118,101			111,766
	Accumulated depreciation		(65,346		)	(64,225		)
			$	52,755		$	47,541
	Accrued expenses and other current liabilities:
	Wages and benefits		$	21,498		$	19,779
	Accrued customer obligations (3)		8,999			8,270
	Commissions and professional fees		1,961			2,640
	Deferred Rent		2,161			1,097
	Severance		1,067			1,468
	Other		8,045			5,614
			$	43,731		$	38,868
	-1	All short-term investments were classified as available-for-sale and were measured at fair value based on level one measurement, or quoted market prices, as defined by ASC 820. As of September 27, 2014, fair value approximated the cost basis for short-term investments. The Company did not recognize any realized gains or losses on the sale of investments during fiscal 2014.
	-2	Pursuant to ASC No. 840, Leases, the Company was considered to be the owner of the building during the construction phase for the Agreement to Develop and Lease (the “ADL”) facility being developed by Mapletree Industrial Trust (the “Landlord”) in Singapore—see Notes 7 and 13 below. The building was completed on December 1, 2013 and the construction costs incurred in relation to the relevant proportion of the Company's lease were recognized on the Consolidated Balance Sheet as of September 27, 2014 and September 28, 2013.
	-3	Represents customer advance payments, customer credit program, accrued warranty expense and accrued retrofit obligations.

GOODWILL_AND_INTANGIBLE_ASSETS

GOODWILL AND INTANGIBLE ASSETS	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 27, 2014
Goodwill and Intangible Assets Disclosure [Abstract]	'
GOODWILL AND INTANGIBLE ASSETS	'
	GOODWILL AND INTANGIBLE ASSETS
	Goodwill
	Intangible assets classified as goodwill are not amortized. The Company performs an annual impairment test of its goodwill during the fourth quarter of each fiscal year, which coincides with the completion of its annual forecasting and refreshing of its business outlook processes. The Company performed its annual impairment test in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2014 and concluded that no impairment charge was required. The Company also periodically tested for impairment if a “triggering” event occurs that may have the effect of reducing the fair value of a reporting unit below its carrying value and concluded that no triggering event had occurred in fiscal 2014.
	In 2009, the Company acquired Orthodyne and added wedge bonder products to the business.
	Intangible Assets
	Intangible assets with determinable lives are amortized over their estimated useful lives. The Company's intangible assets consist primarily of wedge bonder developed technology and customer relationships.
	The following table reflects net intangible assets as of September 27, 2014 and September 28, 2013:
			As of						Average estimated
	(dollar amounts in thousands)		September 27, 2014			September 28, 2013			useful lives (in years)
	Wedge bonder developed technology		$	33,200		$	33,200		7
	Accumulated amortization		(28,458		)	(23,715		)
	Net wedge bonder developed technology		4,742			9,485
	Wedge bonder customer relationships		19,300			19,300			5
	Accumulated amortization		(19,300		)	(19,300		)
	Net wedge bonder customer relationships		—			—
	Wedge bonder trade name		4,600			4,600			8
	Accumulated amortization		(3,451		)	(2,876		)
	Net wedge bonder trade name		1,149			1,724
	Wedge bonder other intangible assets		2,500			2,500			1.9
	Accumulated amortization		(2,500		)	(2,500		)
	Net wedge bonder other intangible assets		—			—
	Net intangible assets		$	5,891		$	11,209
	The following table reflects estimated annual amortization expense related to intangible assets as of September 27, 2014:
		As of
	(in thousands)	September 27, 2014
	Fiscal 2015	$	5,318
	Fiscal 2016	$	573
	Total amortization expense	$	5,891

CASH_AND_CASH_EQUIVALENTS

CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 27, 2014
Cash and Cash Equivalents [Abstract]	'
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS	'
	CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS
	Cash equivalents consist of instruments with remaining maturities of three months or less at the date of purchase. In general, these investments are free of trading restrictions. We carry these investments at fair value, based on quoted market prices or other readily available market information.
	Cash and cash equivalents consisted of the following as of September 27, 2014:
	(dollar amounts in thousands)	Amortized		Unrealized		Unrealized		Estimated
		Cost		Gains		Losses		Fair Value
	Current assets:
	Cash	$	130,668	$	—	$	—	$	130,668
	Cash equivalents
	Money market funds	295,529		—		—		295,529
	Time deposits	132,284		—		—		132,284
	Commercial paper	29,500		—		—		29,500
	Total cash and cash equivalents	587,981		—		—		587,981
	Short-term investments
	Time deposits	9,105		—		—		9,105
	Total short-term investments	9,105		—		—		9,105
	Total cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments	$	597,086	$	—	$	—	$	597,086
	Cash and cash equivalents consisted of the following as of September 28, 2013:
	(dollar amounts in thousands)	Amortized		Unrealized		Unrealized		Estimated
		Cost		Gains		Losses		Fair Value
	Current assets:
	Cash	$	113,295	$	—	$	—	$	113,295
	Cash equivalents
	Money market funds	226,272		—		—		226,272
	Time deposits	182,221		—		—		182,221
	Total cash and cash equivalents	$	521,788	$	—	$	—	$	521,788
	Short-term investments
	Time deposits	3,252		—		—		3,252
	Total short-term investments	3,252		—		—		3,252
	Total cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments	$	525,040	$	—	$	—	$	525,040

FAIR_VALUE_MEASUREMENTS

FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 27, 2014
Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]	'
FAIR VALUE MEASURMENTS	'
	FAIR VALUE MEASURMENTS
	Accounting standards establish three levels of inputs that may be used to measure fair value: quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities (referred to as Level 1), inputs other than Level 1 that are observable for the asset or liability either directly or indirectly (referred to as Level 2) and unobservable inputs to the valuation methodology that are significant to the measurement of fair value of assets or liabilities (referred to as Level 3).
	Assets and Liabilities Measured and Recorded at Fair Value on a Recurring Basis
	We measure certain financial assets and liabilities at fair value on a recurring basis. There have been no transfers between fair value measurement levels during the year ended September 27, 2014.
	Fair Value Measurements on a Nonrecurring Basis
	Our non-financial assets such as intangible assets and property, plant equipment are carried at cost unless impairment is deemed to have occurred.
	Fair Value of Financial Instruments
	Amounts reported as cash and equivalents, short-term investments, accounts receivables, prepaid expenses and other current assets, accounts payable and accrued expenses approximate fair value.The fair value of our financial assets and liabilities at September 27, 2014 was determined using the following inputs:
	(dollar amounts in thousands)	Fair Value Measurements at Reporting Date Using
				Quoted Prices		Significant		Significant
				in Active		Other		Unobservable
				Markets for		Observable		Inputs
				Identical Assets		Inputs
		Total		(Level 1)		(Level 2)		(Level 3)
	Assets:
	Cash	$	130,668	$	130,668	$	—	$	—
	Cash equivalents
	Money market funds	295,529		295,529		—		—
	Time deposits	132,284		132,284		—		—
	Commercial paper	29,500		29,500		—		—
	Short-term investments
	Time deposits	9,105		9,105		—		—
	Total assets	$	597,086	$	597,086	$	—	$	—
	The fair value of our financial assets and liabilities at September 28, 2013 was determined using the following inputs:
	(dollar amounts in thousands)	Fair Value Measurements at Reporting Date Using
				Quoted Prices		Significant		Significant
				in Active		Other		Unobservable
				Markets for		Observable		Inputs
				Identical Assets		Inputs
		Total		(Level 1)		(Level 2)		(Level 3)
	Assets:
	Cash	$	113,295	$	113,295	$	—	$	—
	Cash equivalents
	Money market funds	226,272		226,272		—		—
	Time deposits	182,221		182,221		—		—
	Short-term investments
	Time deposits	3,252		3,252		—		—
	Total assets	$	525,040	$	525,040	$	—	$	—

DERIVATIVE_FINANCIAL_INSTRUMEN

DERIVATIVE FINANCIAL INSTRUMENT (Notes)	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 27, 2014
Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities Disclosures [Line Items]	'
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Table Text Block]	'
	The effect of derivative instruments designated as cash flow hedges in our Consolidated Statements of Income for the year ended September 27, 2014 and September 28, 2013 was as follows:
	(in thousands)	Fiscal
		2014		2013
	Foreign exchange forward contract in cash flow hedging relationships:
	Net gain recognized in OCI, net of tax(1)	$	114	$	—
	Net gain reclassified from accumulated OCI into income, net of tax(2)	$	114	$	—
	Net gain recognized in income(3)	$	—	$	—
	(1)Net change in the fair value of the effective portion classified in other comprehensive income (“OCI”).
	(2)Effective portion classified as selling, general and administrative expense.
	(3)Ineffective portion and amount excluded from effectiveness testing classified in selling, general and administrative expense.
Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities Disclosure [Text Block]	'
	DERIVATIVE FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS
	The Company’s international operations are exposed to changes in foreign exchange rates due to transactions denominated in currencies other than U.S. dollars. Most of the Company’s revenue and cost of materials are transacted in U.S. dollars. However, a significant amount of the Company’s operating expenses are denominated in foreign currencies, primarily in Singapore.
	The foreign currency exposure of our operating expenses are generally hedged with foreign exchange forward contracts. The Company’s foreign exchange risk management programs include using foreign exchange forward contracts with cash flow hedge accounting designation to hedge exposures to the variability in the U.S.-dollar equivalent of forecasted non-U.S.-dollar-denominated operating expenses. These instruments generally mature within 6 months. For these derivatives, we report the after-tax gain or loss from the effective portion of the hedge as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), and we reclassify it into earnings in the same period or periods in which the hedged transaction affects earnings and in the same line item on the consolidated statements of income as the impact of the hedged transaction.
	There were no outstanding derivative instruments as of September 27, 2014 and September 28, 2013.
	The effect of derivative instruments designated as cash flow hedges in our Consolidated Statements of Income for the year ended September 27, 2014 and September 28, 2013 was as follows:
	(in thousands)	Fiscal
		2014		2013
	Foreign exchange forward contract in cash flow hedging relationships:
	Net gain recognized in OCI, net of tax(1)	$	114	$	—
	Net gain reclassified from accumulated OCI into income, net of tax(2)	$	114	$	—
	Net gain recognized in income(3)	$	—	$	—
	(1)Net change in the fair value of the effective portion classified in other comprehensive income (“OCI”).
	(2)Effective portion classified as selling, general and administrative expense.
	(3)Ineffective portion and amount excluded from effectiveness testing classified in selling, general and administrative expense.

DEBT_AND_OTHER_OBLIGATIONS

DEBT AND OTHER OBLIGATIONS	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 27, 2014
Debt Disclosure [Abstract]	'
DEBT AND OTHER OBLIGATIONS	'
	DEBT AND OTHER OBLIGATIONS
	Agreement to Develop and Lease and Lease Agreement
	On May 7, 2012, Kulicke & Soffa Pte Ltd. (“Pte”), the Company's wholly owned subsidiary, entered into the ADL with Landlord. Pursuant to the ADL, the Landlord agreed to develop a building in Singapore as our corporate headquarters, manufacturing, technology, sales and service center (the "Building")..
	The lease has a ten year non-cancellable term (the "Initial Term") and contains options to renew for two further ten-year terms. The annual rent and service charge for the initial term range from approximately $4 million to approximately $5 million Singapore dollars.  Pte has a right of first refusal for all space that becomes available in the Building and the Landlord has agreed to make available a certain amount of additional space for rental by Pte at Pte’s option which may be exercised at certain points during the second half of the Initial Term. Subject to Pte renting a minimum amount of space for a certain period, Pte has partial surrender rights. In addition, Pte has termination rights after renting the premises for a certain period of time.
	The Building was completed on December 1, 2013 and Pte signed a Lease Agreement with the Landlord to lease from the Landlord approximately 198,000 square feet, representing approximately 70% of the Building. In accordance with ASC No. 840, Leases ("ASC 840"), the Company was considered to be the owner of the Building during the construction phase due to its involvement in the asset construction. Following the completion of construction, we performed a sale-leaseback analysis pursuant to ASC 840-40 and determined that because of our continuing involvement, ASC 840-40 precluded us from derecognizing the asset and associated financing obligation. As such, we reclassified the asset from construction in progress to Property, Plant and Equipment and began to depreciate the building over its estimated useful life of twenty-five years. We concluded that the term of the financing obligation is ten years. This is equal to the non-cancellable term of our lease agreement with the Landlord. At the inception of the lease, the asset and financing obligation recorded on the balance sheet were each $20.0 million, which was based on using an interest rate of 6.3% over the Initial Term.  The financing obligation will be settled through a combination of periodic cash rental payments and the return of the leased property at the expiration of the lease. We do not report rent expense for the property which is deemed owned for accounting purposes. Rather, rental payments required under the lease are considered debt service and applied to the deemed landlord financing obligation and interest expense. The Building and financing obligation are being amortized in a manner that will not generate a gain or loss upon lease termination.
	Bank Guarantee
	On May 7, 2012, Pte obtained a bank guarantee from DBS Bank Ltd., which was furnished to the Landlord and expired on May 9, 2013, at which time Pte replaced the bank guarantee with a cash deposit of an equivalent amount. The cash deposit was refunded on December 6, 2013.
	Credit facility
	On November 22, 2013, the Company obtained a $5.0 million credit facility with Citibank in connection with the issuance of a bank guarantee of $3.4 million Singapore dollars to the Landlord in connection with the Lease Agreement. The bank guarantee is effective from December 1, 2013 to November 30, 2014.

SHAREHOLDERS_EQUITY_AND_EMPLOY

SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY AND EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 27, 2014
Disclosure of Compensation Related Costs, Share-based Payments [Abstract]	'
SHAREHOLDERSb EQUITY AND EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS	'
	SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY AND EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS
	Common Stock and 401(k) Retirement Income Plan
	The Company has a 401(k) retirement income plan (the “Plan”) for its employees. Historically, the Company's matching contributions to the Plan were made in the form of issued and contributed shares of Company common stock; however, beginning January 2, 2011, matching contributions to the Plan are made in cash instead of stock. The Plan allows for employee contributions and matching Company contributions up to 4% or 6% of the employee's contributed amount based upon years of service.
	The following table reflects the Company’s matching contributions to the Plan during fiscal 2014 and 2013:
			Fiscal
	(in thousands)		2014				2013
	Cash		$	1,278			$	1,478
	Stock Repurchase Program
	On August 14, 2014, the Company’s Board of Directors authorized a program (the "Program") to repurchase up to $100 million of the Company’s common stock on or before August 14, 2017. The Company has entered into a written trading plan under Rule 10b5-1 of the Exchange Act, to facilitate repurchases under the Program. The Program may be suspended or discontinued at any time and will be funded using the Company's available cash. Under the Program, shares may be repurchased through open market and/or privately negotiated transactions at prices deemed appropriate by management. The timing and amount of repurchase transactions under this program will depend on market conditions as well as corporate and regulatory considerations. During the year ended September 27, 2014, the Company repurchased a total of 43.5 thousand shares of common stock at a cost of $0.6 million. The stock repurchases were recorded in the periods they were delivered, and the payment of $0.4 million was accounted for as treasury stock in the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheet. The Company records treasury stock purchases under the cost method using first-in, first-out (FIFO) method. Upon reissuance of treasury stock, amount in excess of the acquisition cost are credited to additional paid-in capital. If the Company reissues treasury stock at an amount below its acquisition cost and additional paid-in capital associated with prior treasury stock transaction is insufficient to cover the difference between acquisition cost and the reissue price, this difference is recorded against retained earnings.
	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income
	The following table reflects accumulated other comprehensive income reflected on the Consolidated Balance Sheets as of September 27, 2014 and September 28, 2013:
			As of
	(in thousands)		September 27, 2014				September 28, 2013
	Gain from foreign currency translation adjustments		$	3,199			$	4,182
	Unrecognized actuarial gain, Switzerland pension plan, net of tax		(609		)		(227		)
	Switzerland pension plan curtailment		(346		)		(337		)
	Accumulated other comprehensive income		$	2,244			$	3,618
	Equity-Based Compensation
	As of September 27, 2014, the Company had seven equity-based employee compensation plans (the “Employee Plans”) and three director compensation plans (the “Director Plans”) (collectively, the “Plans”). Under these Plans, market-based share awards (collectively, “market-based restricted stock”), time-based share awards (collectively, “time-based restricted stock”), performance-based share awards (collectively, “performance-based restricted stock”), stock options, or common stock have been granted at 100% of the market price of the Company's common stock on the date of grant. As of September 27, 2014, the Company’s one active plan, the 2009 Equity Plan, had 3.7 million shares of common stock available for grant to its employees and directors.
	•	Market-based restricted stock entitles the employee to receive common shares of the Company on the award vesting date if market performance objectives which measure relative total shareholder return (“TSR”) are attained. Relative TSR is calculated based upon the 90-calendar day average price of the Company's stock as compared to specific peer companies that comprise the Philadelphia Semiconductor Index. TSR is measured for the Company and each peer company over a performance period, which is generally three years. Vesting percentages range from 0% to 200% of awards granted. The provisions of the market-based restricted stock are reflected in the grant date fair value of the award; therefore, compensation expense is recognized regardless of whether or not the market condition is ultimately satisfied. Compensation expense is reversed if the award is forfeited prior to the vesting date.
	•	In general, stock options and time-based restricted stock awarded to employees vest annually over a three-year period provided the employee remains employed by the Company. The Company follows the non-substantive vesting method for stock options and recognizes compensation expense immediately for awards granted to retirement-eligible employees, or over the period from the grant date to the date retirement eligibility is achieved.
	•	In general, performance-based restricted stock (“PSU”) entitles the employee to receive common shares of the Company on the three-year anniversary of the grant date (if employed by the Company) if return on invested capital and revenue growth targets set by the Management Development and Compensation Committee (“MDCC”) of the Board of Directors on the date of grant are met. If return on invested capital and revenue growth targets are not met, performance-based restricted stock does not vest. Certain PSUs vest based on achievement of strategic goals over a certain time period or periods set by the MDCC. If the strategic goals are not achieved, the PSUs do not vest.
	Equity-based compensation expense recognized in the Consolidated Statements of Operations for fiscal 2014, 2013, and 2012 was based upon awards ultimately expected to vest. In accordance with ASC No. 718, Compensation - Stock Compensation, forfeitures have been estimated at the time of grant and were based upon historical experience. The Company reviews the forfeiture rates periodically and makes adjustments as necessary.
	The following table reflects total equity-based compensation expense, which includes restricted stock, stock options and common stock, included in the Consolidated Statements of Operations for fiscal 2014, 2013, and 2012:
			Fiscal
	(in thousands)		2014				2013				2012
	Cost of sales		$	344			$	295			$	312
	Selling, general and administrative		8,906				8,457				6,602
	Research and development		2,086				1,918				1,777
	Total equity-based compensation expense		$	11,336			$	10,670			$	8,691
	The following table reflects equity-based compensation expense, by type of award, for fiscal 2014, 2013, and 2012:
			Fiscal
	(in thousands)		2014				2013				2012
	Market-based restricted stock		$	4,960			$	4,135			$	2,929
	Time-based restricted stock		5,419				5,545				4,732
	Performance-based restricted stock		131				107				269
	Stock options		17				43				41
	Common stock		809				840				720
	Total equity-based compensation expense		$	11,336			$	10,670			$	8,691
	Equity-Based Compensation: employee market-based restricted stock
	The following table reflects employee market-based restricted stock activity for fiscal 2014, 2013, and 2012:
		Number of shares (in thousands)			Unrecognized compensation expense (in thousands)				Average remaining service period (in years)		Weighted average grant date fair value per share
	Market-based restricted stock outstanding as of October 1, 2011	487			$	3,674			1.9
	Granted	437									$	12.56
	Forfeited or expired	(10	)
	Market-based restricted stock outstanding as of September 29, 2012	914			$	6,175			1.5
	Granted	344									$	13.89
	Forfeited or expired	(49	)
	Vested	(124	)
	Market-based restricted stock outstanding as of September 28, 2013	1,085			5,913				1.1
	Granted	335									$	13.46
	Forfeited or expired	(19	)
	Vested	(333	)
	Market-based restricted stock outstanding as of September 27, 2014	1,068			$	5,271			1
	Equity-Based Compensation: employee time-based restricted stock
	The following table reflects employee time-based restricted stock activity for fiscal 2014, 2013, and 2012:
		Number of shares (in thousands)			Unrecognized compensation expense (in thousands)				Average remaining service period (in years)		Weighted average grant date fair value per share
	Time-based restricted stock outstanding as of October 1, 2011	1,599			$	6,096			1.7
	Granted	695									$	9.15
	Forfeited or expired	(76	)
	Vested	(686	)
	Time-based restricted stock outstanding as of September 29, 2012	1,532			$	7,070			1.4
	Granted	620									$	10.59
Forfeited or expired	(132	)
Vested	(804	)
Time-based restricted stock outstanding as of September 28, 2013	1,216			$	6,028			1.2
Granted	649									$	11.48
Forfeited or expired	(52	)
Vested	(756	)
Time-based restricted stock outstanding as of September 27, 2014	1,057			$	6,720			1.4
Equity-Based Compensation: employee performance-based restricted stock
No performance-based restricted stock was issued during fiscal 2012.
The following table reflects employee performance-based restricted stock activity for fiscal 2014, 2013, and 2012:
	Number of shares (in thousands)			Unrecognized compensation expense (in thousands)			Average remaining service period (in years)
Performance-based restricted stock outstanding as of October 1, 2011	169			—			—
Vested	(169	)
Performance-based restricted stock outstanding as of September 29, 2012	—			—			—
Granted	57
Performance-based restricted stock outstanding as of September 28, 2013	57			550			4.2
Granted	—
Performance-based restricted stock outstanding as of September 27, 2014	57			419			3.2
The following table reflects employee stock option activity for fiscal 2014, 2013, and 2012:
	Number of shares (in thousands)			Weighted average exercise price				Average remaining contractual life (in years)		Aggregate intrinsic value (in thousands)
Options outstanding as of October 1, 2011	1,509			$	10.11
Granted	—			—
Exercised	(374	)		$	7.7					$	829
Forfeited or expired	(432	)		$	13.35
Options outstanding as of September 29, 2012	703			$	9.4
Granted	—
Exercised	(101	)		$	8.96					$	292
Forfeited or expired	(40	)		$	9.59
Options outstanding as of September 28, 2013	562			$	9.56
Exercised	(121	)		$	7.84					$	654
Forfeited or expired	(221	)		$	11.92
Options outstanding as of September 27, 2014	220			$	8.14			2.5		$	1,358
Options vested and expected to vest as of September 27, 2014	218			$	8.14			2.5		$	1,358
Options exercisable as of September 27, 2014	217			$	8.16			2.5
In the money exercisable options as of September 27, 2014	218									$	1,338
Since 2010, on average, 10% of stock options granted by the Company become vested each year, and on average, 22% of stock options granted by the Company are forfeited or expire each year. Intrinsic value of stock options exercised is determined by calculating the difference between the market value of the Company's stock price at the time an option is exercised and the exercise price, multiplied by the number of shares. The intrinsic value of stock options outstanding and stock options exercisable is determined by calculating the difference between the Company's closing stock price on the last trading day of fiscal 2014 and the exercise price of in-the-money stock options, multiplied by the number of underlying shares. During fiscal 2014, the Company received $1.1 million in cash from the exercise of employee and non-employee director stock options.
As of September 27, 2014, total unrecognized compensation cost related to unvested employee stock options was $3,292, which will be amortized over the weighted average remaining service period of less than a 1 year.
The following table reflects outstanding and exercisable employee stock options as of September 27, 2014:
		Options Outstanding									Options Exercisable
Range of exercise prices		Options outstanding (in thousands)			Weighted average remaining contractual life (in years)		Weighted average exercise price				Options exercisable (in thousands)	Weighted average exercise price
3.06 - 7.08		19			5.1		$	4.94			16	$	4.73
7.14 - 7.31		27			0.1		7.14				27	7.14
8.43 - 9.64		174			2.7		8.65				174	8.65
		220			2.5		$	8.14			217	$	8.16
Equity-Based Compensation: non-employee directors
The 2009 Equity Plan provides for the grant of common shares to each non-employee director upon initial election to the board and on the first business day of each calendar quarter while serving on the board. The grant to a non-employee director upon initial election to the board is that number of common shares closest in value to, without exceeding, $120,000.  The quarterly grant to a non-employee director upon the first business day of each calendar year quarter is that number of common shares closest in value to, without exceeding, $30,000.
The following table reflects shares of common stock issued to non-employee directors and the corresponding fair value for fiscal 2014, 2013, and 2012:
	Fiscal
(in thousands)	2014				2013				2012
Number of common shares issued	63				74				78
Fair value based upon market price at time of issue	$	810			$	908			$	720
The following table reflects non-employee director stock option activity for fiscal 2014, 2013, and 2012:
	Number of shares (in thousands)			Weighted average exercise price				Average remaining contractual life (in years)		Aggregate intrinsic value (in thousands)
Options outstanding as of October 1, 2011	258			$	11.78
Exercised	(63	)		$	6.89					$	300
Forfeited or expired	(60	)		$	17.62
Options outstanding as of September 29, 2012 and September 28, 2013	135			$	11.45					$	614
Exercised	(10	)		$	11.2
Forfeited or expired	(70	)		$	12.45
Options outstanding as of September 27, 2014	55			$	10.22			1.3		$	225
Options vested and expected to vest as of September 27, 2014	55			$	10.22			1.3		$	225
Options exercisable as of September 27, 2014	55			$	10.22			1.3
In the money exercisable options as of September 27, 2014	55									$	225
No non-employee director stock options were granted during fiscal 2014, 2013, and 2012.
Pension Plan
The following table reflects the Company's defined benefits pension obligations as of September 27, 2014 and September 28, 2013:
		As of
(in thousands)		September 27, 2014				September 28, 2013
Switzerland pension obligation		$	703			$	388
Taiwan pension obligation		1,323				1,323
	Total pension obligation	$	2,026			$	1,711
In accordance with regulations in Switzerland, the Company sponsors in Switzerland a pension plan covering active employees whose minimum benefits are guaranteed. During fiscal 2012, the Company announced the intention to reduce its Switzerland workforce by approximately 41 employees, which triggered a further curtailment of the Switzerland pension plan under ASC No. 715, Topic 30, Compensation - Retirement Benefits, Defined Benefit Plans. As a result, the Company recognized a pretax curtailment and settlement gain of $1.7 million and $2.1 million in fiscal 2012 and 2013, respectively. There were no significant pre-tax curtailment settlement gain for fiscal 2014.
Other Plans
Some of the Company's other foreign subsidiaries have retirement plans that are integrated with and supplement the benefits provided by laws of the various countries. These other plans are not required to report nor do they determine the actuarial present value of accumulated benefits or net assets available for plan benefits as they are defined contribution plans.

EARNINGS_PER_SHARE

EARNINGS PER SHARE	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 27, 2014
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]	'
EARNINGS PER SHARE	'
	EARNINGS PER SHARE
	Basic income per share is calculated using the weighted average number of shares of common stock outstanding during the period. In addition, net income applicable to participating securities and the related participating securities are excluded from the computation of basic income per share.
	Diluted income per share is calculated using the weighted average number of shares of common stock outstanding during the period and, if there is net income during the period, the dilutive impact of common stock equivalents outstanding during the period. In computing diluted income per share, if convertible debt is assumed to be converted to common shares, the after-tax amount of interest expense recognized in the period associated with the convertible debt is added back to net income.
	The Company previously held 0.875% Convertible Subordinated Notes (the "Notes") which matured on June 1, 2012. The Company repaid the entire principal balance of the Notes of $110.0 million plus interest of $0.5 million in cash in fiscal 2012. As the conversion option of the Notes was not "in the money," no common shares were issued in connection with repayment of the Notes. Accordingly, diluted EPS excludes the effect of the conversion of the Notes.
	The following tables reflect a reconciliation of the shares used in the basic and diluted net income per share computation for fiscal 2014, 2013, and 2012:
			Fiscal
	(in thousands, except per share)		2014					2013					2012
			Basic		Diluted			Basic		Diluted			Basic			Diluted
	NUMERATOR:
	Net income		$	62,988	$	62,988		$	59,358	$	59,358		$	160,580		$	160,580
	Less: income applicable to participating securities		—		—			—		—			(5		)	(5		)
	Net income applicable to common shareholders		$	62,988	$	62,988		$	59,358	$	59,358		$	160,575		$	160,575
	DENOMINATOR:
	Weighted average shares outstanding - Basic		76,396		76,396			75,132		75,132			73,887			73,887
	Stock options				117					110						660
	Time-based restricted stock				398					512						813
	Market-based restricted stock				381					436						142
	Weighted average shares outstanding - Diluted (1)				77,292					76,190						75,502
	EPS:
	Net income per share - Basic		$	0.82	$	0.82		$	0.79	$	0.79		$	2.17		$	2.17
	Effect of dilutive shares				(0.01		)			$	(0.01	)				$	(0.04	)
	Net income per share - Diluted				$	0.81				$	0.78					$	2.13
	-1	There were no potentially dilutive shares excluded for fiscal 2014 and 2013. Fiscal 2012 excluded 0.1 million dilutive participating securities, as the income attributable to these shares was not included in EPS.

INCOME_TAXES

INCOME TAXES	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 27, 2014
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]	'
INCOME TAXES	'
	INCOME TAXES
	The following table reflects income from continuing operations by location, the provision for income taxes and the effective tax rate for fiscal 2014, 2013, and 2012:
		Fiscal
	(dollar amounts in thousands)	2014				2013				2012
	United States operations	$	7,700			$	(4,340	)		$	(6,111	)
	Foreign operations	69,433				71,008				180,362
	Income from operations before tax	77,133				66,668				174,251
	Provision for income taxes	14,145				7,310				13,671
	Net income	$	62,988			$	59,358			$	160,580
	Effective tax rate	18.3		%		11		%		7.8		%
	The following table reflects the provision for income taxes from continuing operations for fiscal 2014, 2013, and 2012:
		Fiscal
	(in thousands)	2014				2013				2012
	Current:
	Federal	$	843			$	(212	)		$	4,103
	State	78				291				942
	Foreign	5,534				1,732				5,497
	Deferred:
	Federal	5,474				985				4,169
	State	5				5				48
	Foreign	2,211				4,509				(1,088		)
	Provision for income taxes	$	14,145			$	7,310			$	13,671
	The following table reflects the difference between the provision for income taxes and the amount computed by applying the statutory federal income tax rate for fiscal 2014, 2013, and 2012:
		Fiscal
	(in thousands)	2014				2013				2012
	Computed income tax expense based on U.S. statutory rate	$	26,997			$	23,334			$	60,988
	Effect of earnings of foreign subsidiaries subject to different tax rates	(9,763		)		(11,193		)		(30,067		)
	Benefits from foreign approved enterprise zones	(17,423		)		(9,626		)		(22,138		)
	Dividend income	8,190				—				—
	Effect of permanent items	(298		)		664				152
	Changes in valuation allowance	(1,820		)		1,429				1,261
	Foreign operations (withholding taxes, deferred taxes on unremitted earnings, US taxation of foreign earnings)	5,906				1,789				12,604
	Reserve for uncertain tax positions	131				683				(7,626		)
	State income tax expense	2,241				(734		)		(394		)
	Other, net	(16		)		964				(1,109		)
	Provision for income taxes	$	14,145			$	7,310			$	13,671
	Income tax expense for the current year includes approximately $1.2 million, $0.3 million and $3.0 million of taxes payable for deemed distributions from earnings for the years ended September 27, 2014, September 28, 2013 and September 29, 2012, respectively.
	Undistributed earnings of certain foreign subsidiaries for which taxes have not been provided were approximately $460.5 million as of September 27, 2014. Such undistributed earnings are considered to be indefinitely reinvested in foreign operations. Determination of the amount of unrecognized deferred tax liability related to these earnings is not practicable.
	Undistributed earnings of approximately $89.6 million are not considered to be indefinitely reinvested in foreign operations. As of September 27, 2014, the Company has provided a deferred tax liability of approximately $18.2 million for withholding taxes associated with future repatriation of earnings for certain subsidiaries.
	The following table reflects the net deferred tax balance, composed of the tax effects of cumulative temporary differences for fiscal 2014 and 2013:
		Fiscal
	(in thousands)	2014				2013
	Inventory reserves	$	692			$	1,127
	Other accruals and reserves	3,713				3,349
	Net operating loss carryforwards	666				779
	Valuation allowance	(780		)		(768		)
	Total short-term deferred tax asset	$	4,291			$	4,487
	Total short-term deferred tax liability	106				221
	Net short-term deferred tax asset	$	4,185			$	4,266
	Domestic tax credit carryforwards	$	688			$	1,611
	Net operating loss carryforwards	27,361				28,138
	Stock options	703				1,299
	Other	400				926
		29,152				31,974
	Valuation allowance	(23,844		)		(25,676		)
	Total long-term deferred tax asset (1)	$	5,308			$	6,298
	Repatriation of foreign earnings, including foreign withholding taxes	$	43,204			$	41,322
	Depreciable assets	3,013				1,887
	Prepaid expenses and other	300				—
	Total long-term deferred tax liability	$	46,517			$	43,209
	Net long-term deferred tax liability	$	41,209			$	36,911
	Total net deferred tax liability	$	37,024			$	32,645
	-1	Included in other assets on the Consolidated Balance Sheets are deferred tax assets of $3.8 million and $3.8 million as of September 27, 2014 and September 28, 2013, respectively.
As of September 27, 2014, the Company has foreign net operating loss carryforwards of $80.6 million, domestic state net operating loss carryforwards of $177.8 million, domestic federal net operating loss carryforwards of $6.9 million, and tax credit carryforwards of $0.7 million that will reduce future taxable income. These carryforwards can be utilized in the future, prior to expiration of certain carryforwards in fiscal years 2015 through 2033 with the exception of certain credits and foreign net operating losses that have no expiration date. Pennsylvania tax law limits the time during which carryforwards may be applied against future taxes and also limits the utilization of domestic state net operating loss carryforwards to as little as $3.0 million annually, but recent tax law changes may increase this amount in future years.
The Company continues to evaluate the realizability of all of its net deferred tax assets at each reporting date and records a benefit for deferred tax assets to the extent it has deferred tax liabilities that provide a source of income to benefit the deferred tax asset. As a result of this analysis, the Company continues to maintain a valuation allowance against a majority of its state deferred tax assets as the realization of these assets is not more likely than not given uncertainty of future earnings in these jurisdictions.
The beginning and ending balances of the Company's unrecognized tax benefits are reconciled below for fiscal 2014, 2013, and 2012:
		Fiscal
(in thousands)		2014				2013				2012
Unrecognized tax benefit, beginning of year		$	6,869			$	6,186			$	13,702
Additions for tax positions, current year		—				—				—
Additions for tax positions, prior year		717				2,485				110
Reductions for tax positions, prior year		(394		)		(1,802		)		(7,626		)
Unrecognized tax benefit, end of year		$	7,192			$	6,869			$	6,186
If recognized, the $7.2 million of unrecognized tax benefit as of September 27, 2014 would impact the Company's effective tax rate.
In fiscal 2013, the Company recognized a benefit of $1.7 million related to the reversal of a reserve for uncertain tax positions based on administrative practices in a foreign jurisdiction and an additional $0.1 million related to a position effectively settled upon audit in a different foreign jurisdiction. The Company has also taken a position on a tax return in a foreign jurisdiction that does meet the recognition and measurement criteria under ASC 740 and as a result it has provided a reserve for uncertain tax position of $2.1 million.
During the fourth quarter of fiscal 2012, the Company reached a favorable settlement with the tax authorities of a foreign jurisdiction. As a result, the previously recorded current liability of $7.5 million was no longer necessary and an income tax benefit was recognized in fiscal 2012.
The Company recognizes interest and penalties accrued related to unrecognized tax benefits as a component of income tax expense. There were no additional accruals of interest expense on various uncertain tax positions during fiscal 2014 for matters involving jurisdictions where interest is not assessed.
It is reasonably possible that the amount of the unrecognized tax benefit with respect to certain unrecognized tax positions will increase or decrease during the next 12 months; however, the Company does not expect the change to have a material effect on its results of operations or its financial position.
The Company files U.S. federal income tax return, as well as income tax returns in various state and foreign jurisdictions. For the U.S. federal income tax returns and most state tax returns, tax years following fiscal 2001 remain subject to examination as a result of the generation of net operating loss carry-forwards. The statutes of limitations with respect to the foreign jurisdictions in which the Company files vary from jurisdiction to jurisdiction and range from 4 to 6 years.
As a result of committing to certain capital investments and employment levels, income from operations in Singapore and Malaysia is subject to reduced tax rates, and in some cases income from operations in Malaysia is wholly exempt from taxes. In connection with Singapore operations, the Company has been granted a decreased effective tax rate of five percent in that jurisdiction until February 1, 2020 subject to the fulfillment of certain continuing conditions. In fiscal 2014, 2013, and 2012, the preferential rate reduced income tax expense by approximately $17.4 million or $0.23 per share, $9.6 million or $0.13 per share and $22.1 million or $0.30 per share, respectively.

OTHER_FINANCIAL_DATA_Notes

OTHER FINANCIAL DATA (Notes) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 27, 2014							Sep. 28, 2013	Sep. 29, 2012
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]	'							'	'
Selling, General and Administrative Incentive Compensation Expense	$17,596							$17,194	$21,988
OTHER FINANCIAL DATA	'							'	'
	OTHER FINANCIAL DATA
	The following table reflects other financial data for fiscal 2014, 2013, and 2012:
		Fiscal
	(in thousands)	2014		2013		2012
	Incentive compensation expense (1)	$	17,596	$	17,194	$	21,988
	Rent expense (1)	$	4,608	$	7,765	$	7,202
	Warranty and retrofit expense (2)	$	3,261	$	711	$	3,726
	(1) Included in selling, general and administrative expense.
	(2) Included in cost of sales.
Operating Leases, Rent Expense	4,608							7,765	7,202
Warranty and Retrofit Expense	$3,261							$711	$3,726

SEGMENT_INFORMATION

SEGMENT INFORMATION	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 27, 2014
Segment Reporting [Abstract]	'
SEGMENT INFORMATION	'
	SEGMENT INFORMATION
	The Company operates two reportable segments: Equipment and Expendable Tools. The Equipment segment manufactures and sells a line of ball bonders and heavy wire wedge bonders that are sold to semiconductor device manufacturers, their outsourced semiconductor assembly and test subcontractors, other electronics manufacturers and automotive electronics suppliers. The Company also services, maintains, repairs and upgrades its equipment. The Expendable Tools segment manufactures and sells a variety of expendable tools for a broad range of semiconductor packaging applications.
	The following table reflects operating information by segment for fiscal 2014, 2013, and 2012:
			Fiscal
	(in thousands)		2014			2013			2012
	Net revenue:
	Equipment		$	503,049		$	472,567		$	727,082
	Expendable Tools		65,520			62,371			63,941
	Net revenue		568,569			534,938			791,023
	Cost of sales:
	Equipment		268,934			261,270			397,210
	Expendable Tools		26,081			26,723			26,423
	Cost of sales		295,015			287,993			423,633
	Gross profit:
	Equipment		234,115			211,297			329,872
	Expendable Tools		39,439			35,648			37,518
	Gross profit		273,554			246,945			367,390
	Operating expenses:
	Equipment		174,346			158,306			164,081
	Expendable Tools		22,224			22,833			24,083
	Operating expenses		196,570			181,139			188,164
	Income from operations:
	Equipment		59,769			52,991			165,791
	Expendable Tools		17,215			12,815			13,435
	Income from operations		$	76,984		$	65,806		$	179,226
	The following tables reflect assets, capital expenditures and depreciation expense by segment as of and for fiscal 2014, 2013, and 2012:
			As of
	(in thousands)		September 27, 2014			September 28, 2013			September 29, 2012
	Segment assets:
	Equipment		$	839,847		$	764,793		$	746,636
	Expendable Tools		104,601			98,201			68,973
	Total assets		$	944,448		$	862,994		$	815,609
			Fiscal
	(in thousands)		2014			2013			2012
	Capital expenditures:
	Equipment		$	9,560		$	11,704		$	5,318
	Expendable Tools		2,841			5,468			1,584
	Capital expenditures		$	12,401		$	17,172		$	6,902
			Fiscal
	(in thousands)		2014			2013			2012
	Depreciation expense:
	Equipment		$	5,662		$	6,936		$	5,745
	Expendable Tools		2,540			2,375			2,342
	Depreciation expense		$	8,202		$	9,311		$	8,087
	Geographic information
	The following tables reflect destination sales to unaffiliated customers by country and long-lived assets by country for fiscal 2014, 2013, and 2012:
			Fiscal
	(in thousands)		2014			2013			2012
	China		$	144,134		$	124,272		$	160,573
	Taiwan		140,586			150,271			251,128
	Malaysia		46,033			23,799			39,447
	Japan		34,480			17,680			24,755
	United States		31,645			14,652			13,433
	Philippines		31,371			30,257			33,715
	Korea		31,284			36,949			71,552
	Hong Kong		23,709			28,911			76,964
	Singapore		21,934			35,833			23,045
	Vietnam		11,355			4,639			10,019
	Thailand		9,386			9,143			21,828
	Germany		8,496			5,822			7,319
	All other		34,156			52,710			57,245
	Total destination sales to unaffiliated customers		$	568,569		$	534,938		$	791,023
		Fiscal
(in thousands)	2014			2013			2012
Long-lived assets:
Singapore	$	86,386		$	87,104		$	67,060
United States	6,757			7,525			14,193
China	7,295			6,718			4,438
Israel	4,668			5,674			8,078
Switzerland	311			252			6,101
All other	1,340			1,333			2,423
Total long-lived assets	$	106,757		$	108,606		$	102,293

COMMITMENTS_CONTINGENCIES_AND_

COMMITMENTS, CONTINGENCIES AND CONCENTRATIONS (Notes)	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 27, 2014
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]	'
COMMITMENTS, CONTINGENCIES AND CONCENTRATIONS	'
	COMMITMENTS, CONTINGENCIES AND CONCENTRATIONS
	Agreement to Develop and Lease
	On May 7, 2012, Pte entered into the ADL and a Lease Agreement with DBS Trustee Limited as trustee of the Landlord. Pursuant to the ADL, the Landlord agreed to develop a building in Singapore as our corporate headquarters manufacturing, technology, sales and service center and Pte agreed to lease from the Landlord 198,000 square feet, representing approximately 70% of the building. The building was completed on December 1, 2013.
	Warranty Expense
	The Company's equipment is generally shipped with a one-year warranty against manufacturing defects. The Company establishes reserves for estimated warranty expense when revenue for the related equipment is recognized. The reserve for estimated warranty expense is based upon historical experience and management's estimate of future warranty costs.
	The following table reflects the reserve for product warranty activity for fiscal 2014, 2013, and 2012:
			Fiscal
	(in thousands)		2014				2013			2012
	Reserve for product warranty, beginning of period		$	1,194			$	2,412		$	2,245
	Provision for product warranty		2,099				1,093			3,521
	Product warranty costs paid		(1,751		)		(2,311		)	(3,354		)
	Reserve for product warranty, end of period		$	1,542			$	1,194		$	2,412
	Other Commitments and Contingencies
	The following table reflects obligations not reflected on the Consolidated Balance Sheet as of September 27, 2014:
							Payments due by fiscal year
	(in thousands)		Total				2014			2015			2016		2017		thereafter
	Inventory purchase obligation (1)		$	84,240			$	84,240		$	—		$	—	$	—	$	—
	Operating lease obligations (2)		29,525				3,702			3,462			3,058		2,584		16,719
	Total		$	113,765			$	87,942		$	3,462		$	3,058	$	2,584	$	16,719
	-1	The Company orders inventory components in the normal course of its business. A portion of these orders are non-cancelable and a portion may have varying penalties and charges in the event of cancellation.
	-2	The Company has minimum rental commitments under various leases (excluding taxes, insurance, maintenance and repairs, which are also paid by the Company) primarily for various facility and equipment leases, which expire periodically through 2023 (not including lease extension options, if applicable).
	Pursuant to ASC No. 840, Leases, for lessee's involvement in asset construction, the Company was considered the owner of the Building during the construction phase of the ADL. The building was completed on December 1, 2013 and Pte signed a Lease Agreement with the Landlord to lease from the Landlord approximately 198,000 square feet , representing approximately 70% of the Building. Following the completion of construction, we performed a sale-leaseback analysis pursuant to ASC 840-40 and determined that because of our continuing involvement, ASC 840-40 precluded us from derecognizing the asset and associated financing obligation. As such, we reclassified the asset from construction in progress to Property, Plant and Equipment and began to depreciate the building over its estimated useful life of twenty-five years. We concluded that the term of the financing obligation is 10 years. This is equal to the non-cancellable term of our lease agreement with the Landlord. As of September 27, 2014, we recorded a financing obligation of $19.1 million. The financing obligation is not reflected in the table above.
	Concentrations
	The following tables reflect significant customer concentrations as a percentage of net revenue for fiscal 2014, 2013, and 2012:
			Fiscal
			2014		2013			2012
	Siliconware Precision Industries Ltd.		*		11	%		14.9	%
	Advanced Semiconductor Engineering		*		*			22.4	%
	* Represents less than 10% of net revenue
	The following table reflects significant customer concentrations as a percentage of total accounts receivable as of September 27, 2014 and September 28, 2013:
			As of
			September 27, 2014			September 28, 2013
	Haoseng Industrial Co., Ltd		21.5	%		11.9	%
	Siliconware Precision Industries Ltd.		*			19.5	%
	STATS ChipPAC Ltd		*			14.5	%
	* Represents less than 10% of total accounts receivable

SELECTED_QUARTERLY_FINANCIAL_R

SELECTED QUARTERLY FINANCIAL RESULTS (Notes)	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 27, 2014
Quarterly Financial Information Disclosure [Abstract]	'
SELECTED QUARTERLY FINANCIAL RESULTS	'
	SELECTED QUARTERLY FINANCIAL DATA (unaudited)
	The following table reflects selected quarterly financial data for fiscal 2014 and 2013:
		Fiscal 2014 for the Quarter Ended
	(in thousands, except per share amounts)	28-Dec			29-Mar		28-Jun		27-Sep		Fiscal 2014
	Net revenue	$	79,113		$	114,206	$	180,517	$	194,733	$	568,569
	Gross profit	38,365			57,672		85,157		92,360		273,554
	Income from operations	(2,208		)	10,111		31,584		37,497		76,984
	Provision for income taxes	(91		)	1,087		4,908		8,241		14,145
	Net income	$	(1,957	)	$	9,070	$	26,616	$	29,259	$	62,988
	Net income per share (1):
	Basic	$	(0.03	)	$	0.12	$	0.35	$	0.38	$	0.82
	Diluted	$	(0.03	)	$	0.12	$	0.34	$	0.38	0.81
	Weighted average shares outstanding:
	Basic	75,912			76,404		76,596		76,658		76,396
	Diluted	75,912			77,021		77,605		77,925		77,292
		Fiscal 2013 for the Quarter Ended
	(in thousands, except per share amounts)	29-Dec			30-Mar		29-Jun		28-Sep		Fiscal 2013
	Net revenue	$	114,039		$	106,110	$	141,181	$	173,608	$	534,938
	Gross profit	51,525			48,820		65,914		80,686		246,945
	Income from operations	4,205			8,190		18,867		34,544		65,806
	Provision for income taxes	775			1,041		247		5,247		7,310
	Net income	$	3,604		$	7,336	$	18,887	$	29,531	$	59,358
	Net income per share (1):
	Basic	$	0.05		$	0.1	$	0.25	$	0.39	$	0.79
	Diluted	$	0.05		$	0.1	$	0.25	$	0.39	$	0.78
	Weighted average shares outstanding:
	Basic	74,852			75,166		75,231		75,279		75,132
	Diluted	76,209			76,553		76,473		76,565		76,190
	-1	EPS for the year may not equal the sum of quarterly EPS due to changes in weighted share calculations.

SUBSEQUENT_EVENTS_Notes

SUBSEQUENT EVENTS (Notes)	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 27, 2014
Subsequent Events [Abstract]	'
Subsequent Events [Text Block]	'
	SUBSEQUENT EVENTS
	On October 10, 2014, the Company entered into foreign exchange forward contracts with notional amount of $23.9 million. We entered into these foreign exchange forward contracts to hedge a portion of our forecasted foreign currency-denominated expenses in the normal course of business and, accordingly, they are not speculative in nature. These foreign exchange forward contracts have maturities of up to six months.

Schedule_IIValuation_and_Quali

Schedule II-Valuation and Qualifying Accounts	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 27, 2014
Valuation and Qualifying Accounts [Abstract]	'
Schedule II-Valuation and Qualifying Accounts	'
	KULICKE AND SOFFA INDUSTRIES, INC.
	Schedule II-Valuation and Qualifying Accounts
	Fiscal 2014:		Beginning of period		Charged to Costs and Expenses				Other Additions		Other Deductions				End of period
	Allowance for doubtful accounts		$	504	$	(320	)		$	—	$	(41	)	-1	$	143
	Inventory reserve		$	14,120	$	3,060			$	—	$	(3,317	)	-2	$	13,863
	Valuation allowance for deferred taxes		$	26,444	$	(1,820	)	-3	$	—	$	—			$	24,624
	Fiscal 2013:
	Allowance for doubtful accounts		$	937	$	(371	)		$	—	$	(62	)	-1	$	504
	Inventory reserve		$	18,617	$	3,561			$	—	$	(8,058	)	-2	$	14,120
	Valuation allowance for deferred taxes		$	25,015	$	1,429		-3	$	—	$	—			$	26,444
	Fiscal 2012:
	Allowance for doubtful accounts		$	2,194	$	(1,239	)		$	—	$	(18	)	-1	$	937
	Inventory reserve		$	15,099	$	6,060			$	—	$	(2,542	)	-2	$	18,617
	Valuation allowance for deferred taxes		$	23,777	$	1,261		-3	$	—	$	(23	)		$	25,015
	-1	Represents write-offs of specific accounts receivable.
	-2	Sale or scrap of previously reserved inventory.
	-3	Reflects increase/decrease in the valuation allowance primarily associated with the Company's U.S. and foreign net operating losses and other deferred tax assets.

BASIS_OF_PRESENTATION_Policies

BASIS OF PRESENTATION (Policies)	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 27, 2014
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]	'
Consolidation	'
	These consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Kulicke and Soffa Industries, Inc. and its subsidiaries (the “Company”), with appropriate elimination of intercompany balances and transactions.
Fiscal Year	'
	Fiscal Year
	Each of the Company's first three fiscal quarters ends on the Saturday that is 13 weeks after the end of the immediately preceding fiscal quarter. The fourth quarter of each fiscal year ends on the Saturday closest to September 30th. In fiscal years consisting of 53 weeks, the fourth quarter will consist of 14 weeks.
Nature of Business	'
	Nature of Business
	The Company designs, manufactures and sells capital equipment and expendable tools as well as services, maintains, repairs and upgrades equipment, all used to assemble semiconductor devices. The Company's operating results depend upon the capital and operating expenditures of semiconductor manufacturers and outsourced semiconductor assembly and test providers (“OSATs”) worldwide which, in turn, depend on the current and anticipated market demand for semiconductors and products utilizing semiconductors. The semiconductor industry is highly volatile and experiences downturns and slowdowns which can have a severe negative effect on the semiconductor industry's demand for semiconductor capital equipment, including assembly equipment manufactured and sold by the Company and, to a lesser extent, expendable tools, including those sold by the Company. These downturns and slowdowns have in the past adversely affected the Company's operating results. The Company believes such volatility will continue to characterize the industry and the Company's operations in the future.
Use of Estimates	'
	Use of Estimates
	The preparation of consolidated financial statements requires management to make assumptions, estimates and judgments that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, net revenue and expenses during the reporting periods, and disclosures of contingent assets and liabilities as of the date of the consolidated financial statements. On an ongoing basis, management evaluates estimates, including but not limited to, those related to accounts receivable, reserves for excess and obsolete inventory, carrying value and lives of fixed assets, goodwill and intangible assets, valuation allowances for deferred tax assets and deferred tax liabilities, repatriation of un-remitted foreign subsidiary earnings, equity-based compensation expense, restructuring, and warranties. Management bases its estimates on historical experience and on various other assumptions believed to be reasonable. As a result, management makes judgments regarding the carrying values of its assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. Authoritative pronouncements, historical experience and assumptions are used as the basis for making estimates, and on an ongoing basis, management evaluates these estimates. Actual results may differ from these estimates.
Vulnerability to Certain Concentrations	'
	Vulnerability to Certain Concentrations
	Financial instruments which may subject the Company to concentrations of credit risk as of September 27, 2014 and September 28, 2013 consisted primarily of short-term investments and trade receivables. The Company manages credit risk associated with investments by investing its excess cash in highly rated debt instruments of the U.S. Government and its agencies, financial institutions, and corporations. The Company has established investment guidelines relative to diversification and maturities designed to maintain safety and liquidity. These guidelines are periodically reviewed and modified as appropriate. The Company does not have any exposure to sub-prime financial instruments or auction rate securities.
	The Company's trade receivables result primarily from the sale of semiconductor equipment, related accessories and replacement parts, and expendable tools to a relatively small number of large manufacturers in a highly concentrated industry. Write-offs of uncollectible accounts have historically not been significant; however, the Company monitors its customers' financial strength to reduce the risk of loss.
	The Company's products are complex and require raw materials, components and subassemblies having a high degree of reliability, accuracy and performance. The Company relies on subcontractors to manufacture many of these components and subassemblies and it relies on sole source suppliers for some important components and raw material inventory.
	The Company's international operations are exposed to changes in foreign currency exchange rates due to transactions denominated in currencies other than the location's functional currency. The Company is also exposed to foreign currency fluctuations that impact the remeasurement of net monetary assets of those operations whose functional currency, the U.S. dollar, differs from their respective local currencies, most notably in Israel, Malaysia, Singapore and Switzerland. In addition to net monetary remeasurement, the Company has exposures related to the translation of subsidiary financial statements from their functional currency, the local currency, into its reporting currency, the U.S. dollar, most notably in China, Taiwan, Japan and Germany. The Company's U.S. operations also have foreign currency exposure due to net monetary assets denominated in currencies other than the U.S. dollar.
Foreign Currency Translation	'
	Foreign Currency Translation
	The majority of the Company's business is transacted in U.S. dollars; however, the functional currencies of some of the Company's subsidiaries are their local currencies. In accordance with ASC No. 830, Foreign Currency Matters (“ASC 830”), for a subsidiary of the Company that has a functional currency other than the U.S. dollar, gains and losses resulting from the translation of the functional currency into U.S. dollars for financial statement presentation are not included in determining net income, but are accumulated in the cumulative translation adjustment account as a separate component of shareholders' equity (accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)). Under ASC 830, cumulative translation adjustments are not adjusted for income taxes as they relate to indefinite investments in non-U.S. subsidiaries. Gains and losses resulting from foreign currency transactions are included in the determination of net income.
Cash Equivalents	'
	Cash Equivalents
	The Company considers all highly liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less when purchased to be cash equivalents. Cash equivalents are measured at fair value based on level one measurement, or quoted market prices, as defined by ASC No. 820, Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures. As of September 27, 2014 and September 28, 2013, fair value approximated the cost basis for cash equivalents.
Investments	'
	Investments
	Investments, other than cash equivalents, are classified as “trading,” “available-for-sale” or “held-to-maturity,” in accordance with ASC No. 320, Investments-Debt & Equity Securities, and depending upon the nature of the investment, its ultimate maturity date in the case of debt securities, and management's intentions with respect to holding the securities. Investments classified as “trading” are reported at fair market value, with unrealized gains or losses included in earnings. Investments classified as “available-for-sale” are reported at fair market value, with net unrealized gains or losses reflected as a separate component of shareholders' equity (accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)). The fair market value of trading and available-for-sale securities is determined using quoted market prices at the balance sheet date. Investments classified as held-to-maturity are reported at amortized cost. Realized gains and losses are determined on the basis of specific identification of the securities sold.
Allowance for Doubtful Accounts	'
	Allowance for Doubtful Accounts
	The Company maintains allowances for doubtful accounts for estimated losses resulting from its customers' failure to make required payments. 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 Company is also subject to concentrations of customers and sales to a few geographic locations, which could also impact the collectability of certain receivables. If global economic conditions deteriorate or political conditions were to change in some of the countries where the Company does business, it could have a significant impact on the results of operations, and the Company's ability to realize the full value of its accounts receivable.
Inventories	'
	Inventories
	Inventories are stated at the lower of cost (on a first-in first-out basis) or market value. The Company generally provides reserves for obsolete inventory and for inventory considered to be in excess of demand. Demand is generally defined as 18 months forecasted future consumption for equipment, 24 months forecasted future consumption for all spare parts, and 12 months forecasted future consumption for expendable tools. Forecasted consumption is based upon internal projections, historical sales volumes, customer order activity and a review of consumable inventory levels at customers' facilities. The Company communicates forecasts of its future consumption to its suppliers and adjusts commitments to those suppliers accordingly. If required, the Company reserves the difference between the carrying value of its inventory and the lower of cost or market value, based upon assumptions about future consumption, and market conditions. If actual market conditions are less favorable than projections, additional inventory reserves may be required.
Property, Plant and Equipment	'
	Property, Plant and Equipment
	Property, plant and equipment are carried at cost. The cost of additions and those improvements which increase the capacity or lengthen the useful lives of assets are capitalized while repair and maintenance costs are expensed as incurred. Depreciation and amortization are provided on a straight-line basis over the estimated useful lives as follows: buildings 25 years; machinery and equipment 3 to 10 years; and leasehold improvements are based on the shorter of the life of lease or life of asset. Purchased computer software costs related to business and financial systems are amortized over a five-year period on a straight-line basis.
Valuation of Long-Lived Assets	'
	Valuation of Long-Lived Assets
	In accordance with ASC No. 360, Property, Plant & Equipment ("ASC 360"), the Company's property, plant and equipment is tested for impairment based on undiscounted cash flows when triggering events occur, and if impaired, written-down to fair value based on either discounted cash flows or appraised values. ASC 360 also provides a single accounting model for long-lived assets to be disposed of by sale and establishes additional criteria that would have to be met to classify an asset as held for sale. The carrying amount of an asset or asset group is not recoverable to the extent it exceeds the sum of the undiscounted cash flows expected to result from the use and eventual disposition of the asset or asset group. Estimates of future cash flows used to test the recoverability of a long-lived asset or asset group must incorporate the entity's own assumptions about its use of the asset or asset group and must factor in all available evidence.
	ASC 360 requires that long-lived assets be tested for recoverability whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that their carrying amount may not be recoverable. Such events include significant under-performance relative to historical internal forecasts or projected future operating results; significant changes in the manner of use of the assets; significant negative industry or economic trends; and significant changes in market capitalization. During the fiscal years ended September 27, 2014 and September 28, 2013, no triggering events occurred.
Accounting for Impairment of Goodwill	'
	Accounting for Impairment of Goodwill
	The Company operates two reportable segments: Equipment and Expendable Tools. Goodwill was recorded in 2009 for the acquisition of Orthodyne Electronics Corporation ("Orthodyne"), which added wedge bonder products (also known as "reporting unit") to the Equipment business.
	Accounting Standard Update 2011-08, Testing Goodwill for Impairment (“ASU 2011-08”), provides companies with the option to 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 value. If, after assessing the qualitative factors, a company determines that it is not more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying value, then performing the two-step impairment test is unnecessary. However, if a company concludes otherwise, then it is required to perform the first step of the two-step goodwill impairment test. If the carrying value of a reporting unit exceeds its fair value in the first step of the test, then a company is required to perform the second step of the goodwill impairment test to measure the amount of the reporting unit’s goodwill impairment loss, if any.
	In fiscal 2013 and 2014, the Company chose to bypass the qualitative assessment and proceed directly to performing the quantitative evaluation of the fair value of the reporting unit, to compare against the carrying value of the reporting unit.
	As part of our annual evaluation, the Company performs an impairment test of its goodwill in the fourth quarter of each fiscal year to coincide with the completion of its annual forecasting and refreshing of its business outlook processes. On an ongoing basis, the Company monitors if a “triggering” event has occurred that may have the effect of reducing the fair value of a reporting unit below its respective carrying value. Adverse changes in expected operating results and/or unfavorable changes in other economic factors used to estimate fair values could result in a non-cash impairment charge in the future.
	As of September 27, 2014, the Company concluded that the fair value of the Wedge bonder reporting unit exceeded its carrying value. Accordingly, no impairment of goodwill has been recorded. Impairment assessments inherently involve judgment as to assumptions about expected future cash flows and the impact of market conditions on those assumptions. The assumptions include prices, costs, and growth rates. The Company will perform interim goodwill impairment assessments if there are indicators of potential impairment. These include significant and unforeseen customer losses, a significant adverse change in legal factors or in the business climate, a significant adverse action or assessment by a regulator, a significant stock price decline, unforeseen changes in technology or unanticipated competition.
	For further information on goodwill and other intangible assets, see Note 3 below.
Revenue Recognition	'
	Revenue Recognition
	In accordance with ASC No. 605, Revenue Recognition, the Company recognizes revenue when persuasive evidence of an arrangement exists, delivery has occurred or services have been rendered, the price is fixed or determinable, the collectability is reasonably assured, and customer acceptance, when applicable, has been received or we otherwise have been released from customer acceptance obligations. If terms of the sale provide for a customer acceptance period, revenue is recognized upon the expiration of the acceptance period or customer acceptance, whichever occurs first. The Company’s standard terms are ex works (the Company’s factory), with title transferring to its customer at the Company’s loading dock or upon embarkation. The Company has a small percentage of sales with other terms, and revenue is recognized in accordance with the terms of the related customer purchase order.
	Shipping and handling costs billed to customers are recognized in net revenue. Shipping and handling costs paid by the Company are included in cost of sales.
Research and Development	'
	Research and Development
	The Company charges research and development costs associated with the development of new products to expense when incurred. In certain circumstances, pre-production machines which the Company intends to sell are carried as inventory until sold.
Income Taxes	'
	Income Taxes
	In accordance with ASC No. 740, Income Taxes, deferred income taxes are determined using the liability method. The Company records a valuation allowance to reduce its deferred tax assets to the amount it expects is more likely than not to be realized. While the Company has considered future taxable income and its ongoing tax planning strategies in assessing the need for the valuation allowance, if it were to determine that it would be able to realize its deferred tax assets in the future in excess of its net recorded amount, an adjustment to the deferred tax asset would increase income in the period such determination was made. Likewise, should the Company determine it would not be able to realize all or part of its net deferred tax assets in the future, an adjustment to the deferred tax asset would decrease income in the period such determination was made.
	In accordance with ASC No. 740 Topic 10, Income Taxes, General (“ASC 740.10”), the Company accounts for uncertain tax positions taken or expected to be taken in its income tax return. Under ASC 740.10, the Company utilizes a two-step approach for evaluating uncertain tax positions. Step one, or recognition, requires a company to determine if the weight of available evidence indicates a tax position is more likely than not to be sustained upon audit, including resolution of related appeals or litigation processes, if any. Step two, or measurement, is based on the largest amount of benefit, which is more likely than not to be realized on settlement with the taxing authority.
Equity-Based Compensation	'
	Equity-Based Compensation
	The Company accounts for equity-based compensation under the provisions of ASC No. 718, Compensation - Stock Compensation (“ASC 718”). ASC 718 requires the recognition of the fair value of the equity-based compensation in net income. Compensation expense associated with market-based restricted stock is determined using a Monte-Carlo valuation model, and compensation expense associated with time-based and performance-based restricted stock is determined based on the number of shares granted and the fair value on the date of grant. The fair value of the Company's stock option awards are estimated using a Black-Scholes option valuation model. In addition, the calculation of equity-based compensation costs requires that the Company estimate the number of awards that will be forfeited during the vesting period. The fair value of equity-based awards is amortized over the vesting period of the award and the Company elected to use the straight-line method for awards granted after the adoption of ASC 718.
Earnings per Share	'
	Earnings per Share
	Earnings per share (“EPS”) are calculated in accordance with ASC No. 260, Earnings per Share. Basic EPS include only the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period. Diluted EPS includes the weighted average number of common shares and the dilutive effect of stock options, restricted stock and share unit awards and convertible subordinated notes outstanding during the period, when such instruments are dilutive.
	In accordance with ASC No. 260.10.55, Earnings per Share - Implementation & Guidance, the Company treats all outstanding unvested share-based payment awards that contain rights to nonforfeitable dividends as participating in undistributed earnings with common shareholders. Awards of this nature are considered participating securities and the two-class method of computing basic and diluted EPS must be applied.
Prior Period Adjustment	'
	Prior Period Adjustment
	During the three months ended December 28, 2013, the Company identified a prior period adjustment of $0.8 million relating to the provision of input tax receivables that resulted in increased selling, general and administrative expense and a reduction of input tax receivable that should have been recorded during the three months ended September 28, 2013. This error was corrected during the quarter ended December 28, 2013 and management has deemed that the adjustment was not material to the quarter ended September 28, 2013, the fiscal year ended September 28, 2013, or the fiscal year ended September 27, 2014.
	During the three months ended June 28, 2014, the Company identified a prior period adjustment of $1.6 million relating to the pricing discounts given to certain distributors that resulted in the decrease of the selling, general and administrative expense and the revenue that should have been recorded during the six months ended March 29, 2014. This error was corrected during the quarter ended June 28, 2014 and management has assessed that the adjustment was not material to the six months ended March 29, 2014, or the fiscal year ended September 27, 2014.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements	'
	Recent Accounting Pronouncements
	In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606), which supersedes the revenue recognition requirements in Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 605, Revenue Recognition. The new revenue recognition standard requires entities to recognize revenue in a way that reflects the transfer of promised goods or services to customers in an amount based on the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled to in exchange for those goods or services. ASU 2014-09 is effective for interim and annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2016 and early adoption is not permitted. The Company is currently assessing the impact of this new guidance.

BALANCE_SHEET_COMPONENTS_Table

BALANCE SHEET COMPONENTS (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 27, 2014
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]	'
Components of significant balance sheet accounts	'
	The following tables reflect the components of significant balance sheet accounts as of September 27, 2014 and September 28, 2013:
			As of
	(in thousands)		September 27, 2014			September 28, 2013
	Short term investments, available-for-sale:
	Deposits maturing within one year (1)		$	9,105		$	3,252
	Inventories, net:
	Raw materials and supplies		$	22,184		$	19,703
	Work in process		18,783			12,219
	Finished goods		22,590			20,333
			63,557			52,255
	Inventory reserves		(13,863		)	(14,120		)
			$	49,694		$	38,135
	Property, plant and equipment, net:
	Buildings and building improvements		$	31,159		$	3,060
	Leasehold improvements		13,962			15,763
	Data processing equipment and software		27,538			24,549
	Machinery, equipment, furniture and fixtures		45,442			48,998
	Construction in progress (2)		—			19,396
			118,101			111,766
	Accumulated depreciation		(65,346		)	(64,225		)
			$	52,755		$	47,541
	Accrued expenses and other current liabilities:
	Wages and benefits		$	21,498		$	19,779
	Accrued customer obligations (3)		8,999			8,270
	Commissions and professional fees		1,961			2,640
	Deferred Rent		2,161			1,097
	Severance		1,067			1,468
	Other		8,045			5,614
			$	43,731		$	38,868
	-1	All short-term investments were classified as available-for-sale and were measured at fair value based on level one measurement, or quoted market prices, as defined by ASC 820. As of September 27, 2014, fair value approximated the cost basis for short-term investments. The Company did not recognize any realized gains or losses on the sale of investments during fiscal 2014.
	-2	Pursuant to ASC No. 840, Leases, the Company was considered to be the owner of the building during the construction phase for the Agreement to Develop and Lease (the “ADL”) facility being developed by Mapletree Industrial Trust (the “Landlord”) in Singapore—see Notes 7 and 13 below. The building was completed on December 1, 2013 and the construction costs incurred in relation to the relevant proportion of the Company's lease were recognized on the Consolidated Balance Sheet as of September 27, 2014 and September 28, 2013.
	-3	Represents customer advance payments, customer credit program, accrued warranty expense and accrued retrofit obligations.

GOODWILL_AND_INTANGIBLE_ASSETS1

GOODWILL AND INTANGIBLE ASSETS (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 27, 2014
Goodwill and Intangible Assets Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Net intangible assets	'
	The following table reflects net intangible assets as of September 27, 2014 and September 28, 2013:
			As of						Average estimated
	(dollar amounts in thousands)		September 27, 2014			September 28, 2013			useful lives (in years)
	Wedge bonder developed technology		$	33,200		$	33,200		7
	Accumulated amortization		(28,458		)	(23,715		)
	Net wedge bonder developed technology		4,742			9,485
	Wedge bonder customer relationships		19,300			19,300			5
	Accumulated amortization		(19,300		)	(19,300		)
	Net wedge bonder customer relationships		—			—
	Wedge bonder trade name		4,600			4,600			8
	Accumulated amortization		(3,451		)	(2,876		)
	Net wedge bonder trade name		1,149			1,724
	Wedge bonder other intangible assets		2,500			2,500			1.9
	Accumulated amortization		(2,500		)	(2,500		)
	Net wedge bonder other intangible assets		—			—
	Net intangible assets		$	5,891		$	11,209
Estimated annual amortization expense related to intangible assets	'
	The following table reflects estimated annual amortization expense related to intangible assets as of September 27, 2014:
		As of
	(in thousands)	September 27, 2014
	Fiscal 2015	$	5,318
	Fiscal 2016	$	573
	Total amortization expense	$	5,891

CASH_AND_CASH_EQUIVALENTS_Tabl

CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 27, 2014
Cash and Cash Equivalents [Abstract]	'
Cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments [Table Text Block]	'
	Cash and cash equivalents consisted of the following as of September 27, 2014:
	(dollar amounts in thousands)	Amortized		Unrealized		Unrealized		Estimated
		Cost		Gains		Losses		Fair Value
	Current assets:
	Cash	$	130,668	$	—	$	—	$	130,668
	Cash equivalents
	Money market funds	295,529		—		—		295,529
	Time deposits	132,284		—		—		132,284
	Commercial paper	29,500		—		—		29,500
	Total cash and cash equivalents	587,981		—		—		587,981
	Short-term investments
	Time deposits	9,105		—		—		9,105
	Total short-term investments	9,105		—		—		9,105
	Total cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments	$	597,086	$	—	$	—	$	597,086
	Cash and cash equivalents consisted of the following as of September 28, 2013:
	(dollar amounts in thousands)	Amortized		Unrealized		Unrealized		Estimated
		Cost		Gains		Losses		Fair Value
	Current assets:
	Cash	$	113,295	$	—	$	—	$	113,295
	Cash equivalents
	Money market funds	226,272		—		—		226,272
	Time deposits	182,221		—		—		182,221
	Total cash and cash equivalents	$	521,788	$	—	$	—	$	521,788
	Short-term investments
	Time deposits	3,252		—		—		3,252
	Total short-term investments	3,252		—		—		3,252
	Total cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments	$	525,040	$	—	$	—	$	525,040

FAIR_VALUE_MEASUREMENTS_Tables

FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 27, 2014
Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]	'
Fair value of financial assets and liabilities	'
	The fair value of our financial assets and liabilities at September 27, 2014 was determined using the following inputs:
	(dollar amounts in thousands)	Fair Value Measurements at Reporting Date Using
				Quoted Prices		Significant		Significant
				in Active		Other		Unobservable
				Markets for		Observable		Inputs
				Identical Assets		Inputs
		Total		(Level 1)		(Level 2)		(Level 3)
	Assets:
	Cash	$	130,668	$	130,668	$	—	$	—
	Cash equivalents
	Money market funds	295,529		295,529		—		—
	Time deposits	132,284		132,284		—		—
	Commercial paper	29,500		29,500		—		—
	Short-term investments
	Time deposits	9,105		9,105		—		—
	Total assets	$	597,086	$	597,086	$	—	$	—
	The fair value of our financial assets and liabilities at September 28, 2013 was determined using the following inputs:
	(dollar amounts in thousands)	Fair Value Measurements at Reporting Date Using
				Quoted Prices		Significant		Significant
				in Active		Other		Unobservable
				Markets for		Observable		Inputs
				Identical Assets		Inputs
		Total		(Level 1)		(Level 2)		(Level 3)
	Assets:
	Cash	$	113,295	$	113,295	$	—	$	—
	Cash equivalents
	Money market funds	226,272		226,272		—		—
	Time deposits	182,221		182,221		—		—
	Short-term investments
	Time deposits	3,252		3,252		—		—
	Total assets	$	525,040	$	525,040	$	—	$	—

SHAREHOLDERS_EQUITY_AND_EMPLOY1

SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY AND EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 27, 2014
Disclosure of Compensation Related Costs, Share-based Payments [Abstract]	'
Companybs matching contributions to the Plan	'
	The following table reflects the Company’s matching contributions to the Plan during fiscal 2014 and 2013:
			Fiscal
	(in thousands)		2014				2013
	Cash		$	1,278			$	1,478
Accumulated other comprehensive income reflected on the Consolidated Balance Sheets	'
	The following table reflects accumulated other comprehensive income reflected on the Consolidated Balance Sheets as of September 27, 2014 and September 28, 2013:
			As of
	(in thousands)		September 27, 2014				September 28, 2013
	Gain from foreign currency translation adjustments		$	3,199			$	4,182
	Unrecognized actuarial gain, Switzerland pension plan, net of tax		(609		)		(227		)
	Switzerland pension plan curtailment		(346		)		(337		)
	Accumulated other comprehensive income		$	2,244			$	3,618
Equity-based compensation expense	'
	The following table reflects total equity-based compensation expense, which includes restricted stock, stock options and common stock, included in the Consolidated Statements of Operations for fiscal 2014, 2013, and 2012:
			Fiscal
	(in thousands)		2014				2013				2012
	Cost of sales		$	344			$	295			$	312
	Selling, general and administrative		8,906				8,457				6,602
	Research and development		2,086				1,918				1,777
	Total equity-based compensation expense		$	11,336			$	10,670			$	8,691
	The following table reflects equity-based compensation expense, by type of award, for fiscal 2014, 2013, and 2012:
			Fiscal
	(in thousands)		2014				2013				2012
	Market-based restricted stock		$	4,960			$	4,135			$	2,929
	Time-based restricted stock		5,419				5,545				4,732
	Performance-based restricted stock		131				107				269
	Stock options		17				43				41
	Common stock		809				840				720
	Total equity-based compensation expense		$	11,336			$	10,670			$	8,691
Employee market-based restricted stock activity	'
	The following table reflects employee market-based restricted stock activity for fiscal 2014, 2013, and 2012:
		Number of shares (in thousands)			Unrecognized compensation expense (in thousands)				Average remaining service period (in years)		Weighted average grant date fair value per share
	Market-based restricted stock outstanding as of October 1, 2011	487			$	3,674			1.9
	Granted	437									$	12.56
	Forfeited or expired	(10	)
	Market-based restricted stock outstanding as of September 29, 2012	914			$	6,175			1.5
	Granted	344									$	13.89
	Forfeited or expired	(49	)
	Vested	(124	)
	Market-based restricted stock outstanding as of September 28, 2013	1,085			5,913				1.1
	Granted	335									$	13.46
	Forfeited or expired	(19	)
	Vested	(333	)
	Market-based restricted stock outstanding as of September 27, 2014	1,068			$	5,271			1
Employee time-based restricted stock activity	'
	The following table reflects employee time-based restricted stock activity for fiscal 2014, 2013, and 2012:
		Number of shares (in thousands)			Unrecognized compensation expense (in thousands)				Average remaining service period (in years)		Weighted average grant date fair value per share
	Time-based restricted stock outstanding as of October 1, 2011	1,599			$	6,096			1.7
	Granted	695									$	9.15
	Forfeited or expired	(76	)
	Vested	(686	)
	Time-based restricted stock outstanding as of September 29, 2012	1,532			$	7,070			1.4
	Granted	620									$	10.59
	Forfeited or expired	(132	)
	Vested	(804	)
	Time-based restricted stock outstanding as of September 28, 2013	1,216			$	6,028			1.2
	Granted	649									$	11.48
	Forfeited or expired	(52	)
	Vested	(756	)
	Time-based restricted stock outstanding as of September 27, 2014	1,057			$	6,720			1.4
Schedule Of Performance Based Restricted Stock Activity [Table Text Block]	'
	The following table reflects employee performance-based restricted stock activity for fiscal 2014, 2013, and 2012:
		Number of shares (in thousands)			Unrecognized compensation expense (in thousands)			Average remaining service period (in years)
	Performance-based restricted stock outstanding as of October 1, 2011	169			—			—
	Vested	(169	)
	Performance-based restricted stock outstanding as of September 29, 2012	—			—			—
	Granted	57
	Performance-based restricted stock outstanding as of September 28, 2013	57			550			4.2
	Granted	—
	Performance-based restricted stock outstanding as of September 27, 2014	57			419			3.2
Employee stock option activity	'
	The following table reflects employee stock option activity for fiscal 2014, 2013, and 2012:
		Number of shares (in thousands)			Weighted average exercise price				Average remaining contractual life (in years)		Aggregate intrinsic value (in thousands)
	Options outstanding as of October 1, 2011	1,509			$	10.11
	Granted	—			—
	Exercised	(374	)		$	7.7					$	829
	Forfeited or expired	(432	)		$	13.35
	Options outstanding as of September 29, 2012	703			$	9.4
	Granted	—
	Exercised	(101	)		$	8.96					$	292
	Forfeited or expired	(40	)		$	9.59
	Options outstanding as of September 28, 2013	562			$	9.56
	Exercised	(121	)		$	7.84					$	654
	Forfeited or expired	(221	)		$	11.92
	Options outstanding as of September 27, 2014	220			$	8.14			2.5		$	1,358
	Options vested and expected to vest as of September 27, 2014	218			$	8.14			2.5		$	1,358
	Options exercisable as of September 27, 2014	217			$	8.16			2.5
	In the money exercisable options as of September 27, 2014	218									$	1,338
Outstanding and exercisable employee stock options	'
	The following table reflects outstanding and exercisable employee stock options as of September 27, 2014:
			Options Outstanding									Options Exercisable
	Range of exercise prices		Options outstanding (in thousands)			Weighted average remaining contractual life (in years)		Weighted average exercise price				Options exercisable (in thousands)	Weighted average exercise price
	3.06 - 7.08		19			5.1		$	4.94			16	$	4.73
	7.14 - 7.31		27			0.1		7.14				27	7.14
	8.43 - 9.64		174			2.7		8.65				174	8.65
			220			2.5		$	8.14			217	$	8.16
Common stock issued to non-employee directors	'
	The following table reflects shares of common stock issued to non-employee directors and the corresponding fair value for fiscal 2014, 2013, and 2012:
		Fiscal
	(in thousands)	2014				2013				2012
	Number of common shares issued	63				74				78
	Fair value based upon market price at time of issue	$	810			$	908			$	720
Non-employee director stock option activity	'
	The following table reflects non-employee director stock option activity for fiscal 2014, 2013, and 2012:
		Number of shares (in thousands)			Weighted average exercise price				Average remaining contractual life (in years)		Aggregate intrinsic value (in thousands)
	Options outstanding as of October 1, 2011	258			$	11.78
	Exercised	(63	)		$	6.89					$	300
	Forfeited or expired	(60	)		$	17.62
	Options outstanding as of September 29, 2012 and September 28, 2013	135			$	11.45					$	614
	Exercised	(10	)		$	11.2
	Forfeited or expired	(70	)		$	12.45
	Options outstanding as of September 27, 2014	55			$	10.22			1.3		$	225
	Options vested and expected to vest as of September 27, 2014	55			$	10.22			1.3		$	225
	Options exercisable as of September 27, 2014	55			$	10.22			1.3
	In the money exercisable options as of September 27, 2014	55									$	225
Defined benefits pension obligations and pension expenses	'
	The following table reflects the Company's defined benefits pension obligations as of September 27, 2014 and September 28, 2013:
			As of
	(in thousands)		September 27, 2014				September 28, 2013
	Switzerland pension obligation		$	703			$	388
	Taiwan pension obligation		1,323				1,323
		Total pension obligation	$	2,026			$	1,711

EARNINGS_PER_SHARE_Tables

EARNINGS PER SHARE (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 27, 2014
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]	'
Reconciliation of shares used in the basic and diluted net income per share computation	'
	The following tables reflect a reconciliation of the shares used in the basic and diluted net income per share computation for fiscal 2014, 2013, and 2012:
			Fiscal
	(in thousands, except per share)		2014					2013					2012
			Basic		Diluted			Basic		Diluted			Basic			Diluted
	NUMERATOR:
	Net income		$	62,988	$	62,988		$	59,358	$	59,358		$	160,580		$	160,580
	Less: income applicable to participating securities		—		—			—		—			(5		)	(5		)
	Net income applicable to common shareholders		$	62,988	$	62,988		$	59,358	$	59,358		$	160,575		$	160,575
	DENOMINATOR:
	Weighted average shares outstanding - Basic		76,396		76,396			75,132		75,132			73,887			73,887
	Stock options				117					110						660
	Time-based restricted stock				398					512						813
	Market-based restricted stock				381					436						142
	Weighted average shares outstanding - Diluted (1)				77,292					76,190						75,502
	EPS:
	Net income per share - Basic		$	0.82	$	0.82		$	0.79	$	0.79		$	2.17		$	2.17
	Effect of dilutive shares				(0.01		)			$	(0.01	)				$	(0.04	)
	Net income per share - Diluted				$	0.81				$	0.78					$	2.13
	-1	There were no potentially dilutive shares excluded for fiscal 2014 and 2013. Fiscal 2012 excluded 0.1 million dilutive participating securities, as the income attributable to these shares was not included in EPS.

INCOME_TAXES_Tables

INCOME TAXES (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 27, 2014
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Income from continuing operations by location, the provision (benefit) for income taxes and the effective tax rate	'
	The following table reflects income from continuing operations by location, the provision for income taxes and the effective tax rate for fiscal 2014, 2013, and 2012:
		Fiscal
	(dollar amounts in thousands)	2014				2013				2012
	United States operations	$	7,700			$	(4,340	)		$	(6,111	)
	Foreign operations	69,433				71,008				180,362
	Income from operations before tax	77,133				66,668				174,251
	Provision for income taxes	14,145				7,310				13,671
	Net income	$	62,988			$	59,358			$	160,580
	Effective tax rate	18.3		%		11		%		7.8		%
Provision (benefit) for income taxes from continuing operations	'
	The following table reflects the provision for income taxes from continuing operations for fiscal 2014, 2013, and 2012:
		Fiscal
	(in thousands)	2014				2013				2012
	Current:
	Federal	$	843			$	(212	)		$	4,103
	State	78				291				942
	Foreign	5,534				1,732				5,497
	Deferred:
	Federal	5,474				985				4,169
	State	5				5				48
	Foreign	2,211				4,509				(1,088		)
	Provision for income taxes	$	14,145			$	7,310			$	13,671
Effective income tax rate reconciliation	'
	The following table reflects the difference between the provision for income taxes and the amount computed by applying the statutory federal income tax rate for fiscal 2014, 2013, and 2012:
		Fiscal
	(in thousands)	2014				2013				2012
	Computed income tax expense based on U.S. statutory rate	$	26,997			$	23,334			$	60,988
	Effect of earnings of foreign subsidiaries subject to different tax rates	(9,763		)		(11,193		)		(30,067		)
	Benefits from foreign approved enterprise zones	(17,423		)		(9,626		)		(22,138		)
	Dividend income	8,190				—				—
	Effect of permanent items	(298		)		664				152
	Changes in valuation allowance	(1,820		)		1,429				1,261
	Foreign operations (withholding taxes, deferred taxes on unremitted earnings, US taxation of foreign earnings)	5,906				1,789				12,604
	Reserve for uncertain tax positions	131				683				(7,626		)
	State income tax expense	2,241				(734		)		(394		)
	Other, net	(16		)		964				(1,109		)
	Provision for income taxes	$	14,145			$	7,310			$	13,671
Net deferred tax balance	'
	The following table reflects the net deferred tax balance, composed of the tax effects of cumulative temporary differences for fiscal 2014 and 2013:
		Fiscal
	(in thousands)	2014				2013
	Inventory reserves	$	692			$	1,127
	Other accruals and reserves	3,713				3,349
	Net operating loss carryforwards	666				779
	Valuation allowance	(780		)		(768		)
	Total short-term deferred tax asset	$	4,291			$	4,487
	Total short-term deferred tax liability	106				221
	Net short-term deferred tax asset	$	4,185			$	4,266
	Domestic tax credit carryforwards	$	688			$	1,611
	Net operating loss carryforwards	27,361				28,138
	Stock options	703				1,299
	Other	400				926
		29,152				31,974
	Valuation allowance	(23,844		)		(25,676		)
	Total long-term deferred tax asset (1)	$	5,308			$	6,298
	Repatriation of foreign earnings, including foreign withholding taxes	$	43,204			$	41,322
	Depreciable assets	3,013				1,887
	Prepaid expenses and other	300				—
	Total long-term deferred tax liability	$	46,517			$	43,209
	Net long-term deferred tax liability	$	41,209			$	36,911
	Total net deferred tax liability	$	37,024			$	32,645
	-1	Included in other assets on the Consolidated Balance Sheets are deferred tax assets of $3.8 million and $3.8 million as of September 27, 2014 and September 28, 2013, respectively.
Unrecognized tax benefits	'
	The beginning and ending balances of the Company's unrecognized tax benefits are reconciled below for fiscal 2014, 2013, and 2012:
			Fiscal
	(in thousands)		2014				2013				2012
	Unrecognized tax benefit, beginning of year		$	6,869			$	6,186			$	13,702
	Additions for tax positions, current year		—				—				—
	Additions for tax positions, prior year		717				2,485				110
	Reductions for tax positions, prior year		(394		)		(1,802		)		(7,626		)
	Unrecognized tax benefit, end of year		$	7,192			$	6,869			$	6,186

OTHER_FINANCIAL_DATA_Tables

OTHER FINANCIAL DATA (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 27, 2014
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]	'
Additional Financial Information Disclosure [Table Text Block]	'
	The following table reflects other financial data for fiscal 2014, 2013, and 2012:
		Fiscal
	(in thousands)	2014		2013		2012
	Incentive compensation expense (1)	$	17,596	$	17,194	$	21,988
	Rent expense (1)	$	4,608	$	7,765	$	7,202
	Warranty and retrofit expense (2)	$	3,261	$	711	$	3,726
	(1) Included in selling, general and administrative expense.
	(2) Included in cost of sales.

SEGMENT_INFORMATION_Tables

SEGMENT INFORMATION (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 27, 2014
Segment Reporting [Abstract]	'
Operating information by segment	'
	The following table reflects operating information by segment for fiscal 2014, 2013, and 2012:
		Fiscal
	(in thousands)	2014		2013		2012
	Net revenue:
	Equipment	$	503,049	$	472,567	$	727,082
	Expendable Tools	65,520		62,371		63,941
	Net revenue	568,569		534,938		791,023
	Cost of sales:
	Equipment	268,934		261,270		397,210
	Expendable Tools	26,081		26,723		26,423
	Cost of sales	295,015		287,993		423,633
	Gross profit:
	Equipment	234,115		211,297		329,872
	Expendable Tools	39,439		35,648		37,518
	Gross profit	273,554		246,945		367,390
	Operating expenses:
	Equipment	174,346		158,306		164,081
	Expendable Tools	22,224		22,833		24,083
	Operating expenses	196,570		181,139		188,164
	Income from operations:
	Equipment	59,769		52,991		165,791
	Expendable Tools	17,215		12,815		13,435
	Income from operations	$	76,984	$	65,806	$	179,226
Assets by segment	'
		As of
	(in thousands)	September 27, 2014		September 28, 2013		September 29, 2012
	Segment assets:
	Equipment	$	839,847	$	764,793	$	746,636
	Expendable Tools	104,601		98,201		68,973
	Total assets	$	944,448	$	862,994	$	815,609
Capital expenditures and depreciation expense	'
		Fiscal
	(in thousands)	2014		2013		2012
	Capital expenditures:
	Equipment	$	9,560	$	11,704	$	5,318
	Expendable Tools	2,841		5,468		1,584
	Capital expenditures	$	12,401	$	17,172	$	6,902

SEGMENT_INFORMATION_Revenue_by

SEGMENT INFORMATION Revenue by country (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 27, 2014
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]	'
Schedule of Revenue from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets, by Geographical Areas [Table Text Block]	'
	The following tables reflect destination sales to unaffiliated customers by country and long-lived assets by country for fiscal 2014, 2013, and 2012:
			Fiscal
	(in thousands)		2014			2013			2012
	China		$	144,134		$	124,272		$	160,573
	Taiwan		140,586			150,271			251,128
	Malaysia		46,033			23,799			39,447
	Japan		34,480			17,680			24,755
	United States		31,645			14,652			13,433
	Philippines		31,371			30,257			33,715
	Korea		31,284			36,949			71,552
	Hong Kong		23,709			28,911			76,964
	Singapore		21,934			35,833			23,045
	Vietnam		11,355			4,639			10,019
	Thailand		9,386			9,143			21,828
	Germany		8,496			5,822			7,319
	All other		34,156			52,710			57,245
	Total destination sales to unaffiliated customers		$	568,569		$	534,938		$	791,023
		Fiscal
	(in thousands)	2014			2013			2012
	Long-lived assets:
	Singapore	$	86,386		$	87,104		$	67,060
	United States	6,757			7,525			14,193
	China	7,295			6,718			4,438
	Israel	4,668			5,674			8,078
	Switzerland	311			252			6,101
	All other	1,340			1,333			2,423
	Total long-lived assets	$	106,757		$	108,606		$	102,293

COMMITMENTS_CONTINGENCIES_AND_1

COMMITMENTS, CONTINGENCIES AND CONCENTRATIONS (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 27, 2014
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Reserve for product warranty activity	'
	The following table reflects the reserve for product warranty activity for fiscal 2014, 2013, and 2012:
			Fiscal
	(in thousands)		2014				2013			2012
	Reserve for product warranty, beginning of period		$	1,194			$	2,412		$	2,245
	Provision for product warranty		2,099				1,093			3,521
	Product warranty costs paid		(1,751		)		(2,311		)	(3,354		)
	Reserve for product warranty, end of period		$	1,542			$	1,194		$	2,412
Obligations not reflected on the Consolidated Balance Sheet	'
	The following table reflects obligations not reflected on the Consolidated Balance Sheet as of September 27, 2014:
							Payments due by fiscal year
	(in thousands)		Total				2014			2015			2016		2017		thereafter
	Inventory purchase obligation (1)		$	84,240			$	84,240		$	—		$	—	$	—	$	—
	Operating lease obligations (2)		29,525				3,702			3,462			3,058		2,584		16,719
	Total		$	113,765			$	87,942		$	3,462		$	3,058	$	2,584	$	16,719
	-1	The Company orders inventory components in the normal course of its business. A portion of these orders are non-cancelable and a portion may have varying penalties and charges in the event of cancellation.
	-2	The Company has minimum rental commitments under various leases (excluding taxes, insurance, maintenance and repairs, which are also paid by the Company) primarily for various facility and equipment leases, which expire periodically through 2023 (not including lease extension options, if applicable).
	Pursuant to ASC No. 840, Leases, for lessee's involvement in asset construction, the Company was considered the owner of the Building during the construction phase of the ADL. The building was completed on December 1, 2013 and Pte signed a Lease Agreement with the Landlord to lease from the Landlord approximately 198,000 square feet , representing approximately 70% of the Building. Following the completion of construction, we performed a sale-leaseback analysis pursuant to ASC 840-40 and determined that because of our continuing involvement, ASC 840-40 precluded us from derecognizing the asset and associated financing obligation. As such, we reclassified the asset from construction in progress to Property, Plant and Equipment and began to depreciate the building over its estimated useful life of twenty-five years. We concluded that the term of the financing obligation is 10 years. This is equal to the non-cancellable term of our lease agreement with the Landlord. As of September 27, 2014, we recorded a financing obligation of $19.1 million. The financing obligation is not reflected in the table above.
Significant customer concentrations as a percentage of net revenue	'
	The following tables reflect significant customer concentrations as a percentage of net revenue for fiscal 2014, 2013, and 2012:
			Fiscal
			2014		2013			2012
	Siliconware Precision Industries Ltd.		*		11	%		14.9	%
	Advanced Semiconductor Engineering		*		*			22.4	%
	* Represents less than 10% of net revenue
Significant customer concentrations as a percentage of total accounts receivable	'
	The following table reflects significant customer concentrations as a percentage of total accounts receivable as of September 27, 2014 and September 28, 2013:
			As of
			September 27, 2014			September 28, 2013
	Haoseng Industrial Co., Ltd		21.5	%		11.9	%
	Siliconware Precision Industries Ltd.		*			19.5	%
	STATS ChipPAC Ltd		*			14.5	%
	* Represents less than 10% of total accounts receivable

SELECTED_QUARTERLY_FINANCIAL_R1

SELECTED QUARTERLY FINANCIAL RESULTS (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 27, 2014
Quarterly Financial Information Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Schedule of Quarterly Financial Information	'
	The following table reflects selected quarterly financial data for fiscal 2014 and 2013:
		Fiscal 2014 for the Quarter Ended
	(in thousands, except per share amounts)	28-Dec			29-Mar		28-Jun		27-Sep		Fiscal 2014
	Net revenue	$	79,113		$	114,206	$	180,517	$	194,733	$	568,569
	Gross profit	38,365			57,672		85,157		92,360		273,554
	Income from operations	(2,208		)	10,111		31,584		37,497		76,984
	Provision for income taxes	(91		)	1,087		4,908		8,241		14,145
	Net income	$	(1,957	)	$	9,070	$	26,616	$	29,259	$	62,988
	Net income per share (1):
	Basic	$	(0.03	)	$	0.12	$	0.35	$	0.38	$	0.82
	Diluted	$	(0.03	)	$	0.12	$	0.34	$	0.38	0.81
	Weighted average shares outstanding:
	Basic	75,912			76,404		76,596		76,658		76,396
	Diluted	75,912			77,021		77,605		77,925		77,292
		Fiscal 2013 for the Quarter Ended
	(in thousands, except per share amounts)	29-Dec			30-Mar		29-Jun		28-Sep		Fiscal 2013
	Net revenue	$	114,039		$	106,110	$	141,181	$	173,608	$	534,938
	Gross profit	51,525			48,820		65,914		80,686		246,945
	Income from operations	4,205			8,190		18,867		34,544		65,806
	Provision for income taxes	775			1,041		247		5,247		7,310
	Net income	$	3,604		$	7,336	$	18,887	$	29,531	$	59,358
	Net income per share (1):
	Basic	$	0.05		$	0.1	$	0.25	$	0.39	$	0.79
	Diluted	$	0.05		$	0.1	$	0.25	$	0.39	$	0.78
	Weighted average shares outstanding:
	Basic	74,852			75,166		75,231		75,279		75,132
	Diluted	76,209			76,553		76,473		76,565		76,190
	-1	EPS for the year may not equal the sum of quarterly EPS due to changes in weighted share calculations.

BASIS_OF_PRESENTATION_Inventor

BASIS OF PRESENTATION (Inventories) (Narrative) (Details)	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 27, 2014
Equipment [Member]	'
Inventory [Line Items]	'
Reserves For Inventory In Excess Of Demand Inventory Future Consumption Period	'18 months
Spare Parts [Member]	'
Inventory [Line Items]	'
Reserves For Inventory In Excess Of Demand Inventory Future Consumption Period	'24 months
Expendable Tools [Member]	'
Inventory [Line Items]	'
Reserves For Inventory In Excess Of Demand Inventory Future Consumption Period	'12 months

BASIS_OF_PRESENTATION_Property

BASIS OF PRESENTATION (Property, Plant and Equipment) (Narrative) (Details)	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 27, 2014
Building [Member]	'
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]	'
Property, Plant and Equipment, Useful Life	'25 years
Leaseholds and Leasehold Improvements [Member]	'
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]	'
Property, Plant and Equipment, Estimated Useful Lives	'based on the shorter of the life of lease or life of asset
Software and Software Development Costs [Member]	'
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]	'
Property, Plant and Equipment, Useful Life	'5 years
Minimum [Member] | Machinery and Equipment [Member]	'
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]	'
Property, Plant and Equipment, Useful Life	'3 years
Maximum [Member] | Machinery and Equipment [Member]	'
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]	'
Property, Plant and Equipment, Useful Life	'10 years

BASIS_OF_PRESENTATION_Prior_Pe

BASIS OF PRESENTATION (Prior Period Adjustment) (Narrative) (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 29, 2014	Sep. 27, 2014
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]	'	'
Prior Period Reclassification Adjustment	$1.60	$0.80

BASIS_OF_PRESENTATION_Goodwill

BASIS OF PRESENTATION (Goodwill) (Details) (USD $)	Sep. 27, 2014	Sep. 28, 2013
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Goodwill and Intangible Assets Disclosure [Abstract]	'	'
Goodwill	$41,546	$41,546

BALANCE_SHEET_COMPONENTS_Compo

BALANCE SHEET COMPONENTS (Components of significant balance sheet accounts) (Details) (USD $)	Sep. 27, 2014	Sep. 28, 2013
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]	'	'
Short-term Investments	$9,105	$3,252
Inventories, net:	'	'
Raw materials and supplies	22,184	19,703
Work in process	18,783	12,219
Finished goods	22,590	20,333
Inventory, gross	63,557	52,255
Inventory reserves	-13,863	-14,120
Inventories, net	49,694	38,135
Property, plant and equipment, net:	'	'
Buildings and building improvements	31,159	3,060
Leasehold improvements	13,962	15,763
Data processing equipment and software	27,538	24,549
Machinery, equipment, furniture and fixtures	45,442	48,998
Construction in progress (2)	0	19,396
Property, plant and equipment, gross	118,101	111,766
Accumulated depreciation	-65,346	-64,225
Property, plant and equipment, net	52,755	47,541
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities:	'	'
Wages and benefits	21,498	19,779
Accrued customer obligations (3)	8,999	8,270
Commissions and professional fees	1,961	2,640
Deferred Rent	2,161	1,097
Severance	1,067	1,468
Other	8,045	5,614
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities	$43,731	$38,868

GOODWILL_AND_INTANGIBLE_ASSETS2

GOODWILL AND INTANGIBLE ASSETS (Net intangible assets) (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 27, 2014	Sep. 28, 2013
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]	'	'
Net intangible assets	$5,891	$11,209
Wedge bonder developed technology [Member]	'	'
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]	'	'
Gross intangible assets	33,200	33,200
Accumulated amortization	-28,458	-23,715
Net intangible assets	4,742	9,485
Average estimated useful lives (in years)	'7 years	'
Wedge bonder customer relationships [Member]	'	'
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]	'	'
Gross intangible assets	19,300	19,300
Accumulated amortization	-19,300	-19,300
Net intangible assets	0	0
Average estimated useful lives (in years)	'5 years	'
Wedge bonder trade name [Member]	'	'
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]	'	'
Gross intangible assets	4,600	4,600
Accumulated amortization	-3,451	-2,876
Net intangible assets	1,149	1,724
Average estimated useful lives (in years)	'8 years	'
Wedge bonder other intangible assets [Member]	'	'
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]	'	'
Gross intangible assets	2,500	2,500
Accumulated amortization	-2,500	-2,500
Net intangible assets	$0	$0
Average estimated useful lives (in years)	'1 year 10 months 24 days	'

GOODWILL_AND_INTANGIBLE_ASSETS3

GOODWILL AND INTANGIBLE ASSETS (Estimated annual amortization expense) (Details) (USD $)	Sep. 27, 2014
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Goodwill and Intangible Assets Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Fiscal 2015	$5,318
Fiscal 2016	573
Total amortization expense	$5,891

CASH_AND_CASH_EQUIVALENTS_Deta

CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS (Details) (USD $)	Sep. 27, 2014	Sep. 28, 2013	Sep. 29, 2012	Oct. 01, 2011
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Cash and Cash Equivalents [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Cash and cash equivalents, Amortized Cost	$587,981	$521,788	$440,244	$378,188
Cash and cash equivalents, Estimated Fair Value	587,981	521,788	'	'
Short-term investments, Amortized Cost	9,105	3,252	'	'
Short-term investments, Estimated Fair Value	9,105	3,252	'	'
Total cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments, Amortized Cost	597,086	525,040	'	'
Total cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments, Estimated Fair Value	597,086	525,040	'	'
Cash [Member]	'	'	'	'
Cash and Cash Equivalents [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Cash and cash equivalents, Amortized Cost	130,668	113,295	'	'
Cash and cash equivalents, Estimated Fair Value	130,668	113,295	'	'
Cash equivalents, Money market funds [Member]	'	'	'	'
Cash and Cash Equivalents [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Cash and cash equivalents, Amortized Cost	295,529	226,272	'	'
Cash and cash equivalents, Estimated Fair Value	295,529	226,272	'	'
Cash equivalents, Time deposits [Member]	'	'	'	'
Cash and Cash Equivalents [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Cash and cash equivalents, Amortized Cost	132,284	182,221	'	'
Cash and cash equivalents, Estimated Fair Value	132,284	182,221	'	'
Commercial Paper [Member]	'	'	'	'
Cash and Cash Equivalents [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Cash and cash equivalents, Amortized Cost	29,500	'	'	'
Cash and cash equivalents, Estimated Fair Value	29,500	'	'	'
Short-term investments, Time deposits [Member]	'	'	'	'
Cash and Cash Equivalents [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Short-term investments, Amortized Cost	9,105	3,252	'	'
Short-term investments, Estimated Fair Value	$9,105	$3,252	'	'

FAIR_VALUE_MEASUREMENTS_Fair_v

FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS (Fair value of financial assets and liabilities) (Details) (USD $)	Sep. 27, 2014	Sep. 28, 2013
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Fair Value Measurements, Recurring and Nonrecurring, Valuation Techniques [Line Items]	'	'
Cash and Cash Equivalents	$587,981	$521,788
Investments	9,105	3,252
Total Assets	597,086	525,040
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member] | Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1) [Member]	'	'
Fair Value Measurements, Recurring and Nonrecurring, Valuation Techniques [Line Items]	'	'
Total Assets	597,086	525,040
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member] | Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) [Member]	'	'
Fair Value Measurements, Recurring and Nonrecurring, Valuation Techniques [Line Items]	'	'
Total Assets	0	0
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member] | Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) [Member]	'	'
Fair Value Measurements, Recurring and Nonrecurring, Valuation Techniques [Line Items]	'	'
Total Assets	0	0
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member] | Total [Member]	'	'
Fair Value Measurements, Recurring and Nonrecurring, Valuation Techniques [Line Items]	'	'
Total Assets	597,086	525,040
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member] | Cash [Member] | Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1) [Member]	'	'
Fair Value Measurements, Recurring and Nonrecurring, Valuation Techniques [Line Items]	'	'
Cash and Cash Equivalents	130,668	113,295
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member] | Cash [Member] | Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) [Member]	'	'
Fair Value Measurements, Recurring and Nonrecurring, Valuation Techniques [Line Items]	'	'
Cash and Cash Equivalents	0	0
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member] | Cash [Member] | Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) [Member]	'	'
Fair Value Measurements, Recurring and Nonrecurring, Valuation Techniques [Line Items]	'	'
Cash and Cash Equivalents	0	0
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member] | Cash [Member] | Total [Member]	'	'
Fair Value Measurements, Recurring and Nonrecurring, Valuation Techniques [Line Items]	'	'
Cash and Cash Equivalents	130,668	113,295
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member] | Cash equivalents, Money market funds [Member] | Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1) [Member]	'	'
Fair Value Measurements, Recurring and Nonrecurring, Valuation Techniques [Line Items]	'	'
Cash and Cash Equivalents	295,529	226,272
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member] | Cash equivalents, Money market funds [Member] | Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) [Member]	'	'
Fair Value Measurements, Recurring and Nonrecurring, Valuation Techniques [Line Items]	'	'
Cash and Cash Equivalents	0	0
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member] | Cash equivalents, Money market funds [Member] | Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) [Member]	'	'
Fair Value Measurements, Recurring and Nonrecurring, Valuation Techniques [Line Items]	'	'
Cash and Cash Equivalents	0	0
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member] | Cash equivalents, Money market funds [Member] | Total [Member]	'	'
Fair Value Measurements, Recurring and Nonrecurring, Valuation Techniques [Line Items]	'	'
Cash and Cash Equivalents	295,529	226,272
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member] | Cash equivalents, Time deposits [Member] | Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1) [Member]	'	'
Fair Value Measurements, Recurring and Nonrecurring, Valuation Techniques [Line Items]	'	'
Cash and Cash Equivalents	132,284	182,221
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member] | Cash equivalents, Time deposits [Member] | Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) [Member]	'	'
Fair Value Measurements, Recurring and Nonrecurring, Valuation Techniques [Line Items]	'	'
Cash and Cash Equivalents	0	0
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member] | Cash equivalents, Time deposits [Member] | Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) [Member]	'	'
Fair Value Measurements, Recurring and Nonrecurring, Valuation Techniques [Line Items]	'	'
Cash and Cash Equivalents	0	0
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member] | Cash equivalents, Time deposits [Member] | Total [Member]	'	'
Fair Value Measurements, Recurring and Nonrecurring, Valuation Techniques [Line Items]	'	'
Cash and Cash Equivalents	132,284	182,221
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member] | Commercial Paper [Member] | Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1) [Member]	'	'
Fair Value Measurements, Recurring and Nonrecurring, Valuation Techniques [Line Items]	'	'
Cash and Cash Equivalents	29,500	'
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member] | Commercial Paper [Member] | Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) [Member]	'	'
Fair Value Measurements, Recurring and Nonrecurring, Valuation Techniques [Line Items]	'	'
Cash and Cash Equivalents	0	'
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member] | Commercial Paper [Member] | Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) [Member]	'	'
Fair Value Measurements, Recurring and Nonrecurring, Valuation Techniques [Line Items]	'	'
Cash and Cash Equivalents	0	'
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member] | Commercial Paper [Member] | Total [Member]	'	'
Fair Value Measurements, Recurring and Nonrecurring, Valuation Techniques [Line Items]	'	'
Cash and Cash Equivalents	29,500	'
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member] | Short-term investments, Time deposits [Member] | Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1) [Member]	'	'
Fair Value Measurements, Recurring and Nonrecurring, Valuation Techniques [Line Items]	'	'
Investments	9,105	3,252
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member] | Short-term investments, Time deposits [Member] | Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) [Member]	'	'
Fair Value Measurements, Recurring and Nonrecurring, Valuation Techniques [Line Items]	'	'
Investments	0	0
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member] | Short-term investments, Time deposits [Member] | Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) [Member]	'	'
Fair Value Measurements, Recurring and Nonrecurring, Valuation Techniques [Line Items]	'	'
Investments	0	0
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member] | Short-term investments, Time deposits [Member] | Total [Member]	'	'
Fair Value Measurements, Recurring and Nonrecurring, Valuation Techniques [Line Items]	'	'
Investments	$9,105	$3,252

DERIVATIVE_FINANCIAL_INSTRUMEN1

DERIVATIVE FINANCIAL INSTRUMENT (Details) (Foreign Exchange Forward [Member], Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member], USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 27, 2014	Sep. 28, 2013
Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities Disclosures [Line Items]	'	'
Derivative, Term of Contract	'6 months	'
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Member] | Cash Flow Hedging [Member]	'	'
Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities Disclosures [Line Items]	'	'
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) Recognized in Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Effective Portion, Net	$114,000	$0
Selling, General and Administrative Expenses [Member] | Cash Flow Hedging [Member]	'	'
Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities Disclosures [Line Items]	'	'
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) Reclassified from Accumulated OCI into Income, Effective Portion, Net	114,000	0
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) Recognized in Income, Ineffective Portion and Amount Excluded from Effectiveness Testing, Net	$0	$0

DEBT_AND_OTHER_OBLIGATIONS_Nar

DEBT AND OTHER OBLIGATIONS (Narrative) (Details)	Sep. 27, 2014	Dec. 01, 2013	Nov. 22, 2013	Sep. 28, 2013	7-May-12	Mar. 31, 2012	Sep. 27, 2014	Dec. 01, 2013
	USD ($)	USD ($)	SGD	USD ($)	sqft	Convertible Notes Payable [Member]	K&S Corporate Headquarters [Member]	K&S Corporate Headquarters [Member]
						Convertible Subordinated Notes, 8.75% [Member]	SGD	sqft
						USD ($)	renewal_option
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Lessee Leasing Arrangements, Capital Leases, Renewal Term	'	'	'	'	'	'	'10 years	'
Annual Rent and Service Charge Minimum Range	'	'	'	'	'	'	4,000,000	'
Annual Rent and Service Charge Maximum Range	'	'	'	'	'	'	5,000,000	'
Area of Land	'	'	'	'	198,000	'	'	198,000
Percentage Of Building Area To Be Leased From Landlord	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	70.00%
Lessee Leasing Arrangements, Capital Leases, Term of Contract	'	'	'	'	'	'	'10 years	'
Lessee Leasing Arrangements, Capital Leases, Number of Renewal Options	'	'	'	'	'	'	2	'
Line of Credit Facility, Maximum Borrowing Capacity	5,000,000	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Line Of Credit Facility Principal Repaid	'	'	'	'	'	110,000,000	'	'
Line Of Credit Facility Interest	'	'	'	'	'	500,000	'	'
Capital Lease Obligations, Interest Rate, Effective Percentage	'	'	'	'	'	'	6.30%	'
Financing obligation	19,102,000	20,000,000	'	19,396,000	'	'	'	'
Bank Guarantee Of Non Controlling Interest	'	'	3,400,000	'	'	'	'	'

SHAREHOLDERS_EQUITY_AND_EMPLOY2

SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY AND EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS (Matching contributions to the Plan) (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 27, 2014	Sep. 28, 2013
Disclosure of Compensation Related Costs, Share-based Payments [Abstract]	'	'
Cash	$1,278	$1,478

SHAREHOLDERS_EQUITY_AND_EMPLOY3

SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY AND EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS (Accumulated other comprehensive income) (Details) (USD $)	Sep. 27, 2014	Sep. 28, 2013
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Disclosure of Compensation Related Costs, Share-based Payments [Abstract]	'	'
Gain from foreign currency translation adjustments	$3,199	$4,182
Unrecognized actuarial gain, Switzerland pension plan, net of tax	-609	-227
Switzerland pension plan curtailment	-346	-337
Accumulated other comprehensive income	$2,244	$3,618

SHAREHOLDERS_EQUITY_AND_EMPLOY4

SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY AND EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS (Total equity-based compensation expense) (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 27, 2014	Sep. 28, 2013	Sep. 29, 2012
Employee Service Share-based Compensation, Allocation of Recognized Period Costs [Line Items]	'	'	'
Total equity-based compensation expense	$11,336	$10,670	$8,691
Market-based restricted stock [Member]	'	'	'
Employee Service Share-based Compensation, Allocation of Recognized Period Costs [Line Items]	'	'	'
Total equity-based compensation expense	4,960	4,135	2,929
Time-based restricted stock [Member]	'	'	'
Employee Service Share-based Compensation, Allocation of Recognized Period Costs [Line Items]	'	'	'
Total equity-based compensation expense	5,419	5,545	4,732
Performance-based restricted stock	'	'	'
Employee Service Share-based Compensation, Allocation of Recognized Period Costs [Line Items]	'	'	'
Total equity-based compensation expense	131	107	269
Stock options [Member]	'	'	'
Employee Service Share-based Compensation, Allocation of Recognized Period Costs [Line Items]	'	'	'
Total equity-based compensation expense	17	43	41
Common stock [Member]	'	'	'
Employee Service Share-based Compensation, Allocation of Recognized Period Costs [Line Items]	'	'	'
Total equity-based compensation expense	809	840	720
Cost of sales [Member]	'	'	'
Employee Service Share-based Compensation, Allocation of Recognized Period Costs [Line Items]	'	'	'
Total equity-based compensation expense	344	295	312
Selling, general and administrative (1) [Member]	'	'	'
Employee Service Share-based Compensation, Allocation of Recognized Period Costs [Line Items]	'	'	'
Total equity-based compensation expense	8,906	8,457	6,602
Research and development [Member]	'	'	'
Employee Service Share-based Compensation, Allocation of Recognized Period Costs [Line Items]	'	'	'
Total equity-based compensation expense	$2,086	$1,918	$1,777

SHAREHOLDERS_EQUITY_AND_EMPLOY5

SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY AND EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS (Employee market-based restricted stock activity) (Details) (Market-based restricted stock [Member], USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 27, 2014	Sep. 28, 2013	Sep. 29, 2012	Oct. 01, 2011
Market-based restricted stock [Member]	'	'	'	'
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Equity Instruments Other than Options, Nonvested, Number of Shares [Roll Forward]	'	'	'	'
Number of shares, Restricted stock outstanding, beginning balance (in shares)	1,085	914	487	'
Number of shares, Granted (in shares)	335	344	437	'
Number of shares, Forfeited or expired (in shares)	-19	-49	-10	'
Number of shares, Vested (in shares)	-333	-124	'	'
Number of shares, Restricted stock outstanding, ending balance (in shares)	1,068	1,085	914	487
Unrecognized compensation expense	$5,271	$5,913	$6,175	$3,674
Average remaining service period (in years)	'0 years 11 months 23 days	'1 year 1 month 0 days	'1 year 6 months	'1 year 10 months 24 days
Weighted average grant date fair value per share	$13.46	$13.89	$12.56	'

SHAREHOLDERS_EQUITY_AND_EMPLOY6

SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY AND EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS (Employee time-based restricted stock activity) (Details) (Time-based restricted stock [Member], USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 27, 2014	Sep. 28, 2013	Sep. 29, 2012	Oct. 01, 2011
Time-based restricted stock [Member]	'	'	'	'
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Equity Instruments Other than Options, Nonvested, Number of Shares [Roll Forward]	'	'	'	'
Number of shares, Restricted stock outstanding, beginning balance (in shares)	1,216	1,532	1,599	'
Number of shares, Granted (in shares)	649	620	695	'
Number of shares, Forfeited or expired (in shares)	-52	-132	-76	'
Number of shares, Vested (in shares)	-756	-804	-686	'
Number of shares, Restricted stock outstanding, ending balance (in shares)	1,057	1,216	1,532	1,599
Unrecognized compensation expense	$6,720	$6,028	$7,070	$6,096
Average remaining service period (in years)	'1 year 5 months 6 days	'1 year 2 months 12 days	'1 year 4 months 24 days	'1 year 8 months 12 days
Weighted average grant date fair value per share	$11.48	$10.59	$9.15	'

SHAREHOLDERS_EQUITY_AND_EMPLOY7

SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY AND EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS (Employee performance-based restricted stock activity) (Details) (Performance-based restricted stock [Member], USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 27, 2014	Sep. 28, 2013	Sep. 29, 2012
Performance-based restricted stock [Member]	'	'	'
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Equity Instruments Other than Options, Nonvested, Number of Shares [Roll Forward]	'	'	'
Number of shares, Restricted stock outstanding, beginning balance (in shares)	57	0	169
Number of shares, Vested (in shares)	'	'	-169
Number of shares, Granted (in shares)	0	57	'
Number of shares, Restricted stock outstanding, ending balance (in shares)	57	57	0
Unrecognized compensation expense	$419	$550	'
Average remaining service period (in years)	'3 years 2 months 8 days	'4 years 2 months 12 days	'

SHAREHOLDERS_EQUITY_AND_EMPLOY8

SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY AND EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS (Employee stock option activity) (Details) (Employee Stock Option [Member], USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 27, 2014	Sep. 28, 2013	Sep. 29, 2012
Employee Stock Option [Member]	'	'	'
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Outstanding [Roll Forward]	'	'	'
Number of shares, Options outstanding, beginning balance (in shares)	562	703	1,509
Number of shares, Granted (in shares)	'	0	0
Number of shares, Exercised (in shares)	-121	-101	-374
Number of shares, Forfeited or expired (in shares)	-221	-40	-432
Number of shares, Options outstanding, ending balance (in shares)	220	562	703
Number of shares, Options vested and expected to vest (in shares)	218	'	'
Number of shares, Options exercisable (in shares)	217	'	'
Number of shares, In the money exercisable options (in shares)	218	'	'
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Outstanding, Weighted Average Exercise Price [Roll Forward]	'	'	'
Weighted average exercise price, Options outstanding, beginning balance (in dollars per share)	$9.56	$9.40	$10.11
Weighted average exercise price, Granted (in dollars per share)	'	'	$0
Weighted average exercise price, Exercised (in dollars per share)	$7.84	$8.96	$7.70
Weighted average exercise price, Forfeited or expired (in dollars per share)	$11.92	$9.59	$13.35
Weighted average exercise price, Options outstanding, ending balance (in dollars per share)	$8.14	$9.56	$9.40
Weighted average exercise price, Options vested and expected to vest (in dollars per share)	$8.14	'	'
Weighted average exercise price, Options exercisable (in dollars per share)	$8.16	'	'
Average remaining contractual life, Options outstanding (in years)	'2 years 6 months 0 days	'	'
Average remaining contractual life, Options vested and expected to vest (in years)	'2 years 6 months 11 days	'	'
Average remaining contractual life, Options exercisable (in years)	'2 years 6 months 11 days	'	'
Aggregate intrinsic value, Exercised	$654	$292	$829
Aggregate intrinsic value, Options outstanding	1,358	'	'
Aggregate intrinsic value, Options vested and expected to vest	1,358	'	'
Aggregate intrinsic value, In the money exercisable options	$1,338	'	'

SHAREHOLDERS_EQUITY_AND_EMPLOY9

SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY AND EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS (Outstanding and exercisable employee stock options) (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 27, 2014
Share-based Compensation, Shares Authorized under Stock Option Plans, Exercise Price Range [Line Items]	'
Options Outstanding	220
Options Outstanding, Weighted average remaining contractual life (in years)	'2 years 6 months 0 days
Options Outstanding, Weighted average exercise price	$8.14
Options Exercisable	217
Options Exercisable, Weighted average exercise price	$8.16
Stock Options One [Member]	'
Share-based Compensation, Shares Authorized under Stock Option Plans, Exercise Price Range [Line Items]	'
Options Outstanding	19
Options Outstanding, Weighted average remaining contractual life (in years)	'5 years 1 month
Options Outstanding, Weighted average exercise price	$4.94
Options Exercisable	16
Options Exercisable, Weighted average exercise price	$4.73
Stock Options Two [Member]	'
Share-based Compensation, Shares Authorized under Stock Option Plans, Exercise Price Range [Line Items]	'
Range of exercise prices, lower limit	$3.06
Range of exercise prices, upper limit	$7.08
Options Outstanding	27
Options Outstanding, Weighted average remaining contractual life (in years)	'0 years 1 month 6 days
Options Outstanding, Weighted average exercise price	$7.14
Options Exercisable	27
Options Exercisable, Weighted average exercise price	$7.14
Stock Options Three [Member]	'
Share-based Compensation, Shares Authorized under Stock Option Plans, Exercise Price Range [Line Items]	'
Range of exercise prices, lower limit	$7.14
Range of exercise prices, upper limit	$7.31
Options Outstanding	174
Options Outstanding, Weighted average remaining contractual life (in years)	'2 years 7 months 25 days
Options Outstanding, Weighted average exercise price	$8.65
Options Exercisable	174
Options Exercisable, Weighted average exercise price	$8.65
Stock Options Four [Member]	'
Share-based Compensation, Shares Authorized under Stock Option Plans, Exercise Price Range [Line Items]	'
Range of exercise prices, lower limit	$8.43
Range of exercise prices, upper limit	$9.64

Recovered_Sheet1

SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY AND EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS (Common stock issued to non-employee directors) (Details) (Non Employee Director [Member], USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 27, 2014	Sep. 28, 2013	Sep. 29, 2012
Non Employee Director [Member]	'	'	'
Deferred Compensation Arrangement with Individual, Share-based Payments [Line Items]	'	'	'
Number of common shares issued	63	74	78
Fair value based upon market price at time of issue	$810	$908	$720

Recovered_Sheet2

SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY AND EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS (Non-employee director stock option activity) (Details) (Non Employee Director [Member], USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 27, 2014	Sep. 29, 2012	Sep. 27, 2014	Sep. 28, 2013	Sep. 29, 2012	Oct. 01, 2011
Non Employee Director [Member]	'	'	'	'	'	'
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Outstanding [Roll Forward]	'	'	'	'	'	'
Number of shares, Options outstanding, beginning balance (in shares)	135	258	55	'	135	'
Number of shares, Exercised (in shares)	-10	-63	'	'	'	'
Number of shares, Forfeited or expired (in shares)	-70	-60	'	'	'	'
Number of shares, Options vested and expected to vest (in shares)	55	'	'	'	'	'
Number of shares, Options exercisable (in shares)	55	'	'	'	'	'
Number of shares, In the money exercisable options (in shares)	55	'	'	'	'	'
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Outstanding, Weighted Average Exercise Price [Roll Forward]	'	'	'	'	'	'
Weighted average exercise price, Options outstanding, ending balance (in dollars per share)	$10.22	$11.45	'	$11.45	'	$11.78
Weighted average exercise price, Exercised (in dollars per share)	$11.20	$6.89	'	'	'	'
Weighted average exercise price, Forfeited or expired (in dollars per share)	$12.45	$17.62	'	'	'	'
Weighted average exercise price, Options vested and expected to vest (in dollars per share)	$10.22	'	'	'	'	'
Weighted average exercise price, Options exercisable (in dollars per share)	$10.22	'	'	'	'	'
Average remaining contractual life, Options outstanding (in years)	'1 year 3 months 11 days	'	'	'	'	'
Average remaining contractual life, Options vested and expected to vest (in years)	'1 year 3 months 11 days	'	'	'	'	'
Average remaining contractual life, Options exercisable (in years)	'1 year 3 months 11 days	'	'	'	'	'
Aggregate intrinsic value, Exercised	'	$300	'	'	'	'
Aggregate intrinsic value, Options outstanding	225	614	'	614	'	'
Aggregate intrinsic value, Options vested and expected to vest	225	'	'	'	'	'
Aggregate intrinsic value, In the money exercisable options	$225	'	'	'	'	'

Recovered_Sheet3

SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY AND EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS (Defined benefits pension obligations and pension expenses) (Details) (USD $)	Sep. 27, 2014	Sep. 28, 2013
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]	'	'
Pension obligation	$2,026	$1,711
Switzerland [Member]	'	'
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]	'	'
Pension obligation	703	388
Taiwan [Member]	'	'
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]	'	'
Pension obligation	$1,323	$1,323

Recovered_Sheet4

SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY AND EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS (Narrative) (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended						12 Months Ended
	Sep. 27, 2014	Sep. 27, 2014	Sep. 28, 2013	Sep. 29, 2012	Sep. 27, 2014	Sep. 27, 2014	Sep. 27, 2014	Sep. 27, 2014	Aug. 27, 2014
			employee		Minimum [Member]	Maximum [Member]	Equity Incentive Plan 2009 [Member]	August 2014 Share Repurchase Program [Member]	August 2014 Share Repurchase Program [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Stock Repurchase Program, Authorized Amount	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	$100,000,000
Treasury Stock, Shares, Acquired	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	43,500	'
Treasury Stock, Value, Acquired, Cost Method	'	628,000	'	'	'	'	'	600,000	'
Defined Contribution Plan, Employer Matching Contribution, Percent	'	'	'	'	4.00%	6.00%	'	'	'
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Number of Shares Available for Grant	'	'	'	'	'	'	3,700,000	'	'
Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Vesting Percentage	'	'	'	'	0.00%	200.00%	'	'	'
Payments for Repurchase of Common Stock	'	419,000	0	0	'	'	'	'	'
Description Of Maximum Percentage Of Employee Contributions and Matching Contributions Based Upon Years Of Service	'	'employee contributions and matching Company contributions up to 4% or 6%	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Discount from Market Price, Offering Date	'	100.00%	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Relative Total Shareholder Return Average Stock Price Calculation Period	'	'90 days	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Total Shareholder Return Award Performance Measurement Period	'	'3 years	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Option Granted Vesting Percentage	'	10.00%	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Option Forfeited Vesting Percentage	'	22.00%	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Employee Service Share-based Compensation, Cash Received from Exercise of Stock Options	'	1,100,000	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Employee Service Share-based Compensation, Nonvested Awards, Total Compensation Cost Not yet Recognized	3,292	3,292	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Employee Service Share-based Compensation, Nonvested Awards, Total Compensation Cost Not yet Recognized, Period for Recognition	'	'1 year	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Grant To Non Employee Director	30,000	120,000	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Defined Benefit Plan, Recognized Net Gain (Loss) Due to Settlements and Curtailments	'	$2,100,000	$1,700,000	'	'	'	'	'	'
Number Of Employees Included In Workforce Reduction Plan	'	'	41	'	'	'	'	'	'

EARNINGS_PER_SHARE_Reconciliat

EARNINGS PER SHARE (Reconciliation of the shares used in the basic and diluted net income per share computation) (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 27, 2014	Jun. 28, 2014	Mar. 29, 2014	Dec. 28, 2013	Sep. 28, 2013	Jun. 29, 2013	Mar. 30, 2013	Dec. 29, 2012	Sep. 27, 2014	Sep. 28, 2013	Sep. 29, 2012
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share, Amount	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	0	100,000	'
NUMERATOR:	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Net income	$29,259	$26,616	$9,070	($1,957)	$29,531	$18,887	$7,336	$3,604	$62,988	$59,358	$160,580
Less: income applicable to participating securities	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	0	0	-5
Net income applicable to common shareholders - Basic	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	62,988	59,358	160,575
Net income applicable to common shareholders - Diluted	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	$62,988	$59,358	$160,575
DENOMINATOR:	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Weighted average shares outstanding - Basic (in shares)	76,658,000	76,596,000	76,404,000	75,912,000	75,279,000	75,231,000	75,166,000	74,852,000	76,396,000	75,132,000	73,887,000
Stock options (in shares)	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	117,000	110,000	660,000
Time-based restricted stock (in shares)	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	398,000	512,000	813,000
Market-based restricted stock (in shares)	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	381,000	436,000	142,000
Weighted average shares outstanding - Diluted (1)	77,925,000	77,605,000	77,021,000	75,912,000	76,565,000	76,473,000	76,553,000	76,209,000	77,292,000	76,190,000	75,502,000
EPS:	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Net income per share - Basic (in dollars per share)	$0.38	$0.35	$0.12	($0.03)	$0.39	$0.25	$0.10	$0.05	$0.82	$0.79	$2.17
Effect of dilutive shares (in dollars per share)	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	($0.01)	($0.01)	($0.04)
Net income per share - Diluted (in dollars per share)	$0.38	$0.34	$0.12	($0.03)	$0.39	$0.25	$0.10	$0.05	$0.81	$0.78	$2.13

EARNINGS_PER_SHARE_Narrative_D

EARNINGS PER SHARE (Narrative) (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
In Millions, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 27, 2014	Sep. 28, 2013	Mar. 31, 2012
			Convertible Notes Payable [Member]
			Convertible Subordinated Notes, 8.75% [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'	'
Line Of Credit Facility Principal Repaid	'	'	$110
Line Of Credit Facility Interest	'	'	$0.50
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share, Amount	0	100,000	'

INCOME_TAXES_Income_from_conti

INCOME TAXES (Income from continuing operations by location, the provision (benefit) for income taxes and the effective tax rate) (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 27, 2014	Jun. 28, 2014	Mar. 29, 2014	Dec. 28, 2013	Sep. 28, 2013	Jun. 29, 2013	Mar. 30, 2013	Dec. 29, 2012	Sep. 27, 2014	Sep. 28, 2013	Sep. 29, 2012
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
United States operations	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	$7,700	($4,340)	($6,111)
Foreign operations	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	69,433	71,008	180,362
Income from operations before income taxes	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	77,133	66,668	174,251
Provision for income taxes	8,241	4,908	1,087	-91	5,247	247	1,041	775	14,145	7,310	13,671
Net income	$29,259	$26,616	$9,070	($1,957)	$29,531	$18,887	$7,336	$3,604	$62,988	$59,358	$160,580
Effective tax rate	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	18.30%	11.00%	7.80%

INCOME_TAXES_Provision_benefit

INCOME TAXES (Provision (benefit) for income taxes from continuing operations) (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 27, 2014	Jun. 28, 2014	Mar. 29, 2014	Dec. 28, 2013	Sep. 28, 2013	Jun. 29, 2013	Mar. 30, 2013	Dec. 29, 2012	Sep. 27, 2014	Sep. 28, 2013	Sep. 29, 2012
Current:	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Federal	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	$843	($212)	$4,103
State	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	78	291	942
Foreign	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	5,534	1,732	5,497
Deferred:	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Federal	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	5,474	985	4,169
State	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	5	5	48
Foreign	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	2,211	4,509	-1,088
Provision for income taxes	$8,241	$4,908	$1,087	($91)	$5,247	$247	$1,041	$775	$14,145	$7,310	$13,671

INCOME_TAXES_Effective_income_

INCOME TAXES (Effective income tax rate reconciliation) (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 27, 2014	Jun. 28, 2014	Mar. 29, 2014	Dec. 28, 2013	Sep. 28, 2013	Jun. 29, 2013	Mar. 30, 2013	Dec. 29, 2012	Sep. 27, 2014	Sep. 28, 2013	Sep. 29, 2012
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Computed income tax expense based on U.S. statutory rate	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	$26,997	$23,334	$60,988
Effect of earnings of foreign subsidiaries subject to different tax rates	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	-9,763	-11,193	-30,067
Benefits from foreign approved enterprise zones	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	-17,423	-9,626	-22,138
Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation, Deduction, Dividends, Amount	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	8,190	0	0
Effect of permanent items	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	-298	664	152
Change in valuation allowance	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	-1,820	1,429	1,261
Foreign operations (withholding taxes, deferred taxes on unremitted earnings, US taxation of foreign earnings)	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	5,906	1,789	12,604
Reserve for uncertain tax positions	2,100	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	131	683	-7,626
State income tax expense	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	2,241	-734	-394
Other, net	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	-16	964	-1,109
Provision for income taxes	$8,241	$4,908	$1,087	($91)	$5,247	$247	$1,041	$775	$14,145	$7,310	$13,671

INCOME_TAXES_Net_deferred_tax_

INCOME TAXES (Net deferred tax balance) (Details) (USD $)	Sep. 27, 2014	Sep. 28, 2013
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]	'	'
Inventory reserves	$692	$1,127
Other accruals and reserves	3,713	3,349
Net operating loss carryforwards	666	779
Valuation allowance	-780	-768
Total short-term deferred tax asset	4,291	4,487
Total short-term deferred tax liability	106	221
Net short-term deferred tax asset	4,185	4,266
Domestic tax credit carryforwards	688	1,611
Net operating loss carryforwards	27,361	28,138
Stock options	703	1,299
Other	400	926
Deferred Tax Assets, Gross	29,152	31,974
Valuation allowance	-23,844	-25,676
Total long-term deferred tax asset (1)	5,308	6,298
Repatriation of foreign earnings, including foreign withholding taxes	43,204	41,322
Depreciable assets	3,013	1,887
Prepaid expenses and other	300	0
Total long-term deferred tax liability	46,517	43,209
Net long-term deferred tax liability	41,209	36,911
Total net deferred tax liability	$37,024	$32,645

INCOME_TAXES_Unrecognized_tax_

INCOME TAXES (Unrecognized tax benefits) (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 27, 2014	Sep. 28, 2013	Sep. 29, 2012
Reconciliation of Unrecognized Tax Benefits, Excluding Amounts Pertaining to Examined Tax Returns [Roll Forward]	'	'	'
Unrecognized tax benefit, beginning of year	$6,869	$6,186	$13,702
Additions for tax positions, current year	0	0	0
Additions for tax positions, prior year	717	2,485	110
Reductions for tax positions, prior year	-394	-1,802	-7,626
Unrecognized tax benefit, end of year	$7,192	$6,869	$6,186

INCOME_TAXES_Narrative_Details

INCOME TAXES (Narrative) (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 27, 2014	Sep. 28, 2013	Sep. 29, 2012
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]	'	'	'
Tax Expense Related To Distributions From Earnings	$1,200,000	$300,000	$3,000,000
Effect of earnings of foreign subsidiaries subject to different tax rates	460,500,000	'	'
Undistributed Earnings Not Reinvested In Foreign Operations	89,600,000	'	'
Foreign Earnings Repatriated	18,200,000	'	'
Deferred Tax Assets, Gross, Noncurrent	3,800,000	3,800,000	'
Deferred Tax Assets, Operating Loss Carryforwards, Foreign	80,600,000	'	'
Deferred Tax Assets, Tax Credit Carryforwards	700,000	'	'
Unrecognized Tax Benefits that Would Impact Effective Tax Rate	7,200,000	'	'
Excess tax benefits from stock based compensation	-825,000	825,000	1,537,000
Operating Loss Carryforwards [Line Items]	'	'	'
Unrecognized Tax Benefits, Decreases Resulting from Prior Period Tax Positions	394,000	1,802,000	7,626,000
Unrecognized Tax Benefits, Decreases Resulting from Settlements with Taxing Authorities	'	7,500,000	'
Deferred Tax Assets, Operating Loss Carryforwards, State and Local	177,800,000	'	'
Deferred Tax Assets, Operating Loss Carryforwards, Domestic	6,900,000	'	'
Operations In Singapore And Malaysia [Member]	'	'	'
Operating Loss Carryforwards [Line Items]	'	'	'
Income Tax Reconciliation, Tax Exempt Income	17,400,000	9,600,000	22,100,000
Income Tax Reconciliation Foreign Income Tax Rate Differential Per Share	$0.23	$0.13	$0.30
Minimum [Member]	'	'	'
Operating Loss Carryforwards [Line Items]	'	'	'
Operating Loss Carryforward, Foreign, Statute Of Limitions	'4 years	'	'
Minimum [Member] | Operations In Singapore And Malaysia [Member]	'	'	'
Operating Loss Carryforwards [Line Items]	'	'	'
Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation, Foreign Income Tax Rate Differential	'	5.00%	'
Maximum [Member]	'	'	'
Operating Loss Carryforwards [Line Items]	'	'	'
Operating Loss Carryforward, Foreign, Statute Of Limitions	'6 years	'	'
Maximum [Member] | Operations In Singapore And Malaysia [Member]	'	'	'
Operating Loss Carryforwards [Line Items]	'	'	'
Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation, Foreign Income Tax Rate Differential	5.00%	'	'
Pennsylvania Tax Law [Member]	'	'	'
Operating Loss Carryforwards [Line Items]	'	'	'
Deferred Tax Assets, Operating Loss Carryforwards, State and Local	3,000,000	3,000,000	3,000,000
Foreign Tax Authority [Member]	'	'	'
Operating Loss Carryforwards [Line Items]	'	'	'
Unrecognized Tax Benefits, Decreases Resulting from Prior Period Tax Positions	1,700,000	'	'
Unrecognized Tax Benefits, Decreases Resulting from Settlements with Taxing Authorities	$100,000	'	'

OTHER_FINANCIAL_DATA_Other_Fin

OTHER FINANCIAL DATA Other Financial Data (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 27, 2014	Sep. 28, 2013	Sep. 29, 2012
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]	'	'	'
Selling, General and Administrative Incentive Compensation Expense	$17,596	$17,194	$21,988

SEGMENT_INFORMATION_Operating_

SEGMENT INFORMATION (Operating information by segment) (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 27, 2014	Jun. 28, 2014	Mar. 29, 2014	Dec. 28, 2013	Sep. 28, 2013	Jun. 29, 2013	Mar. 30, 2013	Dec. 29, 2012	Sep. 27, 2014	Sep. 28, 2013	Sep. 29, 2012
Net revenue:	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Net revenue	$194,733	$180,517	$114,206	$79,113	$173,608	$141,181	$106,110	$114,039	$568,569	$534,938	$791,023
Cost of sales :	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Cost of sales	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	295,015	287,993	423,633
Gross profit :	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Gross profit	92,360	85,157	57,672	38,365	80,686	65,914	48,820	51,525	273,554	246,945	367,390
Operating expenses:	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Operating expenses	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	196,570	181,139	188,164
Income from operations:	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Income from operations	37,497	31,584	10,111	-2,208	34,544	18,867	8,190	4,205	76,984	65,806	179,226
Equipment [Member]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Net revenue:	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Net revenue	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	503,049	472,567	727,082
Cost of sales :	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Cost of sales	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	268,934	261,270	397,210
Gross profit :	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Gross profit	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	234,115	211,297	329,872
Operating expenses:	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Operating expenses	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	174,346	158,306	164,081
Income from operations:	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Income from operations	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	59,769	52,991	165,791
Expendable Tools [Member]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Net revenue:	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Net revenue	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	65,520	62,371	63,941
Cost of sales :	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Cost of sales	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	26,081	26,723	26,423
Gross profit :	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Gross profit	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	39,439	35,648	37,518
Operating expenses:	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Operating expenses	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	22,224	22,833	24,083
Income from operations:	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Income from operations	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	$17,215	$12,815	$13,435

SEGMENT_INFORMATION_Assets_by_

SEGMENT INFORMATION (Assets by segment) (Details) (USD $)	Sep. 27, 2014	Sep. 28, 2013	Sep. 29, 2012
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Segment assets:	'	'	'
Total assets	$944,448	$862,994	$815,609
Equipment [Member]	'	'	'
Segment assets:	'	'	'
Total assets	839,847	764,793	746,636
Expendable Tools [Member]	'	'	'
Segment assets:	'	'	'
Total assets	$104,601	$98,201	$68,973

SEGMENT_INFORMATION_Capital_ex

SEGMENT INFORMATION (Capital expenditures and depreciation expense by segment) (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 27, 2014	Sep. 28, 2013	Sep. 29, 2012
Capital expenditures:	'	'	'
Capital expenditures	$10,138	$17,172	$6,902
Property, Plant and Equipment, Additions	12,401	17,172	6,902
Depreciation expense:	'	'	'
Depreciation expense	8,202	9,311	8,087
Equipment [Member]	'	'	'
Capital expenditures:	'	'	'
Capital expenditures	9,560	11,704	5,318
Depreciation expense:	'	'	'
Depreciation expense	5,662	6,936	5,745
Expendable Tools [Member]	'	'	'
Capital expenditures:	'	'	'
Capital expenditures	2,841	5,468	1,584
Depreciation expense:	'	'	'
Depreciation expense	$2,540	$2,375	$2,342

SEGMENT_INFORMATION_Narrative_

SEGMENT INFORMATION (Narrative) (Details)	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 27, 2014
	segment
Segment Reporting [Abstract]	'
Number of reportable segments	2

SEGMENT_INFORMATION_Sales_by_c

SEGMENT INFORMATION Sales by country (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 27, 2014	Jun. 28, 2014	Mar. 29, 2014	Dec. 28, 2013	Sep. 28, 2013	Jun. 29, 2013	Mar. 30, 2013	Dec. 29, 2012	Sep. 27, 2014	Sep. 28, 2013	Sep. 29, 2012
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Revenue, Net	$194,733	$180,517	$114,206	$79,113	$173,608	$141,181	$106,110	$114,039	$568,569	$534,938	$791,023
China [Member]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Revenue, Net	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	144,134	124,272	160,573
Taiwan [Member]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Revenue, Net	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	140,586	150,271	251,128
Malaysia [Member]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Revenue, Net	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	46,033	23,799	39,447
Japan [Member]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Revenue, Net	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	34,480	17,680	24,755
United States [Member]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Revenue, Net	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	31,645	14,652	13,433
Philippines [Member]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Revenue, Net	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	31,371	30,257	33,715
Korea [Member]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Revenue, Net	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	31,284	36,949	71,552
Hong Kong [Member]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Revenue, Net	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	23,709	28,911	76,964
Singapore [Member]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Revenue, Net	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	21,934	35,833	23,045
Vietnam [Member]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Revenue, Net	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	11,355	4,639	10,019
Thailand [Member]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Revenue, Net	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	9,386	9,143	21,828
Germany [Member]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Revenue, Net	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	8,496	5,822	7,319
All Other Segments [Member]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Revenue, Net	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	$34,156	$52,710	$57,245

SEGMENT_INFORMATION_Longlived_

SEGMENT INFORMATION Long-lived assets by countries (Details) (USD $)	Sep. 27, 2014	Sep. 28, 2013	Sep. 29, 2012
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]	'	'	'
Long-Lived Assets	$106,757	$108,606	$102,293
Singapore [Member]	'	'	'
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]	'	'	'
Long-Lived Assets	86,386	87,104	67,060
United States [Member]	'	'	'
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]	'	'	'
Long-Lived Assets	6,757	7,525	14,193
China [Member]	'	'	'
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]	'	'	'
Long-Lived Assets	7,295	6,718	4,438
Israel [Member]	'	'	'
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]	'	'	'
Long-Lived Assets	4,668	5,674	8,078
Switzerland [Member]	'	'	'
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]	'	'	'
Long-Lived Assets	311	252	6,101
All Other Segments [Member]	'	'	'
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]	'	'	'
Long-Lived Assets	$1,340	$1,333	$2,423

COMMITMENTS_CONTINGENCIES_AND_2

COMMITMENTS, CONTINGENCIES AND CONCENTRATIONS (Reserve for product warranty activity) (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 27, 2014	Sep. 28, 2013	Sep. 29, 2012
Movement in Standard and Extended Product Warranty, Increase (Decrease) [Roll Forward]	'	'	'
Reserve for product warranty, beginning of period	$1,194	$2,412	$2,245
Provision for product warranty	2,099	1,093	3,521
Product warranty costs paid	-1,751	-2,311	-3,354
Reserve for product warranty, end of period	$1,542	$1,194	$2,412

COMMITMENTS_CONTINGENCIES_AND_3

COMMITMENTS, CONTINGENCIES AND CONCENTRATIONS (Obligations not reflected on the Consolidated Balance Sheet) (Details) (USD $)	Sep. 27, 2014
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Inventory purchase obligation	$84,240,000
Inventory purchase obligation, Payments due by fiscal year 2013	84,240,000
Inventory purchase obligation, Payments due by fiscal year 2014	0
Inventory purchase obligation, Payments due by fiscal year 2015	0
Inventory purchase obligation, Payments due by fiscal year 2016	0
Inventory purchase obligation, Payments due by fiscal year thereafter	0
Operating lease obligations	29,525,000
Operating lease obligations, Payments due by fiscal year 2013	3,702,000
Operating lease obligations, Payments due by fiscal year 2014	3,462,000
Operating lease obligations, Payments due by fiscal year 2015	3,058,000
Operating lease obligations, Payments due by fiscal year 2016	2,584,000
Operating lease obligations, Payments due by fiscal year thereafter	16,719,000
Total	113,765,000
Total, Payments due by fiscal year 2013	87,942,000
Total, Payments due by fiscal year 2014	3,462,000
Total, Payments due by fiscal year 2015	3,058,000
Total, Payments due by fiscal year 2016	2,584,000
Total, Payments due by fiscal year thereafter	$16,719,000

COMMITMENTS_CONTINGENCIES_AND_4

COMMITMENTS, CONTINGENCIES AND CONCENTRATIONS (Significant customer concentrations as a percentage of net revenue) (Details) (Sales Revenue Net [Member], Customer Concentration Risk [Member])	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 28, 2013	Sep. 29, 2012
Siliconware Precision Industries Co. Limited [Member]	'	'
Concentration Risk [Line Items]	'	'
Customer concentrations risk percentage	11.00%	14.90%
Advanced Semiconductor Engineering [Member]	'	'
Concentration Risk [Line Items]	'	'
Customer concentrations risk percentage	'	22.40%

COMMITMENTS_CONTINGENCIES_AND_5

COMMITMENTS, CONTINGENCIES AND CONCENTRATIONS (Significant customer concentrations as a percentage of total accounts receivable) (Details) (Accounts Receivable [Member], Customer Concentration Risk [Member])	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 27, 2014	Sep. 28, 2013
Haoseng Industrial Co., Ltd [Member]	'	'
Concentration Risk [Line Items]	'	'
Customer concentrations risk percentage	21.50%	11.90%
Siliconware Precision Industries Co. Limited [Member]	'	'
Concentration Risk [Line Items]	'	'
Customer concentrations risk percentage	'	19.50%
STATS ChipPAC Ltd [Member]	'	'
Concentration Risk [Line Items]	'	'
Customer concentrations risk percentage	'	14.50%

COMMITMENTS_CONTINGENCIES_AND_6

COMMITMENTS, CONTINGENCIES AND CONCENTRATIONS (Narrative) (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 27, 2014	Dec. 01, 2013	Sep. 28, 2013	7-May-12
				sqft
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]	'	'	'	'
Area of Land	'	'	'	198,000
Percentage Of Building Area Agreed To Lease From Landlord	'	'	'	70.00%
Period Of Warranty For Manufacturing Defects	'1 year	'	'	'
Lease Expiration Year	'2023	'	'	'
Financing obligation	$19,102	$20,000	$19,396	'

SELECTED_QUARTERLY_FINANCIAL_R2

SELECTED QUARTERLY FINANCIAL RESULTS (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 27, 2014	Jun. 28, 2014	Mar. 29, 2014	Dec. 28, 2013	Sep. 28, 2013	Jun. 29, 2013	Mar. 30, 2013	Dec. 29, 2012	Sep. 27, 2014	Sep. 28, 2013	Sep. 29, 2012
Quarterly Financial Information Disclosure [Abstract]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Revenue, Net	$194,733	$180,517	$114,206	$79,113	$173,608	$141,181	$106,110	$114,039	$568,569	$534,938	$791,023
Gross Profit	92,360	85,157	57,672	38,365	80,686	65,914	48,820	51,525	273,554	246,945	367,390
Operating Income (Loss)	37,497	31,584	10,111	-2,208	34,544	18,867	8,190	4,205	76,984	65,806	179,226
Income Tax Expense (Benefit)	8,241	4,908	1,087	-91	5,247	247	1,041	775	14,145	7,310	13,671
Net income	$29,259	$26,616	$9,070	($1,957)	$29,531	$18,887	$7,336	$3,604	$62,988	$59,358	$160,580
Basic (in dollars per share)	$0.38	$0.35	$0.12	($0.03)	$0.39	$0.25	$0.10	$0.05	$0.82	$0.79	$2.17
Earnings Per Share, Diluted	$0.38	$0.34	$0.12	($0.03)	$0.39	$0.25	$0.10	$0.05	$0.81	$0.78	$2.13
Weighted average shares outstanding - Basic (in shares)	76,658	76,596	76,404	75,912	75,279	75,231	75,166	74,852	76,396	75,132	73,887
Weighted Average Number of Shares Outstanding, Diluted	77,925	77,605	77,021	75,912	76,565	76,473	76,553	76,209	77,292	76,190	75,502

SUBSEQUENT_EVENTS_Details

SUBSEQUENT EVENTS (Details) (Foreign Exchange Forward [Member], Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member], USD $)	12 Months Ended		0 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 27, 2014	Oct. 10, 2014	Oct. 10, 2014
		Subsequent Event [Member]	Maximum [Member]
			Subsequent Event [Member]
Subsequent Event [Line Items]	'	'	'
Derivative, Notional Amount	'	$23.90	'
Derivative, Term of Contract	'6 months	'	'6 months

Schedule_IIValuation_and_Quali1

Schedule II-Valuation and Qualifying Accounts (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 27, 2014		Sep. 28, 2013		Sep. 29, 2012
Allowance for doubtful accounts [Member]	'		'		'
Valuation and Qualifying Accounts Disclosure [Line Items]	'		'		'
Beginning of period	$504		$937		$2,194
Charged to Costs and Expenses	-320		-371		-1,239
Other Additions	0		0		0
Other Deductions	-41	[1]	-62	[1]	-18	[1]
End of period	143		504		937
Inventory reserve [Member]	'		'		'
Valuation and Qualifying Accounts Disclosure [Line Items]	'		'		'
Beginning of period	14,120		18,617		15,099
Charged to Costs and Expenses	3,060		3,561		6,060
Other Additions	0		0		0
Other Deductions	-3,317	[2]	-8,058	[2]	-2,542	[2]
End of period	13,863		14,120		18,617
Valuation allowance for deferred taxes [Member]	'		'		'
Valuation and Qualifying Accounts Disclosure [Line Items]	'		'		'
Beginning of period	26,444		25,015		23,777
Charged to Costs and Expenses	-1,820	[3]	1,429		1,261	[3]
Other Additions	0		0		0	[4]
Other Deductions	0		0		-23
End of period	$24,624		$26,444		$25,015
[1]	Represents write-offs of specific accounts receivable.
[2]	Sale or scrap of previously reserved inventory.
[3]	Reflects increase/decrease in the valuation allowance primarily associated with the Company's U.S. and foreign net operating losses and other deferred tax assets.
[4]	Release of valuation allowance related to prior stock option exercises recorded to additional paid in capital.