Badger Meter (BMI) 10-K 4 Mar 15 2014 FY Annual report Financial data

Document_and_Entity_Informatio

Document and Entity Information (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014	Feb. 11, 2015	Jun. 30, 2014
Document and Entity Information [Abstract]
Entity Registrant Name	BADGER METER INC
Entity Central Index Key	9092
Current Fiscal Year End Date	-19
Entity Filer Category	Accelerated Filer
Document Type	10-K
Document Period End Date	31-Dec-14
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2014
Document Fiscal Period Focus	FY
Amendment Flag	FALSE
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		14,454,020
No	Yes
No	No
Yes	Yes
Entity Public Float			$651,621,555

Consolidated_Balance_Sheets

Consolidated Balance Sheets (USD $)	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Current assets:
Cash	$6,656	$7,263
Receivables	53,967	50,133
Inventories:
Finished goods	25,362	17,704
Work in process	13,047	12,330
Raw materials	33,365	30,905
Total inventories	71,774	60,939
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	4,538	3,994
Deferred income taxes	4,170	4,834
Total current assets	141,105	127,163
Property, plant and equipment, at cost:
Land and improvements	9,182	8,941
Buildings and improvements	57,872	55,018
Machinery and equipment	110,346	100,179
Property, plant and equipment, at cost:	177,400	164,138
Less accumulated depreciation	-95,594	-87,722
Net property, plant and equipment	81,806	76,416
Intangible assets, at cost less accumulated amortization	61,672	57,317
Prepaid pension	456	4,312
Other assets	8,397	6,155
Goodwill	47,722	44,695
Total assets	341,158	316,058
Current liabilities:
Short-term debt	75,927	70,045
Payables	16,059	18,554
Accrued compensation and employee benefits	11,901	7,337
Warranty and after-sale costs	1,739	882
Income and other taxes	1,449	1,223
Total current liabilities	107,075	98,041
Other long-term liabilities	1,735	1,324
Deferred income taxes	6,399	9,790
Accrued non-pension postretirement benefits	6,342	5,934
Other accrued employee benefits	5,276	4,406
Commitments and contingencies (Note 6)
Shareholders’ equity:
Common Stock, $1 par; authorized 40,000,000 shares; issued 20,522,864 shares in 2014 and 20,503,604 shares in 2013	20,523	20,504
Capital in excess of par value	48,353	45,627
Reinvested earnings	189,365	170,318
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	-11,856	-7,524
Less: Employee benefit stock	-922	-1,075
Treasury stock, at cost; 6,061,671 shares in 2014 and 6,091,728 shares in 2013	-31,132	-31,287
Total shareholders’ equity	214,331	196,563
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity	$341,158	$316,058

Consolidated_Balance_Sheets_Pa

Consolidated Balance Sheets (Parenthetical) (USD $)	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Statement of Financial Position [Abstract]
Common stock, par value (in dollars per share)	$1	$1
Common stock, shares authorized	40,000,000	40,000,000
Common stock, shares issued	20,522,864	20,503,604
Treasury Stock, shares outstanding	6,061,671	6,091,728

Consolidated_Statements_of_Ope

Consolidated Statements of Operations (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Income Statement [Abstract]
Net sales	$364,768	$334,122	$319,660
Cost of sales	233,626	217,133	197,414
Gross margin	131,142	116,989	122,246
Selling, engineering and administration	85,095	77,882	77,777
Operating earnings	46,047	39,107	44,469
Interest expense, net	1,135	1,098	998
Earnings before income taxes	44,912	38,009	43,471
Provision for income taxes	15,234	13,392	15,439
Net earnings	$29,678	$24,617	$28,032
Basic
from continuing operations (in dollars per share)	$2.07	$1.71	$1.96
Diluted:
from continuing operations (in dollars per share)	$2.06	$1.70	$1.95
Shares used in computation of earnings per share:
Basic	14,307	14,362	14,332
Impact of dilutive securities	71	78	67
Diluted	14,378	14,440	14,399

Consolidated_Statements_of_Cas

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Operating activities:
Net earnings	$29,678	$24,617	$28,032
Adjustments to reconcile net earnings to net cash provided by operations:
Depreciation	8,891	8,512	7,587
Amortization	6,773	4,982	4,467
Deferred income taxes	-1,334	1,462	-551
Contributions to pension plan	0	0	-1,097
Noncurrent employee benefits	4,417	1,392	122
Stock-based compensation expense	1,449	1,388	1,266
Changes in:
Receivables	-997	-3,991	812
Inventories	-6,943	247	-4,743
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	-2,060	368	-905
Liabilities other than debt	-4,139	-4,159	-188
Total adjustments	6,057	10,201	6,770
Net cash provided by operations	35,735	34,818	34,802
Investing activities:
Property, plant and equipment additions	-12,332	-14,311	-8,202
Acquisitions, net of cash acquired	-20,829	-15,401	-51,518
Net cash used for investing activities	-33,161	-29,712	-59,720
Financing activities:
Net increase (decrease) in short-term debt	6,653	3,205	65,136
Dividends paid	-10,633	-10,004	-9,513
Proceeds from exercise of stock options	730	1,640	382
Tax benefit on stock options	38	382	297
Repurchase of Common Stock	0	0	-30,000
Issuance of treasury stock	469	498	477
Net cash (used for) provided by financing activities	-2,743	-4,279	26,779
Effect of foreign exchange rates on cash	-438	-118	-282
(Decrease) increase in cash	-607	709	1,579
Cash — beginning of year	7,263	6,554	4,975
Cash — end of year	6,656	7,263	6,554
Cash paid during the year for:
Income taxes	17,218	15,292	15,247
Interest	1,144	1,114	1,113
Settlement of National Meter and Automation, Inc. accounts payable prior to the acquisition	$2,623	$0	$0

Consolidated_Statements_of_Sha

Consolidated Statements of Shareholders' Equity (USD $)	Total	Common stock at $1 par value		Capital in excess of par value	Reinvested earnings	Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)	Employee benefit stock	Treasury stock
In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified
Balance at Dec. 31, 2011	$179,281	$21,292	[1]	$39,445	$166,271	($14,566)	($1,485)	($31,676)
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net earnings	28,032				28,032
Pension and postretirement benefits, net of tax	225					225
Foreign currency translation adjustment	393					393
Cash dividends	-9,497				-9,497
Stock options exercised	382	37	[1]	345
Tax benefit on stock options and dividends	297			297
ESSOP transactions	391			140			251
Stock-based compensation	1,266			1,266
Shares purchased and retired	-30,000	-888	[1]		-29,112
Issuance of treasury stock	477			262				215
Balance at Dec. 31, 2012	171,247	20,441	[1]	41,755	155,694	-13,948	-1,234	-31,461
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net earnings	24,617				24,617
Pension and postretirement benefits, net of tax	6,252					6,252
Foreign currency translation adjustment	172					172
Cash dividends	-9,993				-9,993
Stock options exercised	1,640	63	[1]	1,577
Tax benefit on stock options and dividends	382			382
ESSOP transactions	360			201			159
Stock-based compensation	1,388			1,388
Issuance of treasury stock	498			324				174
Common stock, par value (in dollars per share)	$1
Balance at Dec. 31, 2013	196,563	20,504	[1]	45,627	170,318	-7,524	-1,075	-31,287
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net earnings	29,678				29,678
Pension and postretirement benefits, net of tax	-2,611					-2,611
Foreign currency translation adjustment	-1,721					-1,721
Cash dividends	-10,631				-10,631
Stock options exercised	730	19	[1]	711
Tax benefit on stock options and dividends	38			38
ESSOP transactions	367			214			153
Stock-based compensation	1,449			1,449
Issuance of treasury stock	469			314				155
Common stock, par value (in dollars per share)	$1
Balance at Dec. 31, 2014	$214,331	$20,523	[1]	$48,353	$189,365	($11,856)	($922)	($31,132)
[1]	Each common share of stock equals $1 par value; therefore, the number of common shares is the same as the dollar value.

Consolidated_Statements_of_Sha1

Consolidated Statements of Shareholders' Equity (Parenthetical) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)
Tax effect on employee benefit funded status adjustment	($1,381)	($3,826)	($247)
Reinvested earnings
Cash dividends (in dollars per share)	$0.74	$0.60	$0.66
Capital in excess of par value
Issuance of treasury stock (in shares)	30	35	42

Consolidated_Condensed_Stateme

Consolidated Condensed Statements of Comprehensive Income (USD $)	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2014	Sep. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2014	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2013	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Statement of Comprehensive Income [Abstract]
Net earnings	$6,001	$10,231	$8,814	$4,632	$6,380	$9,049	$6,281	$2,907	$29,678	$24,617	$28,032
Other comprehensive income :
Foreign currency translation adjustment									-1,721	172	393
Employee benefit funded status adjustment, net of tax									-2,611	6,252	225
Comprehensive income									$25,346	$31,041	$28,650

Consolidated_Statements_of_Com

Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income Statement (USD $)	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2014	Sep. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2014	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2013	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Statement of Comprehensive Income [Abstract]
Net earnings	$6,001	$10,231	$8,814	$4,632	$6,380	$9,049	$6,281	$2,907	$29,678	$24,617	$28,032
Other comprehensive income :
Foreign currency translation adjustment									-1,721	172	393
Pension and postretirement benefits, net of tax									-2,611	6,252	225
Comprehensive income									$25,346	$31,041	$28,650

Summary_of_Significant_Account

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Notes)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Accounting Policies [Abstract]
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies	Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
	Profile
	Badger Meter is an innovator in flow measurement and control products, serving water utilities, municipalities, and commercial and industrial customers worldwide. The Company’s products measure water, oil, chemicals and other fluids, and are known for accuracy, long-lasting durability and for providing valuable and timely measurement data. The Company’s product lines fall into three categories: sales of water meters and related technologies to municipal water utilities (municipal water), sales of meters to various industries for water and other fluids (flow instrumentation), and sales of gas meter radios and concrete vibrators to unique markets (specialty products). The Company estimates that over 75% of its products are used in water applications when all categories are grouped together.
	Municipal water, the largest category by sales volume, includes mechanical and electronic (static) water meters and related technologies and services used by water utilities as the basis for generating water and wastewater revenues. The key market for the Company’s water meter products is North America, primarily the United States, because most meters are designed and manufactured to conform to standards promulgated by the American Water Works Association. The majority of water meters sold continues to be mechanical in nature. In recent years, the Company has made inroads in selling electronic (static) meters. This recent development of static water meters combined with updated radio technology now provides the Company with the opportunity to sell into other geographical markets, for example Europe, Middle East and South America. In the municipal water category, sales of water meters and related technologies and services are commonly referred to as residential or commercial water meter sales, the latter referring to larger sizes of meters.
	Flow instrumentation includes meters and valves sold worldwide to measure and control materials flowing through a pipe or pipeline including water, air, steam, oil, and other liquids and gases. These products are used in a variety of applications, such as water/wastewater; heating, ventilating and air conditioning (HVAC); oil and gas; chemical and petrochemical; food and beverage; and pharmaceutical production. Furthermore, the Company’s flow measurement technologies are sold to original equipment manufacturers as the primary flow measurement device within a product or system.
	Specialty products include sales of radio technology to natural gas utilities for installation on their gas meters, and concrete vibrators used in the concrete construction process.
	Consolidation
	The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its wholly owned subsidiaries. All intercompany transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.
	Receivables
	Receivables consist primarily of trade receivables. The Company does not require collateral or other security and evaluates the collectability of its receivables based on a number of factors. An allowance for doubtful accounts is recorded for significant past due receivable balances based on a review of the past due items and the customer's ability and likelihood to pay, as well as applying a historical write-off ratio to the remaining balances. Changes in the Company's allowance for doubtful accounts are as follows:
		Balance at			Provision			Write-offs			Reserve			Balance
		beginning			and reserve			less			acquired			at end
		of year			adjustments			recoveries						of year
		(In thousands)
	2014	$	531		$	305		$	(25	)	$	—		$	811
	2013	$	488		$	78		$	(35	)	$	—		$	531
	2012	$	298		$	138		$	(30	)	$	82	(a)	$	488
	(a) The reserve increased $82,000 in 2012 related to the acquisition of Racine Federated, Inc. Refer to Note 3 “Acquisitions” for a description of the acquisition.
	Inventories
	Inventories are valued at the lower of cost or market. Cost is determined using the first-in, first-out method. The Company estimates and records provisions for obsolete inventories. Changes to the Company's obsolete inventories reserve are as follows:
		Balance at			Net additions			Disposals			Balance
		beginning			charged to						at end
		of year			earnings						of year
		(In thousands)
	2014	$	4,236		$	974		$	(1,896	)	$	3,314
	2013	$	2,880		$	2,322		$	(966	)	$	4,236
	2012	$	2,680		$	1,082		$	(882	)	$	2,880
	Property, Plant and Equipment
	Property, plant and equipment are stated at cost. Depreciation is provided over the estimated useful lives of the respective assets by the straight-line method. The estimated useful lives of assets are: for land improvements, 15 years; for buildings and improvements, 10 — 39 years; and for machinery and equipment, 3 — 20 years.
	Capitalized Software and Hardware
	Capitalized internal use software and hardware included in prepaid expenses and other current assets in the Consolidated Balance Sheets were $1.2 million and $0.8 million at December 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively. In addition, there was $4.9 million and $2.8 million at December 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively, included in other assets in the Consolidated Balance Sheets. These amounts are amortized on a straight-line basis over the software’s estimated useful lives, ranging from 1 to 5 years. Amortization expense recognized for the years ending December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012 was $1.4 million, $1.1 million and $0.8 million, respectively.
	Long-Lived Assets
	Property, plant and equipment and identifiable intangible assets are reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount may not be recoverable. If the sum of the expected undiscounted cash flows is less than the carrying value of the related asset or group of assets, a loss is recognized for the difference between the fair value and carrying value of the asset or group of assets. No adjustments were recorded as a result of these reviews during 2014, 2013 and 2012.
	Intangible Assets
	Intangible assets are amortized on a straight-line basis over their estimated useful lives, ranging from 5 to 20 years. The Company does not have any intangible assets deemed to have indefinite lives. Amortization expense recognized for the years ending December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012 was $5.5 million, $5.0 million and $4.5 million, respectively. Amortization expense expected to be recognized is $5.8 million in each of 2015, 2016 and 2017, $5.7 million in each of 2018 and 2019, and $32.9 million thereafter. The carrying value and accumulated amortization by major class of intangible assets are as follows:
		31-Dec-14						31-Dec-13
		Gross carrying			Accumulated			Gross carrying			Accumulated
		amount			amortization			amount			amortization
		(In thousands)
	Technologies	$	47,157		$	13,244		$	47,157		$	10,384
	Non-compete agreements	2,022			1,243			1,932			1,048
	Licenses	650			424			650			407
	Customer lists	3,423			1,053			3,423			679
	Customer relationships	20,700			3,575			11,690			2,218
	Trade names	9,325			2,066			8,615			1,414
	Total intangibles	$	83,277		$	21,605		$	73,467		$	16,150
	Goodwill
	Goodwill is tested for impairment annually during the fourth fiscal quarter or more frequently if an event indicates that the goodwill might be impaired. Potential impairment is identified by comparing the fair value of a reporting unit with its carrying value. No adjustments were recorded to goodwill as a result of these reviews during 2014, 2013 and 2012.
	Goodwill was $47.7 million, $44.7 million and $35.9 million at December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012, respectively. The increases were the result of the National Meter and Automation, Inc. of Centennial, Colorado acquisition in 2014, and the Aquacue, Inc. of Los Gatos, California acquisition in 2013. These acquisitions are further described in Note 3 “Acquisitions.”
	Revenue Recognition
	Revenues are generally recognized upon shipment of product, which corresponds with the transfer of title. The costs of shipping are billed to the customer upon shipment and are included in cost of sales. A small portion of the Company's sales includes shipments of products combined with services, such as meters sold with installation. The product and installation components of these multiple deliverable arrangements are considered separate units of accounting. The value of these separate units of accounting is determined based on their relative fair values determined on a stand-alone basis. Revenue is generally recognized when the last element of the multiple deliverable is delivered, which corresponds with installation and acceptance by the customer. The Company also sells a small number of extended support service agreements on certain products for the period subsequent to the normal support service provided with the original product sale. Revenue is recognized over the service agreement period, which is generally one year. In 2014, the company began offering software as a service with its BEACON AMA product. While the amounts were insignificant in 2014, revenue for this service is recognized on a monthly basis as the service is performed.
	Warranty and After-Sale Costs
	The Company estimates and records provisions for warranties and other after-sale costs in the period in which the sale is recorded, based on a lag factor and historical warranty claim experience. After-sale costs represent a variety of activities outside of the written warranty policy, such as investigation of unanticipated problems after the customer has installed the product, or analysis of water quality issues. Changes in the Company's warranty and after-sale costs reserve are as follows:
		Balance at			Net additions			Costs			Reserve					Balance
		beginning			charged to			incurred and			acquired					at end
		of year			earnings			adjustments								of year
		(In thousands)
	2014	$	882		$	2,512		$	(1,655	)	$	—				$	1,739
	2013	$	881		$	1,005		$	(1,068	)	$	64		(a)		$	882
	2012	$	1,593		$	719		$	(1,431	)	$	—				$	881
	(a)	The reserve increased $64,000 in 2013 related to the acquisition of Aquacue, Inc. Refer to Note 3 “Acquisitions” for a description of the acquisition.
	Research and Development
	Research and development costs are charged to expense as incurred and amounted to $9.5 million, $10.5 million and $9.6 million in 2014, 2013 and 2012, respectively.
	Stock-Based Compensation Plans
As of December 31, 2014, the Company has an Omnibus Incentive Plan under which 700,000 shares are reserved for restricted stock and stock options grants for employees as well as stock grants for directors as described in Note 5 “Stock Compensation.” The plan was approved in 2011 and replaced all prior stock-based plans except for shares and options previously issued under those plans.
The Company recognizes the cost of stock-based awards in net earnings for all of its stock-based compensation plans on a straight-line basis over the service period of the awards. The Company estimates the fair value of its option awards using the Black-Scholes option-pricing formula, and records compensation expense for stock options ratably over the stock option grant's vesting period. The Company values restricted stock and stock grants for directors on the closing price of the Company's stock on the day the grant was awarded. Total stock compensation expense recognized by the Company was $1.4 million for 2014 and 2013, and $1.3 million for 2012.
Healthcare
The Company estimates and records provisions for healthcare claims incurred but not reported, based on medical cost trend analyses, reviews of subsequent payments made and estimates of unbilled amounts.
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss
Components of accumulated other comprehensive loss at December 31, 2014 are as follows:
	Pension and postretirement benefits			Foreign currency			Total
				(In thousands)
Balance at beginning of period	$	(9,280	)	$	1,756		$	(7,524	)
Other comprehensive income before reclassifications	(4,968		)	(1,721		)	(6,689		)
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss, net of tax of $(1.2) million	2,357			—			2,357
Net current period other comprehensive income, net	(2,611		)	(1,721		)	(4,332		)
Accumulated other comprehensive (loss) income	$	(11,891	)	$	35		$	(11,856	)
Details of reclassifications out of accumulated other comprehensive loss during 2014 are as follows:
	Amount reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss
	(In thousands)
Amortization of employee benefit plan items:
Prior service cost (1)	$	161
Settlement expense (1)	858
Amortization of actuarial loss (1)	2,547
Total before tax	3,566
Income tax benefit	(1,209		)
Amount reclassified out of accumulated other comprehensive loss	$	2,357
-1	These accumulated other comprehensive loss components are included in the computation of benefit plan costs in Note 7 “Employee Benefit Plans.”
Components of accumulated other comprehensive loss at December 31, 2013 are as follows:
	Pension and postretirement benefits			Foreign currency			Total
	(In thousands)
Balance at beginning of period	$	(15,532	)	$	1,584		$	(13,948	)
Other comprehensive income before reclassifications	5,116			172			5,288
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss, net of tax of $(0.6) million	1,136			—			1,136
Net current period other comprehensive income, net	6,252			172			6,424
Accumulated other comprehensive (loss) income	$	(9,280	)	$	1,756		$	(7,524	)
Details of reclassifications out of accumulated other comprehensive loss during 2013 are as follows:
	Amount reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss
	(In thousands)
Amortization of employee benefit plan items:
Prior service cost (1)	$	161
Settlement expense (1)	806
Amortization of actuarial loss (1)	786
Total before tax	1,753
Income tax benefit	(617		)
Amount reclassified out of accumulated other comprehensive loss	$	1,136
-1	These accumulated other comprehensive loss components are included in the computation of benefit plan costs in Note 7 “Employee Benefit Plans.”
Use of Estimates
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the financial statements and accompanying notes. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
Fair Value Measurements of Financial Instruments
The carrying amounts of cash, receivables and payables in the financial statements approximate their fair values due to the short-term nature of these financial instruments. Short-term debt is comprised of notes payable drawn against the Company's lines of credit and commercial paper. Because of its short-term nature, the carrying amount of the short-term debt also approximates fair value. Included in other assets are insurance policies on various individuals who were associated with the Company. The carrying amounts of these insurance policies approximate their fair value.
Subsequent Events
The Company evaluates subsequent events at the date of the balance sheet as well as conditions that arise after the balance sheet date but before the financial statements are issued. The effects of conditions that existed at the date of the balance sheet date are recognized in the financial statements. Events and conditions arising after the balance sheet date but before the financial statements are issued are evaluated to determine if disclosure is required to keep the financial statements from being misleading. To the extent such events and conditions exist, if any, disclosures are made regarding the nature of events and the estimated financial effects for those events and conditions. For purposes of preparing the accompanying consolidated financial statements and the notes to these financial statements, the Company evaluated subsequent events through the date the accompanying financial statements were issued.
New Pronouncements
In May 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) No. 2014-09 "Revenue from Contracts with Customers." ASU 2014-09 provides a single principles-based, five-step model to be applied to all contracts with customers. The five steps are to identify the contract(s) with the customer, to identify the performance obligations in the contact, to determine the transaction price, to allocate the transaction price to the performance obligations in the contract and to recognize revenue when each performance obligation is satisfied. Revenue will be recognized when promised goods or services are transferred to the customer in an amount that reflects the consideration expected in exchange for those goods or services. ASU 2014-09 will be effective for the Company beginning on January 1, 2017 and the standard allows for either full retrospective adoption or modified retrospective adoption. The Company is continuing to evaluate the impact that the adoption of this guidance will have on its financial condition, results of operations and the presentation of its financial statements.
In November 2014, the FASB issued ASU No. 2014-17 “Business Combinations (Topic 805): Pushdown Accounting.” In addition, the staff of the Securities and Exchange Commission released Staff Accounting Bulletin (“SAB”) No. 115, which rescinds SAB Topic 5J, “New Basis of Accounting Required in Certain Circumstances.” Pushdown accounting refers to pushing down the acquirer’s accounting and reporting basis (which is recognized in conjunction with its accounting for a business combination) to the acquiree’s standalone financial statements. Under the new guidance, pushdown accounting is optional for any transaction in which another party obtains control of the reporting company. An acquired entity can make the election to apply the guidance to future change in control events or to its most recent change-in-control event if the financial statements have not been issued. ASU No. 2014-17 was effective upon issuance, which was November 18, 2014. The adoption of ASU No. 2014-17 did not have any impact on the Company’s financial condition or results of operation.

Common_Stock

Common Stock	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Stockholders' Equity Note [Abstract]
Common Stock	Common Stock
	Common Stock and Rights Agreement
	The Company has Common Stock and also Common Share Purchase Rights that trade with the Common Stock. The Common Share Purchase Rights were issued pursuant to the shareholder rights plan discussed below.
	On February 15, 2008, the Board of Directors of the Company adopted a shareholder rights plan and declared a dividend of one Common Share Purchase Right for each outstanding share of Common Stock of the Company payable to the shareholders of record on May 26, 2008. The plan was effective as of May 27, 2008. Each right entitles the registered holder to purchase from the Company one share of Common Stock at a price of $200.00 per share, subject to adjustment. Subject to certain conditions, the rights are redeemable by the Company and are exchangeable for shares of Common Stock at a favorable price. The rights have no voting power and unless the rights are redeemed, exchanged or terminated earlier, they will expire on May 26, 2018. The rights are an embedded feature of the Company’s Common Stock and not a free-standing instrument, and therefore, do not require separate accounting treatment.
	Stock Options
	Stock options to purchase 47,067 shares of the Company's Stock in 2014, 23,258 shares in 2013 and 60,400 shares in 2012 were not included in the computation of dilutive securities because the exercise price was greater than the average stock price for that period, and accordingly their inclusion would have been anti-dilutive.

Acquisitions

Acquisitions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Business Combinations [Abstract]
Acquisitions	Acquisitions
	On October 1, 2014, the Company acquired 100% of the outstanding common stock of National Meter and Automation, Inc. (“National Meter”) of Centennial, Colorado. The purchase is estimated to add approximately $15 million of incremental annual revenues to Badger Meter, after eliminating what would be intercompany sales. National Meter was a major distributor of Badger Meter products for the municipal water utility market, serving customers in Colorado, California, Nevada, Arizona and southern Wyoming. National Meter will become a regional distribution center for Badger Meter. In addition to its primary product line of water meters and meter reading systems, National Meter provides services including meter testing, leak detection, water audits, meter and meter reading system installation and meter reading.
	The total purchase consideration for National Meter was $22.9 million, which included $20.3 million in cash, a small working capital adjustment and settlement of pre-existing receivables. The Consolidated Balance Sheets at December 31, 2014 included $2.5 million of deferred payments, of which $2.0 million is payable in October 2015 and early 2016 and is recorded in payables, and $0.5 million is payable in early 2017 and is recorded in other long-term liabilities. The Company’s allocation of the purchase price as of December 31, 2014 included $3.9 million of receivables, $4.5 million of inventory, $2.8 million of property, plant and equipment, $9.8 million of intangibles, $3.0 million of goodwill, and $0.1 million of current liabilities. As of December 31, 2014, the preliminary allocation of the purchase price to the assets acquired and liabilities assumed is based upon the estimated fair values at the date of acquisition. The intangible assets acquired are primarily customer relationships with an estimated average useful life of 12 years. There was approximately $0.4 million of transaction costs related to the acquisition that were included in selling, engineering and administration for 2014 in the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Operations.
	The acquisition was accounted for under the purchase method, and accordingly, the results of operations were included in the Company’s financial statements from the date of acquisition. The acquisition did not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements or the notes thereto.
	On April 1, 2013, the Company acquired 100% of the outstanding common stock of Aquacue, Inc. (“Aquacue”) of Los Gatos, California. The Aquacue acquisition provides the Company with intellectual property that complements and expands the Company’s advanced metering analytics offerings by adding an integrated software platform that allows utility managers to monitor and control their water systems, while providing water management data to consumers. Sales of Aquacue products and the impact on consolidated net earnings were immaterial for 2013.
	The purchase price was $13.8 million in cash, including a small working capital adjustment. The purchase price included a final $3.0 million payment, of which half was due January 10, 2014 and half was due October 10, 2014, and these amounts were recorded in payables on the Consolidated Balance Sheets at December 31, 2013. The Company’s allocation of the purchase price as of December 31, 2013 included $0.1 million of current assets, $1.3 million of deferred tax assets, $3.9 million of intangibles, $8.8 million of goodwill and $0.3 million of current liabilities. As of December 31, 2013, the Company has completed its analysis for estimating the fair value of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed. The intangible assets acquired are primarily developed technology with an estimated average useful life of 10 years. There was approximately $0.1 million of transaction costs related to the acquisition that were included in selling, engineering and administration for 2013 in the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Operations. The Company merged Aquacue into Badger Meter, Inc. on December 31, 2013.
	The acquisition was accounted for under the purchase method, and accordingly, the results of operations were included in the Company’s financial statements from the date of acquisition. The acquisition did not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements or the notes thereto.
	On January 31, 2012, the Company completed its acquisition of 100% of the outstanding common stock of Racine Federated, Inc. of Racine, Wisconsin and its subsidiary Premier Control Technologies, Ltd. (“PCT”) located in Thetford, England for approximately $57.3 million in cash, plus a small working capital adjustment. The purchase price included a final $4.6 million payment which was due and paid in 2013. Racine Federated manufactures and markets flow meters for the water industry as well as various industrial metering and specialty products. These products complement and expand the Company's existing lines for the global flow measurement business.
	The acquisition was accounted for under the purchase method, and accordingly, the results of operations were included in the Company's financial statements from the date of acquisition. The acquisition did not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements or the notes thereto. During the fourth quarter of 2012, the Company sold PCT for a nominal amount after the majority of its functions were absorbed by the Company's European subsidiary. The Company also merged Racine Federated into Badger Meter, Inc. on December 31, 2012.

Shortterm_Debt_and_Credit_Line

Short-term Debt and Credit Lines	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Debt Disclosure [Abstract]
Short-term Debt and Credit Lines	Short-term Debt and Credit Lines
	Short-term debt at December 31, 2014 and 2013 consisted of:
		2014		2013
		(In thousands)
	Notes payable to banks	$	5,977	$	4,795
	Commercial paper	69,950		65,250
	Total short-term debt	$	75,927	$	70,045
	Included in notes payable to banks in 2014 was $4.5 million outstanding under a 4.0 million Euro-base revolving loan facility (U.S. dollar equivalent of $4.8 million at December 31, 2014) that does not expire, and which bore interest at 1.51%. Included in notes payable to banks in 2013 was $4.8 million outstanding under a 4.0 million Euro-based revolving loan facility (U.S. dollar equivalent of $5.5 million at December 31, 2013) that does not expire, and which bore interest at 1.72%.
	In May 2012, the Company signed a credit agreement that increased its principal line of credit from $90.0 million to $125.0 million with its primary lender for a three year period. The line was reduced by $16.7 million in May 2013 and was scheduled to be reduced by a similar amount in May 2014. The Company amended this line of credit effective May 1, 2014 to a three-year $105.0 million line of credit that supports commercial paper (up to $70.0 million) and includes $5.0 million of a Euro line of credit. Borrowings of commercial paper bore interest at 1.25% in 2014 and 2013. Under the principal line of credit, the Company had $33.6 million of unused credit lines available out of its total $37.5 million short-term credit lines at December 31, 2014. While the facility is unsecured, there are a number of financial covenants with which the Company is in compliance as of December 31, 2014.

Stock_Compensation

Stock Compensation	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Share-based Compensation [Abstract]
Stock Compensation	Stock Compensation
	As of December 31, 2014, the Company has an Omnibus Incentive Plan under which 700,000 shares are reserved for restricted stock and stock options grants for employees as well as stock grants for directors. The plan was approved in 2011 and replaced all prior stock-based plans except for shares and options previously issued under those plans. As of December 31, 2014 and 2013, there were 456,000 shares and 505,000 shares of the Company’s Common Stock available for grant under the 2011 Omnibus Incentive Plan. The Company recognizes the cost of stock-based awards in net earnings for all of its stock-based compensation plans on a straight-line basis over the service period of the awards. The following sections describe the three types of grants in more detail.
	Stock Options
	The Company estimates the fair value of its option awards using the Black-Scholes option-pricing formula, and records compensation expense for stock options ratably over the stock option grant’s vesting period. Stock option compensation expense recognized by the Company for the year ended December 31, 2014 related to stock options was $0.4 million compared to $0.5 million in 2013 and $0.4 million in 2012.
	The following table summarizes the transactions of the Company’s stock option plans for the three-year period ended December 31, 2014:
		Number of shares		Weighted-average
				exercise price
	Options outstanding - December 31, 2011	245,090		$	30.3
	Options granted	45,100		$	36.15
	Options exercised	(37,450	)	$	10.25
	Options forfeited	(5,160	)	$	37.19
	Options outstanding - December 31, 2012	247,580		$	34.26
	Options granted	23,258		$	51.29
	Options exercised	(66,660	)	$	24.91
	Options forfeited	(1,800	)	$	37.78
	Options outstanding - December 31, 2013	202,378		$	39.27
	Options granted	23,958		$	54.36
	Options exercised	(23,016	)	$	32.57
	Options forfeited	—		n/a
	Options outstanding - December 31, 2014	203,320		$	41.8
	Price range $18.33 — $36.15
	(weighted-average contractual life of 5.9 years)	56,320		$	34.2
	Price range $36.16 — $38.41
	(weighted-average contractual life of 5.8 years)	54,220		$	37.59
	Price range $38.42 — $54.36
	(weighted-average contractual life of 6.3 years)	92,780		$	48.88
	Options outstanding - December 31, 2014	203,320
	Exercisable options —
	31-Dec-12	141,740		$	31.72
	31-Dec-13	113,060		$	38.18
	31-Dec-14	111,016		$	39.68
	The following assumptions were used for valuing options granted in the years ended December 31:
		2014		2013
	Per share fair value of options granted during the period	$22.35		$20.34
	Risk-free interest rate	1.73	%	0.82	%
	Dividend yield	1.31	%	1.31	%
	Volatility factor	49.9	%	49.7	%
	Weighted-average expected life in years	5.3		5.3
	The expected life is based on historical exercise behavior and the projected exercise of unexercised stock options. The risk-free interest rate is based on the U.S. Treasury yield curve in effect on the date of grant for the respective expected life of the option. The expected dividend yield is based on the expected annual dividends divided by the grant date market value of the Company’s Common Stock. The expected volatility is based on the historical volatility of the Company’s Common Stock.
	The following table summarizes the aggregate intrinsic value related to options exercised, outstanding and exercisable as of and for the years ended December 31:
		2014			2013
		(In thousands)
	Exercised	$	493		$	1,743
	Outstanding	$	3,568		$	3,083
	Exercisable	$	2,184		$	1,846
	As of December 31, 2014, the unrecognized compensation cost related to stock options was approximately $1.0 million, which will be recognized over a weighted average period of 2.6 years.
	Director Stock Grant
	Non-employee directors receive an annual award of $50,000 worth of shares of the Company’s Common Stock under the shareholder-approved 2011 Omnibus Incentive Plan. The Company values stock grants for directors on the closing price of the Company’s stock on the day the grant was awarded. The Company records compensation expense for this plan ratably over the annual service period beginning May 1. Director stock compensation expense recognized by the Company for the year ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012 was $0.4 million in each year. As of December 31, 2014, the unrecognized compensation cost related to the director stock award that is expected to be recognized over the remaining four months is estimated to be approximately $0.1 million.
	Restricted Stock
	The Company periodically issues nonvested shares of the Company's Common Stock to certain eligible employees, generally with a three-year cliff vesting period contingent on employment. The Company values restricted stock on the closing price of the Company's stock on the day the grant was awarded. The Company records compensation expense for these plans ratably over the vesting periods. Nonvested stock compensation expense recognized by the Company for the year ended December 31, 2014 was $1.0 million compared to $0.9 million in 2013 and $0.9 million in 2012.
	The fair value of nonvested shares is determined based on the market price of the shares on the grant date.
		Shares		Fair value
				per share
	Nonvested at December 31, 2011	63,300		$	37.69
	Granted	30,325		$	36.15
	Vested	(17,900	)	$	38.69
	Forfeited	(1,900	)	$	21.77
	Nonvested at December 31, 2012	73,825		$	37.01
	Granted	21,425		$	51.12
	Vested	(16,875	)	$	38.41
	Forfeited	(3,900	)	$	37.69
	Nonvested at December 31, 2013	74,475		$	40.54
	Granted	21,956		$	54.36
	Vested	(24,350	)	$	36.59
Forfeited	(3,625	)	$	41.61
Nonvested at December 31, 2014	68,456		$	46.32
As of December 31, 2014, there was $1.3 million of unrecognized compensation cost related to nonvested restricted stock that is expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of 1.3 years.

Commitments_and_Contingencies

Commitments and Contingencies	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]
Commitments and Contingencies	Commitments and Contingencies
	Commitments
	The Company makes commitments in the normal course of business. The Company leases equipment and facilities under non-cancelable operating leases, some of which contain renewal options. Total future minimum lease payments consisted of the following at December 31, 2014:
		Total leases
		(In thousands)
	2015	$	2,282
	2016	1,861
	2017	1,688
	2018	1,451
	2019	1,274
	Thereafter	5,845
	Total lease obligations	$	14,401
	Total rental expense charged to operations under all operating leases was $3.1 million, $2.8 million and $2.7 million in 2014, 2013 and 2012, respectively.
	Contingencies
	In the normal course of business, the Company is named in legal proceedings. There are currently no material legal proceedings pending with respect to the Company. The more significant legal proceedings are discussed below.
	The Company is subject to contingencies related to environmental laws and regulations. The Company is named as one of many potentially responsible parties in two landfill lawsuits. The landfill sites are impacted by the Federal Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act and other environmental laws and regulations. At this time, the Company does not believe the ultimate resolution of these matters will have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial position or results of operations, either from a cash flow perspective or on the financial statements as a whole. This belief is based on the Company’s assessment of its limited past involvement with these landfill sites as well as the substantial involvement of and government focus on other named third parties with these landfill sites. However, due to the inherent uncertainties of such proceedings, the Company cannot predict the ultimate outcome of any of these matters. A future change in circumstances with respect to these specific matters or with respect to sites formerly or currently owned or operated by the Company, off-site disposal locations used by the Company, and property owned by third parties that is near such sites, could result in future costs to the Company and such amounts could be material. Expenditures for compliance with environmental control provisions and regulations during 2014, 2013 and 2012 were not material.
	Like other companies in recent years, the Company is named as a defendant in numerous pending multi-claimant/multi-defendant lawsuits alleging personal injury as a result of exposure to asbestos, manufactured by third parties, and integrated into or sold with a very limited number of the Company’s products. The Company is vigorously defending itself against these claims. Although it is not possible to predict the ultimate outcome of these matters, the Company does not believe the ultimate resolution of these issues will have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial position or results of operations, either from a cash flow perspective or on the financial statements as a whole. This belief is based in part on the fact that no claimant has proven or substantially demonstrated asbestos exposure caused by products manufactured or sold by the Company and that a number of cases have been voluntarily dismissed.
	The Company relies on single suppliers for most brass castings and certain electronic subassemblies in several of its product lines. The Company believes these items would be available from other sources, but that the loss of certain suppliers would result in a higher cost of materials, delivery delays, short-term increases in inventory and higher quality control costs in the short term. The Company attempts to mitigate these risks by working closely with key suppliers, purchasing minimal amounts from alternative suppliers and by purchasing business interruption insurance where appropriate.
	The Company reevaluates its exposures on a periodic basis and makes adjustments to reserves as appropriate.

Employee_Benefit_Plans

Employee Benefit Plans	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Compensation and Retirement Disclosure [Abstract]
Employee Benefit Plans	Employee Benefit Plans
	The Company maintains a non-contributory defined benefit pension plan that covers substantially all U.S. employees who were employed at December 31, 2011. After that date, no further benefits are being accrued in this plan. For the frozen pension plan, benefits are based primarily on years of service and, for certain plans, levels of compensation.
	The Company also maintains supplemental non-qualified plans for certain officers and other key employees, and an Employee Savings and Stock Option Plan (“ESSOP”).
	The Company also has a postretirement healthcare benefit plan that provides medical benefits for certain U.S. retirees and eligible dependents hired prior to November 1, 2004. Employees are eligible to receive postretirement healthcare benefits upon meeting certain age and service requirements. No employees hired after October 31, 2004 are eligible to receive these benefits. This plan requires employee contributions to offset benefit costs.
	Amounts included in accumulated other comprehensive loss, net of tax, at December 31, 2014 that have not yet been recognized in net periodic benefit cost are as follows:
		Pension				Other
		plans				postretirement
						benefits
		(In thousands)
	Prior service cost	$	—			$	6
	Net actuarial loss	$	11,156			$	314
	Amounts included in accumulated other comprehensive loss, net of tax, at December 31, 2014 expected to be recognized in net periodic benefit cost during the fiscal year ending December 31, 2015 are as follows:
		Pension				Other
		plans				postretirement
						benefits
		(In thousands)
	Prior service credit	$	—			$	33
	Net actuarial loss	$	471			$	—
	Qualified Pension Plan
	The Company maintains a non-contributory defined benefit pension plan (sometimes referred to as the “qualified pension plan”) for certain employees. On December 31, 2010, the Company froze the qualified pension plan for its non-union participants and formed a new defined contribution feature within the ESSOP plan in which each employee received a similar benefit. On December 31, 2011, the Company froze the qualified pension plan for its union participants and included them in the same defined contribution feature within the ESSOP. After December 31, 2011, employees receive no future benefits under the qualified pension benefit plan as benefits were frozen and the employees now receive a defined contribution in its place. Employees will continue to earn returns on their frozen balances.
	The following table sets forth the components of net periodic pension cost for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012 based on a December 31 measurement date:
		2014				2013				2012
		(In thousands)
	Service cost — benefits earned during the year	$	4			$	5			$	6
	Interest cost on projected benefit obligations	1,888				1,842				2,205
	Expected return on plan assets	(2,806		)		(2,744		)		(3,190		)
	Amortization of net loss	606				719				645
	Settlement expense	858				806				1,075
	Net periodic pension cost	$	550			$	628			$	741
	Actuarial assumptions used in the determination of the net periodic pension cost are:
		2014			2013			2012
	Discount rate	4.47	%		3.68	%		4.69	%
	Expected long-term return on plan assets	6.5	%		6.5	%		7	%
	Rate of compensation increase	n/a			n/a			n/a
	The Company's discount rate assumptions for the qualified pension plan are based on the average yield of a hypothetical high quality bond portfolio with maturities that approximately match the estimated cash flow needs of the plan. The assumptions for expected long-term rates of return on assets are based on historical experience and estimated future investment returns, taking into consideration anticipated asset allocations, investment strategies and the views of various investment professionals. The use of these assumptions can cause volatility if actual results differ from expected results.
	The following table provides a reconciliation of benefit obligations, plan assets and funded status based on a December 31 measurement date:
		2014				2013
		(In thousands)
	Change in benefit obligation:
	Benefit obligation at beginning of plan year	$	45,561			$	50,700
	Service cost	4				5
	Interest cost	1,888				1,842
	Actuarial (gain)/loss	4,989				(3,208		)
	Benefits paid	(4,242		)		(3,778		)
	Projected benefit obligation at measurement date	$	48,200			$	45,561
	Change in plan assets:
	Fair value of plan assets at beginning of plan year	$	49,873			$	46,547
	Actual return on plan assets	3,025				7,104
	Benefits paid	(4,242		)		(3,778		)
	Fair value of plan assets at measurement date	$	48,656			$	49,873
	Funded status of the plan:
	Benefit plan assets of benefit obligation	456				4,312
	Prepaid pension asset (accrued pension liability)	$	456			$	4,312
	The actuarial assumption used in the determination of the benefit obligation of the above data is:
		2014			2013
	Discount rate	3.81	%		4.47	%
	The fair value of the qualified pension plan assets was $48.7 million at December 31, 2014 and $49.9 million at December 31, 2013. The variation in the fair value of the assets between years was due to the change in the market value of the underlying investments and benefits paid. Estimated future benefit payments expected to be paid in each of the next five years beginning with 2015 are $4.5 million, $4.3 million, $4.1 million, $3.7 million and $3.4 million, with an aggregate of $16.4 million for the five years thereafter. As of the most recent actuarial measurement date, the Company is not required to make a minimum contribution for the 2015 calendar year.
	Historically the Company employed a total return investment approach whereby a mix of equities and fixed income investments were used to maximize the long-term return of plan assets for a prudent level of risk. Because of volatility in market returns and the plan’s current funding status, the decision was made in 2014 to move towards a liability driven investing strategy whereby the assets are primarily fixed income investments. The fixed income investments chosen under this strategy, while not precisely the same, are meant to parallel the investments selected in determining the discount rate used to calculate the Company’s pension liability. The purpose of this strategy is to minimize equity exposure and interest risk and thereby maintain the funding status of the plan, regardless of movement in interest rates. In 2014, the Company adjusted the investment portfolio to reduce its equity allocation and introduced higher fixed-income investments that matched the duration of the estimated pension liability. The remaining equity investments are diversified across various stocks, as well as growth, value, and small and large capitalizations. Investment risk is measured and monitored on an ongoing basis through quarterly investment portfolio reviews, annual liability measurements and periodic asset/liability studies.
	As a result of the change in investing strategy in 2014, changes were made to the investment policy for the plan. The target allocations for plan assets are 0%-18% for public equities, 0%-14% for bank loans, and 68%-100% for traditional and cash balance liability-hedging assets.
	Accounting Standards Codification 820, “Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures,” establishes a fair value hierarchy that prioritizes the inputs to valuation techniques used to measure fair value. This hierarchy consists of three broad levels: Level 1 inputs consist of unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets and have the highest priority. Level 2 inputs consist of inputs other than quoted prices included in Level 1 that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly. Level 3 inputs are unobservable inputs for determining the fair value of assets or liabilities that reflect assumptions that market participants would use in pricing assets or liabilities. The plan uses appropriate valuation techniques based on the available inputs to measure the fair value of its investments.
	The fair value of the Company's qualified pension plan assets by category at December 31, 2014 are as follows:
		Market				Quoted				Significant			Significant
		value				prices in active				observable			unobservable
						markets for				inputs			inputs
			identical assets			(Level 2)				(Level 3)
			(Level 1)
	(In thousands)
Equity securities (a)	$	6,356			$	—			$	6,356		$	—
Fixed income funds (b)	41,351				—				41,351			—
Cash/cash equivalents (c)	949				949				—			—
Total	$	48,656			$	949			$	47,707		$	—
(a)	The Equity funds in aggregate are well diversified by market capitalization, investment style and geography. The funds seek to provide investment results approximating the aggregate price and dividend performance of securities included in the S&P 500 Index, Russell 2000 Index and MSCI All Country World ex-US Index.
(b)	The Fixed Income funds consist of bonds.  In aggregate, the funds seek to provide investment return approximating the return of the Plan’s obligations.  The funds consist of Long Credit bonds, Intermediate Credit bonds, Short Duration Government Credit bonds and Bank Loans.
(c)	This category comprises the cash held to pay beneficiaries. The fair value of cash equals its book value.
The fair value of the Company’s qualified pension plan assets by category at December 31, 2013 are as follows:
	Market				Quoted				Significant			Significant
	value				prices in active				observable			unobservable
					markets for				inputs			inputs
					identical assets				(Level 2)			(Level 3)
					(Level  1)
	(In thousands)
Equity securities (a)	$	27,049			$	27,049			$	—		$	—
Fixed income funds (b)	18,990				18,990				—			—
Cash/cash equivalents (c)	3,834				3,834				—			—
Total	$	49,873			$	49,873			$	—		$	—
(a)	This category includes investments in equity securities of large, small and medium sized companies, equity securities of foreign companies and equity funds, or 52.8%, 11.1%, 12.1%, 17.2% and 6.8% of total assets, respectively. Of the total equity amount, 11.1% was invested in common stocks in a wide variety of industries and 88.9% was invested in mutual funds. The funds are valued using the closing market prices at December 31, 2013.
(b)	This category includes investments in investment-grade fixed-income instruments and corporate bonds. Government instruments were 33.4% of the total. The funds are valued using the closing market prices at December 31, 2013.
(c)	This category comprises the cash held to pay beneficiaries. The fair value of cash equals its book value.
The pension plan has a separately determined accumulated benefit obligation that is the actuarial present value of benefits based on service rendered and current and past compensation levels. Prior to December 31, 2012, this differed from the projected benefit obligation in that it included no assumption about future compensation levels. The accumulated benefit obligation was $48.2 million at December 31, 2014 and $45.6 million at December 31, 2013.
Supplemental Non-qualified Unfunded Plans
The Company also maintains supplemental non-qualified unfunded plans for certain officers and other key employees. Expense for these plans was $0.3 million for the year ended 2014, $0.2 million for the year ended 2013, and $0.3 million for the year ended 2012. The amount accrued was $1.6 million and $1.5 million as of December 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively. Amounts were determined based on similar assumptions as the qualified pension plan as of the December 31 measurement date for 2014 and 2013.
Other Postretirement Benefits
The Company has a postretirement plan that provides medical benefits for certain U.S. retirees and eligible dependents hired prior to November 1, 2004. The following table sets forth the components of net periodic postretirement benefit cost for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012:
	2014				2013				2012
	(In thousands)
Service cost, benefits attributed for service of active employees for the period	$	130			$	154			$	143
Interest cost on the accumulated postretirement benefit obligation	269				255				295
Amortization of prior service cost	161				161				161
Net periodic postretirement benefit cost	$	560			$	570			$	599
The discount rate used to measure the net periodic postretirement benefit cost was 4.73% for 2014, 3.92% for 2013 and 4.79% for 2012. It is the Company's policy to fund healthcare benefits on a cash basis. Because the plans are unfunded, there are no plan assets. The following table provides a reconciliation of the projected benefit obligation at the Company's December 31 measurement date:
	2014				2013
	(In thousands)
Benefit obligation at beginning of year	$	6,376			$	6,940
Service cost	130				154
Interest cost	269				255
Actuarial loss (gain)	462				(746		)
Plan participants' contributions	708				716
Benefits paid	(1,178		)		(943		)
Benefit obligation and funded status at end of year	$	6,767			$	6,376
The amounts recognized in the Consolidated Balance Sheets at December 31 are:
	2014				2013
	(In thousands)
Accrued compensation and employee benefits	$	425			$	442
Accrued non-pension postretirement benefits	6,342				5,934
Amounts recognized at December 31	$	6,767			$	6,376
The discount rate used to measure the accumulated postretirement benefit obligation was 4.01% for 2014 and 4.73% for 2013. The Company's discount rate assumptions for its postretirement benefit plan are based on the average yield of a hypothetical high quality bond portfolio with maturities that approximately match the estimated cash flow needs of the plan. Because the plan requires the Company to establish fixed Company contribution amounts for retiree healthcare benefits, future healthcare cost trends do not generally impact the Company's accruals or provisions.
Estimated future benefit payments of postretirement benefits, assuming increased cost sharing, expected to be paid in each of the next five years beginning with 2015 are $0.4 million in each year of 2015 and 2016, $0.5 million in each year of 2017, 2018 and 2019, with an aggregate of $2.2 million for the five years thereafter. These amounts can vary significantly from year to year because the cost sharing estimates can vary from actual expenses as the Company is self-insured.
Badger Meter Employee Savings and Stock Ownership Plan
In 2010, the Company restructured the outstanding debt of its ESSOP by loaning the ESSOP $0.5 million to repay a loan to a third party and loaning the ESSOP an additional $1.0 million to purchase additional shares of the Company’s Common Stock for future 401(k) savings plan matches under a program that will expire on December 31, 2020. Under this program, the Company agreed to pay the principal and interest on the new loan amount of $1.5 million. The receivable from the ESSOP and the related obligation were therefore netted to zero on the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheets at December 31, 2014 and 2013. The terms of the loan call for equal payments of principal with the final payment due on December 31, 2020, and prepayments are allowed under the plan terms. At December 31, 2014, $0.9 million of the loan balance remained.
The Company made principal payments of $154,000, $154,000 and $256,000 in 2014, 2013 and 2012, respectively. The associated commitments released shares of Common Stock (11,077 shares in 2014 for the 2013 obligation, 9,918 shares in 2013 for the 2012 obligation, and 16,151 shares in 2012 for the 2011 obligation) for allocation to participants in the ESSOP. The ESSOP held unreleased shares of 72,362, 83,439 and 93,357 as of December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012, respectively, with a fair value of $4.3 million, $4.5 million and $4.4 million as of December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012, respectively. Unreleased shares are not considered outstanding for purposes of computing earnings per share.
The ESSOP includes a voluntary 401(k) savings plan that allows certain employees to defer up to 20% of their income on a pretax basis subject to limits on maximum amounts. The Company matches 25% of each employee’s contribution, with the match percentage applying to a maximum of 7% of each employee's salary. The match is paid using the Company's Common Stock released through the ESSOP loan payments. For ESSOP shares purchased prior to 1993, compensation expense is recognized based on the original purchase price of the shares released and dividends on unreleased shares are charged to compensation expense. For shares purchased in or after 1993, expense is based on the market value of the shares on the date released and dividends on unreleased shares are charged to compensation expense. Compensation expense of $0.3 million was recognized for the match for each of 2014, 2013 and 2012.
On December 31, 2010, the Company froze the qualified pension plan for its non-union participants and formed a new defined contribution feature within the ESSOP plan in which each employee received a similar benefit. On December 31, 2011, the Company froze the qualified pension plan for its union participants and included them in the same defined contribution feature within the ESSOP. For 2014, compensation expense under the defined contribution feature totaled $2.3 million.

Income_Taxes

Income Taxes	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]
Income Taxes	Income Taxes
	The Company is subject to income taxes in the United States and numerous foreign jurisdictions. Significant judgment is required in determining the worldwide provision for income taxes and recording the related deferred tax assets and liabilities.
	Details of earnings before income taxes are as follows:
		2014			2013			2012
		(In thousands)
	Domestic	$	41,022		$	34,687		$	40,650
	Foreign	3,890			3,322			2,821
	Total	$	44,912		$	38,009		$	43,471
	The provision (benefit) for income taxes is as follows:
		2014			2013			2012
		(In thousands)
	Current:
	Federal	$	14,362		$	12,630		$	13,908
	State	1,086			2,394			1,455
	Foreign	1,120			802			507
	Deferred:
	Federal	(1,323		)	(2,174		)	(663		)
	State	208			(228		)	(165		)
	Foreign	(219		)	(32		)	397
	Total	$	15,234		$	13,392		$	15,439
	The provision for income taxes differs from the amount that would be provided by applying the statutory
	U.S. corporate income tax rate in each year due to the following items:
		2014			2013			2012
		(In thousands)
	Provision at statutory rate	$	15,720		$	13,303		$	15,215
	State income taxes, net of federal tax benefit	841			1,408			1,018
	Foreign income taxes	(454		)	(393		)	(87		)
	Domestic production activities deduction	(675		)	(498		)	(529		)
	Tax audit settlements	—			—			(101		)
	Other	(198		)	(428		)	(77		)
	Actual provision	$	15,234		$	13,392		$	15,439
	The components of deferred income taxes as of December 31 are as follows:
		2014			2013
		(In thousands)
	Deferred tax assets:
	Reserve for receivables and inventories	$	2,769		$	2,850
	Accrued compensation	1,105			1,087
	Payables	694			364
	Non-pension postretirement benefits	2,601			2,447
	Net operating loss and credit carryforwards	1,668			2,645
	Accrued pension benefits	1,122			—
	Accrued employee benefits	2,405			1,681
	Other	858			793
	Total deferred tax assets	13,222			11,867
	Deferred tax liabilities:
	Depreciation	4,570			4,408
	Amortization	10,881			12,165
	Prepaid pension benefits	—			236
	Other	—			14
	Total deferred tax liabilities	15,451			16,823
	Net deferred tax liabilities	$	(2,229	)	$	(4,956	)
	At December 31, 2014 and 2013, the Company had federal carryforwards of $4.1 million and $5.0 million, respectively. At December 31, 2014 and 2013, the Company also had state net operating loss carryforwards of $4.1 million and $5.0 million, respectively. The Company’s U.S. federal and state net operating loss carryforwards expire between 2029 and 2033.
	At December 31, 2014 and 2013, the Company had federal and state general business credit carryforwards of $0.2 million in each year. The Company’s U.S. federal and state tax credit carryforwards expire between 2029 and 2033.
	The Company’s federal and state net operating loss and federal and state credit carryforwards are limited on an annual basis to $1.2 million under Internal Revenue Code Section 382 and Section 383. The federal and state net operating loss carryforwards must be fully utilized prior to the utilization of the federal and state credit carryforwards.
	No provision for federal income taxes was made on the earnings of foreign subsidiaries that are considered indefinitely invested or that would be offset by foreign tax credits upon distribution. Such undistributed earnings at December 31, 2014 were $20.5 million.
	Changes in the Company's gross liability for unrecognized tax benefits, excluding interest and penalties, are as follows:
		2014			2013
		(In thousands)
	Balance at beginning of year	$	880		$	698
	Increases in unrecognized tax benefits as a result of positions taken during the prior period	11			80
	Increases in unrecognized tax benefits as a result of positions taken during the current period	185			216
	Reductions to unrecognized tax benefits as a result of a lapse of the applicable statute of limitations	(230		)	(114		)
	Balance at end of year	$	846		$	880
	The Company does not expect a significant increase or decrease to the total amounts of unrecognized tax benefits during the fiscal year ending December 31, 2015. To the extent these unrecognized tax benefits are ultimately recognized, they will impact the effective tax rate.
The Company and its subsidiaries file income tax returns in the U.S. federal jurisdiction, and various states and foreign jurisdictions. The Company is no longer subject to U.S. federal income tax examinations by tax authorities for years prior to 2011, and, with few exceptions, state and local income tax examinations by tax authorities for years prior to 2010. The Company's policy is to recognize interest related to unrecognized tax benefits as interest expense and penalties as operating expenses. Accrued interest was approximately $0.1 million at both December 31, 2014 and 2013, and there were no penalties accrued in either year.
The Company believes that it has appropriate support for the income tax positions taken and to be taken on its tax returns and that its accruals for tax liabilities are adequate for all open years based on an assessment of many factors including past experience and interpretations of tax law applied to the facts of each matter.

LongTerm_Debt

Long-Term Debt	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Debt Disclosure [Abstract]
Long-Term Debt	Long-Term Debt
	In 2010, the Company restructured the outstanding debt of its ESSOP by loaning the ESSOP $0.5 million to repay a loan to a third party and loaning the ESSOP an additional $1.0 million to purchase additional shares of the Company’s Common Stock for future 401(k) savings plan matches under a program that will expire on December 31, 2020. Under this program, the Company agreed to pay the principal and interest on the new loan amount of $1.5 million. The receivable from the ESSOP and the related obligation were therefore netted to zero on the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheets at December 31, 2014 and 2013. The terms of the loan call for equal payments of principal with the final payment due on December 31, 2020, and prepayments are allowed under the plan terms. At December 31, 2014, $0.9 million of the loan balance remained.

Industry_Segment_and_Geographi

Industry Segment and Geographic Areas	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Segment Reporting [Abstract]
Industry Segment and Geographic Areas	Industry Segment and Geographic Areas
	The Company is an innovator, manufacturer and a marketer of products incorporating flow measurement and control technologies, which comprise one reportable segment. The Company manages and evaluates its operations as one segment primarily due to similarities in the nature of the products, production processes, customers and methods of distribution.
	Information regarding revenues by geographic area is as follows:
		2014		2013		2012
		(In thousands)
	Revenues:
	United States	$	309,651	$	290,019	$	271,045
	Foreign:
	Asia	10,647		8,085		10,075
	Canada	12,092		8,514		8,752
	Europe	19,448		15,677		16,001
	Mexico	3,941		4,226		6,636
	Middle East	6,221		1,604		2,232
	Other	2,768		5,997		4,919
	Total	$	364,768	$	334,122	$	319,660
	Information regarding assets by geographic area is as follows:
		2014		2013
		(In thousands)
	Long-lived assets (all non-current assets):
	United States	$	162,368	$	150,997
	Foreign:
	Europe	16,273		17,409
	Mexico	21,412		20,489
	Total	$	200,053	$	188,895
		2014		2013
		(In thousands)
	Total assets:
	United States	$	278,094	$	255,881
	Foreign:
	Europe	38,453		36,838
	Mexico	24,611		23,339
	Total	$	341,158	$	316,058

Unaudited_Quarterly_Results_of

Unaudited: Quarterly Results of Operations, Common Stock Price and Dividends	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Quarterly Financial Information Disclosure [Abstract]
Unaudited Quarterly Results of Operations Common Stock Price and Dividends	Unaudited: Quarterly Results of Operations, Common Stock Price and Dividends
		Quarter ended
		March 31		June 30		September 30		December 31
		(In thousands except per share data)
	2014
	Net sales	$	83,496	$	95,662	$	96,271	$	89,339
	Gross margin	$	28,951	$	34,831	$	36,465	$	30,895
	Net earnings	$	4,632	$	8,814	$	10,231	$	6,001
	Earnings per share:
	Basic	$	0.33	$	0.62	$	0.71	$	0.42
	Diluted	$	0.32	$	0.61	$	0.71	$	0.42
	Dividends declared	$	0.18	$	0.18	$	0.19	$	0.19
	Stock price:
	High	$	56.03	$	56.96	$	54.33	$	60.91
	Low	$	47.9	$	46.47	$	47.32	$	47.46
	Quarter-end close	$	55.1	$	52.65	$	50.45	$	59.35
	2013
	Net sales	$	71,808	$	88,341	$	92,963	$	81,010
	Gross margin	$	25,037	$	29,846	$	33,103	$	29,003
	Net earnings	$	2,907	$	6,281	$	9,049	$	6,380
	Earnings per share:
	Basic	$	0.21	$	0.44	$	0.63	$	0.44
	Diluted	$	0.2	$	0.44	$	0.63	$	0.44
	Dividends declared	$	0.17	$	0.17	$	0.18	$	0.18
	Stock price:
	High	$	54.2	$	54.28	$	49.96	$	56.36
	Low	$	46.82	$	41.88	$	43.96	$	44.8
	Quarter-end close	$	53.52	$	44.55	$	46.5	$	54.5
	The Company's Common Stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol BMI. Earnings per share are computed independently for each quarter. As such, the annual per share amount may not equal the sum of the quarterly amounts due to rounding. The Company currently anticipates continuing to pay cash dividends. Shareholders of record as of December 31, 2014 and 2013 totaled 948 and 969, respectively. Voting trusts and street name shareholders are counted as single shareholders for this purpose.

Summary_of_Significant_Account1

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Accounting Policies [Abstract]
Consolidation	Consolidation
	The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its wholly owned subsidiaries. All intercompany transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.
Receivables	Receivables
	Receivables consist primarily of trade receivables. The Company does not require collateral or other security and evaluates the collectability of its receivables based on a number of factors. An allowance for doubtful accounts is recorded for significant past due receivable balances based on a review of the past due items and the customer's ability and likelihood to pay, as well as applying a historical write-off ratio to the remaining balances.
Inventories	Inventories
	Inventories are valued at the lower of cost or market. Cost is determined using the first-in, first-out method. The Company estimates and records provisions for obsolete inventories.
Property, Plant and Equipment	Property, Plant and Equipment
	Property, plant and equipment are stated at cost. Depreciation is provided over the estimated useful lives of the respective assets by the straight-line method. The estimated useful lives of assets are: for land improvements, 15 years; for buildings and improvements, 10 — 39 years; and for machinery and equipment, 3 — 20 years.
Long-Lived Assets	Long-Lived Assets
	Property, plant and equipment and identifiable intangible assets are reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount may not be recoverable. If the sum of the expected undiscounted cash flows is less than the carrying value of the related asset or group of assets, a loss is recognized for the difference between the fair value and carrying value of the asset or group of assets. No adjustments were recorded as a result of these reviews during 2014, 2013 and 2012.
Intangible Assets	Intangible Assets
	Intangible assets are amortized on a straight-line basis over their estimated useful lives, ranging from 5 to 20 years. The Company does not have any intangible assets deemed to have indefinite lives.
Goodwill	Goodwill
	Goodwill is tested for impairment annually during the fourth fiscal quarter or more frequently if an event indicates that the goodwill might be impaired. Potential impairment is identified by comparing the fair value of a reporting unit with its carrying value. No adjustments were recorded to goodwill as a result of these reviews during 2014, 2013 and 2012.
Revenue Recognition	Revenue Recognition
	Revenues are generally recognized upon shipment of product, which corresponds with the transfer of title. The costs of shipping are billed to the customer upon shipment and are included in cost of sales. A small portion of the Company's sales includes shipments of products combined with services, such as meters sold with installation. The product and installation components of these multiple deliverable arrangements are considered separate units of accounting. The value of these separate units of accounting is determined based on their relative fair values determined on a stand-alone basis. Revenue is generally recognized when the last element of the multiple deliverable is delivered, which corresponds with installation and acceptance by the customer. The Company also sells a small number of extended support service agreements on certain products for the period subsequent to the normal support service provided with the original product sale. Revenue is recognized over the service agreement period, which is generally one year. In 2014, the company began offering software as a service with its BEACON AMA product. While the amounts were insignificant in 2014, revenue for this service is recognized on a monthly basis as the service is performed.
Warranty and After-Sale Costs	Warranty and After-Sale Costs
	The Company estimates and records provisions for warranties and other after-sale costs in the period in which the sale is recorded, based on a lag factor and historical warranty claim experience. After-sale costs represent a variety of activities outside of the written warranty policy, such as investigation of unanticipated problems after the customer has installed the product, or analysis of water quality issues.
Research and Development	Research and Development
	Research and development costs are charged to expense as incurred
Stock-Based Compensation Plans	Stock-Based Compensation Plans
	As of December 31, 2014, the Company has an Omnibus Incentive Plan under which 700,000 shares are reserved for restricted stock and stock options grants for employees as well as stock grants for directors as described in Note 5 “Stock Compensation.” The plan was approved in 2011 and replaced all prior stock-based plans except for shares and options previously issued under those plans.
	The Company recognizes the cost of stock-based awards in net earnings for all of its stock-based compensation plans on a straight-line basis over the service period of the awards. The Company estimates the fair value of its option awards using the Black-Scholes option-pricing formula, and records compensation expense for stock options ratably over the stock option grant's vesting period. The Company values restricted stock and stock grants for directors on the closing price of the Company's stock on the day the grant was awarded.
Healthcare	Healthcare
	The Company estimates and records provisions for healthcare claims incurred but not reported, based on medical cost trend analyses, reviews of subsequent payments made and estimates of unbilled amounts.
Use of Estimates	Use of Estimates
	The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the financial statements and accompanying notes. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
Fair Value of Financial Instruments	Fair Value Measurements of Financial Instruments
	The carrying amounts of cash, receivables and payables in the financial statements approximate their fair values due to the short-term nature of these financial instruments. Short-term debt is comprised of notes payable drawn against the Company's lines of credit and commercial paper. Because of its short-term nature, the carrying amount of the short-term debt also approximates fair value. Included in other assets are insurance policies on various individuals who were associated with the Company. The carrying amounts of these insurance policies approximate their fair value.
Subsequent Events, Policy	Subsequent Events
	The Company evaluates subsequent events at the date of the balance sheet as well as conditions that arise after the balance sheet date but before the financial statements are issued. The effects of conditions that existed at the date of the balance sheet date are recognized in the financial statements. Events and conditions arising after the balance sheet date but before the financial statements are issued are evaluated to determine if disclosure is required to keep the financial statements from being misleading. To the extent such events and conditions exist, if any, disclosures are made regarding the nature of events and the estimated financial effects for those events and conditions. For purposes of preparing the accompanying consolidated financial statements and the notes to these financial statements, the Company evaluated subsequent events through the date the accompanying financial statements were issued.
New Pronouncement	New Pronouncements
	In May 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) No. 2014-09 "Revenue from Contracts with Customers." ASU 2014-09 provides a single principles-based, five-step model to be applied to all contracts with customers. The five steps are to identify the contract(s) with the customer, to identify the performance obligations in the contact, to determine the transaction price, to allocate the transaction price to the performance obligations in the contract and to recognize revenue when each performance obligation is satisfied. Revenue will be recognized when promised goods or services are transferred to the customer in an amount that reflects the consideration expected in exchange for those goods or services. ASU 2014-09 will be effective for the Company beginning on January 1, 2017 and the standard allows for either full retrospective adoption or modified retrospective adoption. The Company is continuing to evaluate the impact that the adoption of this guidance will have on its financial condition, results of operations and the presentation of its financial statements.
	In November 2014, the FASB issued ASU No. 2014-17 “Business Combinations (Topic 805): Pushdown Accounting.” In addition, the staff of the Securities and Exchange Commission released Staff Accounting Bulletin (“SAB”) No. 115, which rescinds SAB Topic 5J, “New Basis of Accounting Required in Certain Circumstances.” Pushdown accounting refers to pushing down the acquirer’s accounting and reporting basis (which is recognized in conjunction with its accounting for a business combination) to the acquiree’s standalone financial statements. Under the new guidance, pushdown accounting is optional for any transaction in which another party obtains control of the reporting company. An acquired entity can make the election to apply the guidance to future change in control events or to its most recent change-in-control event if the financial statements have not been issued. ASU No. 2014-17 was effective upon issuance, which was November 18, 2014. The adoption of ASU No. 2014-17 did not have any impact on the Company’s financial condition or results of operation.

Summary_of_Significant_Account2

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Accounting Policies [Abstract]
Allowance for doubtful accounts	Changes in the Company's allowance for doubtful accounts are as follows:
		Balance at			Provision			Write-offs			Reserve			Balance
		beginning			and reserve			less			acquired			at end
		of year			adjustments			recoveries						of year
		(In thousands)
	2014	$	531		$	305		$	(25	)	$	—		$	811
	2013	$	488		$	78		$	(35	)	$	—		$	531
	2012	$	298		$	138		$	(30	)	$	82	(a)	$	488
	(a) The reserve increased $82,000 in 2012 related to the acquisition of Racine Federated, Inc. Refer to Note 3 “Acquisitions” for a description of the acquisition.
Obsolete inventories reserve	Changes to the Company's obsolete inventories reserve are as follows:
		Balance at			Net additions			Disposals			Balance
		beginning			charged to						at end
		of year			earnings						of year
		(In thousands)
	2014	$	4,236		$	974		$	(1,896	)	$	3,314
	2013	$	2,880		$	2,322		$	(966	)	$	4,236
	2012	$	2,680		$	1,082		$	(882	)	$	2,880
Intangible Assets	The carrying value and accumulated amortization by major class of intangible assets are as follows:
		31-Dec-14						31-Dec-13
		Gross carrying			Accumulated			Gross carrying			Accumulated
		amount			amortization			amount			amortization
		(In thousands)
	Technologies	$	47,157		$	13,244		$	47,157		$	10,384
	Non-compete agreements	2,022			1,243			1,932			1,048
	Licenses	650			424			650			407
	Customer lists	3,423			1,053			3,423			679
	Customer relationships	20,700			3,575			11,690			2,218
	Trade names	9,325			2,066			8,615			1,414
	Total intangibles	$	83,277		$	21,605		$	73,467		$	16,150
Warranty and after-sale costs reserve	Changes in the Company's warranty and after-sale costs reserve are as follows:
		Balance at			Net additions			Costs			Reserve					Balance
		beginning			charged to			incurred and			acquired					at end
		of year			earnings			adjustments								of year
		(In thousands)
	2014	$	882		$	2,512		$	(1,655	)	$	—				$	1,739
	2013	$	881		$	1,005		$	(1,068	)	$	64		(a)		$	882
	2012	$	1,593		$	719		$	(1,431	)	$	—				$	881
	(a)	The reserve increased $64,000 in 2013 related to the acquisition of Aquacue, Inc. Refer to Note 3 “Acquisitions” for a description of the acquisition.
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)	Components of accumulated other comprehensive loss at December 31, 2014 are as follows:
		Pension and postretirement benefits			Foreign currency			Total
					(In thousands)
	Balance at beginning of period	$	(9,280	)	$	1,756		$	(7,524	)
	Other comprehensive income before reclassifications	(4,968		)	(1,721		)	(6,689		)
	Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss, net of tax of $(1.2) million	2,357			—			2,357
	Net current period other comprehensive income, net	(2,611		)	(1,721		)	(4,332		)
	Accumulated other comprehensive (loss) income	$	(11,891	)	$	35		$	(11,856	)
	Details of reclassifications out of accumulated other comprehensive loss during 2014 are as follows:
		Amount reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss
		(In thousands)
	Amortization of employee benefit plan items:
	Prior service cost (1)	$	161
	Settlement expense (1)	858
	Amortization of actuarial loss (1)	2,547
	Total before tax	3,566
	Income tax benefit	(1,209		)
	Amount reclassified out of accumulated other comprehensive loss	$	2,357
	-1	These accumulated other comprehensive loss components are included in the computation of benefit plan costs in Note 7 “Employee Benefit Plans.”
	Components of accumulated other comprehensive loss at December 31, 2013 are as follows:
		Pension and postretirement benefits			Foreign currency			Total
		(In thousands)
	Balance at beginning of period	$	(15,532	)	$	1,584		$	(13,948	)
	Other comprehensive income before reclassifications	5,116			172			5,288
	Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss, net of tax of $(0.6) million	1,136			—			1,136
	Net current period other comprehensive income, net	6,252			172			6,424
	Accumulated other comprehensive (loss) income	$	(9,280	)	$	1,756		$	(7,524	)
	Details of reclassifications out of accumulated other comprehensive loss during 2013 are as follows:
		Amount reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss
		(In thousands)
	Amortization of employee benefit plan items:
	Prior service cost (1)	$	161
	Settlement expense (1)	806
	Amortization of actuarial loss (1)	786
	Total before tax	1,753
	Income tax benefit	(617		)
	Amount reclassified out of accumulated other comprehensive loss	$	1,136
	-1	These accumulated other comprehensive loss components are included in the computation of benefit plan costs in Note 7 “Employee Benefit Plans.”

Shortterm_Debt_and_Credit_Line1

Short-term Debt and Credit Lines (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Debt Disclosure [Abstract]
Short-term debt	Short-term debt at December 31, 2014 and 2013 consisted of:
		2014		2013
		(In thousands)
	Notes payable to banks	$	5,977	$	4,795
	Commercial paper	69,950		65,250
	Total short-term debt	$	75,927	$	70,045

Stock_Compensation_Tables

Stock Compensation (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Share-based Compensation [Abstract]
Transactions of the Company's stock option plans	The following table summarizes the transactions of the Company’s stock option plans for the three-year period ended December 31, 2014:
		Number of shares		Weighted-average
				exercise price
	Options outstanding - December 31, 2011	245,090		$	30.3
	Options granted	45,100		$	36.15
	Options exercised	(37,450	)	$	10.25
	Options forfeited	(5,160	)	$	37.19
	Options outstanding - December 31, 2012	247,580		$	34.26
	Options granted	23,258		$	51.29
	Options exercised	(66,660	)	$	24.91
	Options forfeited	(1,800	)	$	37.78
	Options outstanding - December 31, 2013	202,378		$	39.27
	Options granted	23,958		$	54.36
	Options exercised	(23,016	)	$	32.57
	Options forfeited	—		n/a
	Options outstanding - December 31, 2014	203,320		$	41.8
	Price range $18.33 — $36.15
	(weighted-average contractual life of 5.9 years)	56,320		$	34.2
	Price range $36.16 — $38.41
	(weighted-average contractual life of 5.8 years)	54,220		$	37.59
	Price range $38.42 — $54.36
	(weighted-average contractual life of 6.3 years)	92,780		$	48.88
	Options outstanding - December 31, 2014	203,320
	Exercisable options —
	31-Dec-12	141,740		$	31.72
	31-Dec-13	113,060		$	38.18
	31-Dec-14	111,016		$	39.68
Assumptions used for valuing options	The following assumptions were used for valuing options granted in the years ended December 31:
		2014		2013
	Per share fair value of options granted during the period	$22.35		$20.34
	Risk-free interest rate	1.73	%	0.82	%
	Dividend yield	1.31	%	1.31	%
	Volatility factor	49.9	%	49.7	%
	Weighted-average expected life in years	5.3		5.3
Aggregate intrinsic value related to stock options	The following table summarizes the aggregate intrinsic value related to options exercised, outstanding and exercisable as of and for the years ended December 31:
		2014			2013
		(In thousands)
	Exercised	$	493		$	1,743
	Outstanding	$	3,568		$	3,083
	Exercisable	$	2,184		$	1,846
Transactions of the Company's restricted stock	The fair value of nonvested shares is determined based on the market price of the shares on the grant date.
		Shares		Fair value
				per share
	Nonvested at December 31, 2011	63,300		$	37.69
	Granted	30,325		$	36.15
	Vested	(17,900	)	$	38.69
	Forfeited	(1,900	)	$	21.77
	Nonvested at December 31, 2012	73,825		$	37.01
	Granted	21,425		$	51.12
	Vested	(16,875	)	$	38.41
	Forfeited	(3,900	)	$	37.69
	Nonvested at December 31, 2013	74,475		$	40.54
	Granted	21,956		$	54.36
	Vested	(24,350	)	$	36.59
	Forfeited	(3,625	)	$	41.61
	Nonvested at December 31, 2014	68,456		$	46.32

Commitments_and_Contingencies_

Commitments and Contingencies (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]
Schedule of Future Minimum Rental Payments for Operating Leases	Total future minimum lease payments consisted of the following at December 31, 2014:
		Total leases
		(In thousands)
	2015	$	2,282
	2016	1,861
	2017	1,688
	2018	1,451
	2019	1,274
	Thereafter	5,845
	Total lease obligations	$	14,401

Employee_Benefit_Plans_Tables

Employee Benefit Plans (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Compensation and Retirement Disclosure [Abstract]
Amounts included in accumulated other comprehensive loss, net of tax, that have not yet been recognized in net periodic benefit cost are as follows	Amounts included in accumulated other comprehensive loss, net of tax, at December 31, 2014 that have not yet been recognized in net periodic benefit cost are as follows:
		Pension				Other
		plans				postretirement
						benefits
		(In thousands)
	Prior service cost	$	—			$	6
	Net actuarial loss	$	11,156			$	314
Amounts included in accumulated other comprehensive loss, net of tax, expected to be recognized in net periodic benefit cost during the following fiscal year	Amounts included in accumulated other comprehensive loss, net of tax, at December 31, 2014 expected to be recognized in net periodic benefit cost during the fiscal year ending December 31, 2015 are as follows:
		Pension				Other
		plans				postretirement
						benefits
		(In thousands)
	Prior service credit	$	—			$	33
	Net actuarial loss	$	471			$	—
Components of net periodic benefit cost	The following table sets forth the components of net periodic postretirement benefit cost for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012:
		2014				2013				2012
		(In thousands)
	Service cost, benefits attributed for service of active employees for the period	$	130			$	154			$	143
	Interest cost on the accumulated postretirement benefit obligation	269				255				295
	Amortization of prior service cost	161				161				161
	Net periodic postretirement benefit cost	$	560			$	570			$	599
	The following table sets forth the components of net periodic pension cost for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012 based on a December 31 measurement date:
		2014				2013				2012
		(In thousands)
	Service cost — benefits earned during the year	$	4			$	5			$	6
	Interest cost on projected benefit obligations	1,888				1,842				2,205
	Expected return on plan assets	(2,806		)		(2,744		)		(3,190		)
	Amortization of net loss	606				719				645
	Settlement expense	858				806				1,075
	Net periodic pension cost	$	550			$	628			$	741
Actuarial assumptions used in the determination of the net period pension cost	Actuarial assumptions used in the determination of the net periodic pension cost are:
		2014			2013			2012
	Discount rate	4.47	%		3.68	%		4.69	%
	Expected long-term return on plan assets	6.5	%		6.5	%		7	%
	Rate of compensation increase	n/a			n/a			n/a
	The actuarial assumption used in the determination of the benefit obligation of the above data is:
		2014			2013
	Discount rate	3.81	%		4.47	%
Schedule of Changes in Benefit Obligations, Plan Assets and Funded Status	The following table provides a reconciliation of benefit obligations, plan assets and funded status based on a December 31 measurement date:
		2014				2013
		(In thousands)
	Change in benefit obligation:
	Benefit obligation at beginning of plan year	$	45,561			$	50,700
	Service cost	4				5
	Interest cost	1,888				1,842
	Actuarial (gain)/loss	4,989				(3,208		)
	Benefits paid	(4,242		)		(3,778		)
	Projected benefit obligation at measurement date	$	48,200			$	45,561
	Change in plan assets:
	Fair value of plan assets at beginning of plan year	$	49,873			$	46,547
	Actual return on plan assets	3,025				7,104
	Benefits paid	(4,242		)		(3,778		)
	Fair value of plan assets at measurement date	$	48,656			$	49,873
	Funded status of the plan:
	Benefit plan assets of benefit obligation	456				4,312
	Prepaid pension asset (accrued pension liability)	$	456			$	4,312
Fair value of the Company's qualified pension plan assets by category	The fair value of the Company's qualified pension plan assets by category at December 31, 2014 are as follows:
		Market				Quoted				Significant			Significant
		value				prices in active				observable			unobservable
						markets for				inputs			inputs
						identical assets				(Level 2)			(Level 3)
						(Level 1)
		(In thousands)
	Equity securities (a)	$	6,356			$	—			$	6,356		$	—
	Fixed income funds (b)	41,351				—				41,351			—
	Cash/cash equivalents (c)	949				949				—			—
	Total	$	48,656			$	949			$	47,707		$	—
	(a)	The Equity funds in aggregate are well diversified by market capitalization, investment style and geography. The funds seek to provide investment results approximating the aggregate price and dividend performance of securities included in the S&P 500 Index, Russell 2000 Index and MSCI All Country World ex-US Index.
	(b)	The Fixed Income funds consist of bonds.  In aggregate, the funds seek to provide investment return approximating the return of the Plan’s obligations.  The funds consist of Long Credit bonds, Intermediate Credit bonds, Short Duration Government Credit bonds and Bank Loans.
	(c)	This category comprises the cash held to pay beneficiaries. The fair value of cash equals its book value.
	The fair value of the Company’s qualified pension plan assets by category at December 31, 2013 are as follows:
		Market				Quoted				Significant			Significant
		value				prices in active				observable			unobservable
						markets for				inputs			inputs
						identical assets				(Level 2)			(Level 3)
						(Level  1)
		(In thousands)
	Equity securities (a)	$	27,049			$	27,049			$	—		$	—
	Fixed income funds (b)	18,990				18,990				—			—
	Cash/cash equivalents (c)	3,834				3,834				—			—
	Total	$	49,873			$	49,873			$	—		$	—
	(a)	This category includes investments in equity securities of large, small and medium sized companies, equity securities of foreign companies and equity funds, or 52.8%, 11.1%, 12.1%, 17.2% and 6.8% of total assets, respectively. Of the total equity amount, 11.1% was invested in common stocks in a wide variety of industries and 88.9% was invested in mutual funds. The funds are valued using the closing market prices at December 31, 2013.
	(b)	This category includes investments in investment-grade fixed-income instruments and corporate bonds. Government instruments were 33.4% of the total. The funds are valued using the closing market prices at December 31, 2013.
	(c)	This category comprises the cash held to pay beneficiaries. The fair value of cash equals its book value.
Schedule of Changes in Projected Benefit Obligations	The following table provides a reconciliation of the projected benefit obligation at the Company's December 31 measurement date:
		2014				2013
		(In thousands)
	Benefit obligation at beginning of year	$	6,376			$	6,940
	Service cost	130				154
	Interest cost	269				255
	Actuarial loss (gain)	462				(746		)
	Plan participants' contributions	708				716
	Benefits paid	(1,178		)		(943		)
	Benefit obligation and funded status at end of year	$	6,767			$	6,376
Schedule of Amounts Recognized in Balance Sheet	The amounts recognized in the Consolidated Balance Sheets at December 31 are:
		2014				2013
		(In thousands)
	Accrued compensation and employee benefits	$	425			$	442
	Accrued non-pension postretirement benefits	6,342				5,934
	Amounts recognized at December 31	$	6,767			$	6,376

Income_Taxes_Tables

Income Taxes (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]
Schedule of Income before Income Tax, Domestic and Foreign
		2014			2013			2012
		(In thousands)
	Domestic	$	41,022		$	34,687		$	40,650
	Foreign	3,890			3,322			2,821
	Total	$	44,912		$	38,009		$	43,471
Schedule of Components of Income Tax Expense (Benefit)	The provision (benefit) for income taxes is as follows:
		2014			2013			2012
		(In thousands)
	Current:
	Federal	$	14,362		$	12,630		$	13,908
	State	1,086			2,394			1,455
	Foreign	1,120			802			507
	Deferred:
	Federal	(1,323		)	(2,174		)	(663		)
	State	208			(228		)	(165		)
	Foreign	(219		)	(32		)	397
	Total	$	15,234		$	13,392		$	15,439
Schedule of Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation
		2014			2013			2012
		(In thousands)
	Provision at statutory rate	$	15,720		$	13,303		$	15,215
	State income taxes, net of federal tax benefit	841			1,408			1,018
	Foreign income taxes	(454		)	(393		)	(87		)
	Domestic production activities deduction	(675		)	(498		)	(529		)
	Tax audit settlements	—			—			(101		)
	Other	(198		)	(428		)	(77		)
	Actual provision	$	15,234		$	13,392		$	15,439
Schedule of Deferred Tax Assets and Liabilities	The components of deferred income taxes as of December 31 are as follows:
		2014			2013
		(In thousands)
	Deferred tax assets:
	Reserve for receivables and inventories	$	2,769		$	2,850
	Accrued compensation	1,105			1,087
	Payables	694			364
	Non-pension postretirement benefits	2,601			2,447
	Net operating loss and credit carryforwards	1,668			2,645
	Accrued pension benefits	1,122			—
	Accrued employee benefits	2,405			1,681
	Other	858			793
	Total deferred tax assets	13,222			11,867
	Deferred tax liabilities:
	Depreciation	4,570			4,408
	Amortization	10,881			12,165
	Prepaid pension benefits	—			236
	Other	—			14
	Total deferred tax liabilities	15,451			16,823
	Net deferred tax liabilities	$	(2,229	)	$	(4,956	)
Schedule of Unrecognized Tax Benefits Roll Forward
		2014			2013
		(In thousands)
	Balance at beginning of year	$	880		$	698
	Increases in unrecognized tax benefits as a result of positions taken during the prior period	11			80
	Increases in unrecognized tax benefits as a result of positions taken during the current period	185			216
	Reductions to unrecognized tax benefits as a result of a lapse of the applicable statute of limitations	(230		)	(114		)
	Balance at end of year	$	846		$	880

Industry_Segment_and_Geographi1

Industry Segment and Geographic Areas (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Segment Reporting [Abstract]
Schedule of Revenue from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets, by Geographical Areas	Information regarding revenues by geographic area is as follows:
		2014		2013		2012
		(In thousands)
	Revenues:
	United States	$	309,651	$	290,019	$	271,045
	Foreign:
	Asia	10,647		8,085		10,075
	Canada	12,092		8,514		8,752
	Europe	19,448		15,677		16,001
	Mexico	3,941		4,226		6,636
	Middle East	6,221		1,604		2,232
	Other	2,768		5,997		4,919
	Total	$	364,768	$	334,122	$	319,660
	Information regarding assets by geographic area is as follows:
		2014		2013
		(In thousands)
	Long-lived assets (all non-current assets):
	United States	$	162,368	$	150,997
	Foreign:
	Europe	16,273		17,409
	Mexico	21,412		20,489
	Total	$	200,053	$	188,895
		2014		2013
		(In thousands)
	Total assets:
	United States	$	278,094	$	255,881
	Foreign:
	Europe	38,453		36,838
	Mexico	24,611		23,339
	Total	$	341,158	$	316,058

Unaudited_Quarterly_Results_of1

Unaudited: Quarterly Results of Operations, Common Stock Price and Dividends (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Quarterly Financial Information Disclosure [Abstract]
Schedule of Quarterly Financial Information
		Quarter ended
		March 31		June 30		September 30		December 31
		(In thousands except per share data)
	2014
	Net sales	$	83,496	$	95,662	$	96,271	$	89,339
	Gross margin	$	28,951	$	34,831	$	36,465	$	30,895
	Net earnings	$	4,632	$	8,814	$	10,231	$	6,001
	Earnings per share:
	Basic	$	0.33	$	0.62	$	0.71	$	0.42
	Diluted	$	0.32	$	0.61	$	0.71	$	0.42
	Dividends declared	$	0.18	$	0.18	$	0.19	$	0.19
	Stock price:
	High	$	56.03	$	56.96	$	54.33	$	60.91
	Low	$	47.9	$	46.47	$	47.32	$	47.46
	Quarter-end close	$	55.1	$	52.65	$	50.45	$	59.35
	2013
	Net sales	$	71,808	$	88,341	$	92,963	$	81,010
	Gross margin	$	25,037	$	29,846	$	33,103	$	29,003
	Net earnings	$	2,907	$	6,281	$	9,049	$	6,380
	Earnings per share:
	Basic	$	0.21	$	0.44	$	0.63	$	0.44
	Diluted	$	0.2	$	0.44	$	0.63	$	0.44
	Dividends declared	$	0.17	$	0.17	$	0.18	$	0.18
	Stock price:
	High	$	54.2	$	54.28	$	49.96	$	56.36
	Low	$	46.82	$	41.88	$	43.96	$	44.8
	Quarter-end close	$	53.52	$	44.55	$	46.5	$	54.5

Summary_of_Significant_Account3

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Profile) (Details)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
	product_line
Accounting Policies [Abstract]
Number of product lines (in product lines)	3
Percentage of products used in water applications (as a percent)	75.00%

Summary_of_Significant_Account4

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Receivables) (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Allowance for Doubtful Accounts Receivable
Balance at beginning of year	$531	$488	$298
Provision and reserve adjustments	-305	-78	-138
Write-offs less recoveries	-25	-35	-30
Reserve acquired	0	0	82
Balance at end of year	811	531	488
Racine Federated Inc
Allowance for Doubtful Accounts Receivable
Reserve acquired			$82

Summary_of_Significant_Account5

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Inventories) (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Obsolete Inventory Reserve
Balance at beginning of year	$4,236	$2,880	$2,680
Net additions charged to earnings	974	2,322	1,082
Disposals	-1,896	-966	-882
Balance at end of year	$3,314	$4,236	$2,880

Summary_of_Significant_Account6

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Property, Plant and Equipment) (Details)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Land Improvements
Property, Plant and Equipment
Estimated useful lives of assets (in years)	15 years
Building and Improvements | Minimum
Property, Plant and Equipment
Estimated useful lives of assets (in years)	10 years
Building and Improvements | Maximum
Property, Plant and Equipment
Estimated useful lives of assets (in years)	39 years
Machinery and Equipment | Minimum
Property, Plant and Equipment
Estimated useful lives of assets (in years)	3 years
Machinery and Equipment | Maximum
Property, Plant and Equipment
Estimated useful lives of assets (in years)	20 years

Summary_of_Significant_Account7

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Capitalized Software and Hardware) (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Property, Plant and Equipment
Amortization expense	$1.40	$1.10	$0.80
Prepaid Expenses and Other Current Assets
Property, Plant and Equipment
Capitalized software and hardware	1.2	0.8
Other Assets
Property, Plant and Equipment
Capitalized software and hardware	$4.90	$2.80
Minimum
Property, Plant and Equipment
Amortization period (in years)	1 year
Maximum
Property, Plant and Equipment
Amortization period (in years)	5 years

Summary_of_Significant_Account8

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Intangible Assets - Useful Life) (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets
Amortization expense recognized	$5.50	$5	$4.50
Amortization expense expected to be incurred, 2015	5.8
Amortization expense expected to be incurred, 2016	5.8
Amortization expense expected to be incurred, 2017	5.8
Amortization expense expected to be incurred, 2018	5.7
Amortization expense expected to be incurred, 2019	5.7
Amortization expense expected to be incurred, after year five	$32.90
Minimum
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets
Estimated useful lives (in years)	5 years
Maximum
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets
Estimated useful lives (in years)	20 years

Summary_of_Significant_Account9

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Intangible Assets) (Details) (USD $)	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets
Gross carrying amount	$83,277	$73,467
Accumulated amortization	21,605	16,150
Technologies
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets
Gross carrying amount	47,157	47,157
Accumulated amortization	13,244	10,384
Non-compete agreements
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets
Gross carrying amount	2,022	1,932
Accumulated amortization	1,243	1,048
Licenses
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets
Gross carrying amount	650	650
Accumulated amortization	424	407
Customer lists
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets
Gross carrying amount	3,423	3,423
Accumulated amortization	1,053	679
Customer relationships
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets
Gross carrying amount	20,700	11,690
Accumulated amortization	3,575	2,218
Trade names
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets
Gross carrying amount	9,325	8,615
Accumulated amortization	$2,066	$1,414

Recovered_Sheet1

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Goodwill) (Details) (USD $)	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Accounting Policies [Abstract]
Goodwill	$47,722	$44,695	$35,900

Recovered_Sheet2

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Warranty and After-Sale Costs) (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Warranty and After-Sale Costs
Balance at beginning of year	$882	$881	$1,593
Net additions charged to earnings	2,512	1,005	719
Costs incurred and adjustments	-1,655	-1,068	-1,431
Reserve acquired	0	64	0
Balance at end of year	1,739	882	881
Aquacue
Warranty and After-Sale Cost
Reserve acquired		$64

Recovered_Sheet3

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Research and Development) (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Accounting Policies [Abstract]
Research and development costs	$9.50	$10.50	$9.60

Recovered_Sheet4

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Stock-Based Compensation Plans) (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Millions, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award
Total stock compensation expense	$1.40	$1.40	$1.30
Omnibus Incentive Plan
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award
Shares reserved for future issuance	700,000

Recovered_Sheet5

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Schedule of AOCI) (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Increase (Decrease) in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Rollforward]
Balance at beginning of period	($7,524)	($13,948)
Other comprehensive income before reclassifications	-6,689	5,288
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss, net of tax of $(1.2) million	2,357	1,136
Net current period other comprehensive income, net	-4,332	6,424
Accumulated other comprehensive (loss) income	-11,856	-7,524
Income tax benefit	-1,209	-617
Pension and postretirement benefits
Increase (Decrease) in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Rollforward]
Balance at beginning of period	-9,280	-15,532
Other comprehensive income before reclassifications	-4,968	5,116
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss, net of tax of $(1.2) million	2,357	1,136
Net current period other comprehensive income, net	-2,611	6,252
Accumulated other comprehensive (loss) income	-11,891	-9,280
Income tax benefit	-1,209	-617
Foreign currency
Increase (Decrease) in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Rollforward]
Balance at beginning of period	1,756	1,584
Other comprehensive income before reclassifications	-1,721	172
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss, net of tax of $(1.2) million	0	0
Net current period other comprehensive income, net	-1,721	172
Accumulated other comprehensive (loss) income	35	1,756
Income tax benefit	$0	$0

Recovered_Sheet6

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Details of Reclassification) (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Amount reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss
Prior service cost	$161	$161
Settlement expense	858	806
Amortization of actuarial loss	2,547	786
Total before tax	3,566	1,753
Income tax benefit	-1,209	-617
Amount reclassified out of accumulated other comprehensive loss	$2,357	$1,136

Common_Stock_Details

Common Stock (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended			0 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Feb. 15, 2008
Stock Options
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award
Antidilutive stock options excluded from computation of earnings per share (in shares)	47,067	23,258	60,400
Employee benefit stock
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award
Common share purchase right dividend (in shares)				1
Number of common shares each right is entitled to (in shares)				1
Common share purchase right exercise price (in dollars per share)				$200

Acquisitions_Acquisitions_Nati

Acquisitions Acquisitions - National Meter (Details) (USD $)	0 Months Ended	12 Months Ended	0 Months Ended
	Oct. 01, 2014	Dec. 31, 2014	Apr. 01, 2013	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Business Acquisition
Goodwill		$47,722,000		$44,695,000	$35,900,000
National Meter and Automation, Inc.
Business Acquisition
Percentage acquired	100.00%
Incremental revenue	15,000,000
Total purchase consideration	22,900,000
Cash payment	20,300,000
Deferred payments		2,500,000
Receivables	3,900,000
Inventory	4,500,000
Property, plant and equipment	2,800,000
Intangibles	9,800,000
Goodwill	3,000,000
Current liabilities	100,000
Transaction costs		400,000
Aquacue
Business Acquisition
Percentage acquired			100.00%
Cash payment			13,800,000
Goodwill				8,800,000
Accounts Payable | National Meter and Automation, Inc.
Business Acquisition
Deferred payments		2,000,000
Long-term Debt | National Meter and Automation, Inc.
Business Acquisition
Deferred payments		$500,000
Customer relationships | National Meter and Automation, Inc.
Business Acquisition
Estimated average useful life (in years)		12 years

Acquisitions_Acquacue_Inc_Deta

Acquisitions - Acquacue. Inc. (Details) (USD $)	0 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Apr. 01, 2013	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Business Acquisition
Goodwill		47,722,000	$44,695,000	$35,900,000
Aquacue
Business Acquisition
Percentage acquired	100.00%
Cash payment	13,800,000
Deferred acquisition costs	3,000,000
Current assets			100,000
Deferred tax assets			1,300,000
Intangible assets			3,900,000
Goodwill			8,800,000
Current liabilities			300,000
Transaction costs			$100,000
Technologies | Aquacue
Business Acquisition
Estimated average useful life (in years)		10 years

Acquisitions_Racine_Details

Acquisitions - Racine (Details) (Racine Federated Inc, USD $)	0 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Jan. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2013	Jan. 31, 2012
Racine Federated Inc
Business Acquisition
Percentage acquired	100.00%		100.00%
Purchase price in cash	$57.30
Final payment included in payables		$4.60

Shortterm_Debt_and_Credit_Line2

Short-term Debt and Credit Lines (Total Short-term Debt) (Details) (USD $)	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Short-term Debt
Total short-term debt	$75,927	$70,045
Notes payable to banks
Short-term Debt
Total short-term debt	5,977	4,795
Commercial paper
Short-term Debt
Total short-term debt	$69,950	$65,250

Shortterm_Debt_and_Credit_Line3

Short-term Debt and Credit Lines (Revolving Loan Facility and Credit Lines) (Details)

Dec. 31, 2014

Apr. 30, 2014

Dec. 31, 2014

Apr. 30, 2014

Dec. 31, 2013

31-May-13

31-May-12

30-May-12

Apr. 30, 2014

Dec. 31, 2014

Dec. 31, 2014

Dec. 31, 2013

Dec. 31, 2013

Dec. 31, 2014

USD ($)

USD ($)

Line of Credit

Line of Credit

Line of Credit

Line of Credit

Line of Credit

Line of Credit

Foreign Line of Credit

Revolving Credit Facility

Revolving Credit Facility

Revolving Credit Facility

Revolving Credit Facility

Revolving Credit Facility

USD ($)

USD ($)

USD ($)

USD ($)

USD ($)

Euro-Based Revolving Loan Facility

Euro-Based Revolving Loan Facility

Euro-Based Revolving Loan Facility

Euro-Based Revolving Loan Facility

Line of Credit

USD ($)

EUR (€)

USD ($)

EUR (€)

EUR (€)

Line of Credit Facility

Revolving loan facility

$4,500,000

$4,800,000

Maximum borrowing capacity

105,000,000

125,000,000

90,000,000

4,800,000

4,000,000

5,500,000

4,000,000

37,500,000

Interest rate (as a percent)

1.25%

1.25%

1.51%

1.51%

1.72%

1.72%

Line of credit period (in years)

3 years

Expected decrease in line of credit facility

16,700,000

Maximum amount issuable

70,000,000

5,000,000

Current borrowing capacity

$33,600,000

Stock_Compensation_Shares_Auth

Stock Compensation (Shares Authorized and Option Expense) (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Millions, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award
Share available for grant	456,000	505,000
Total stock compensation expense	$1.40	$1.40	$1.30
Omnibus Incentive Plan
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award
Shares reserved for future issuance	700,000
Stock Options
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award
Total stock compensation expense	$0.40	$0.50	$0.40

Stock_Compensation_Transaction

Stock Compensation (Transactions of Stock Option Plan) (Details) (Stock Options, USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Weighted-average exercise price (in dollars per share)
Options granted	$22.35	$20.34
Omnibus Incentive Plan
Number of shares (in shares)
Beginning balance	202,378	247,580	245,090
Options granted	23,958	23,258	45,100
Options exercised	-23,016	-66,660	-37,450
Options forfeited	0	-1,800	-5,160
Ending balance	203,320	202,378	247,580
Weighted-average exercise price (in dollars per share)
Beginning balance	$39.27	$34.26	$30.30
Options granted	$54.36	$51.29	$36.15
Options exercised	$32.57	$24.91	$10.25
Options forfeited		$37.78	$37.19
Ending balance	$41.80	$39.27	$34.26
Exercisable options (in shares)	111,016	113,060	141,740
Exercisable options weighted average exercise price (in dollars per share)	$39.68	$38.18	$31.72
Omnibus Incentive Plan | Price range $18.33 — $36.15
Number of shares (in shares)
Ending balance	56,320
Weighted-average exercise price (in dollars per share)
Ending balance	$34.20
Weighted average contractual life (in years)	5 years 10 months 24 days
Exercise price range - minimum (in dollars per share)	$18.33
Exercise price range - maximum (in dollars per share)	$36.15
Omnibus Incentive Plan | Price range $36.16 — $38.41
Number of shares (in shares)
Ending balance	54,220
Weighted-average exercise price (in dollars per share)
Ending balance	$37.59
Weighted average contractual life (in years)	5 years 9 months 18 days
Exercise price range - minimum (in dollars per share)	$36.16
Exercise price range - maximum (in dollars per share)	$38.41
Omnibus Incentive Plan | Price range $38.42 — $54.36
Number of shares (in shares)
Ending balance	92,780
Weighted-average exercise price (in dollars per share)
Ending balance	$48.88
Weighted average contractual life (in years)	6 years 3 months 18 days
Exercise price range - minimum (in dollars per share)	$38.42
Exercise price range - maximum (in dollars per share)	$54.36

Stock_Compensation_Assumptions

Stock Compensation (Assumptions used for Valuing Options) (Details) (Stock Options, USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Stock Options
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award
Per share fair value of options granted during the period (in dollars per share)	$22.35	$20.34
Risk-free interest rate (as a percentage)	1.73%	0.82%
Dividend yield (as a percentage)	1.31%	1.31%
Volatility factor (as a percentage)	49.90%	49.70%
Weighted-average expected life in years	5 years 3 months 18 days	5 years 3 months 18 days

Stock_Compensation_Aggregate_I

Stock Compensation (Aggregate Intrinsic Value) (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Stock Options
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award
Unrecognized compensation cost	$1,000,000
Unrecognized compensation cost period (in years)	2 years 7 months 18 days
Omnibus Incentive Plan
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award
Exercised	493,000	1,743,000
Outstanding	3,568,000	3,083,000
Exercisable	$2,184,000	$1,846,000

Stock_Compensation_Nonvested_S

Stock Compensation (Nonvested Stock) (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award
Total stock compensation expense	$1,400,000	$1,400,000	$1,300,000
Restricted Stock
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award
Unrecognized compensation cost period (in months)	1 year 3 months 18 days
Unrecognized compensation cost	1,300,000
Vesting period (in years)	3 years
Restricted stock expense	1,000,000	900,000	900,000
Omnibus Incentive Plan | Common Stock
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award
Annual share award	50,000
Total stock compensation expense	400,000	400,000	400,000
Unrecognized compensation cost period (in months)	4 months
Unrecognized compensation cost	$100,000

Stock_Compensation_Nonvested_S1

Stock Compensation (Nonvested Stock Roll Forward) (Details) (Restricted Stock, USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Millions, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Restricted Stock
Shares
Beginning Balance	74,475	73,825	63,300
Granted	21,956	21,425	30,325
Vested	-24,350	-16,875	-17,900
Forfeited	-3,625	-3,900	-1,900
Ending Balance	68,456	74,475	73,825
Fair value per share (in dollars per share)
Beginning balance	$40.54	$37.01	$37.69
Granted	$54.36	$51.12	$36.15
Vested	$36.59	$38.41	$38.69
Forfeited	$41.61	$37.69	$21.77
Ending balance	$46.32	$40.54	$37.01
Unrecognized compensation cost	$1.30
Unrecognized compensation cost period (in years)	1 year 3 months 18 days

Commitments_and_Contingencies_1

Commitments and Contingencies (Commitments) (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]
2015	$2,282,000
2016	1,861,000
2017	1,688,000
2018	1,451,000
2019	1,274,000
Thereafter	5,845,000
Total lease obligations	14,401,000
Total rental expense	$3,100,000	$2,800,000	$2,700,000

Commitments_and_Contingencies_2

Commitments and Contingencies (Narrative) (Details)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
	potentially_responsible_party
Landfill Lawsuit
Loss Contingencies
Number of potentially responsible parties	1
Landfill
Loss Contingencies
Loss Contingency, Pending Claims, Number	2

Employee_Benefit_Plans_Amounts

Employee Benefit Plans (Amounts Included in Other Comprehensive Loss not Recognized in Net Periodic Benefit Cost) (Details) (USD $)	Dec. 31, 2014
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Pension plans
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans
Prior service cost	$0
Net actuarial loss	11,156
Other postretirement benefits
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans
Prior service cost	6
Net actuarial loss	$314

Employee_Benefit_Plans_Amounts1

Employee Benefit Plans (Amounts included in accumulated other comprehensive loss, net of tax, expected to be recognized in net periodic benefit cost during the next fiscal year) (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2014
Pension plans
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans
Prior service credit	$0
Net actuarial loss	471
Other postretirement benefits
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans
Prior service credit	33
Net actuarial loss	$0

Employee_Benefit_Plans_Compone

Employee Benefit Plans (Components of Net Periodic Pension Cost) (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Pension plans
Components of net periodic benefit cost
Service cost — benefits earned during the year	$4	$5	$6
Interest cost on projected benefit obligations	1,888	1,842	2,205
Expected return on plan assets	-2,806	-2,744	-3,190
Amortization of net loss	606	719	645
Settlement expense	858	806	1,075
Net periodic pension cost	550	628	741
Other postretirement benefits
Components of net periodic benefit cost
Service cost — benefits earned during the year	130	154	143
Interest cost on projected benefit obligations	269	255	295
Net periodic pension cost	$560	$570	$599

Employee_Benefit_Plans_Actuari

Employee Benefit Plans (Actuarial Assumptions Used in the Determination of the Net Periodic Pension Cost) (Details) (Pension plans)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Pension plans
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans
Discount rate (as a percentage)	4.47%	3.68%	4.69%
Expected long-term return on plan assets (as a percentage)	6.50%	6.50%	7.00%

Employee_Benefit_Plans_Reconci

Employee Benefit Plans (Reconciliation of Benefit Obligations, Plan Assets and Funded Status) (Details) (Pension plans, USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Pension plans
Change in benefit obligation:
Benefit obligation at beginning of year	$45,561	$50,700
Service cost — benefits earned during the year	4	5	6
Interest cost on projected benefit obligations	1,888	1,842	2,205
Actuarial (gain)/loss	4,989	-3,208
Benefits paid	-4,242	-3,778
Benefit obligation and funded status at end of year	48,200	45,561	50,700
Change in plan assets:
Fair value of plan assets at beginning of plan year	49,873	46,547
Actual return on plan assets	3,025	7,104
Benefits paid	-4,242	-3,778
Fair value of plan assets at measurement date	48,656	49,873	46,547
Benefit plan assets of benefit obligation	456	4,312
Defined Benefit Plan, Assets for Plan Benefits	$456	$4,312

Employee_Benefit_Plans_Actuari1

Employee Benefit Plans (Actuarial Assumptions Used in the Determination of the Benefit Obligation) (Details) (Pension plans)	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Pension plans
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans
Discount rate (as a percentage)	3.81%	4.47%

Employee_Benefit_Plans_Qualifi

Employee Benefit Plans (Qualified Pension Plan Assets Narrative) (Details) (Pension plans, USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans
Fair value of qualified plan assets	$48,656,000	$49,873,000	$46,547,000
Estimated future benefit payments 2015	4,500,000
Estimated future benefit payments 2016	4,300,000
Estimated future benefit payments 2017	4,100,000
Estimated future benefit payments 2018	3,700,000
Estimated future benefit payments 2019	3,400,000
Estimated future benefit payments, Five fiscal years after 2019	16,400,000
Equity Securities
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans
Fair value of qualified plan assets	6,356,000	27,049,000
Target allocations for plan assets, minimum (as a percentage)	0.00%
Target allocations for plan assets, maximum (as a percentage)	18.00%
Fixed Income Funds
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans
Fair value of qualified plan assets	41,351,000	18,990,000
Target allocations for plan assets, minimum (as a percentage)	0.00%
Target allocations for plan assets, maximum (as a percentage)	14.00%
Cash and Cash Equivalents
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans
Fair value of qualified plan assets	$949,000	$3,834,000
Target allocations for plan assets, minimum (as a percentage)	68.00%
Target allocations for plan assets, maximum (as a percentage)	100.00%

Employee_Benefit_Plans_Fair_Va

Employee Benefit Plans (Fair Value of the Company’s Qualified Pension Plan Assets by Category) (Details) (Pension plans, USD $)	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans
Fair value of qualified plan assets	$48,656,000	$49,873,000	$46,547,000
Accumulated benefit obligation	48,200,000	45,600,000
Equity Securities
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans
Fair value of qualified plan assets	6,356,000	27,049,000
Actual plan asset allocations (as a percentage)		11.10%
Fixed Income Funds
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans
Fair value of qualified plan assets	41,351,000	18,990,000
Cash and Cash Equivalents
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans
Fair value of qualified plan assets	949,000	3,834,000
Equity Securities, Large Company
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans
Actual plan asset allocations (as a percentage)		52.80%
Equity Securities, Small Company
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans
Actual plan asset allocations (as a percentage)		11.10%
Equity Securities, Medium Company
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans
Actual plan asset allocations (as a percentage)		12.10%
Equity Securities, Foreign Company
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans
Actual plan asset allocations (as a percentage)		17.20%
Equity Securities, Other Companies
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans
Actual plan asset allocations (as a percentage)		6.80%
Equity Securities, Mutual Funds
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans
Actual plan asset allocations (as a percentage)		88.90%
Exchange Traded Funds
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans
Actual plan asset allocations (as a percentage)		33.40%
Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets (Level 1)
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans
Fair value of qualified plan assets	949,000	49,873,000
Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets (Level 1) | Equity Securities
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans
Fair value of qualified plan assets	0	27,049,000
Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets (Level 1) | Fixed Income Funds
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans
Fair value of qualified plan assets	0	18,990,000
Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets (Level 1) | Cash and Cash Equivalents
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans
Fair value of qualified plan assets	949,000	3,834,000
Significant observable inputs (Level 2)
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans
Fair value of qualified plan assets	47,707,000	0
Significant observable inputs (Level 2) | Equity Securities
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans
Fair value of qualified plan assets	6,356,000	0
Significant observable inputs (Level 2) | Fixed Income Funds
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans
Fair value of qualified plan assets	41,351,000	0
Significant observable inputs (Level 2) | Cash and Cash Equivalents
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans
Fair value of qualified plan assets	0	0
Significant unobservable inputs (Level 3)
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans
Fair value of qualified plan assets	0	0
Significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) | Equity Securities
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans
Fair value of qualified plan assets	0	0
Significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) | Fixed Income Funds
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans
Fair value of qualified plan assets	0	0
Significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) | Cash and Cash Equivalents
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans
Fair value of qualified plan assets	$0	$0

Employee_Benefit_Plans_Supplem

Employee Benefit Plans (Supplemental Non-qualified Unfunded Plans) (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Other postretirement benefits
Deferred Compensation Arrangement with Individual, Postretirement Benefits
Estimated future benefit payments 2017	$0.50
Other postretirement benefits | Officers and Key Employees
Deferred Compensation Arrangement with Individual, Postretirement Benefits
Compensation expense	0.3	0.2	0.3
Amount accrued	$1.60	$1.50

Employee_Benefit_Plans_Compone1

Employee Benefit Plans (Components of Net Periodic Postretirement Benefit Cost) (Details) (Other postretirement benefits, USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Other postretirement benefits
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans
Service cost — benefits earned during the year	$130	$154	$143
Interest cost on projected benefit obligations	269	255	295
Amortization of prior service cost	161	161	161
Net periodic pension cost	$560	$570	$599

Employee_Benefit_Plans_Actuari2

Employee Benefit Plans (Actuarial Assumptions Used in the Determination of the Net Periodic Postretirement Benefit Cost) (Details) (Other postretirement benefits)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Other postretirement benefits
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans
Discount rate (as a percentage)	4.73%	3.92%	4.79%

Employee_Benefit_Plans_Reconci1

Employee Benefit Plans (Reconciliation of the Projected Benefit Obligation) (Details) (Other postretirement benefits, USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Other postretirement benefits
Change in benefit obligation:
Benefit obligation at beginning of year	$6,376	$6,940
Service cost — benefits earned during the year	130	154	143
Interest cost	-269	-255	-295
Actuarial loss (gain)	462	-746
Plan participants' contributions	708	716
Benefits paid	-1,178	-943
Benefit obligation and funded status at end of year	$6,767	$6,376	$6,940

Employee_Benefit_Plans_Amounts2

Employee Benefit Plans (Amounts Recognized in the Consolidated Balance Sheet) (Details) (Other postretirement benefits, USD $)	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans
Pension and Other Postretirement Defined Benefit Plans, Liabilities	$6,767	$6,376
Accrued compensation and employee benefits
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans
Pension and Other Postretirement Defined Benefit Plans, Liabilities	425	442
Accrued non-pension postretirement benefits
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans
Pension and Other Postretirement Defined Benefit Plans, Liabilities	$6,342	$5,934

Employee_Benefit_Plans_Actuari3

Employee Benefit Plans (Actuarial Assumptions Used for Accumulated Postretirement Benefit Obligation and Estimated Future Benefit Payments) (Details) (Other postretirement benefits, USD $)	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
Other postretirement benefits
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans
Discount rate (as a percentage)	4.01%	4.73%
Estimated future benefit payments 2015	$0.40
Estimated future benefit payments 2016	0.4
Estimated future benefit payments 2017	0.5
Estimated future benefit payments 2018	0.5
Estimated future benefit payments 2019	0.5
Estimated future benefit payments, Five fiscal years after 2019	$2.20

Employee_Benefit_Plans_Employe

Employee Benefit Plans (Employee Savings and Stock Ownership Plan - Debt) (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2010
Debt Instrument
Loans payable	$900,000			$1,500,000
Principal payments	154,000	154,000	256,000
Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP), Plan | Loans Receivable
Debt Instrument
Loan to repay third party loan				500,000
Additional loan to ESOP				1,000,000
Loans payable	$900,000			$1,500,000

Employee_Benefit_Plans_Employe1

Employee Benefit Plans (Employee Savings and Stock Ownership Plan - Shares) (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Millions, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) Disclosures
Shares contributed to ESOP (in shares)	11,077	9,918	16,151
Shares in ESOP (in shares)	72,362	83,439	93,357
Deferred shares, fair value	$4.30	$4.50	$4.40
Compensation expense	0.3	0.3	0.3
Defined Contribution Feature
Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) Disclosures
Compensation expense	$2.30

Employee_Benefit_Plans_Employe2

Employee Benefit Plans (Employe Savings and Stock Ownership Plan - 401k Plan) (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans
Compensation expense	$0.30	$0.30	$0.30
Defined Contribution Plan, Maximum Annual Contribution Per Employee (as a percentage)	20.00%
Defined Contribution Plan, Employer Matching Contribution (as a percentage)	25.00%
Maximum Percentage of Employee's Salary Eligible for Defined Contribution Plan (as a percentage)	7.00%

Income_Taxes_Earnings_from_Con

Income Taxes (Earnings from Continuing Operations) (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]
Domestic	$41,022	$34,687	$40,650
Foreign	3,890	3,322	2,821
Earnings before income taxes	$44,912	$38,009	$43,471

Income_Taxes_ProvisionBenevit_

Income Taxes (Provision/Benevit for Income Taxes) (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Current:
Federal	$14,362	$12,630	$13,908
State	1,086	2,394	1,455
Foreign	1,120	802	507
Deferred:
Federal	-1,323	-2,174	-663
State	208	-228	-165
Foreign	-219	-32	397
Provision for income taxes	$15,234	$13,392	$15,439

Income_Taxes_Effective_Income_

Income Taxes (Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation) (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]
Provision at statutory rate	$15,720	$13,303	$15,215
State income taxes, net of federal tax benefit	841	1,408	1,018
Foreign income taxes	-454	-393	-87
Domestic production activities deduction	-675	-498	-529
Tax audit settlements	0	0	-101
Other	-198	-428	-77
Provision for income taxes	$15,234	$13,392	$15,439

Income_Taxes_Components_of_Def

Income Taxes (Components of Deferred Income Taxes) (Details) (USD $)	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Operating Loss Carryforwards [Line Items]
Reserve for receivables and inventories	$2,769,000	$2,850,000
Accrued compensation	1,105,000	1,087,000
Payables	694,000	364,000
Non-pension postretirement benefits	2,601,000	2,447,000
Net operating loss and credit carryforwards	1,668,000	2,645,000
Accrued pension benefits	1,122,000	0
Accrued employee benefits	2,405,000	1,681,000
Other	858,000	793,000
Total deferred tax assets	13,222,000	11,867,000
Depreciation	4,570,000	4,408,000
Amortization	10,881,000	12,165,000
Prepaid pension benefits	0	236,000
Other	0	14,000
Total deferred tax liabilities	15,451,000	16,823,000
Net deferred tax liabilities	-2,229,000	-4,956,000
Federal and state net operating loss and federal and state credit carryforwards	200,000	200,000
Undistributed earnings of foreign subsidiary	20,500,000
State and Local Jurisdiction
Operating Loss Carryforwards [Line Items]
Operating loss carryforwards	4,100,000	5,000,000
General Business Tax Credit Carryforward
Operating Loss Carryforwards [Line Items]
General business credit carryforwards	4,100,000	5,000,000
Maximum
Operating Loss Carryforwards [Line Items]
Federal and state net operating loss and federal and state credit carryforwards	$1,200,000

Income_Taxes_Unrecognized_Tax_

Income Taxes (Unrecognized Tax Benefits) (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Reconciliation of Unrecognized Tax Benefits, Excluding Amounts Pertaining to Examined Tax Returns [Roll Forward]
Balance at beginning of year	$880,000	$698,000
Increases in unrecognized tax benefits as a result of positions taken during the prior period	11,000	80,000
Increases in unrecognized tax benefits as a result of positions taken during the current period	185,000	216,000
Reductions to unrecognized tax benefits as a result of a lapse of the applicable statute of limitations	-230,000	-114,000
Balance at end of year	846,000	880,000
Unrecognized Tax Benefits, Income Tax Penalties and Interest Accrued	$100,000	$100,000

LongTerm_Debt_Details

Long-Term Debt (Details) (USD $)	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2010
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable
Loans Payable	$0.90	$1.50
Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP), Plan | Loans Receivable
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable
Loan, restructured outstanding debt of ESSOP		0.5
Purchase of company shares		1
Loans Payable	$0.90	$1.50

Industry_Segment_and_Geographi2

Industry Segment and Geographic Areas (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2014	Sep. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2014	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2013	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets
Revenues:	$89,339	$96,271	$95,662	$83,496	$81,010	$92,963	$88,341	$71,808	$364,768	$334,122	$319,660
Long-lived assets (all non-current assets):	200,053				188,895				200,053	188,895
Total assets:	341,158				316,058				341,158	316,058
United States
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets
Revenues:									309,651	290,019	271,045
Long-lived assets (all non-current assets):	162,368				150,997				162,368	150,997
Total assets:	278,094				255,881				278,094	255,881
Asia
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets
Revenues:									10,647	8,085	10,075
Canada
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets
Revenues:									12,092	8,514	8,752
Europe
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets
Revenues:									19,448	15,677	16,001
Long-lived assets (all non-current assets):	16,273				17,409				16,273	17,409
Total assets:	38,453				36,838				38,453	36,838
Mexico
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets
Revenues:									3,941	4,226	6,636
Long-lived assets (all non-current assets):	21,412				20,489				21,412	20,489
Total assets:	24,611				23,339				24,611	23,339
Middle East
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets
Revenues:									6,221	1,604	2,232
Other
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets
Revenues:									$2,768	$5,997	$4,919

Unaudited_Quarterly_Results_of2

Unaudited: Quarterly Results of Operations, Common Stock Price and Dividends (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2014	Sep. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2014	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2013	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2012	Mar. 31, 2012
	shareholder				shareholder				shareholder	shareholder
Net sales	$89,339	$96,271	$95,662	$83,496	$81,010	$92,963	$88,341	$71,808	$364,768	$334,122	$319,660
Gross margin	30,895	36,465	34,831	28,951	29,003	33,103	29,846	25,037	131,142	116,989	122,246
Net earnings	$6,001	$10,231	$8,814	$4,632	$6,380	$9,049	$6,281	$2,907	$29,678	$24,617	$28,032
Earnings Per Share, Basic (in dollars per share)	$0.42	$0.71	$0.62	$0.33	$0.44	$0.63	$0.44	$0.21
Earnings Per Share, Diluted (in dollars per share)	$0.42	$0.71	$0.61	$0.32	$0.44	$0.63	$0.44	$0.20
Dividends declared (in dollars per share)	$0.19	$0.19	$0.18	$0.18	$0.18	$0.18	$0.17	$0.17
Stock price (in dollars per share)					$54.50					$54.50		$46.50	$44.55	$53.52
Number of shareholders	948				969				948	969
Common Stock
Stock price (in dollars per share)	$59.35	$50.45	$52.65	$55.10					$59.35
Common Stock | High
Stock price (in dollars per share)	$60.91	$54.33	$56.96	$56.03	$56.36				$60.91	$56.36		$49.96	$54.28	$54.20
Common Stock | Low
Stock price (in dollars per share)	$47.46	$47.32	$46.47	$47.90	$44.80				$47.46	$44.80		$43.96	$41.88	$46.82