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Property, Plant and Equipment (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands | 12 Months Ended
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Dec. 31, 2017 | Dec. 31, 2016 | Dec. 31, 2015
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items] |  |  |
Property, plant and equipment, gross | $ 838,359 | $ 768,549 |
Accumulated depreciation and amortization of property, plant and equipment | (489,081) | (431,431) |
Property, plant and equipment, net | 349,278 | 337,118 | $ 333,355
Property, plant and equipment retirements and disposals | $ 15,000 | $ 15,000 | $ 29,000
Property, plant and equipment disposition disclosures | Gains on disposal were immaterial for the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016. | Gains on disposal were immaterial for the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016. |
Subsequent event description | In February 2018, the Company’s Board of Directors approved expanding its chemistry synthesis operations. The Company anticipates spending an estimated $215 million to build and equip this new state-of-the-art manufacturing facility, which will be paid for with existing cash and investments. The Company does not expect to issue any debt in relation to this expansion. |  |
Land and land improvements [Member] |  |  |
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items] |  |  |
Property, plant and equipment, gross | $ 37,525 | $ 35,720 |
Buildings and leasehold improvements [Member] |  |  |
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items] |  |  |
Property, plant and equipment, gross | 294,219 | 274,021 |
Production and other equipment [Member] |  |  |
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items] |  |  |
Property, plant and equipment, gross | 484,475 | 438,604 |
Construction in progress [Member] |  |  |
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items] |  |  |
Property, plant and equipment, gross | $ 22,140 | $ 20,204 |

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- Definition Amount of accumulated depreciation, depletion and amortization for physical assets used in the normal conduct of business to produce goods and services. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 360 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (c) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6391035&loc=d3e2868-110229 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 210 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.14) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682 + Details
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- Definition Amount of divestiture of long-lived, physical assets used in the normal conduct of business and not intended for resale. Examples include, but are not limited to, land, buildings, machinery and equipment, office equipment, furniture and fixtures, and computer equipment. + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition Amount before accumulated depreciation, depletion and amortization of physical assets used in the normal conduct of business and not intended for resale. Examples include, but are not limited to, land, buildings, machinery and equipment, office equipment, and furniture and fixtures. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 360 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (b) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6391035&loc=d3e2868-110229 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 210 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.13) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682 + Details
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- Definition Disclosure of property, plant and equipment income statement elements which may include depreciation, depletion and amortization expense and gains and losses on disposition of long lived assets used in the production of revenue. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 205 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (b) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=64827811&loc=d3e1361-107760 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 360 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (a) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6391035&loc=d3e2868-110229 + Details
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