Segment Information (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended	6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2011
Selected financial details regarding the Company's reportable segments
Revenue	$ 12,872	$ 11,427	$ 27,304	$ 23,495
Gross profit	2,172	1,506	3,945	2,703
Percentage of gross profit to revenue	17.00%	13.00%	12.00%	14.00%
Loss from domestic operations	168	(1,280)	(30)	(1,874)
Percentage of income loss to revenue	1.00%	(11.00%)	0.00%	(8.00%)
Net equity income from foreign joint ventures' operations	931	144	1,602	252
Income (loss) from domestic operations and net equity income from foreign joint ventures' operations	1,099	(1,136)	1,572	(1,622)
Technical Products and Services [Member]
Selected financial details regarding the Company's reportable segments
Revenue	8,647	5,384	18,470	11,784
Gross profit	1,587	846	2,957	1,343
Percentage of gross profit to revenue	18.00%	16.00%	11.00%	16.00%
Loss from domestic operations	1,448	371	2,553	615
Percentage of income loss to revenue	17.00%	7.00%	14.00%	5.00%
Electrical and Instrumentation Construction [Member]
Selected financial details regarding the Company's reportable segments
Revenue	2,615	4,361	5,607	8,278
Gross profit	330	318	532	616
Percentage of gross profit to revenue	13.00%	7.00%	7.00%	9.00%
Loss from domestic operations	330	318	532	616
Percentage of income loss to revenue	13.00%	7.00%	9.00%	7.00%
American Access Technologies [Member]
Selected financial details regarding the Company's reportable segments
Revenue	1,610	1,682	3,227	3,433
Gross profit	255	342	456	744
Percentage of gross profit to revenue	16.00%	20.00%	22.00%	14.00%
Loss from domestic operations	(115)	(32)	(303)	(12)
Percentage of income loss to revenue	(7.00%)	(2.00%)	(9.00%)	0.00%
Corporate and other unallocated expenses [Member]
Selected financial details regarding the Company's reportable segments
Loss from domestic operations	(1,495)	(1,937)	(2,812)	(3,093)
Equity income from BOMAY [Member]
Selected financial details regarding the Company's reportable segments
Net equity income from foreign joint ventures' operations	1,062	387	1,761	678
Equity income (loss) from MIEFE [Member]
Selected financial details regarding the Company's reportable segments
Net equity income from foreign joint ventures' operations	11	(112)	20	(138)
Equity income (loss) from AAG [Member]
Selected financial details regarding the Company's reportable segments
Net equity income from foreign joint ventures' operations	(19)	(14)	44	(42)
Foreign operations expenses [Member]
Selected financial details regarding the Company's reportable segments
Net equity income from foreign joint ventures' operations	$ (123)	$ (117)	$ (223)	$ (246)

Income (loss) from domestic operations and net equity income from foreign joint ventures.

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Net equity income from foreign joint ventures.

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Percentage of gross profit to revenue.

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Percentage of income loss to revenue.

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No definition available.

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- Definition

Aggregate revenue less cost of goods and services sold or operating expenses directly attributable to the revenue generation activity.

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The net result for the period of deducting operating expenses from operating revenues.

+ References

No definition available.

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- Definition

Total revenue from sale of goods and services rendered during the reporting period, in the normal course of business, reduced by sales returns and allowances, and sales discounts.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 225

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 2

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-03.1)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6880815&loc=d3e20235-122688

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 03

-Paragraph 1

-Article 5

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