Segment Information (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2013	Mar. 31, 2012
Selected financial details regarding the Company's reportable segments
Revenue	$ 14,430	$ 14,432
Gross profit	2,980	1,772
Income (loss) from domestic operations	602	(199)
Net equity income from foreign joint ventures' operations	1,407	671
Income (loss) from domestic operations and net equity income from foreign joint ventures' operations	2,009	472
Technical Products and Services [Member]
Selected financial details regarding the Company's reportable segments
Revenue	10,480	9,823
Gross profit	1,857	1,369
Income (loss) from domestic operations	1,554	1,100
Electrical and Instrumentation Construction [Member]
Selected financial details regarding the Company's reportable segments
Revenue	2,528	2,992
Gross profit	908	202
Income (loss) from domestic operations	908	202
American Access Technologies [Member]
Selected financial details regarding the Company's reportable segments
Revenue	1,422	1,617
Gross profit	215	201
Income (loss) from domestic operations	(75)	(187)
Corporate and other unallocated expenses [Member]
Selected financial details regarding the Company's reportable segments
Income (loss) from domestic operations	(1,785)	(1,314)
Equity income from BOMAY [Member]
Selected financial details regarding the Company's reportable segments
Income (loss) from domestic operations	1,001	698
Equity income (loss) from MIEFE [Member]
Selected financial details regarding the Company's reportable segments
Income (loss) from domestic operations	20	10
Equity income (loss) from AAG [Member]
Selected financial details regarding the Company's reportable segments
Income (loss) from domestic operations	437	63
Foreign operations (expenses) [Member]
Selected financial details regarding the Company's reportable segments
Income (loss) from domestic operations	$ (51)	$ (100)

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

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- Definition

Net equity income from foreign joint ventures.

+ References

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.

+ References

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- Definition

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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