Segment Information - Selected Financial Details Regarding the Company's Reportable Segments (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2014	Mar. 31, 2013
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	$ 17,400	$ 14,430
Gross profit	2,572	2,980
Income from domestic operations	230	602
Net equity income from foreign joint ventures' operations	362	1,407
Foreign joint ventures’ operations related expenses	(112)	(51)
Income from domestic operations and net equity income from foreign joint ventures’ operations	592	2,009
Technical Products and Services
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	14,086	10,480
Gross profit	2,130	1,857
Income from domestic operations	2,027	1,554
Electrical and Instrumentation Construction
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	1,762	2,528
Gross profit	305	908
Income from domestic operations	305	908
American Access Technologies
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	1,552	1,422
Gross profit	137	215
Income from domestic operations	(268)	(75)
Corporate and other unallocated expenses
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Income from domestic operations	(1,834)	(1,785)
BOMAY
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net equity income from foreign joint ventures' operations	548	1,001
MIEFE
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net equity income from foreign joint ventures' operations	(36)	20
AAG
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net equity income from foreign joint ventures' operations	(38)	437
Foreign Operations
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Foreign joint ventures’ operations related expenses	$ (112)	$ (51)

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

No definition available.

Name:	aeti_IncomeLossFromDomesticOperationsAndNetEquityIncomeFromForeignJointVentures
Namespace Prefix:	aeti_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Joint venture management related expenses.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	aeti_JointVentureManagementRelatedExpenses
Namespace Prefix:	aeti_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Net equity income from foreign joint ventures.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	aeti_NetEquityIncomeFromForeignJointVentures
Namespace Prefix:	aeti_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

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

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_GrossProfit
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

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

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_OperatingIncomeLoss
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- 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=26872669&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

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_SegmentReportingInformationLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration