Segment Information - Selected Financial Details Regarding the Company's Reportable Segments (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	$ 14,283	$ 16,236	$ 43,561	$ 42,743
Gross profit	495	2,759	4,958	7,613
Income (loss) from consolidated continuing operations	(2,187)	971	(1,538)	2,104
Net equity income from foreign joint ventures' operations	228	368	1,522	2,936
Foreign joint ventures’ operations related expenses	(122)	(66)	(412)	(204)
Income (loss) from consolidated continuing operations and net equity income from foreign joint ventures’ operations	(1,959)	1,339	(16)	5,040
Gross profit, percentage	3.00%	17.00%	11.00%	18.00%
Income (loss) from consolidated continuing operations, percentage	(15.00%)	6.00%	(4.00%)	5.00%
Technical Products and Services
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	12,618	13,970	38,743	35,607
Gross profit	251	2,428	4,385	6,117
Income (loss) from consolidated continuing operations	(210)	2,188	3,623	5,372
Gross profit, percentage	2.00%	17.00%	11.00%	17.00%
Income (loss) from consolidated continuing operations, percentage	(2.00%)	16.00%	9.00%	15.00%
Electrical and Instrumentation Construction
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	1,665	2,266	4,818	7,136
Gross profit	244	331	573	1,496
Income (loss) from consolidated continuing operations	62	331	391	1,496
Gross profit, percentage	15.00%	15.00%	12.00%	21.00%
Income (loss) from consolidated continuing operations, percentage	4.00%	15.00%	8.00%	21.00%
Corporate and other unallocated expenses
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Income (loss) from consolidated continuing operations	(2,039)	(1,548)	(5,552)	(4,764)
Income (loss) from consolidated continuing operations, percentage	(14.00%)	(9.50%)	(13.00%)	(11.00%)
BOMAY
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net equity income from foreign joint ventures' operations	285	475	1,793	2,123
MIEFE
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net equity income from foreign joint ventures' operations	65	(12)	139	146
AAG
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net equity income from foreign joint ventures' operations		(29)	2	871
Foreign Operations
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Foreign joint ventures’ operations related expenses	$ (122)	$ (66)	$ (412)	$ (204)

Gross profit percentage.

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- Definition

Joint venture management related expenses.

+ References

No definition available.

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- Definition

Net equity income from foreign joint ventures.

+ References

No definition available.

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- Definition

Operating income percentage.

+ 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.

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- Definition

This element represents the income or loss from continuing operations (before interest income and interest expense) attributable to the economic entity which may also be defined as revenue less expenses from ongoing operations, after income or loss from equity method investments, but before interest income, interest expense, income taxes, extraordinary items, and noncontrolling interest.

+ References

No definition available.

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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=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

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