Debt (Details) (USD $)	Mar. 31, 2015	Mar. 31, 2014
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Capital lease obligations	$ 2,270,000us-gaap_CapitalLeaseObligations	$ 3,608,000us-gaap_CapitalLeaseObligations
Total senior debt	2,270,000cmco_Seniordebttotal	3,608,000cmco_Seniordebttotal
7 7/8% Senior Subordinated Notes due February 1, 2019 with interest payable in semi-annual installments (net of the unamortized discount of $1,315 and $1,588, respectively)	0us-gaap_SubordinatedDebt	148,685,000us-gaap_SubordinatedDebt
Debt Instrument, Unamortized Discount	558,000
Total	126,712,000us-gaap_LongTermDebt	152,293,000us-gaap_LongTermDebt
Current portion of long-term debt	13,292,000us-gaap_LongTermDebtCurrent	1,588,000us-gaap_LongTermDebtCurrent
Long-term debt, less current portion	113,420,000us-gaap_LongTermDebtNoncurrent	150,705,000us-gaap_LongTermDebtNoncurrent
Maturities of Long-term Debt [Abstract]
2015	13,294,000
2016	13,213,000
2017	13,147,000
2018	12,607,000
2019	75,009,000
Thereafter	0
Total principal payments	127,270,000us-gaap_DebtInstrumentCarryingAmount	150,000,000us-gaap_DebtInstrumentCarryingAmount
Line of Credit \| New Revolving Credit Facility
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Unamortized Discount	$ 558,000	$ 1,315,000

-- None. No documentation exists for this element. --

No definition available.

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- Definition

Amount equal to the present value (the principal) at the beginning of the lease term of minimum lease payments during the lease term (excluding that portion of the payments representing executory costs such as insurance, maintenance, and taxes to be paid by the lessor, together with any profit thereon) net of payments or other amounts applied to the principal through the balance sheet date.

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- Definition

Amount of long-term debt before deduction of unamortized discount or premium. Includes, but is not limited to, notes payable, bonds payable, commercial loans, mortgage loans, convertible debt, subordinated debt and other types of debt, with initial maturities beyond one year or the normal operating cycle, if longer.

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- Definition

The amount of debt discount that was originally recognized at the issuance of the instrument that has yet to be amortized.

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- Definition

Carrying amount of long-term debt, net of unamortized discount or premium, including current and noncurrent amounts. Includes, but not limited to, notes payable, bonds payable, debentures, mortgage loans and commercial paper. Excludes capital lease obligations.

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Amount of long-term debt, after unamortized discount or premium, scheduled to be repaid within one year or the normal operating cycle, if longer. Includes, but not limited to, notes payable, bonds payable, debentures, mortgage loans and commercial paper. Excludes capital lease obligations.

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Amount of long-term debt payable, sinking fund requirements, and other securities issued that are redeemable by holder at fixed or determinable prices and dates maturing after the fifth fiscal year following the latest fiscal year. Excludes interim and annual periods when interim periods are reported on a rolling approach, from latest balance sheet date.

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Amount of long-term debt payable, sinking fund requirements, and other securities issued that are redeemable by holder at fixed or determinable prices and dates maturing in the next fiscal year following the latest fiscal year. Excludes interim and annual periods when interim periods are reported on a rolling approach, from latest balance sheet date.

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Amount of long-term debt payable, sinking fund requirements, and other securities issued that are redeemable by holder at fixed or determinable prices and dates maturing in the fifth fiscal year following the latest fiscal year. Excludes interim and annual periods when interim periods are reported on a rolling approach, from latest balance sheet date.

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Amount of long-term debt payable, sinking fund requirements, and other securities issued that are redeemable by holder at fixed or determinable prices and dates maturing in the fourth fiscal year following the latest fiscal year. Excludes interim and annual periods when interim periods are reported on a rolling approach, from latest balance sheet date.

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Amount of long-term debt payable, sinking fund requirements, and other securities issued that are redeemable by holder at fixed or determinable prices and dates maturing in the third fiscal year following the latest fiscal year. Excludes interim and annual periods when interim periods are reported on a rolling approach, from latest balance sheet date.

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Amount of long-term debt payable, sinking fund requirements, and other securities issued that are redeemable by holder at fixed or determinable prices and dates maturing in the second fiscal year following the latest fiscal year. Excludes interim and annual periods when interim periods are reported on a rolling approach, from latest balance sheet date.

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Carrying amount of long-term debt, net of unamortized discount or premium, excluding amounts to be repaid within one year or the normal operating cycle, if longer (current maturities). Includes, but not limited to, notes payable, bonds payable, debentures, mortgage loans and commercial paper. Excludes capital lease obligations.

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Including the current and noncurrent portions, carrying value as of the balance sheet date of subordinated debt (with initial maturities beyond one year or beyond the operating cycle if longer). Subordinated debt places a lender in a lien position behind debt having a higher priority of repayment in liquidation of the entity's assets.

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