Note 11 - Business Segment Information (Tables)

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2013

Jun. 30, 2012

Segment Reporting [Abstract]

Schedule of Segment Reporting Information, by Segment [Table Text Block]

In thousands of dollars:
						Depreciation
			Loss (Income)			and
Three Months	Net Sales		From Operations			Amortization		Assets
June 30, 2013
Power & Energy Group	$	3,092	$	3,148			306	$	59,829
All Other		60		(41	)		19		236
Consolidated Total	$	3,152	$	3,107		$	325	$	60,065
June 30, 2012
Power & Energy Group	$	394	$	5,047		$	230	$	54,263
All Other		60		(38	)		20		372
Consolidated Total	$	454	$	5,009		$	250	$	54,635

						Depreciation
			Loss (Income)			and
Six Months	Net Sales		From Operations			Amortization		Assets
June 30, 2013
Power & Energy Group	$	4,886	$	6,718			581	$	59,829
All Other		120		(82	)		38		236
Consolidated Total	$	5,006	$	6,636		$	619	$	60,065
June 30, 2012
Power & Energy Group	$	591	$	10,022		$	481	$	54,263
All Other		120		(79	)		38		372
Consolidated Total	$	711	$	9,943		$	519	$	54,635

Schedule of Revenue by Major Customers by Reporting Segments [Table Text Block]

	Sales		Accounts Receivable
	Six Months Ended		Balance at
Customer	June 30, 2013		June 30, 2013
Power and Energy Group:
Hawaiian Electric Light Company	$	2,149	$	68
Vestas	$	1,291	$	179
Proterra, LLC		485	$	83

	Sales		Accounts Receivable
	Six Months Ended		Balance at
Customer	June 30, 2012		June 30, 2012
Power and Energy Group:
Hybricon	$	131
ABB Secheron		98
Cargotec		90
Bombardier		79	$	79
Ocean Power Technologies		74

Schedule of Revenue from External Customers Attributed to Foreign Countries by Geographic Area [Table Text Block]

	Sales		Sales
	Six Months Ended		Six Months Ended
Geographic information	2013		2012
Denmark	$	1,291
United States		3,485		205
Belgium		132
Germany				142
Sweden				131
Switzerland				103
Other foreign countries		98		130
Total	$	5,006	$	711

Schedule of Disclosure on Geographic Areas, Long-Lived Assets in Individual Foreign Countries by Country [Table Text Block]

	Balance at		Balance at
Long-lived assets:	June 30, 2013		December 31, 2012
United States	$	7,135	$	6,207
China		23,526		13,625
Total	$	30,661	$	19,832