Investments Equity Method Investments (Details) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands		1 Months Ended
	Jan. 31, 2015 USD ($) director shares	May. 31, 2014 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2015 USD ($) $ / shares shares	Jun. 01, 2015 $ / shares	Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($)
iGo, Inc.
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Value of investment			$ 2,870		$ 3,400
Ownership percentage (as a percent)			40.00%
API Optix s.r.o
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Ownership percentage (as a percent)			50.00%
ModusLink Global Solutions, Inc.
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Number of warrants purchased (in shares) | shares			2,000,000
Exercise price of warrants or rights (in dollars per share) | $ / shares			$ 5
JPS Industries
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Ownership percentage (as a percent)			38.70%		38.70%
API Technologies Corp.
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Ownership percentage (as a percent)		20.60%	20.60%		20.60%
Realized loss reclassification		$ 600
Aviat Networks, Inc. (Aviat)
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Ownership percentage (as a percent)			12.90%		0.00%
CoSine | API Optix s.r.o
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Ownership percentage (as a percent)			50.00%
HNH | JPS Industries, Inc.
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Voting interest acquired (as a percent)				100.00%
Price per share (in dollars per share) | $ / shares				$ 11.00
Steel Excel Inc. | Aviat Networks, Inc. (Aviat)
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Ownership percentage (as a percent)	12.90%
Realized loss reclassification	$ 2,800
Number of directors | director	2
Number of directors on board | director	8
Shares held | shares	8,041,892