BUSINESS SEGMENTS - Segment Operations and Assets (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2013	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2012	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2013 Segment	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Segment information
Number of segments									3
Net sales	$ 51,176	$ 54,268	$ 57,859	$ 46,270	$ 52,519	$ 50,149	$ 48,687	$ 50,212	$ 209,573	$ 201,567	$ 208,891
Depreciation and amortization									12,895	11,747	11,199
Income from operations									11,697	17,403	18,219
Stock-based compensation				(894)					(3,401)	(4,443)	(3,397)
Other income (expense)									(528)	(32)	528
Interest expense									(648)	(832)	(1,945)
Interest income									7	13	8
Consolidated income before income taxes and non-controlling interest									10,528	16,552	16,810
Capital expenditures									17,565	15,647	7,726
Assets	240,612				235,431				240,612	235,431	213,426
Cash and cash equivalents	10,617				8,200				10,617	8,200	5,276	4,572
Prepaid expenses and other assets	4,375				4,469				4,375	4,469
Property, plant and equipment, net	65,015				53,976				65,015	53,976	41,402
Net sales | Customer Concentration Risk
Segment information
Number of customers accounted for more than 10% of total net sales									0	0	0
Operating Segments
Segment information
Income from operations									22,315	25,411	24,302
Capital expenditures									16,789	15,647	7,726
Assets	218,124				218,666				218,124	218,666	200,549
Corporate, Non-Segment
Segment information
Corporate expenses									(7,217)	(3,565)	(2,686)
Stock-based compensation									(3,401)	(4,443)	(3,397)
Other income (expense)									(528)	(32)	528
Interest expense									(648)	(832)	(1,945)
Interest income									7	13	8
Capital expenditures									776	0	0
Cash and cash equivalents	10,617				8,200				10,617	8,200	5,276
Prepaid expenses and other assets	6,275				5,687				6,275	5,687	5,647
Deferred tax assets	4,012				2,878				4,012	2,878	1,954
Property, plant and equipment, net	1,584				0				1,584	0	0
NobelClad
Segment information
Net sales									118,409	115,333	126,199
Depreciation and amortization									6,118	5,580	5,833
Income from operations									17,090	17,439	16,058
Capital expenditures									2,425	4,747	4,338
Assets	99,115				100,227				99,115	100,227	102,473
DynaEnergetics
Segment information
Net sales									83,651	77,404	72,782
Depreciation and amortization									6,125	5,631	4,877
Income from operations									4,849	7,047	6,188
Capital expenditures									13,022	10,386	2,904
Assets	112,919				112,319				112,919	112,319	92,070
AMK Technical Services
Segment information
Net sales									7,513	8,830	9,910
Depreciation and amortization									652	536	489
Income from operations									376	925	2,056
Capital expenditures									1,342	514	484
Assets	$ 6,090				$ 6,120				$ 6,090	$ 6,120	$ 6,006