Segment Information (Detail) - The following table presents certain operating segment information (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015	Mar. 31, 2014	Mar. 31, 2015	Mar. 31, 2014	Sep. 30, 2014
Sales:
Product	$ 14,195	$ 14,319	$ 29,848	$ 29,068
Service	4,682	6,584	9,459	13,167
Total sales	18,877	20,903	39,307	42,235
Loss from operations	(639)	333	(1,560)	673
Assets	42,127	52,690	42,127	52,690	46,307
Capital expenditures	120	109	223	295
Depreciation and amortization	159	153	331	305
High Performance Products Segment
Sales:
Product	2,527	2,170	4,979	3,176
Service	130	1,065	360	2,348
Total sales	2,657	3,235	5,339	5,524
Loss from operations	(647)	113	(1,504)	255
Assets	15,595	15,644	15,595	15,644
Capital expenditures	25	41	46	102
Depreciation and amortization	60	54	131	106
Germany
Sales:
Product	1,796	3,452	3,940	4,853
Service	3,690	4,486	7,218	8,674
Total sales	5,486	7,938	11,158	13,527
Loss from operations	170	294	249	213
Assets	12,555	20,882	12,555	20,882
Capital expenditures	95	14	176	101
Depreciation and amortization	44	49	91	95
United Kingdom
Sales:
Product	891	336	2,461	983
Service	213	304	496	632
Total sales	1,104	640	2,957	1,615
Loss from operations	(93)	(30)	(25)	1
Assets	3,118	2,726	3,118	2,726
Capital expenditures	0	22	1	45
Depreciation and amortization	10	4	17	8
U.S.
Sales:
Product	8,981	8,361	18,468	20,056
Service	649	729	1,385	1,513
Total sales	9,630	9,090	19,853	21,569
Loss from operations	(69)	(44)	(280)	204
Assets	10,859	13,438	10,859	13,438
Capital expenditures	0	32	0	47
Depreciation and amortization	45	46	92	96
Total
Sales:
Product	11,668	12,149	24,869	25,892
Service	4,552	5,519	9,099	10,819
Total sales	16,220	17,668	33,968	36,711
Loss from operations	8	220	(56)	418
Assets	26,532	37,046	26,532	37,046
Capital expenditures	95	68	177	193
Depreciation and amortization	$ 99	$ 99	$ 200	$ 199