Industry Segments - Schedule of reporting information by segment (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2018
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	$ 125,480	$ 135,219	$ 398,880	$ 428,347
Total operating income	8,060	(25,839)	28,460	(706)
Interest expense, net	(993)	(883)	(3,059)	(3,835)
Income from continuing operations before income taxes	7,067	(26,722)	25,401	(4,541)
Operating Segments [Member] \| Material Handling [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	84,110	97,682	282,963	317,621
Total operating income	10,385	10,812	44,181	44,865
Operating Segments [Member] \| Distribution [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	41,388	37,557	115,957	110,815
Total operating income	3,382	2,546	6,923	7,070
Inter-company sales [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	(18)	(20)	(40)	(89)
Corporate [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total operating income	$ (5,707)	$ (39,197)	$ (22,644)	$ (52,641)

Amount of income (loss) from continuing operations, including income (loss) from equity method investments, before deduction of income tax expense (benefit), and income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest.

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