Consolidated Statements of Stockholders' Equity - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Total	Common Stock	Additional Paid-in Capital	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)	Retained Earnings	Total Stockholders' Equity	Non-controlling Interest
Beginning balance, shares at Sep. 30, 2012		9,484,000
Beginning balance at Sep. 30, 2012	$ 84,051	$ 95	$ 77,377	$ (6,817)	$ 12,065	$ 82,720	$ 1,331
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net loss	(21,707)				(20,069)	(20,069)	(1,638)
Translation adjustment	2,225			2,261		2,261	(36)
Tax deficiency of stock options	(264)		(264)			(264)
Stock compensation expense	2,472		2,472			2,472
Restricted shares released, shares		59,000
Restricted shares released	2	$ 1	1			2
Stock options exercised, shares		8,000
Stock options exercised	24	$ 0	24			24
Ending balance, shares at Sep. 30, 2013		9,551,000
Ending balance at Sep. 30, 2013	66,803	$ 96	79,610	(4,556)	(8,004)	67,146	(343)
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net loss	(14,289)				(13,047)	(13,047)	(1,242)
Translation adjustment	(1,202)			(1,234)		(1,234)	32
Tax benefit (deficiency) of stock compensation	345		345			345
Stock compensation expense	795		795			795
Restricted shares released, shares		34,000
Restricted shares released	0	$ 0	0			0
Stock options exercised, shares		263,000
Stock options exercised	$ 1,136	$ 2	1,134			1,136
Ending balance, shares at Sep. 30, 2014	9,848,253	9,848,000
Ending balance at Sep. 30, 2014	$ 53,588	$ 98	81,884	(5,790)	(21,051)	55,141	(1,553)
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net loss	(6,717)				(7,771)	(7,771)	1,054
Translation adjustment	(3,010)			(2,876)		(2,876)	(134)
Acquisition of interest in SoLayTec	1,221						1,221
Deconsolidation of Kingstone	(775)						(775)
Tax benefit (deficiency) of stock compensation	30		30			30
Stock compensation expense	1,162		1,162			1,162
Shares issued for BTU purchase (in shares)		3,186,000
Shares issued for BTU purchase	26,625	$ 32	26,593			26,625
Restricted shares released, shares		22,000
Restricted shares released	0	$ 0	0			0
Stock options exercised, shares		94,000
Stock options exercised	$ 523	$ 1	522			523
Ending balance, shares at Sep. 30, 2015	13,150,469	13,150,000
Ending balance at Sep. 30, 2015	$ 72,647	$ 131	$ 110,191	$ (8,666)	$ (28,822)	$ 72,834	$ (187)