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 (in shares) at Sep. 30, 2014		9,848,000
Beginning 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 income (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 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 (in shares)		22,000
Restricted shares released	0	$ 0	0			0
Stock options exercised (in shares)		94,000
Stock options exercised	523	$ 1	522			523
Ending balance (in shares) at Sep. 30, 2015		13,150,000
Ending balance at Sep. 30, 2015	72,647	$ 131	110,191	(8,666)	(28,822)	72,834	(187)
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income (loss)	(8,550)				(7,008)	(7,008)	(1,542)
Translation adjustment	(199)			(210)		(210)	11
Tax benefit of stock compensation	0		0			0
Stock compensation expense	1,390		1,390			1,390
Restricted shares released (in shares)		14,000
Restricted shares released	0	$ 0	0			0
Stock options exercised (in shares)		15,000
Stock options exercised	$ 51	$ 1	50			51
Ending balance (in shares) at Sep. 30, 2016	13,179,355	13,179,000
Ending balance at Sep. 30, 2016	$ 65,339	$ 132	111,631	(8,876)	(35,830)	67,057	(1,718)
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income (loss)	8,086				9,131	9,131	(1,045)
Translation adjustment	423			347		347	76
Acquisition of interest in SoLayTec	2,687						2,687
Tax benefit of stock compensation	18		18			18
Proceeds from stock offering (in shares)		1,214,000
Proceeds from stock offering, amount	10,632	$ 12	10,620			10,632
Stock compensation expense	1,328		1,328			1,328
Stock options exercised (in shares)		318,000
Stock options exercised	$ 1,970	$ 3	1,967			1,970
Ending balance (in shares) at Sep. 30, 2017	14,710,591	14,711,000
Ending balance at Sep. 30, 2017	$ 90,483	$ 147	$ 125,564	$ (8,529)	$ (26,699)	$ 90,483	$ 0