Consolidated Statements of Shareholders' Equity - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Total	Common Stock	Treasury Stock	Additional Paid- In Capital	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)	Retained Deficit	Total Shareholders' Equity
Beginning balance at Sep. 30, 2017		$ 147		$ 125,564	$ (8,529)	$ (26,699)	$ 90,483
Beginning balance (in shares) at Sep. 30, 2017		14,711,000
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income (loss)	$ 5,305					5,305	5,305
Translation adjustment					(1,445)		(1,445)
Repurchase of treasury stock			$ (4,000)				(4,000)
Repurchase of treasury stock (in shares)			(771,000)
Retirement of treasury stock		$ (8)	$ 4,000	(3,992)
Retirement of treasury stock (in shares)		(771,000)	771,000
Stock compensation expense				855			855
Stock options exercised		$ 3		1,889			1,892
Stock options exercised (in shares)		277,000
Ending balance at Sep. 30, 2018		$ 142		124,316	(9,974)	(21,394)	93,090
Ending balance (in shares) at Sep. 30, 2018		14,217,000
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income (loss)	$ (5,162)					(5,162)	(5,162)
Translation adjustment					(1,259)		(1,259)
Stock compensation expense				573			573
Stock options exercised		$ 1		209			210
Stock options exercised (in shares)		52,000
Ending balance at Sep. 30, 2019		$ 143		125,098	(11,233)	(26,556)	87,452
Ending balance (in shares) at Sep. 30, 2019	14,268,797	14,269,000
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income (loss)	$ (15,723)					(15,723)	(15,723)
Translation adjustment					10,587		10,587
Repurchase of treasury stock			$ (2,000)				(2,000)
Repurchase of treasury stock (in shares)			(366,000)
Retirement of treasury stock		$ (4)	$ 2,000	(1,864)		(132)
Retirement of treasury stock (in shares)		(366,000)	366,000
Stock compensation expense				326			326
Stock options exercised		$ 2		875			877
Stock options exercised (in shares)		160,000
Ending balance at Sep. 30, 2020		$ 141		$ 124,435	$ (646)	$ (42,411)	$ 81,519
Ending balance (in shares) at Sep. 30, 2020	14,063,172	14,063,000