Contingent Matters (Details) (USD $)	Jun. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Contingent Matters [Abstract]
Contingent liability for customer debt	$ 1,007,000	$ 3,537,000
Maximum potential amount of future payments for customer debt	1,007,000
Liability recorded related to guarantees	111,000
Guarantor Obligations [Line Items]
Contingent liabilities for letters of credit	17,796,000
Number of parties involved in EPA cleanup	over 300
Letter of Credit Wells Fargo [Member]
Guarantor Obligations [Line Items]
Contingent liabilities for letters of credit	12,853,000
Letters of Credit Osborn [Member]
Guarantor Obligations [Line Items]
Contingent liabilities for letters of credit	4,644,000
Contingent liabilities for letters of credit issued on behalf of foreign subsidiaries	2,000,000
Letters of Credit Astec Australia [Member]
Guarantor Obligations [Line Items]
Contingent liabilities for letters of credit issued on behalf of foreign subsidiaries	1,600,000
Performance bank guarantee from parent securing subsidiary obligations to fulfill contracts	$ 299,000