Contingent Matters (Details) (USD $)	Jun. 30, 2013 Party	Dec. 31, 2012
Contingent Matters [Abstract]
Contingent liability for customer debt	$ 1,558,000	$ 2,091,000
Maximum potential amount of future payments for customer debt	1,558,000
Liability recorded related to guarantees	243,000
Guarantor Obligations [Line Items]
Performance bank guarantee from foreign subsidiary securing obligations to fulfill contracts	13,006,000
Number of parties involved in EPA cleanup	300
Letter of Credit Wells Fargo [Member]
Guarantor Obligations [Line Items]
Contingent liabilities for letters of credit	10,599,000
Letters of Credit Osborn [Member]
Guarantor Obligations [Line Items]
Performance bank guarantee from foreign subsidiary securing obligations to fulfill contracts	1,560,000
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 foreign subsidiary securing obligations to fulfill contracts	$ 847,000