Fair Value Measurements (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Trading equity securities [Abstract]
SERP money market fund	$ 537	$ 532
SERP mutual funds	2,832aste_SerpMutualFundsFairValueDisclosure	3,195aste_SerpMutualFundsFairValueDisclosure
Preferred stocks	967aste_PreferredStocksFairValueDisclosure	973aste_PreferredStocksFairValueDisclosure
Trading debt securities [Abstract]
Corporate bonds	4,470aste_CorporateBondsFairValueDisclosure	4,009aste_CorporateBondsFairValueDisclosure
Municipal bonds	2,024aste_MunicipalBondsFairValueDisclosure	2,060aste_MunicipalBondsFairValueDisclosure
Floating rate notes	418	422
U.S. Treasury bonds and bills	403aste_UsTreasuryBillFairValueDisclosure	622aste_UsTreasuryBillFairValueDisclosure
Other	1,397	1,496
Derivative financial instruments	604us-gaap_DerivativeAssets	547us-gaap_DerivativeAssets
Total financial assets	13,652us-gaap_AssetsFairValueDisclosure	13,856us-gaap_AssetsFairValueDisclosure
Financial Liabilities [Abstract]
SERP liabilities	6,160aste_SerpLiabilitiesFairValueDisclosure	8,128aste_SerpLiabilitiesFairValueDisclosure
Total financial liabilities	6,160us-gaap_LiabilitiesFairValueDisclosure	8,128us-gaap_LiabilitiesFairValueDisclosure
Investments included in Level 1 were transferred to Level 2	162
Net unrealized gains (losses) incurred	213	(17)
Level 1 [Member]
Trading equity securities [Abstract]
SERP money market fund	537	532
SERP mutual funds	2,832	3,195
Preferred stocks	967	973
Trading debt securities [Abstract]
Corporate bonds	3,356	2,825
Municipal bonds	0	0
Floating rate notes	101	100
U.S. Treasury bonds and bills	403	622
Other	0	0
Derivative financial instruments		0
Total financial assets	8,196	8,247
Financial Liabilities [Abstract]
SERP liabilities	0	0
Total financial liabilities	0	0
Level 2 [Member]
Trading equity securities [Abstract]
SERP money market fund	0	0
SERP mutual funds	0	0
Preferred stocks	0	0
Trading debt securities [Abstract]
Corporate bonds	1,114	1,184
Municipal bonds	2,024	2,060
Floating rate notes	317	322
U.S. Treasury bonds and bills	0	0
Other	1,397	1,496
Derivative financial instruments	604	547
Total financial assets	5,456	5,609
Financial Liabilities [Abstract]
SERP liabilities	6,160	8,128
Total financial liabilities	$ 6,160	$ 8,128

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Floating rate notes fair value disclosure.

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Municipal bonds fair value disclosure.

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US Treasury bill fair value disclosure.

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Fair value portion of probable future economic benefits obtained or controlled by an entity as a result of past transactions or events.

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Amount of transfers of assets measured on a recurring basis out of Level 1 of the fair value hierarchy into Level 2.

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Fair value of financial and nonfinancial obligations.

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The sum of the realized and unrealized net gain (loss) on trading securities during the period.

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