Contingent Matters (Details) $ in Thousands	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2015 USD ($) Party
Contingent Matters [Abstract]
Contingent liability for customer debt	$ 2,108
Maximum potential amount of future payments for customer debt	2,108
Liability recorded related to guarantees	168
Guarantor Obligations [Line Items]
Contingent liabilities for letters of credit	$ 15,597
Number of parties involved in EPA cleanup | Party	300
Letter of Credit Wells Fargo [Member]
Guarantor Obligations [Line Items]
Contingent liabilities for letters of credit	$ 14,461
Outstanding letters of credit, maximum expiration date	Nov. 30, 2017
Letters of Credit Osborn [Member]
Guarantor Obligations [Line Items]
Performance bank guarantee of subsidiary	$ 1,118
Letters of Credit Astec Australia [Member]
Guarantor Obligations [Line Items]
Performance bank guarantee of subsidiary	18
Letters of Credit Astec Brazil [Member]
Guarantor Obligations [Line Items]
Contingent liabilities for letters of credit issued on behalf of foreign subsidiaries	$ 8,674