Contingent Matters	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2015
Contingent Matters [Abstract]
Contingent Matters	15. Contingent Matters Certain customers have financed purchases of Company products through arrangements in which the Company is contingently liable for customer debt of $1,881 at December 31, 2015. These arrangements expire at various dates through February 2019 and provide that the Company will receive the lender's full security interest in the equipment financed if the Company is required to fulfill its contingent liability under these arrangements. The Company has recorded a liability of $133 related to these guarantees as of December 31, 2015. In addition, the Company is contingently liable under letters of credit issued by Wells Fargo totaling $17,684 as of December 31, 2015, including $8,674 of letters of credit guaranteeing certain Astec Brazil bank debt. The outstanding letters of credit expire at various dates through November 2017. As of December 31, 2015, Osborn is contingently liable for a total of $686 in retention guarantees. As of December 31, 2015, Astec Australia is contingently liable for a total of $18 in performance bank guarantees. As of December 31, 2015, Telestack is contingently liable for a total of $618 in performance bond, advance payment and performance guarantees. The maximum potential amount of future payments under these letters of credit and guarantees for which the Company could be liable is $19,006 as of December 31, 2015. The Company is currently a party to various claims and legal proceedings that have arisen in the ordinary course of business. If management believes that a loss arising from such claims and legal proceedings is probable and can reasonably be estimated, the Company records the amount of the loss (excluding estimated legal fees) or the minimum estimated liability when the loss is estimated using a range and no point within the range is more probable than another. As management becomes aware of additional information concerning such contingencies, any potential liability related to these matters is assessed and the estimates are revised, if necessary. If management believes that a loss arising from such claims and legal proceedings is either (i) probable but cannot be reasonably estimated or (ii) reasonably possible but not probable, the Company does not record the amount of the loss, but does make specific disclosure of such matter. Based upon currently available information and with the advice of counsel, management believes that the ultimate outcome of its current claims and legal proceedings, individually and in the aggregate, will not have a material adverse effect on the Company's financial position, cash flows or results of operations. However, claims and legal proceedings are subject to inherent uncertainties and rulings unfavorable to the Company could occur. If an unfavorable ruling were to occur, there exists the possibility of a material adverse effect on the Company's financial position, cash flows or results of operations. During 2004, the Company received notice from the Environmental Protection Agency ("EPA") that it may be responsible for a portion of the costs incurred in connection with an environmental cleanup in Illinois. The discharge of hazardous materials and associated cleanup relate to activities occurring prior to the Company's acquisition of Barber-Greene in 1986. The Company believes that over 300 other parties have received similar notices. At this time, the Company cannot predict whether the EPA will seek to hold the Company liable for a portion of the cleanup costs or the amount of any such liability. The Company has not recorded a liability with respect to this matter because no estimate of the amount of any such liability can be made at this time.

15. Contingent Matters

Certain customers have financed purchases of Company products through arrangements in which the Company is contingently liable for customer debt of $1,881 at December 31, 2015. These arrangements expire at various dates through February 2019 and provide that the Company will receive the lender's full security interest in the equipment financed if the Company is required to fulfill its contingent liability under these arrangements. The Company has recorded a liability of $133 related to these guarantees as of December 31, 2015.

In addition, the Company is contingently liable under letters of credit issued by Wells Fargo totaling $17,684 as of December 31, 2015, including $8,674 of letters of credit guaranteeing certain Astec Brazil bank debt. The outstanding letters of credit expire at various dates through November 2017. As of December 31, 2015, Osborn is contingently liable for a total of $686 in retention guarantees. As of December 31, 2015, Astec Australia is contingently liable for a total of $18 in performance bank guarantees. As of December 31, 2015, Telestack is contingently liable for a total of $618 in performance bond, advance payment and performance guarantees. The maximum potential amount of future payments under these letters of credit and guarantees for which the Company could be liable is $19,006 as of December 31, 2015.

The Company is currently a party to various claims and legal proceedings that have arisen in the ordinary course of business. If management believes that a loss arising from such claims and legal proceedings is probable and can reasonably be estimated, the Company records the amount of the loss (excluding estimated legal fees) or the minimum estimated liability when the loss is estimated using a range and no point within the range is more probable than another. As management becomes aware of additional information concerning such contingencies, any potential liability related to these matters is assessed and the estimates are revised, if necessary. If management believes that a loss arising from such claims and legal proceedings is either (i) probable but cannot be reasonably estimated or (ii) reasonably possible but not probable, the Company does not record the amount of the loss, but does make specific disclosure of such matter. Based upon currently available information and with the advice of counsel, management believes that the ultimate outcome of its current claims and legal proceedings, individually and in the aggregate, will not have a material adverse effect on the Company's financial position, cash flows or results of operations. However, claims and legal proceedings are subject to inherent uncertainties and rulings unfavorable to the Company could occur. If an unfavorable ruling were to occur, there exists the possibility of a material adverse effect on the Company's financial position, cash flows or results of operations.

During 2004, the Company received notice from the Environmental Protection Agency ("EPA") that it may be responsible for a portion of the costs incurred in connection with an environmental cleanup in Illinois. The discharge of hazardous materials and associated cleanup relate to activities occurring prior to the Company's acquisition of Barber-Greene in 1986. The Company believes that over 300 other parties have received similar notices. At this time, the Company cannot predict whether the EPA will seek to hold the Company liable for a portion of the cleanup costs or the amount of any such liability. The Company has not recorded a liability with respect to this matter because no estimate of the amount of any such liability can be made at this time.