Contingent Matters (Details) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($) Party
Contingent Matters [Abstract]
Liability recorded related to guarantees	$ 133
Guarantor Obligations [Line Items]
Contingent liabilities for letters of credit	19,006
Contingent liability for customer debt	$ 1,881
Maximum maturity date of customer debt	Feb. 28, 2019
Number of parties involved in EPA cleanup | Party	300
Aztec Wells Fargo partially guarantee [Member]
Guarantor Obligations [Line Items]
Contingent liabilities for letters of credit issued on behalf of foreign subsidiaries	$ 17,684
Letter of Credit Wells Fargo [Member]
Guarantor Obligations [Line Items]
Contingent liabilities for letters of credit	$ 17,684
Line of credit facility, maximum expiration date	Nov. 30, 2017
Astec Brazil Working Capital Loans [Member] | Aztec Wells Fargo partially guarantee [Member]
Guarantor Obligations [Line Items]
Contingent liabilities for letters of credit issued on behalf of foreign subsidiaries	$ 8,674
Letters of Credit Osborn [Member]
Guarantor Obligations [Line Items]
Performance bank guarantee, subsidiary obligations to fulfill contracts	686
Letters of Credit Astec Australia [Member]
Guarantor Obligations [Line Items]
Performance bank guarantee, subsidiary obligations to fulfill contracts	18
Letters of Credit Telestack [Member]
Guarantor Obligations [Line Items]
Performance bank guarantee, subsidiary obligations to fulfill contracts	$ 618