Contingent Matters (Details) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016 USD ($) Party
Contingent Matters [Abstract]
Contingent liability for customer debt	$ 1,947
Maximum potential amount of future payments for customer debt	1,947
Liability recorded related to guarantees	128
Guarantor Obligations [Line Items]
Contingent liabilities for letters of credit	$ 18,920
Number of parties involved in EPA cleanup | Party	300
Letter of Credit Wells Fargo [Member]
Guarantor Obligations [Line Items]
Amount of letters of credit outstanding	$ 17,569
Outstanding letters of credit, maximum expiration date	Mar. 31, 2019
Letters of Credit Osborn [Member]
Guarantor Obligations [Line Items]
Performance bank guarantee of subsidiary	$ 1,351
Astec Brazil Working Capital Loans [Member]
Guarantor Obligations [Line Items]
Contingent liabilities for letters of credit issued on behalf of foreign subsidiaries	$ 11,874