The aggregate expense recognized in the current period that allocates the cost of tangible assets, intangible assets, or depleting assets to periods that benefit from use of the assets.

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Amount of the cost of borrowed funds accounted for as interest expense.

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Reportable Segments and Geographic Data (Schedule of Financial Data by Reporting Segment) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended												12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014	Sep. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2014	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2013	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2012	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	$ 191,600us-gaap_Revenues	$ 179,900us-gaap_Revenues	$ 193,500us-gaap_Revenues	$ 180,300us-gaap_Revenues	$ 189,600us-gaap_Revenues	$ 183,100us-gaap_Revenues	$ 198,000us-gaap_Revenues	$ 186,700us-gaap_Revenues	$ 194,300us-gaap_Revenues	$ 194,600us-gaap_Revenues	$ 191,900us-gaap_Revenues	$ 180,100us-gaap_Revenues	$ 745,345us-gaap_Revenues	$ 757,414us-gaap_Revenues	$ 760,941us-gaap_Revenues
Depreciation and amortization													64,292	63,789	63,067
Operating income/(loss)													71,360us-gaap_OperatingIncomeLoss	52,091us-gaap_OperatingIncomeLoss	(44,136)us-gaap_OperatingIncomeLoss
Interest income													(1,541)us-gaap_InvestmentIncomeInterest	(1,468)us-gaap_InvestmentIncomeInterest	(1,517)us-gaap_InvestmentIncomeInterest
Interest expense													12,254us-gaap_InterestExpense	15,227us-gaap_InterestExpense	18,118us-gaap_InterestExpense
Other expense/ (income), net													(6,853)us-gaap_OtherNonoperatingIncomeExpense	7,256us-gaap_OtherNonoperatingIncomeExpense	7,629us-gaap_OtherNonoperatingIncomeExpense
Income/(loss) before income taxes													67,500	31,076	(68,366)
Machine Clothing [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales													655,026	674,747	693,176
Depreciation and amortization													45,066	46,521	48,052
Operating income/(loss)													136,450	114,370	143,358
Albany Engineered Composites [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales													90,319	82,667	67,765
Depreciation and amortization													10,880	8,460	5,963
Operating income/(loss)													(10,483)	(14,404)	(10,918)
Corporate Expenses [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Depreciation and amortization													8,346	8,808	9,052
Operating income/(loss)													(54,607)	(47,875)	(176,576)
Significant Reconciling Items [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Interest income													(1,541)	(1,468)	(1,517)
Interest expense													12,254	15,227	18,118
Other expense/ (income), net													$ (6,853)	$ 7,256	$ 7,629