Business Segments and Major Customer Information Segment reporting information (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Jan. 31, 2012		Jan. 31, 2011		Jan. 31, 2010
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Sales	$ 381,511		$ 314,708		$ 237,782
Operating income	(75,641)		(60,203)	[1]	(43,220)
Assets	245,703		187,760		170,309
Capital expenditures	29,015		13,972		3,302
Depreciation and amortization	9,268		7,631		7,108
Pre-tax gain on disposition of assets			451
Applied Technology [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Sales	132,632		100,090		86,217
Operating income	(45,358)		(31,135)		(25,722)
Assets	69,977		52,669		51,029
Capital expenditures	11,408		1,769		941
Depreciation and amortization	2,351		2,238		1,677
Engineered Films [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Sales	133,481		105,838		63,783
Operating income	(21,501)		(19,622)	[1]	(10,232)
Assets	65,100		46,519		35,999
Capital expenditures	10,937		8,450		1,460
Depreciation and amortization	4,313		3,452		3,707
Sales, intersegment eliminations	(193)		(307)		(210)
Aerostar [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Sales	52,351		48,787		27,244
Operating income	(11,468)		(9,407)		(5,634)
Assets	51,822		18,140		10,462
Capital expenditures	3,875		2,190		332
Depreciation and amortization	1,079		757		398
Sales, intersegment eliminations	(1)		(32)		(1)
Electronic Systems [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Sales	71,744		65,852		63,525
Operating income	(11,264)		(9,917)		(8,979)
Assets	24,281		23,385		21,216
Capital expenditures	793		609		290
Depreciation and amortization	825		823		939
Sales, intersegment eliminations	(8,503)		(5,520)		(2,776)
Business Intersegment, Eliminations [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating income	(220)		(94)		60
Assets	(405)		(186)		(92)
Reportable Segment [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Sales	381,511		314,708		237,782
Operating income	(89,371)		(69,987)	[1]	(50,627)
Assets	210,775		140,527		118,614
Capital expenditures	27,013		13,018		3,023
Depreciation and amortization	8,568		7,270		6,721
Corporate & Other [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating income	13,730	[2]	9,784	[2]	7,407	[2]
Assets	34,928	[2]	47,233	[2]	51,695	[2]
Capital expenditures	2,002	[2]	954	[2]	279	[2]
Depreciation and amortization	$ 700	[2]	$ 361	[2]	$ 387	[2]

[1] Includes a $451 pre-tax gain on disposition of assets.

[2] Assets are principally cash, investments, deferred taxes and other receivables.