Condensed Consolidating Financial Statements (Details 2) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	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, 2014	Mar. 31, 2013	Mar. 31, 2012
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net sales	$ 215,821	$ 207,339	$ 208,449	$ 202,057	$ 199,539	$ 197,697	$ 211,165	$ 215,500	$ 833,666	$ 823,903	$ 924,052
Operating costs and expenses:
Cost of sales									712,925	697,076	731,312
Selling, general and administrative expenses									95,856	107,620	106,534
Research and development									24,466	26,876	27,765
Restructuring charges									14,122	18,719	14,254
Write down of long-lived assets									4,476	7,582	15,786
Goodwill impairment									0	1,092	0
Net (gain) loss on sales and disposals of assets									32	18	318
Total operating costs and expenses									851,877	858,983	895,969
Operating (loss) income	(5,207)	3,623	1,585	(18,212)	(14,448)	(3,437)	(12,872)	(4,323)	(18,211)	(35,080)	28,083
Interest income									(195)	(139)	(175)
Interest expense									40,962	41,331	28,567
Other (income) expense, net									(2,681)	(2,295)	965
Loss from continuing operations before income taxes and equity loss from NEC TOKIN									(56,297)	(73,977)	(1,274)
Income tax expense (benefit)									1,482	3,281	1,076
Loss from continuing operations before equity loss from NEC TOKIN									(57,779)	(77,258)	(2,350)
Equity loss from NEC TOKIN									(7,090)	(1,254)	0
Loss from continuing operations	(14,550)	(4,744)	(11,945)	(33,630)	(23,704)	(13,169)	(23,642)	(17,997)	(64,869)	(78,512)	(2,350)
Income (loss) from discontinued operations	103	(1,076)	(1,151)	(1,510)	(1,547)	(1,088)	(1,278)	243	(3,634)	(3,670)	9,042
Net income (loss)	(14,447)	(5,820)	(13,096)	(35,140)	(25,251)	(14,257)	(24,920)	(17,754)	(68,503)	(82,182)	6,692
Parent
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net sales									218
Operating costs and expenses:
Cost of sales									1,336	2,003	799
Selling, general and administrative expenses									41,359	30,838	30,741
Research and development									229	190
Net (gain) loss on sales and disposals of assets										3
Total operating costs and expenses									42,924	33,034	31,540
Operating (loss) income									(42,706)	(33,034)	(31,540)
Interest income									(12)	(24)	(12)
Interest expense									40,069	40,651	27,375
Other (income) expense, net									(40,642)	(27,233)	(29,947)
Equity in earnings of subsidiaries									26,332	35,754	(34,456)
Loss from continuing operations before income taxes and equity loss from NEC TOKIN									(68,453)	(82,182)	5,500
Income tax expense (benefit)											(1,192)
Loss from continuing operations before equity loss from NEC TOKIN									(68,453)	(82,182)
Loss from continuing operations									(68,453)	(82,182)	6,692
Income (loss) from discontinued operations									(50)
Net income (loss)									(68,503)	(82,182)	6,692
Guarantor Subsidiaries
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net sales									966,369	905,755	938,525
Operating costs and expenses:
Cost of sales									878,308	823,170	799,659
Selling, general and administrative expenses									61,896	68,711	60,872
Research and development									16,849	20,028	21,283
Restructuring charges									2,858	7,266	2,255
Write down of long-lived assets									1,118	438
Goodwill impairment										1,092
Net (gain) loss on sales and disposals of assets									(625)	98	384
Net (gain) loss on intercompany asset transfer									14,564
Total operating costs and expenses									974,968	920,803	884,453
Operating (loss) income									(8,599)	(15,048)	54,072
Interest income									(4)	(43)	(58)
Interest expense									1,130	972	459
Other (income) expense, net									36,741	27,623	32,127
Loss from continuing operations before income taxes and equity loss from NEC TOKIN									(46,466)	(43,600)	21,544
Income tax expense (benefit)									(1,302)	636	(80)
Loss from continuing operations before equity loss from NEC TOKIN									(45,164)	(44,236)
Equity loss from NEC TOKIN									(7,090)	(1,254)
Loss from continuing operations									(52,254)	(45,490)	21,624
Income (loss) from discontinued operations									(1,195)
Net income (loss)									(53,449)	(45,490)	21,624
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net sales									817,945	843,938	883,385
Operating costs and expenses:
Cost of sales									729,105	754,783	804,464
Selling, general and administrative expenses									47,643	50,981	39,783
Research and development									7,388	6,658	6,482
Restructuring charges									11,264	11,453	11,999
Write down of long-lived assets									3,358	7,144	15,786
Net (gain) loss on sales and disposals of assets									657	(83)	(66)
Net (gain) loss on intercompany asset transfer									(14,564)
Total operating costs and expenses									784,851	830,936	878,448
Operating (loss) income									33,094	13,002	4,937
Interest income									(179)	(72)	(105)
Interest expense									(237)	(292)	733
Other (income) expense, net									1,220	(2,685)	(986)
Loss from continuing operations before income taxes and equity loss from NEC TOKIN									32,290	16,051	5,295
Income tax expense (benefit)									2,784	2,645	2,348
Loss from continuing operations before equity loss from NEC TOKIN									29,506	13,406
Loss from continuing operations									29,506	13,406	2,947
Income (loss) from discontinued operations									(2,389)	(3,670)	9,042
Net income (loss)									27,117	9,736	11,989
Reclassifications and Eliminations
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net sales									(950,866)	(925,790)	(897,858)
Operating costs and expenses:
Cost of sales									(895,824)	(882,880)	(873,610)
Selling, general and administrative expenses									(55,042)	(42,910)	(24,862)
Total operating costs and expenses									(950,866)	(925,790)	(898,472)
Operating (loss) income											614
Other (income) expense, net											(229)
Equity in earnings of subsidiaries									(26,332)	(35,754)	34,456
Loss from continuing operations before income taxes and equity loss from NEC TOKIN									26,332	35,754	(33,613)
Loss from continuing operations before equity loss from NEC TOKIN									26,332	35,754
Loss from continuing operations									26,332	35,754	(33,613)
Net income (loss)									$ 26,332	$ 35,754	$ (33,613)