Condensed Consolidating Financial Statements (Details 2) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2013
Condensed Consolidating Statement of Operations
Net sales	$ 212,881	$ 202,057
Operating costs and expenses:
Cost of sales	179,924	183,513
Selling, general and administrative expenses	24,779	26,080
Research and development	6,589	6,066
Restructuring charges	1,830	4,610
Net loss on sales and disposals of assets	365	0
Total operating costs and expenses	213,487	220,269
Operating loss	(606)	(18,212)
Investment Income, Interest	(3)	(164)
Interest expense	(10,456)	(10,034)
Other (income) expense, net	(3,533)	355
Loss from continuing operations before income taxes and equity loss from NEC TOKIN	(7,526)	(28,437)
Income tax expense	1,282	1,816
Loss from continuing operations before equity loss from NEC TOKIN	(8,808)	(30,253)
Equity loss from NEC TOKIN	(1,675)	(3,377)
Loss from continuing operations	(10,483)	(33,630)
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of income tax expense (benefit) of $918 and $(236), respectively	6,943	(1,510)
Net loss	(3,540)	(35,140)
Reportable legal entities | Parent
Condensed Consolidating Statement of Operations
Net sales	54	19
Operating costs and expenses:
Cost of sales	464	392
Selling, general and administrative expenses	11,089	10,611
Research and development	66	90
Total operating costs and expenses	11,619	11,093
Operating loss	(11,565)	(11,074)
Investment Income, Interest		(8)
Interest expense	(9,799)	(10,129)
Other (income) expense, net	(10,827)	(10,060)
Equity in earnings of subsidiaries	(6,997)	23,995
Loss from continuing operations before income taxes and equity loss from NEC TOKIN	(3,540)	(35,130)
Loss from continuing operations before equity loss from NEC TOKIN	(3,540)	(35,130)
Loss from continuing operations	(3,540)	(35,130)
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of income tax expense (benefit) of $918 and $(236), respectively		(10)
Net loss	(3,540)	(35,140)
Reportable legal entities | Guarantor Subsidiaries
Condensed Consolidating Statement of Operations
Net sales	255,576	237,323
Operating costs and expenses:
Cost of sales	222,672	227,048
Selling, general and administrative expenses	17,153	12,057
Research and development	4,349	4,275
Restructuring charges	371	1,934
Net loss on sales and disposals of assets	188	6
Total operating costs and expenses	244,733	245,320
Operating loss	10,843	(7,997)
Investment Income, Interest		(3)
Interest expense	(400)	(252)
Other (income) expense, net	7,444	10,802
Loss from continuing operations before income taxes and equity loss from NEC TOKIN	2,999	(19,048)
Income tax expense	23	55
Loss from continuing operations before equity loss from NEC TOKIN	2,976	(19,103)
Equity loss from NEC TOKIN	(1,675)	(3,377)
Loss from continuing operations	1,301	(22,480)
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of income tax expense (benefit) of $918 and $(236), respectively	(488)	(317)
Net loss	813	(22,797)
Reportable legal entities | Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries
Condensed Consolidating Statement of Operations
Net sales	201,219	206,945
Operating costs and expenses:
Cost of sales	184,907	188,169
Selling, general and administrative expenses	12,386	13,546
Research and development	2,174	1,701
Restructuring charges	1,459	2,676
Net loss on sales and disposals of assets	177	(6)
Total operating costs and expenses	201,103	206,086
Operating loss	116	859
Investment Income, Interest	(3)	(153)
Interest expense	(257)	347
Other (income) expense, net	(150)	(387)
Equity in earnings of subsidiaries		0
Loss from continuing operations before income taxes and equity loss from NEC TOKIN	12	1,746
Income tax expense	1,259	1,761
Loss from continuing operations before equity loss from NEC TOKIN	(1,247)	(15)
Loss from continuing operations	(1,247)	(15)
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of income tax expense (benefit) of $918 and $(236), respectively	7,431	(1,183)
Net loss	6,184	(1,198)
Reclassifications and Eliminations
Condensed Consolidating Statement of Operations
Net sales	(243,968)	(242,230)
Operating costs and expenses:
Cost of sales	(228,119)	(232,096)
Selling, general and administrative expenses	(15,849)	(10,134)
Total operating costs and expenses	(243,968)	(242,230)
Equity in earnings of subsidiaries	6,997	(23,995)
Loss from continuing operations before income taxes and equity loss from NEC TOKIN	(6,997)	23,995
Loss from continuing operations before equity loss from NEC TOKIN	(6,997)	23,995
Loss from continuing operations	(6,997)	23,995
Net loss	$ (6,997)	$ 23,995