Note 4 - Business Segment and Geopgraphic Information (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2013

Segment Reporting [Abstract]

Schedule of Segment Reporting Information, by Segment [Table Text Block]

	Fiscal year ended September 30, 2013
	Carbon Fibers		Technical Fibers		Corporate/ Other			Total
Net sales	$	106,205	$	32,498	$	1,748		$	140,451
Cost of sales		87,105		21,943		1,573			110,621
Gross profit		19,100		10,555		175			29,830
Operating income (loss)		12,442		10,036		(14,381	)		8,097
Depreciation		15,072		1,673		1,385			18,130
Capital expenditures		5,066		5,465		2,486			13,017

	Fiscal year ended September 30, 2012
	Carbon Fibers		Technical Fibers		Corporate/ Other			Total
Net sales	$	151,494	$	32,425	$	2,418		$	186,337
Cost of sales		117,431		20,853		2,409			140,693
Gross profit		34,063		11,572		9			45,644
Operating income (loss)		27,818		10,328		(12,505	)		25,641
Depreciation		15,986		1,351		505			17,842
Capital expenditures		17,434		1,208		3,715			22,357

	Fiscal year ended September 30, 2011
	Carbon Fibers		Technical Fibers		Corporate/ Other			Total
Net sales	$	118,986	$	30,483	$	2,217		$	151,686
Cost of sales		106,832		25,500		1,653			133,985
Gross profit		12,154		4,983		564			17,701
Operating income (loss)		2,918		3,673		(11,320	)		(4,729	)
Depreciation		15,658		1,414		723			17,795
Capital expenditures		6,574		779		824			8,177

	Total Assets
	Carbon Fibers		Technical Fibers		Corporate/ Other		Total
September 30. 2013	$	288,544	$	44,946	$	19,375	$	352,865
September 30. 2012	$	301,440	$	31,597	$	25,651	$	358,688

Schedule of Disclosure on Geographic Areas, Long-Lived Assets in Individual Foreign Countries by Country [Table Text Block]

	2013						2012						2011
	Net Sales(a)		Net Long Lived Assets(b)		Net Assets		Net Sales(a)		Net Long Lived Assets(b)		Net Assets		Net Sales(a)		Net Long Lived Assets(b)		Net Assets
United States	$	61,195	$	42,233	$	71,227	$	72,269	$	47,645	$	82,337	$	66,342	$	41,403	$	74,232
Hungary		*		91,779		142,424		*		96,394		135,521		*		98,326		126,589
Germany		24,873		-				34,600		-		-		26,250		-		-
Other Europe		35,837		-				56,030		-		-		45,761		-		-
Asia		15,938		-				21,374		-		-		11,266		-		-
Mexico		*		75,609		93,565		*		71,611		83,113		*		75,354		80,726
Other areas		2,608		-				2,064		-		-		2,067		-		-
Total	$	140,451	$	209,621	$	307,216	$	186,337	$	215,650	$	300,971	$	151,686	$	215,083	$	281,547