Significant accounting policies Investment in joint venture (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Jan. 31, 2014

Investment in joint venture [Abstract]

Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Table Text Block]

Investment in joint venture. In October 2009, the Company invested $5.9 million, which consisted of $2.0 million for a 49% interest and $3.9 million for a note receivable, in a Canadian joint venture with The Bayou Companies, Inc., a subsidiary of Aegion Corporation. The joint venture completed an acquisition of Garneau, Inc.'s pipe coating and insulation facility and associated assets located in Camrose, Alberta, Canada, which provides the Company the opportunity to participate in the growing oil sands market. In February 2012, the Company loaned $1.0 million to its Canadian joint venture to be used for capital expenditures.

The Company accounts for the investment in joint venture using the equity method. The financial results included in the Company's consolidated financial statements.

	2013	2012
Share of income from joint venture	$528	$1,386

The following information summarizes the joint venture financial data:

	2013	2012
Current assets	$13,034	$14,058
Noncurrent assets	17,093	19,442
Current liabilities	2,921	2,703
Noncurrent liabilities	14,837	18,274
Equity	12,369	12,523
Revenue	29,110	30,448
Gross profit	4,748	7,211
Income from continuing operations	2,619	3,380
Net income	1,078	2,680