Debt 5 year repayment (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Jan. 31, 2019	Jan. 31, 2018	Jan. 31, 2017	Jan. 31, 2016	Jan. 31, 2015	Jan. 31, 2014	Jan. 31, 2013
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Mortgage notes						$ 11,172	$ 11,540
Foreign line of credit						5,059	2,242
Loans Payable						6,494	10,608
Capital Lease Obligations						2,067	2,584
Total debt						31,743	40,963
Total due next fiscal year					8,274
Payments of debt on revolving lines of credit	0	0	0	0		85,490	185,659
Repayments of mortgages	374	3,590	410	395	380
Repayments of Debt	0	622	1,757	1,874	2,241
Long-term Debt, Maturities, Repayments of Principal in Next Twelve Months						5,059
Repayments of Long-term Capital Lease Obligations						24
Capital Leases, Future Minimum Payments Due, Next Twelve Months						594
Capital Leases Future Minimum Payments Due In Two Years without interest						648
Capital Leases, Future Minimum Payments Due in Three Years						647
Capital Leases, Future Minimum Payments Due in Four Years						154
Capital Leases, Future Minimum Payments Due Thereafter						0
Repayments of Debt and Capital Lease Obligations	398	4,366	9,765	2,917
Long-term Debt, Maturities, Repayments of Principal after Year Five						6,023
United States
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Revolving line						6,951	13,989
Payments of debt on revolving lines of credit	0			0	0
Long-term Debt, Maturities, Repayments of Principal after Year Five						0
Mortgages [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term Debt, Maturities, Repayments of Principal after Year Five						6,023
Foreign Line of Credit [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term Debt, Maturities, Repayments of Principal after Year Five						0
Other Debt Obligations [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term Debt, Maturities, Repayments of Principal after Year Five						$ 0