Income taxes Reconcilation to the ETR rate (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Jan. 31, 2016	Jan. 31, 2015
Income Tax Expense [Line Items]
Tax benefit at federal statutory rate	$ 1,023	$ 2,478
Permanent differences management fee allocation	619	1,946
Permanent differences other	214	(540)
Differences in foreign tax rate	(780)	(291)
Foreign tax credit	(761)	(793)
Domestic deferred tax true ups	(346)	0
Research tax credit	(54)	(29)
Deferred tax liability on repatriation	821	1,530
Nontaxable income from the Canadian joint venture	(205)	(666)
State taxes, net of federal benefit	(58)	(131)
All other, net expense	(22)	(170)
Income tax expense	1,375	3,051
United States
Income Tax Expense [Line Items]
Valuation allowance	804	0
State and Local Jurisdiction [Member]
Income Tax Expense [Line Items]
Valuation allowance	88	(318)
Foreign Tax Authority [Member]
Income Tax Expense [Line Items]
Valuation allowance	32	35
Denmark
Income Tax Expense [Line Items]
Deferred tax liability on repatriation	200
India
Income Tax Expense [Line Items]
Deferred tax liability on repatriation	$ 200	$ 900