Business segment (Tables)

9 Months Ended

Oct. 31, 2016

Segment Reporting [Abstract]

Business segment reporting [Table Text Block]

	Three Months Ended October 31,						Nine Months Ended October 31,
	2016			2015			2016			2015
Net sales
Piping Systems		$25,302			$46,950			$71,230			$92,374
Gross profit
Piping Systems		$3,697			$14,315			$8,669			$19,796
(Loss) income from operations
Piping Systems		$640			$9,721			($1,775	)		$7,470
Corporate		($1,677	)		($2,200	)	(5,607		)	(6,049		)
Total (loss) income from operations		($1,037	)		$7,521			($7,382	)		$1,421