Debt 5 year repayment (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Jan. 31, 2017	Jan. 31, 2016
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Revolving line North America	$ 3,813	$ 5,237
Mortgage loans on real estate	7,463	1,443
Revolving line foreign	301	8,131
Term loans	80	246
Capitalized lease obligations	283	442
Total debt	11,940
Capital Leases, Future Minimum Payments Due, Next Twelve Months	220
Capital Leases Future Minimum Payments Due In Two Years without interest	62
Capital Leases, Future Minimum Payments Due in Three Years	1
Capital Leases, Future Minimum Payments Due in Four Years	0
Repayments of Long-term Capital Lease Obligations	0
Capital Leases, Future Minimum Payments Due Thereafter	0
Current maturities of long-term debt	4,517	14,006
Total debt principal in Year Two	435
Total debt principal in Year Three	358
Total debt principal in Year Four	362
Total debt principal after Year Five	367
Total debt principal Thereafter	5,901
North America [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Revolving line North America	3,813	$ 5,237
Revolving line North America	0
Mortgages [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term Debt, Maturities, Repayments of Principal in Next Twelve Months	121
Long-term Debt, Maturities, Repayments of Principal in Year Two	355
Long-term Debt, Maturities, Repayments of Principal in Year Three	357
Long-term Debt, Maturities, Repayments of Principal in Year Four	362
Long-term Debt, Maturities, Repayments of Principal in Year Five	367
Total debt principal Thereafter	5,901
Other Debt Obligations [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term Debt, Maturities, Repayments of Principal in Next Twelve Months	62
Long-term Debt, Maturities, Repayments of Principal in Year Two	18
Long-term Debt, Maturities, Repayments of Principal in Year Three	0
Long-term Debt, Maturities, Repayments of Principal in Year Four	0
Long-term Debt, Maturities, Repayments of Principal in Year Five	0
Total debt principal Thereafter	0
Foreign Line of Credit [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Revolving line foreign	301
Long-term Debt, Maturities, Repayments of Principal in Next Twelve Months	301
Long-term Debt, Maturities, Repayments of Principal in Year Two	0
Long-term Debt, Maturities, Repayments of Principal in Year Three	0
Long-term Debt, Maturities, Repayments of Principal in Year Four	0
Long-term Debt, Maturities, Repayments of Principal in Year Five	0
Total debt principal Thereafter	$ 0