Income taxes Reconcilation to the ETR rate (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Jan. 31, 2017	Jan. 31, 2016
Income Tax Expense [Line Items]
Tax (benefit) expense at federal statutory rate	$ (4,412)	$ 1,023
Permanent differences management fee allocation	0	619
Permanent differences other	205	214
Differences in foreign tax rate	2,131	(780)
Foreign tax credit	(1,249)	(761)
Domestic deferred tax true ups	0	(346)
Research tax credit	0	(54)
Repatriation	1,338	821
Nontaxable loss (income) from the Canadian joint venture	551	(205)
Nondeductible interest	242	0
State taxes, net of federal benefit	(103)	(58)
All other, net expense	33	(22)
Total	(611)	1,375
United States
Income Tax Expense [Line Items]
Domestic valuation allowance	567	804
State and Local Jurisdiction [Member]
Income Tax Expense [Line Items]
Domestic valuation allowance	122	88
Foreign Tax Authority [Member]
Income Tax Expense [Line Items]
Domestic valuation allowance	(36)	32
India
Income Tax Expense [Line Items]
Repatriation	$ 100	$ 200