Note 9 - Guarantees (Details Textual) SFr in Thousands, $ in Thousands	Dec. 30, 2017 USD ($)	Dec. 30, 2017 CHF (SFr)	Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2016 CHF (SFr)
Loans Payable to Bank, Current	$ 1,280
Kita Manufacturing Co. LTD. and Kita USA, Inc. [Member]
Long-term Debt	9,000
Long-term Debt, Maturities, Repayments of Principal in Next Twelve Months	1,300
Long-term Debt, Maturities, Repayments of Principal in Year Two	1,200
Long-term Debt, Maturities, Repayments of Principal in Year Three	1,000
Long-term Debt, Maturities, Repayments of Principal in Year Four	1,100
Long-term Debt, Maturities, Repayments of Principal in Year Five	800
Long-term Debt, Maturities, Repayments of Principal after Year Five	3,600
Kita Manufacturing Co. LTD. and Kita USA, Inc. [Member] | Long-term Borrowings Assumed in Business Acquisition [Member]
Loans Payable to Bank	5,900
Loans Payable to Bank, Current	$ 1,300
Kita Manufacturing Co. LTD. and Kita USA, Inc. [Member] | Long-term Borrowings Assumed in Business Acquisition [Member] | Minimum [Member]
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage	0.05%	0.05%
Kita Manufacturing Co. LTD. and Kita USA, Inc. [Member] | Long-term Borrowings Assumed in Business Acquisition [Member] | Maximum [Member]
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage	0.45%	0.45%
Revolving Credit Facility [Member] | Kita Manufacturing Co. LTD. and Kita USA, Inc. [Member]
Line of Credit Facility, Maximum Borrowing Capacity	$ 6,200
Long-term Line of Credit	3,100
Line of Credit Available to Ismeca Subsidiary [Member]
Line of Credit Facility, Maximum Borrowing Capacity | SFr		SFr 2,000
Long-term Line of Credit | SFr		SFr 0		SFr 0
Non-current Other Accrued Liabilities [Member]
Product Warranty Accrual, Noncurrent	$ 600		$ 600