XML 57 R72.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT v2.4.1.9
Pension and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans (Assumptions used to determine the benefit obligation and net periodic benefit cost) (Details) (Foreign Plan [Member])
 12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014
Dec. 31, 2013
Weighted-average assumptions used to determine benefit obligation:    
Discount rate 1.00%us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanAssumptionsUsedCalculatingBenefitObligationDiscountRate 2.25%us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanAssumptionsUsedCalculatingBenefitObligationDiscountRate
Rate of compensation increase 2.50%us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanAssumptionsUsedCalculatingBenefitObligationRateOfCompensationIncrease 2.50%us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanAssumptionsUsedCalculatingBenefitObligationRateOfCompensationIncrease
Weighted-average assumptions used to determine net periodic pension cost:    
Discount rate 2.25%us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanAssumptionsUsedCalculatingNetPeriodicBenefitCostDiscountRate 1.75%us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanAssumptionsUsedCalculatingNetPeriodicBenefitCostDiscountRate
Expected long-term return on plan assets 4.25%us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanAssumptionsUsedCalculatingNetPeriodicBenefitCostExpectedLongTermReturnOnAssets 4.25%us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanAssumptionsUsedCalculatingNetPeriodicBenefitCostExpectedLongTermReturnOnAssets
Rate of compensation increase 2.50%us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanAssumptionsUsedCalculatingNetPeriodicBenefitCostRateOfCompensationIncrease 2.50%us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanAssumptionsUsedCalculatingNetPeriodicBenefitCostRateOfCompensationIncrease
Percentage of the fair value of total plan assets held in each major category of plan assets:    
Percentage of the fair value of total plan assets held in each major category of plan assets: 100.00%us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanFundedPercentage 100.00%us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanFundedPercentage
Equity Securities [Member]
    
Percentage of the fair value of total plan assets held in each major category of plan assets:    
Percentage of the fair value of total plan assets held in each major category of plan assets: 33.00%us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanFundedPercentage
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanByPlanAssetCategoriesAxis
= us-gaap_EquitySecuritiesMember
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= us-gaap_ForeignPensionPlansDefinedBenefitMember		 36.00%us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanFundedPercentage
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanByPlanAssetCategoriesAxis
= us-gaap_EquitySecuritiesMember
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= us-gaap_ForeignPensionPlansDefinedBenefitMember
Debt Securities [Member]
    
Percentage of the fair value of total plan assets held in each major category of plan assets:    
Percentage of the fair value of total plan assets held in each major category of plan assets: 22.00%us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanFundedPercentage
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanByPlanAssetCategoriesAxis
= us-gaap_DebtSecuritiesMember
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= us-gaap_ForeignPensionPlansDefinedBenefitMember		 21.00%us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanFundedPercentage
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanByPlanAssetCategoriesAxis
= us-gaap_DebtSecuritiesMember
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= us-gaap_ForeignPensionPlansDefinedBenefitMember
Real Estate [Member]
    
Percentage of the fair value of total plan assets held in each major category of plan assets:    
Percentage of the fair value of total plan assets held in each major category of plan assets: 40.00%us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanFundedPercentage
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanByPlanAssetCategoriesAxis
= us-gaap_RealEstateMember
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= us-gaap_ForeignPensionPlansDefinedBenefitMember		 40.00%us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanFundedPercentage
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanByPlanAssetCategoriesAxis
= us-gaap_RealEstateMember
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= us-gaap_ForeignPensionPlansDefinedBenefitMember
Other [Member]
    
Percentage of the fair value of total plan assets held in each major category of plan assets:    
Percentage of the fair value of total plan assets held in each major category of plan assets: 5.00%us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanFundedPercentage
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanByPlanAssetCategoriesAxis
= mxwl_OtherPlanAssetsMember
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= us-gaap_ForeignPensionPlansDefinedBenefitMember		 3.00%us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanFundedPercentage
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanByPlanAssetCategoriesAxis
= mxwl_OtherPlanAssetsMember
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= us-gaap_ForeignPensionPlansDefinedBenefitMember