XML 29 R73.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT v2.4.1.9
Pension and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans (Plan assets) (Details) (Foreign Plan [Member])
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014
Dec. 31, 2013
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]    
Expected future long-term rate of return on plan assets, percent 3.75%mxwl_DefinedBenefitPlanExpectedFutureLongTermRateOfReturnOnPlanAssetsPercent 4.25%mxwl_DefinedBenefitPlanExpectedFutureLongTermRateOfReturnOnPlanAssetsPercent
Swiss bonds [Member]
   
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]    
Target plan asset allocation, percentage 15.00%us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanTargetPlanAssetAllocations
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanByPlanAssetCategoriesAxis
= mxwl_SwissBondsMember
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= us-gaap_ForeignPensionPlansDefinedBenefitMember
 
Historical asset rates of return (percentage) 0.80%mxwl_DefinedBenefitPlanHistoricalRateOfReturnOnPlanAssetsPercent
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanByPlanAssetCategoriesAxis
= mxwl_SwissBondsMember
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= us-gaap_ForeignPensionPlansDefinedBenefitMember
0.40%mxwl_DefinedBenefitPlanHistoricalRateOfReturnOnPlanAssetsPercent
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanByPlanAssetCategoriesAxis
= mxwl_SwissBondsMember
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= us-gaap_ForeignPensionPlansDefinedBenefitMember
Non-Swiss hedged bonds [Member]
   
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]    
Target plan asset allocation, percentage 10.00%us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanTargetPlanAssetAllocations
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanByPlanAssetCategoriesAxis
= mxwl_NonSwissHedgedBondsMember
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= us-gaap_ForeignPensionPlansDefinedBenefitMember
 
Swiss equities [Member]
   
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]    
Target plan asset allocation, percentage 10.00%us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanTargetPlanAssetAllocations
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanByPlanAssetCategoriesAxis
= mxwl_SwissEquitiesMember
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= us-gaap_ForeignPensionPlansDefinedBenefitMember
 
Historical asset rates of return (percentage) 4.10%mxwl_DefinedBenefitPlanHistoricalRateOfReturnOnPlanAssetsPercent
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanByPlanAssetCategoriesAxis
= mxwl_SwissEquitiesMember
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= us-gaap_ForeignPensionPlansDefinedBenefitMember
5.60%mxwl_DefinedBenefitPlanHistoricalRateOfReturnOnPlanAssetsPercent
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanByPlanAssetCategoriesAxis
= mxwl_SwissEquitiesMember
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= us-gaap_ForeignPensionPlansDefinedBenefitMember
Global equities [Member]
   
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]    
Target plan asset allocation, percentage 15.00%us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanTargetPlanAssetAllocations
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanByPlanAssetCategoriesAxis
= mxwl_GlobalEquitiesMember
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= us-gaap_ForeignPensionPlansDefinedBenefitMember
 
Hedged Foreign Bonds [Member]
   
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]    
Historical asset rates of return (percentage) 1.00%mxwl_DefinedBenefitPlanHistoricalRateOfReturnOnPlanAssetsPercent
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanByPlanAssetCategoriesAxis
= mxwl_HedgedForeignBondsMember
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= us-gaap_ForeignPensionPlansDefinedBenefitMember
1.00%mxwl_DefinedBenefitPlanHistoricalRateOfReturnOnPlanAssetsPercent
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanByPlanAssetCategoriesAxis
= mxwl_HedgedForeignBondsMember
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= us-gaap_ForeignPensionPlansDefinedBenefitMember
Real Estate [Member]
   
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]    
Target plan asset allocation, percentage 40.00%us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanTargetPlanAssetAllocations
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanByPlanAssetCategoriesAxis
= us-gaap_RealEstateMember
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= us-gaap_ForeignPensionPlansDefinedBenefitMember
 
Historical asset rates of return (percentage) 3.70%mxwl_DefinedBenefitPlanHistoricalRateOfReturnOnPlanAssetsPercent
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanByPlanAssetCategoriesAxis
= us-gaap_RealEstateMember
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= us-gaap_ForeignPensionPlansDefinedBenefitMember
4.80%mxwl_DefinedBenefitPlanHistoricalRateOfReturnOnPlanAssetsPercent
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanByPlanAssetCategoriesAxis
= us-gaap_RealEstateMember
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= us-gaap_ForeignPensionPlansDefinedBenefitMember
Unhedged Global Equities [Member]
   
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]    
Historical asset rates of return (percentage) 5.50%mxwl_DefinedBenefitPlanHistoricalRateOfReturnOnPlanAssetsPercent
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanByPlanAssetCategoriesAxis
= mxwl_UnhedgedGlobalEquitiesMember
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= us-gaap_ForeignPensionPlansDefinedBenefitMember
6.50%mxwl_DefinedBenefitPlanHistoricalRateOfReturnOnPlanAssetsPercent
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanByPlanAssetCategoriesAxis
= mxwl_UnhedgedGlobalEquitiesMember
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= us-gaap_ForeignPensionPlansDefinedBenefitMember
Emerging Market Equities [Member]
   
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]    
Target plan asset allocation, percentage 5.00%us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanTargetPlanAssetAllocations
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanByPlanAssetCategoriesAxis
= mxwl_EmergingMarketEquitiesMember
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= us-gaap_ForeignPensionPlansDefinedBenefitMember
 
Historical asset rates of return (percentage) 5.30%mxwl_DefinedBenefitPlanHistoricalRateOfReturnOnPlanAssetsPercent
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanByPlanAssetCategoriesAxis
= mxwl_EmergingMarketEquitiesMember
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= us-gaap_ForeignPensionPlansDefinedBenefitMember
7.40%mxwl_DefinedBenefitPlanHistoricalRateOfReturnOnPlanAssetsPercent
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanByPlanAssetCategoriesAxis
= mxwl_EmergingMarketEquitiesMember
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= us-gaap_ForeignPensionPlansDefinedBenefitMember
Alernative investments [Member]
   
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]    
Target plan asset allocation, percentage 4.00%us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanTargetPlanAssetAllocations
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanByPlanAssetCategoriesAxis
= mxwl_AlernativeInvestmentsMember
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= us-gaap_ForeignPensionPlansDefinedBenefitMember
 
Historical asset rates of return (percentage) 2.33%mxwl_DefinedBenefitPlanHistoricalRateOfReturnOnPlanAssetsPercent
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanByPlanAssetCategoriesAxis
= mxwl_AlernativeInvestmentsMember
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= us-gaap_ForeignPensionPlansDefinedBenefitMember
2.80%mxwl_DefinedBenefitPlanHistoricalRateOfReturnOnPlanAssetsPercent
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanByPlanAssetCategoriesAxis
= mxwl_AlernativeInvestmentsMember
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= us-gaap_ForeignPensionPlansDefinedBenefitMember
Cash and other short-term investments [Member]
   
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]    
Target plan asset allocation, percentage 1.00%us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanTargetPlanAssetAllocations
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanByPlanAssetCategoriesAxis
= us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsMember
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= us-gaap_ForeignPensionPlansDefinedBenefitMember
 
Historical asset rates of return (percentage) 1.30%mxwl_DefinedBenefitPlanHistoricalRateOfReturnOnPlanAssetsPercent
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanByPlanAssetCategoriesAxis
= us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsMember
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= us-gaap_ForeignPensionPlansDefinedBenefitMember
1.40%mxwl_DefinedBenefitPlanHistoricalRateOfReturnOnPlanAssetsPercent
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanByPlanAssetCategoriesAxis
= us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsMember
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= us-gaap_ForeignPensionPlansDefinedBenefitMember