Quarterly Financial Information (Unaudited) (Tables) (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended												12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015		Sep. 30, 2015		Jun. 30, 2015	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014		Sep. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2014		Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2015		Dec. 31, 2014		Dec. 31, 2013
Quarterly Financial Information (Unaudited) [Abstract]
Net sales	$ 139,138	[1]	$ 176,059	[2]	$ 171,419	$ 137,907	$ 161,149	[3]	$ 167,797	$ 166,832	[4]	$ 111,414	$ 537,214		$ 561,899		$ 559,846
Gross profit	29,872	[1]	36,038	[2]	37,089	30,653	31,605	[3]	35,159	30,700	[4]	24,127	133,653		121,591		115,939
Net (loss) income	$ 3,328	[1]	$ (57,422)	[2]	$ 5,362	$ 4,285	$ 6,029	[3]	$ 9,116	$ 6,862	[4]	$ 3,649	$ (44,445)		$ 25,656		$ 29,290
Basic (loss) earnings per common share	$ 0.33	[1]	$ (5.60)	[2]	$ 0.52	$ 0.42	$ 0.59	[3]	$ 0.89	$ 0.67	[4]	$ 0.36	$ (4.33)		$ 2.51		$ 2.88
Diluted (loss) earnings per common share	0.32	[1]	(5.60)	[2]	0.52	0.41	0.58	[3]	0.88	0.67	[4]	0.35	(4.33)		2.48		2.85
Dividends paid per common share	$ 0.04	[1]	$ 0.04	[2]	$ 0.04	$ 0.04	$ 0.04	[3]	$ 0.03	$ 0.03	[4]	$ 0.03	$ 0.16		$ 0.13		$ 0.12
Goodwill, Impairment Loss			$ 80,337										$ 80,337		$ 0		$ 0
Goodwill, Impairment Loss, Net of Tax			$ 63,887										63,887
Pre-tax gain on sale of facility	$ 2,279												$ 2,279	[5]	$ 0	[5]	$ 0	[5]
Product Warranty Expense							$ 4,766			$ 4,000

[1] Fourth quarter 2015 includes $2,279 pre-tax gain on sale of Tucson, AZ concrete tie facility.

[2] Third quarter 2015 includes $80,337 ($63,887 net of tax) impairment of goodwill related to the IOS and Chemtec reporting units.

[3] Fourth quarter 2014 includes a $4,766 warranty charge related to UPRR warranty claim.

[4] Second quarter 2014 includes a $4,000 warranty charge related to UPRR warranty claim.

[5] On December 23, 2015, the Company sold certain assets related to the former Tucson, AZ precast concrete tie facility for $2,750 resulting in a pre-tax gain on sale of $2,279.