Segment Information (Detail) - The following table presents certain operating segment information - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2014
Sales:
Product	$ 15,696	$ 15,677	$ 45,544	$ 44,745
Service	6,591	6,959	16,050	20,126
Total sales	22,287	22,636	61,594	64,871
Income (loss) from operations	695	967	(865)	1,640
Assets	45,982	49,739	45,982	49,739	$ 46,307
Capital expenditures	176	75	398	370
Depreciation and amortization	151	151	482	456
High Performance Products Segment
Sales:
Product	1,844	2,697	6,823	5,873
Service	2,085	2,137	2,445	4,485
Total sales	3,929	4,834	9,268	10,358
Income (loss) from operations	871	998	(633)	1,253
Assets	16,034	15,932	16,034	15,932
Capital expenditures	4	57	50	159
Depreciation and amortization	56	53	187	159
Germany
Sales:
Product	1,289	3,323	5,229	8,176
Service	3,535	3,546	10,753	12,220
Total sales	4,824	6,869	15,982	20,396
Income (loss) from operations	196	44	445	257
Assets	12,854	15,271	12,854	15,271
Capital expenditures	30	17	205	118
Depreciation and amortization	39	46	130	141
United Kingdom
Sales:
Product	601	368	3,062	1,351
Service	377	402	873	1,034
Total sales	978	770	3,935	2,385
Income (loss) from operations	(558)	(20)	(583)	(19)
Assets	2,955	3,595	2,955	3,595
Capital expenditures	0	0	1	45
Depreciation and amortization	10	4	27	12
U.S.
Sales:
Product	11,962	9,289	30,430	29,345
Service	594	874	1,979	2,387
Total sales	12,556	10,163	32,409	31,732
Income (loss) from operations	186	(55)	(94)	149
Assets	14,139	14,941	14,139	14,941
Capital expenditures	142	1	142	48
Depreciation and amortization	46	48	138	144
Total
Sales:
Product	13,852	12,980	38,721	38,872
Service	4,506	4,822	13,605	15,641
Total sales	18,358	17,802	52,326	54,513
Income (loss) from operations	(176)	(31)	(232)	387
Assets	29,948	33,807	29,948	33,807
Capital expenditures	172	18	348	211
Depreciation and amortization	$ 95	$ 98	$ 295	$ 297