Segment Information (Net Sales by Geographic Area) (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	$ 566,852	$ 524,505	$ 535,829
Long-Lived Assets	166,370	116,717	118,680
United States
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	354,371	344,950	345,864
Long-Lived Assets	88,918	76,502	72,832
France
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	52,042	47,495	52,534
Long-Lived Assets	12,692	12,899	13,861
Germany
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	63,301	68,861	77,896
Long-Lived Assets	15,649	10,149	12,366
United Kingdom
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	23,871	26,598	26,387
Long-Lived Assets	4,903	6,399	7,601
Canada
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	40,871	0	0
Long-Lived Assets	30,911	0	0
China
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	30,361	33,885	29,401
Long-Lived Assets	11,996	9,953	11,225
Other
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	2,035	2,716	3,747
Long-Lived Assets	1,301	815	795
Technical Nonwovens Segment
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Intercompany sales	$ 18,200	$ 13,800	$ 1,000