Commitments and Contingencies (Details) $ in Thousands, € in Millions, CAD in Millions	1 Months Ended			3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2017 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2016 EUR (€)	Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2017 USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2017 CAD	Jul. 07, 2016 USD ($)
Rochester, New Hampshire
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Expense associated with expected costs of site investigation	$ 200
Texel
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Long-term environmental remediation liability						$ 925
Texel | Quebec, Canada
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Indemnification assets, minimum estimated outcome						900
Indemnification assets, maximum estimated outcome						$ 1,500
Long-term environmental remediation liability	900		$ 900	$ 900
Environment remediation indemnity secured by environmental escrow account	2,300			2,300	CAD 3.0
Environmental remediation indemnity secured by general escrow account	10,500			10,500	CAD 14.0
Indemnification asset, amount at acquisition date	$ 900		900	900
German Federal Cartel Office, Bundeskartellamt | Lydall Gerhardi
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Litigation settlement amount awarded to (against) the entity		€ (3.3)		$ (3,500)
Litigation settlement expense		€ 3.3	$ 3,500