Industry Segments - Schedule of reporting information by segment (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	$ 132,676	$ 141,661	$ 427,998	$ 462,344
Operating Income	2,986	2,578	15,281	29,037
Interest expense, net	(2,015)	(1,729)	(6,087)	(6,899)
Income from continuing operations before income taxes	971	849	9,194	22,138
Operating Segments | Material Handling
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	89,911	92,479	299,842	320,534
Operating Income	4,378	7,369	26,152	41,622
Operating Segments | Distribution
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	42,793	49,212	128,248	141,909
Operating Income	3,301	5,558	9,803	13,557
Inter-company sales
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	(28)	(30)	(92)	(99)
Corporate
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating Income	$ (4,693)	$ (10,349)	$ (20,674)	$ (26,142)