Basis of Presentation (Tables)

6 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2014

Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]

Deferred Revenue, by Arrangement, Disclosure

The components of deferred profit are as follows:

	March 31, 2014		September 30, 2013
	(dollars in thousands)
Deferred revenues	$	11,158	$	3,371
Deferred costs	5,757		304
Deferred profit	$	5,401	$	3,067

Schedule of Inventory, Current

The components of inventories are as follows:

	March 31, 2014		September 30, 2013
	(dollars in thousands)
Purchased parts and raw materials	$	12,297	$	11,757
Work-in-process	2,970		7,104
Finished goods	2,081		3,140
	$	17,348	$	22,001

Property, Plant and Equipment

The following is a summary of property, plant and equipment:

	March 31, 2014			September 30, 2013
	(dollars in thousands)
Land, building and leasehold improvements	$	11,122		$	10,960
Equipment and machinery	7,895			7,630
Furniture and fixtures	5,781			5,685
	24,798			24,275
Accumulated depreciation and amortization	(14,260		)	(13,209		)
	$	10,538		$	11,066

Schedule of Goodwill

The following is a summary of activity in goodwill:

	Solar and Semiconductor Equipment			Polishing Supplies and Equipment		Total
	(dollars in thousands)
Balance at the beginning of year
Goodwill	$	12,563		$	728	$	13,291
Accumulated impairment losses	(4,810		)	—		(4,810		)
	7,753			728		8,481
Net exchange differences	44			—		44
Balance at the end of quarter
Goodwill	12,607			728		13,335
Accumulated impairment losses	(4,810		)	—		(4,810		)
	$	7,797		$	728	$	8,525

Schedule of Finite-Lived Intangible Assets

The following is a summary of intangibles:

	Useful Life	Gross Carrying Amount		Accumulated Amortization			Net Carrying Amount		Gross Carrying Amount		Accumulated Amortization			Net Carrying Amount
		March 31, 2014							September 30, 2013
		(dollars in thousands)
Non-compete agreements	4-8 years	$	1,068	$	(841	)	$	227	$	1,065	$	(717	)	$	348
Customer lists	10 years	886		(582		)	304		871		(532		)	339
Technology	5-10 years	2,455		(1,593		)	862		2,426		(1,422		)	1,004
In-process research and development	(1)	1,600		—			1,600		1,600		—			1,600
Other	2-10 years	347		(160		)	187		341		(130		)	211
		$	6,356	$	(3,176	)	$	3,180	$	6,303	$	(2,801	)	$	3,502

(1) The in-process research and development will be amortized over its useful life when it has reached technological feasibility.

Schedule of Product Warranty Liability

The following is a summary of activity in accrued warranty expense:

	Six Months Ended March 31,
	2014			2013
	(dollars in thousands)
Beginning balance	$	1,454		$	2,687
Warranty expenditures	(496		)	(791		)
Warranty provisions/(adjustment)	(200		)	169
Ending balance	$	758		$	2,065

Effects of share-based compensation expense

Share-based compensation expense reduced the Company’s results of operations by the following amounts:

	Three Months Ended March 31,						Six Months Ended March 31,
	2014			2013			2014			2013
	(dollars in thousands)
Effect on income before income taxes (1)	$	(197	)	$	(327	)	$	(373	)	$	(758	)
Effect on income taxes	119			41			159			100
Effect on net income	$	(78	)	$	(286	)	$	(214	)	$	(658	)

(1) Stock-based compensation expense is included in selling, general and administrative expenses.

Schedule of Share-based Compensation, Stock Options, Activity

Stock option transactions and the options outstanding are summarized as follows:

	Six Months Ended March 31,
	2014					2013
	Options			Weighted Average Exercise Price		Options			Weighted Average Exercise Price
Outstanding at beginning of period	1,059,417			$	6.71	891,293			$	9.37
Granted	220,406			7.01		312,850			2.95
Exercised	(260,726		)	4.28		—			—
Forfeited	(3,464		)	6.92		(2,255		)	7.77
Outstanding at end of period	1,015,633			$	7.40	1,201,888			$	7.71
Exercisable at end of period	664,934			$	8.11	597,245			$	9.19
Weighted average fair value of options granted during the period	$	4.38				$	1.82

Schedule of Share-based Payment Award, Stock Options, Valuation Assumptions

The fair value of options was estimated at the grant date using the Black-Scholes option pricing model with the following assumptions:

	Six Months Ended March 31,
	2014	2013
Risk free interest rate	2%	1%
Expected life	6 years	6 years
Dividend rate	0%	0%
Volatility	69%	70%

Schedule of Share-based Compensation, Restricted Stock Activity

Restricted stock transactions and awards outstanding are summarized as follows:

	Six Months Ended March 31,
	2014				2013
	Awards		Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value		Awards		Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value
Beginning Outstanding	69,154		$	10.13	127,975		$	9.06
Released	(30,828	)	10.08		(55,646	)	7.65
Forfeited	—		—		(50	)	7.98
Ending Outstanding	38,326		$	10.17	72,279		$	10.15

Research and Development Expense

The table below shows gross research and development expenses and grants earned:

	Three Months Ended						Six Months Ended
	March 31, 2014			March 31, 2013			March 31, 2014			March 31, 2013
	(dollars in thousands)						(dollars in thousands)
Research and development	$	2,494		$	2,184		$	5,388		$	4,643
Grants earned	(339		)	(238		)	(2,344		)	(1,535		)
Net research and development	$	2,155		$	1,946		$	3,044		$	3,108