Contingent Matters (Details) (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2013 Party	Dec. 31, 2012
Contingent Matters [Abstract]
Contingent liability for customer debt	$ 1,291,000	$ 2,091,000
Maximum potential amount of future payments for customer debt	1,291,000
Liability recorded related to guarantees	266,000
Guarantor Obligations [Line Items]
Total letters of credit and performance guarantees	9,230,000
Number of parties involved in EPA cleanup	300
Letter of Credit Wells Fargo [Member]
Guarantor Obligations [Line Items]
Total letters of credit and performance guarantees	6,903,000
Letters of Credit Osborn [Member]
Guarantor Obligations [Line Items]
Total letters of credit and performance guarantees	1,478,000
Letters of Credit Astec Australia [Member]
Guarantor Obligations [Line Items]
Contingent liabilities for letters of credit issued on behalf of foreign subsidiaries	1,600,000
Total letters of credit and performance guarantees	$ 849,000