Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015	Mar. 31, 2014	Mar. 31, 2015	Mar. 31, 2014
Income Statement [Abstract]
Revenues	$ 170,199	$ 162,295	$ 322,800	$ 334,167
Cost of goods sold	145,898	127,367	277,430	264,081
Gross profit	24,301	34,928	45,370	70,086
Selling, general and administrative expenses	19,464	22,088	40,279	43,722
Research and development expenses	1,626	2,157	3,466	3,996
Amortization of intangible assets	113	121	232	536
Restructuring and separation expenses	1,332		1,332
Operating income	1,766	10,562	61	21,832
Other income	(879)	(507)	(1,386)	(507)
Interest expense	33	41	69	110
Interest income	(84)	(3)	(88)	(6)
Income from continuing operations before income taxes	2,696	11,031	1,466	22,235
Income tax provision	6,379	4,055	5,388	7,992
Income (loss) from continuing operations	(3,683)	6,976	(3,922)	14,243
Income from discontinued operations, net of tax (Note J)		8,617		9,604
Net income (loss)	$ (3,683)	$ 15,593	$ (3,922)	$ 23,847
Earnings (loss) per share:
Continuing operations	$ (0.31)	$ 0.58	$ (0.33)	$ 1.19
Discontinued operations		$ 0.72		$ 0.80
Basic earnings (loss) per share	$ (0.31)	$ 1.30	$ (0.33)	$ 1.99
Continuing operations	$ (0.31)	$ 0.58	$ (0.33)	$ 1.18
Discontinued operations		$ 0.71		$ 0.80
Diluted earnings (loss) per share	$ (0.31)	$ 1.29	$ (0.33)	$ 1.98
Weighted average shares:
Basic	12,018	12,004	12,029	11,999
Diluted	12,018	12,064	12,029	12,057
Dividends per share	$ 0.26	$ 0.25	$ 0.52	$ 0.50