Fair Value Measurements - Liabilities (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Jun. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Total Fair Value Inputs [Member]
Fair Value Assets And Liabilities Measured On Recurring And Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Large Capitalization Registered Investment Companies	$ 314	$ 318
Mid Capitalization Registered Investment Companies	83	83
Small Capitalization Registered Investment Companies	68	68
International Developed And Emerging Markets Registered Investment Companies	163	168
Fixed Income Registered Investment Companies	48	50
Fixed General Account	169	177
Interest Rate Derivatives	112	418
Acquisition-related Consideration	9,506	8,898
Liabilities, Fair Value Disclosure	10,463	10,180
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 [Member]
Fair Value Assets And Liabilities Measured On Recurring And Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Large Capitalization Registered Investment Companies	314	318
Mid Capitalization Registered Investment Companies	83	83
Small Capitalization Registered Investment Companies	68	68
International Developed And Emerging Markets Registered Investment Companies	163	168
Fixed Income Registered Investment Companies	48	50
Fixed General Account	0	0
Interest Rate Derivatives	0	0
Acquisition-related Consideration	0	0
Liabilities, Fair Value Disclosure	676	687
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member]
Fair Value Assets And Liabilities Measured On Recurring And Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Large Capitalization Registered Investment Companies	0	0
Mid Capitalization Registered Investment Companies	0	0
Small Capitalization Registered Investment Companies	0	0
International Developed And Emerging Markets Registered Investment Companies	0	0
Fixed Income Registered Investment Companies	0	0
Fixed General Account	169	177
Interest Rate Derivatives	112	418
Acquisition-related Consideration	0	0
Liabilities, Fair Value Disclosure	281	595
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member]
Fair Value Assets And Liabilities Measured On Recurring And Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Large Capitalization Registered Investment Companies	0	0
Mid Capitalization Registered Investment Companies	0	0
Small Capitalization Registered Investment Companies	0	0
International Developed And Emerging Markets Registered Investment Companies	0	0
Fixed Income Registered Investment Companies	0	0
Fixed General Account	0	0
Interest Rate Derivatives	0	0
Acquisition-related Consideration	9,506	8,898
Liabilities, Fair Value Disclosure	$ 9,506	$ 8,898

This element represents the fair value of mutual funds which are invested in fixed income common stock.

No definition available.

Name:	kwr_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesLiabilitiesFixedIncomeRegisteredInvestmentCompaniesFairValueDisclosure
Namespace Prefix:	kwr_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

This element represents the fair value of mutual funds which are invested in international developed and emerging markets common stock.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	kwr_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesLiabilitiesInternationalDevelopedAndEmergingMarketsRegisteredInvestmentCompaniesFairValueDisclosure
Namespace Prefix:	kwr_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

This element represents the fair value of mutual funds which are invested in large capitalization common stock.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	kwr_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesLiabilitiesLargeCapitalizationRegisteredInvestmentCompaniesFairValueDisclosure
Namespace Prefix:	kwr_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

This element represents the fair value of mutual funds which are invested in mid capitalization common stock.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	kwr_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesLiabilitiesMidCapitalizationRegisteredInvestmentCompaniesFairValueDisclosure
Namespace Prefix:	kwr_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

This element represents the fair value of mutual funds which are invested in small capitalization common stock.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	kwr_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesLiabilitiesSmallCapitalizationRegisteredInvestmentCompaniesFairValueDisclosure
Namespace Prefix:	kwr_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Forward based contracts in which two parties agree to swap periodic payments that are fixed at the outset of the swap contract with variable payments based on a market interest rate (index rate) over a specified period.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	kwr_InterestRateDerivatives
Namespace Prefix:	kwr_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

This element represents the fair value of acquisition related considerations such as earnouts, holdbacks and obligations related to non-competition agreements.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	kwr_OtherLiabilitiesAcquisitionRelatedConsiderationFairValueDisclosure
Namespace Prefix:	kwr_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

This element represents the fair value of other liabilities in general accounts.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	kwr_OtherLiabilitiesFixedGeneralAccountFairValueDisclosure
Namespace Prefix:	kwr_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_FairValueAssetsAndLiabilitiesMeasuredOnRecurringAndNonrecurringBasisLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

This element represents the aggregate of the liabilities reported on the balance sheet at period end measured at fair value by the entity. This element is intended to be used in connection with the fair value disclosures required in the footnote disclosures to the financial statements.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LiabilitiesFairValueDisclosure
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant