Goodwil, Long-lived Assets, and Other Charges - Changes in the carrying amount of goodwill by reporting segment (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		12 Months Ended
		Jan. 31, 2017		Jan. 31, 2016	Jan. 31, 2015
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill, beginning balance		$ 40,672		$ 52,148	$ 22,274
Goodwill, Acquired During Period					30,466
Goodwill, Foreign Currency Translation Gain (Loss)		(23)		(116)	(592)
Purchase price adjustment to acquired goodwill	[1]			206
Goodwill, Written off Related to Sale of Business Unit				(69)
Goodwill impairment loss		0		(11,497)	0
Goodwill, Transfers		0
Goodwill, end balance		40,649		40,672	52,148
Applied Technology [Member]
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill, beginning balance		12,365		12,550	9,892
Goodwill, Acquired During Period					3,250
Goodwill, Foreign Currency Translation Gain (Loss)		(23)		(116)	(592)
Purchase price adjustment to acquired goodwill				0
Goodwill, Written off Related to Sale of Business Unit				(69)
Goodwill impairment loss				0
Goodwill, Transfers		0
Goodwill, end balance		12,342		12,365	12,550
Engineered Films [Member]
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill, beginning balance		27,518		27,312	96
Goodwill, Acquired During Period					27,216
Goodwill, Foreign Currency Translation Gain (Loss)		0		0	0
Purchase price adjustment to acquired goodwill	[1]			206
Goodwill, Written off Related to Sale of Business Unit				0
Goodwill impairment loss				0
Goodwill, Transfers		0
Goodwill, end balance		27,518		27,518	27,312
Aerostar [Member]
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill, beginning balance		789		789	789
Goodwill, Acquired During Period					0
Goodwill, Foreign Currency Translation Gain (Loss)		0		0	0
Purchase price adjustment to acquired goodwill				0
Goodwill, Written off Related to Sale of Business Unit				0
Goodwill impairment loss				0
Goodwill, Transfers	[2]	0
Goodwill, end balance		789		789	789
Vista Reporting Unit [Member]
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill, beginning balance		0		11,497	11,497
Goodwill, Acquired During Period					0
Goodwill, Foreign Currency Translation Gain (Loss)		0	[2]	0	0
Purchase price adjustment to acquired goodwill				0
Goodwill, Written off Related to Sale of Business Unit				0
Goodwill impairment loss				(11,497)
Goodwill, Transfers	[2]	0
Goodwill, end balance		$ 0	[2]	$ 0	$ 11,497

[1] Working capital adjustment and final deferred tax adjustment for Integra acquisition (see Note 5 Acquisitions of and Investments in Businesses and Technologies).

[2] The Company combined the Aerostar and Vista reporting units in fiscal 2017. No goodwill amount was transferred between reporting units due to the goodwill impairment loss recorded at the Vista reporting unit during fiscal 2016.