Business Segments and Major Customer Information - Segment Reporting Information (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Jan. 31, 2021	Jan. 31, 2020	Jan. 31, 2019
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	$ 348,359	$ 382,530	$ 406,668
Operating income(a)	19,651	39,939	55,133
Assets(b)	409,371	403,257	360,245
Capital expenditures	16,147	8,560	14,127
Depreciation and amortization	17,421	16,241	15,123
Applied Technology
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	147,198	130,460	129,749
Applied Technology | Autonomy
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating Expenses	16,646	2,834
Engineered Films
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	147,921	197,719	226,574
Engineered Films | Hurricane Recovery Film
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	0	1,860	14,494
Aerostar
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	53,343	54,443	50,867
Corporate & Other
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating income(a)	(27,031)	(28,025)	(31,769)
Assets(b)	62,887	46,257	99,500
Capital expenditures	845	1,127	2,365
Depreciation and amortization	1,544	1,795	1,650
Corporate & Other | Project Atlas
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Other General and Administrative Expense	2,089	2,700	4,000
Operating Segments
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	348,359	382,530	406,668
Operating income(a)	46,682	67,964	86,902
Assets(b)	346,484	357,000	260,745
Capital expenditures	15,302	7,433	11,762
Depreciation and amortization	15,877	14,446	13,473
Operating Segments | Applied Technology
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	147,198	130,460	129,749
Operating income(a)	26,468	30,672	39,044
Assets(b)	176,535	172,320	79,742
Capital expenditures	2,571	1,464	2,050
Depreciation and amortization	5,093	3,995	3,433
Operating Segments | Engineered Films
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	147,921	197,719	226,574
Operating income(a)	15,743	28,695	39,714
Assets(b)	147,085	158,440	159,592
Capital expenditures	11,583	5,317	9,544
Depreciation and amortization	9,719	9,518	9,149
Operating Segments | Aerostar
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	53,343	54,443	50,867
Operating income(a)	4,399	8,597	8,179
Assets(b)	22,896	26,344	21,515
Capital expenditures	1,148	652	168
Depreciation and amortization	1,065	933	891
Intersegment Eliminations
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating income(a)	72	0	(35)
Assets(b)	(32)	(104)	(104)
Intersegment Eliminations | Applied Technology
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	(3)	(2)	(10)
Intersegment Eliminations | Engineered Films
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	(100)	(90)	(512)
Intersegment Eliminations | Aerostar
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	$ 0	$ 0	0
Charitable Gift
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Loss Contingency, Loss in Period			$ 4,503