Segment Information - Company's manufacturing operations by geographic area (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2012	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Sep. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2011	Mar. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Net Sales:
Total Net Sales	$ 9,823	$ 19,914	$ 14,108	$ 12,808	$ 9,546	$ 11,401	$ 10,489	$ 9,585	$ 56,653	$ 41,021	$ 31,016
Share-based compensation									90	58	91
Depreciation									2,470	2,078	1,903
Interest expense	74	143	112	142	135	139	101	96	471	471	439
Income tax expense	(378)	516	517	369	(150)	60	91	47	1,024	48	16
Location profit	236	1,837	1,559	1,396	1,113	1,067	981	675	5,028	3,836	2,288
Capital expenditures									4,881	3,535	1,645
Location long-lived assets	22,933				20,138				22,933	20,138	18,952
Location assets	54,446				47,967				54,446	47,967	37,171
Customer sales
Net Sales:
Total Net Sales									56,653	41,021	31,016
Intercompany sales
Net Sales:
Total Net Sales
United States (Corpus Christi)
Net Sales:
Total Net Sales									33,368	25,023	19,678
Share-based compensation									90	58	91
Depreciation									751	740	685
Interest expense									170	280	247
Income tax expense									753	8	7
Location profit									2,076	1,910	1,222
Capital expenditures									1,928	591	800
Location long-lived assets	6,051				4,875				6,051	4,875	5,024
Location assets	20,762				17,050				20,762	17,050	13,600
United States (Corpus Christi) | Customer sales
Net Sales:
Total Net Sales									33,263	24,560	19,580
United States (Corpus Christi) | Intercompany sales
Net Sales:
Total Net Sales									105	463	98
Netherlands (TP&T)
Net Sales:
Total Net Sales									13,757	13,732	10,775
Share-based compensation
Depreciation									871	571	511
Interest expense									126	144	177
Income tax expense									133	24
Location profit									445	1,064	1,032
Capital expenditures									1,581	2,445	827
Location long-lived assets	8,653				7,819				8,653	7,819	6,087
Location assets	10,652				10,026				10,652	10,026	8,096
Netherlands (TP&T) | Customer sales
Net Sales:
Total Net Sales									7,578	10,347	8,351
Netherlands (TP&T) | Intercompany sales
Net Sales:
Total Net Sales									6,179	3,385	2,424
Malaysia (TMM)
Net Sales:
Total Net Sales									24,876	14,601	8,713
Share-based compensation
Depreciation									848	767	707
Interest expense									175	47	15
Income tax expense									204	21	9
Location profit									2,738	882	(55)
Capital expenditures									1,372	499	18
Location long-lived assets	8,229				7,444				8,229	7,444	7,841
Location assets	23,032				20,891				23,032	20,891	15,475
Malaysia (TMM) | Customer sales
Net Sales:
Total Net Sales									15,812	6,114	3,085
Malaysia (TMM) | Intercompany sales
Net Sales:
Total Net Sales									9,064	8,487	5,628
Inter-Company Eliminations
Net Sales:
Total Net Sales									(15,348)	(12,335)	(8,150)
Share-based compensation
Depreciation
Interest expense
Income tax expense									(66)	(5)
Location profit									(231)	(20)	89
Capital expenditures
Location long-lived assets
Location assets
Inter-Company Eliminations | Customer sales
Net Sales:
Total Net Sales
Inter-Company Eliminations | Intercompany sales
Net Sales:
Total Net Sales									$ (15,348)	$ (12,335)	$ (8,150)