Segment Information - Summary of manufacturing operations by geographic area (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2012
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net Sales	$ 10,732	$ 14,108	$ 22,159	$ 26,916
Location profit	150	1,559	75	2,955
Location assets	57,303	55,839	57,303	55,839	54,446
Customer sales
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net Sales	10,732	14,108	22,159	26,916
Intercompany sales
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net Sales
Operating Segments | United States (Corpus Christi)
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net Sales	7,872	8,899	15,640	17,479
Location profit	(19)	703	29	1,588
Location assets	22,655	20,171	22,655	20,171
Operating Segments | United States (Corpus Christi) | Customer sales
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net Sales	7,872	8,899	15,584	17,438
Operating Segments | United States (Corpus Christi) | Intercompany sales
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net Sales			56	41
Operating Segments | Europe (TPT)
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net Sales	3,345	3,207	7,498	6,998
Location profit	46	35	265	292
Location assets	10,747	10,093	10,747	10,093
Operating Segments | Europe (TPT) | Customer sales
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net Sales	1,698	1,986	4,176	4,173
Operating Segments | Europe (TPT) | Intercompany sales
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net Sales	1,647	1,221	3,322	2,825
Operating Segments | Asia (TMM)
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net Sales	4,468	4,900	8,038	11,245
Location profit	205	740	(193)	1,127
Location assets	23,901	25,575	23,901	25,575
Operating Segments | Asia (TMM) | Customer sales
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net Sales	1,162	3,223	2,399	5,305
Operating Segments | Asia (TMM) | Intercompany sales
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net Sales	3,306	1,677	5,639	5,940
Inter-Company Eliminations
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net Sales	(4,953)	(2,898)	(9,017)	(8,806)
Location profit	(82)	81	(26)	(52)
Location assets
Inter-Company Eliminations | Customer sales
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net Sales
Inter-Company Eliminations | Intercompany sales
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net Sales	$ (4,953)	$ (2,898)	$ (9,017)	$ (8,806)