Note 6 - Equity Investments in and Advances to Unconsolidated Affiliate	3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2012
Equity Method Investments and Joint Ventures Disclosure [Text Block]	6. Equity Investments in and Advances to Unconsolidated Affiliate In 2005, Alpha ProTech Engineered Products, Inc. (a subsidiary of Alpha Pro Tech) entered into a joint venture with a manufacturer in India for the production of building products. Under the terms of the joint venture agreement, a private company, Harmony Plastics Private Limited (“Harmony”), was created with ownership interests of 41.66% by Alpha ProTech Engineered Products, Inc. and 58.34% by Maple Industries and Associates. Alpha ProTech Engineered Products, Inc. contributed $508,000 for its equity position, and Maple Industries and Associates contributed $708,000 for its equity position. This joint venture positions Alpha ProTech Engineered Products, Inc. to respond to current and expected increased product demand for housewrap and synthetic roof underlayment and provides future capacity for sales of specialty roofing component products and custom products for industrial applications requiring high quality extrusion coated fabrics. In addition, the joint venture now supplies products for the Disposable Protective Apparel segment. The capital from the initial funding, along with a bank loan, which is guaranteed exclusively by the individual shareholders of Maple Industries and Associates and collateralized by the assets of Harmony, were utilized to purchase the original manufacturing facility in India. Harmony currently has three facilities in India, consisting of: (1) a 102,000 square foot building for the manufacturing of housewrap and synthetic roof underlayment; (2) a 71,500 square foot building for manufacturing coated material and sewing proprietary disposable protective apparel; and (3) a 16,000 square foot facility for sewing proprietary disposable protective apparel. All additions have been financed by Harmony with no guarantees from the Company. The Company is subject to the provisions of FASB ASC 810, Consolidation (“ASC 810”), which defines the criteria by which the Company determines the proper accounting for its investments in related entities. Specifically, ASC 810 requires the Company to assess whether or not related entities are variable interest entities (“VIEs”), as defined. For those related entities that qualify as VIEs, ASC 810 requires the Company to determine whether or not the Company is the primary beneficiary of the VIE, and, if so, to consolidate the VIE. The Company has determined that Harmony is not a VIE and is, therefore, is accounted for as an unconsolidated affiliate. The Company records its investment in Harmony as “equity investments in and advances to unconsolidated affiliate” in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets. The Company records its equity interest in Harmony’s results of operations as “equity in income of unconsolidated affiliate” in the accompanying consolidated income statements. The Company reviews annually its investment in Harmony for impairment in accordance with FASB ASC 323, Investments – Equity Method and Joint Ventures (“ASC 323”). ASC 323 requires recognition of a loss when the decline in an investment is other-than-temporary. In determining whether the decline is other-than-temporary, the Company considers the nature of the industry in which Harmony operates, its historical performance, its performance in relation to its peers and the current economic environment. Alpha ProTech Engineered Products, Inc. initially invested $1,450,000 in the joint venture: $508,000 as equity and $942,000 as a long-term advance for materials. Fifty percent of the $942,000 long-term advance for materials is to be repaid over a six-year term that commenced in July 2006, and any remaining balance is to be paid in the seventh year. As of March 31, 2012, Harmony had repaid a total of $525,000, leaving a balance of $417,000. Interest of 3.5% is to be paid annually on this advance, and the Company recorded an interest receivable of $18,000 as of March 31, 2012 related to the advance. For the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011, Alpha Pro Tech purchased $3,622,000 and $2,794,000 of inventory, respectively, from Harmony. For the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011, the Company recorded equity income in unconsolidated affiliate of $147,000 and $127,000, respectively. As of March 31, 2012, the Company’s investment in Harmony was $2,582,000, which consists of its original $1,450,000 investment and cumulative equity in income of unconsolidated affiliate of $1,734,000, less $525,000 in repayments of the advance and payment of $77,000 in dividends.

Note 6 - Equity Investments in and Advances to Unconsolidated Affiliate

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2012

Equity Method Investments and Joint Ventures Disclosure [Text Block]

6. Equity Investments in and Advances to Unconsolidated Affiliate

In 2005, Alpha ProTech Engineered Products, Inc. (a subsidiary of Alpha Pro Tech) entered into a joint venture with a manufacturer in India for the production of building products. Under the terms of the joint venture agreement, a private company, Harmony Plastics Private Limited (“Harmony”), was created with ownership interests of 41.66% by Alpha ProTech Engineered Products, Inc. and 58.34% by Maple Industries and Associates. Alpha ProTech Engineered Products, Inc. contributed $508,000 for its equity position, and Maple Industries and Associates contributed $708,000 for its equity position.

This joint venture positions Alpha ProTech Engineered Products, Inc. to respond to current and expected increased product demand for housewrap and synthetic roof underlayment and provides future capacity for sales of specialty roofing component products and custom products for industrial applications requiring high quality extrusion coated fabrics. In addition, the joint venture now supplies products for the Disposable Protective Apparel segment.

The capital from the initial funding, along with a bank loan, which is guaranteed exclusively by the individual shareholders of Maple Industries and Associates and collateralized by the assets of Harmony, were utilized to purchase the original manufacturing facility in India. Harmony currently has three facilities in India, consisting of: (1) a 102,000 square foot building for the manufacturing of housewrap and synthetic roof underlayment; (2) a 71,500 square foot building for manufacturing coated material and sewing proprietary disposable protective apparel; and (3) a 16,000 square foot facility for sewing proprietary disposable protective apparel. All additions have been financed by Harmony with no guarantees from the Company.

The Company is subject to the provisions of FASB ASC 810, Consolidation (“ASC 810”), which defines the criteria by which the Company determines the proper accounting for its investments in related entities. Specifically, ASC 810 requires the Company to assess whether or not related entities are variable interest entities (“VIEs”), as defined. For those related entities that qualify as VIEs, ASC 810 requires the Company to determine whether or not the Company is the primary beneficiary of the VIE, and, if so, to consolidate the VIE.

The Company has determined that Harmony is not a VIE and is, therefore, is accounted for as an unconsolidated affiliate.

The Company records its investment in Harmony as “equity investments in and advances to unconsolidated affiliate” in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets. The Company records its equity interest in Harmony’s results of operations as “equity in income of unconsolidated affiliate” in the accompanying consolidated income statements.

The Company reviews annually its investment in Harmony for impairment in accordance with FASB ASC 323, Investments – Equity Method and Joint Ventures (“ASC 323”). ASC 323 requires recognition of a loss when the decline in an investment is other-than-temporary. In determining whether the decline is other-than-temporary, the Company considers the nature of the industry in which Harmony operates, its historical performance, its performance in relation to its peers and the current economic environment.

Alpha ProTech Engineered Products, Inc. initially invested $1,450,000 in the joint venture: $508,000 as equity and $942,000 as a long-term advance for materials. Fifty percent of the $942,000 long-term advance for materials is to be repaid over a six-year term that commenced in July 2006, and any remaining balance is to be paid in the seventh year. As of March 31, 2012, Harmony had repaid a total of $525,000, leaving a balance of $417,000. Interest of 3.5% is to be paid annually on this advance, and the Company recorded an interest receivable of $18,000 as of March 31, 2012 related to the advance.

For the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011, Alpha Pro Tech purchased $3,622,000 and $2,794,000 of inventory, respectively, from Harmony. For the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011, the Company recorded equity income in unconsolidated affiliate of $147,000 and $127,000, respectively. As of March 31, 2012, the Company’s investment in Harmony was $2,582,000, which consists of its original $1,450,000 investment and cumulative equity in income of unconsolidated affiliate of $1,734,000, less $525,000 in repayments of the advance and payment of $77,000 in dividends.

- Definition

The entire disclosure for equity method investments and joint ventures. Equity method investments are investments that give the investor the ability to exercise significant influence over the operating and financial policies of an investee. Joint ventures are entities owned and operated by a small group of businesses as a separate and specific business or project for the mutual benefit of the members of the group.

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