Condensed Consolidating Financial Statements (Details 4) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014	Mar. 31, 2013	Mar. 31, 2012
Sources (uses) of cash and cash equivalents
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	$ (6,746)	$ (22,827)	$ 80,730
Investing activities:
Capital expenditures	(32,147)	(46,174)	(49,314)
Investment in NEC TOKIN (excludes non cash investment)	0	(50,917)	0
Acquisitions, net of cash received	0	0	(42,613)
Change in restricted cash	4,047	(15,284)	0
Proceeds from sales of assets	2,847	398	74
Net cash used in investing activities	(25,253)	(111,977)	(91,853)
Financing activities:
Proceeds from revolving line of credit	21,000	0	0
Payments of revolving line of credit	(2,551)	0	0
Proceeds from issuance of debt	0	39,825	116,050
Deferred acquisition payments	(21,977)	(16,900)	0
Payment of long-term debt	(3,599)	(1,909)	(40,581)
Net (payments) borrowings under other credit facilities	0	0	(3,154)
Debt issuance costs	0	(275)	(2,313)
Proceeds from exercise of stock options	250	111	290
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	(6,877)	20,852	70,292
Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents	(38,876)	(113,952)	59,169
Effect of foreign currency fluctuations on cash	827	(591)	(699)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of fiscal year	95,978	210,521	152,051
Cash and cash equivalents at end of fiscal year	57,929	95,978	210,521
Parent
Sources (uses) of cash and cash equivalents
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	7,724	(14,492)	(71,930)
Financing activities:
Proceeds from issuance of debt		39,825	116,050
Deferred acquisition payments	(20,977)	(15,900)
Payment of long-term debt	(3,583)		(40,581)
Debt issuance costs		(275)	(2,313)
Proceeds from exercise of stock options	250	111	290
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	(24,310)	23,761	73,446
Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents	(16,586)	9,269	1,516
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of fiscal year	17,202	7,933	6,417
Cash and cash equivalents at end of fiscal year	616	17,202	7,933
Guarantor Subsidiaries
Sources (uses) of cash and cash equivalents
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	(26,984)	(43,099)	124,591
Investing activities:
Capital expenditures	(13,348)	(15,841)	(23,099)
Investment in NEC TOKIN (excludes non cash investment)		(50,917)
Acquisitions, net of cash received			(42,613)
Change in restricted cash	4,047	(15,284)
Proceeds from sales of assets	996
Net cash used in investing activities	(8,305)	(82,042)	(65,712)
Financing activities:
Proceeds from revolving line of credit	9,000
Payments of revolving line of credit	(2,551)
Deferred acquisition payments	(1,000)	(1,000)
Payment of long-term debt	(16)	(8)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	5,433	(1,008)
Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents	(29,856)	(126,149)	58,879
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of fiscal year	52,056	178,205	119,326
Cash and cash equivalents at end of fiscal year	22,200	52,056	178,205
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries
Sources (uses) of cash and cash equivalents
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	12,514	34,764	28,069
Investing activities:
Capital expenditures	(18,799)	(30,333)	(26,215)
Proceeds from sales of assets	1,851	398	74
Net cash used in investing activities	(16,948)	(29,935)	(26,141)
Financing activities:
Proceeds from revolving line of credit	12,000
Payment of long-term debt		(1,901)
Net (payments) borrowings under other credit facilities			(3,154)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	12,000	(1,901)	(3,154)
Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents	7,566	2,928	(1,226)
Effect of foreign currency fluctuations on cash	827	(591)	(699)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of fiscal year	26,720	24,383	26,308
Cash and cash equivalents at end of fiscal year	$ 35,113	$ 26,720	$ 24,383