Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations (USD $) Share data in Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2013
Income Statement [Abstract]
Discontinued Operation, Tax Effect of Discontinued Operation	$ 918,000	$ (236,000)
Net sales	212,881,000	202,057,000
Operating costs and expenses:
Cost of sales	179,924,000	183,513,000
Selling, general and administrative expenses	24,779,000	26,080,000
Research and development	6,589,000	6,066,000
Restructuring charges	1,830,000	4,610,000
Net loss on sales and disposals of assets	365,000	0
Total operating costs and expenses	213,487,000	220,269,000
Operating loss	(606,000)	(18,212,000)
Non-operating (income) expense:
Interest income	3,000	164,000
Interest expense	10,456,000	10,034,000
Other (income) expense, net	(3,533,000)	355,000
Loss from continuing operations before income taxes and equity loss from NEC TOKIN	(7,526,000)	(28,437,000)
Income tax expense	1,282,000	1,816,000
Loss from continuing operations before equity loss from NEC TOKIN	(8,808,000)	(30,253,000)
Equity loss from NEC TOKIN	(1,675,000)	(3,377,000)
Loss from continuing operations	(10,483,000)	(33,630,000)
Discontinued Operation, Gain (Loss) on Disposal of Discontinued Operation, Net of Tax	6,943,000	(1,510,000)
Discontinued Operation, Gain (Loss) on Disposal of Discontinued Operation, Net of Tax	7,374,000
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of income tax expense (benefit) of $918 and $(236), respectively	6,943,000	(1,510,000)
Net loss	$ (3,540,000)	$ (35,140,000)
Net income (loss) per basic share:
Loss from continuing operations (in dollars per share)	$ (0.23)	$ (0.75)
Loss from discontinued operations (in dollars per share)	$ 0.15	$ (0.03)
Net loss (in dollars per share)	$ (0.08)	$ (0.78)
Net income (loss) per diluted share:
Loss from continuing operations (in dollars per share)	$ (0.23)	$ (0.75)
Loss from discontinued operations (in dollars per share)	$ 0.15	$ (0.03)
Net loss (in dollars per share)	$ (0.08)	$ (0.78)
Weighted-average shares outstanding:
Basic (in shares)	45,274	45,022
Diluted (in shares)	45,274	45,022