STR 10-K 26 Mar 15 2014 FY Annual report Financial data

Document_and_Entity_Informatio

Document and Entity Information (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014	Feb. 27, 2015	Jun. 30, 2014
Document and Entity Information
Entity Registrant Name	STR HOLDINGS, INC.
Entity Central Index Key	1473597
Document Type	10-K
Document Period End Date	31-Dec-14
Amendment Flag	FALSE
Current Fiscal Year End Date	-19
Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer	No
Entity Voluntary Filers	No
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Filer Category	Smaller Reporting Company
Entity Public Float			$21,903,873
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		18,080,774
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2014
Document Fiscal Period Focus	FY

CONSOLIDATED_BALANCE_SHEETS

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (USD $)	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
CURRENT ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents	$16,552	$58,173
Accounts receivable, trade, less allowances for doubtful accounts of $833 and $2,051 in 2014 and 2013, respectively	12,057	4,771
Inventories, net	8,248	8,557
Prepaid expenses	1,789	925
Deferred tax assets	72	2,081
Income tax receivable	8,252	11,812
Other current assets	2,283	561
Total current assets	49,253	86,880
Property, plant and equipment, net	20,195	28,398
Long-term deferred tax assets		13,198
Other noncurrent assets	354	733
Total assets	69,802	129,209
CURRENT LIABILITIES
Accounts payable	2,653	2,636
Accrued liabilities	2,780	8,432
Income taxes payable	1,865	859
Other current liabilities	204	630
Total current liabilities	7,502	12,557
Deferred tax liabilities	72
Other long-term liabilities	4,505	4,790
Total liabilities	12,079	17,347
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES (Note 9)
Stockholders' Equity
Preferred stock, $0.01 par value, 20,000,000 shares authorized; no shares issued and outstanding
Common stock, $0.01 par value, 200,000,000 shares authorized; 18,074,291 and 18,073,051 issued and outstanding, respectively as of December 31, 2014 and 13,962,305 and 13,961,065 issued and outstanding, respectively as of December 31, 2013	181	139
Treasury stock, at cost	-57	-57
Additional paid-in capital	230,276	236,114
Accumulated deficit	-168,618	-122,421
Accumulated other comprehensive loss, net of taxes	-4,059	-1,913
Total stockholders' equity	57,723	111,862
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	$69,802	$129,209

CONSOLIDATED_BALANCE_SHEETS_Pa

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (Parenthetical) (USD $)	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
Accounts receivable, trade, allowances for doubtful accounts (in dollars)	$833	$2,051
Preferred stock, par value (in dollars per share)	$0.01	$0.01
Preferred stock, shares authorized	20,000,000	20,000,000
Preferred stock, shares issued	0	0
Preferred stock, shares outstanding	0	0
Common stock, par value (in dollars per share)	$0.01	$0.01
Common stock, shares authorized	200,000,000	200,000,000
Common stock, shares issued	18,074,291	13,962,305
Common stock, shares outstanding	18,073,051	13,961,065

CONSOLIDATED_STATEMENTS_OF_COM

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE LOSS (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE LOSS
Net sales	$39,288	$31,860	$95,345
Cost of sales	44,522	34,085	97,193
Gross loss	-5,234	-2,225	-1,848
Selling, general and administrative expenses	12,832	18,322	21,345
Research and development expense	1,160	2,670	4,371
Provision for bad debt expense	483	1,824	486
Goodwill impairment (Note 6)	0	0	82,524
Intangible asset impairment (Note 6)			135,480
Asset impairment (Note 6)	0	194	37,431
Operating loss	-19,709	-25,235	-283,485
Interest income (expense), net	27	-30	-196
Amortization of deferred financing costs		-189	-1,079
Other income (Note 9)	3,634		7,202
(Loss) gain on disposal of fixed assets	-451	185
Foreign currency transaction gain (loss)	298	-366	-281
Loss from continuing operations before income tax expense (benefit)	-16,201	-25,635	-277,839
Income tax expense (benefit) from continuing operations	6,532	-7,349	-66,264
Net loss from continuing operations	-22,733	-18,286	-211,575
Discontinued operations (Note 3):
Income tax expense (benefit) from discontinued operations	884		-4,228
Net (loss) earnings from discontinued operations	-884		4,228
Net loss	-23,617	-18,286	-207,347
Other comprehensive (loss) income:
Foreign currency translation (net of tax effect of $0, $244 and $70, respectively)	-2,146	531	130
Other comprehensive (loss) income	-2,146	531	130
Comprehensive loss	($25,763)	($17,755)	($207,217)
Net loss per share (Note 4):
Basic from continuing operations (in dollars per share)	($2.08)	($1.32)	($15.37)
Basic from discontinued operations (in dollars per share)	($0.08)		$0.31
Basic (in dollars per share)	($2.16)	($1.32)	($15.06)
Diluted from continuing operations (in dollars per share)	($2.08)	($1.32)	($15.37)
Diluted from discontinued operations (in dollars per share)	($0.08)		$0.31
Diluted (in dollars per share)	($2.16)	($1.32)	($15.06)
Weighted-average shares outstanding (Note 4):
Basic (in shares)	10,920,200	13,873,289	13,771,536
Diluted (in shares)	10,920,200	13,873,289	13,771,536

CONSOLIDATED_STATEMENTS_OF_COM1

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE LOSS (Parenthetical) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE LOSS
Foreign currency translation, tax effect	$0	$244	$70

CONSOLIDATED_STATEMENTS_OF_CHA

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY (USD $)	Common stock, excluding unvested restricted stock	Common Stock	Treasury Stock	Additional Paid-In Capital	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)	Accumulated Deficit	Total
		USD ($)	USD ($)	USD ($)	USD ($)	USD ($)	USD ($)
Balance at beginning of period at Dec. 31, 2011		$137,000	($57,000)	$229,787,000	($2,574,000)	$103,212,000	$330,505,000
Balance at beginning of period (in period) at Dec. 31, 2011			1,240
Balance at beginning of period (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2011	13,730,490
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity
Stock-based compensation		1,000		4,321,000			4,322,000
Stock-based compensation (in shares)	117,056
Employee stock purchase plan				46,000			46,000
Employee stock purchase plan (in shares)	3,514
Option exercise recognized tax shortfall				-217,000			-217,000
Net loss						-207,347,000	-207,347,000
Foreign currency translation					130,000		130,000
Balance at end of period at Dec. 31, 2012		138,000	-57,000	233,937,000	-2,444,000	-104,135,000	127,439,000
Balance at end of period (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2012			1,240
Balance at end of period (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2012	13,851,060
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity
Stock-based compensation		1,000		2,156,000			2,157,000
Stock-based compensation (in shares)	68,815
Employee stock purchase plan				21,000			21,000
Employee stock purchase plan (in shares)	2,967
Net loss						-18,286,000	-18,286,000
Foreign currency translation					531,000		531,000
Balance at end of period at Dec. 31, 2013		139,000	-57,000	236,114,000	-1,913,000	-122,421,000	111,862,000
Balance at end of period (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2013			1,240
Balance at end of period (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2013	13,922,842
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity
Stock-based compensation		2,000		2,425,000			2,427,000
Stock-based compensation (in shares)	135,512
Employee stock purchase plan				2,000			2,000
Employee stock purchase plan (in shares)	594
Tender offer, net		-52,000		-26,377,000			-26,429,000
Tender offer, net (in shares)	-5,203,986
Common stock issuance to Zhenfa, net		92,000		18,112,000			18,204,000
Common stock issuance to Zhenfa, net (in shares)	9,210,710
Special dividend						-22,580,000	-22,580,000
Net loss						-23,617,000	-23,617,000
Foreign currency translation					-2,146,000		-2,146,000
Balance at end of period at Dec. 31, 2014		$181,000	($57,000)	$230,276,000	($4,059,000)	($168,618,000)	$57,723,000
Balance at end of period (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2014			1,240
Balance at end of period (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2014	18,065,672

CONSOLIDATED_STATEMENTS_OF_CAS

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
OPERATING ACTIVITIES
Net loss	($23,617)	($18,286)	($207,347)
Net loss (earnings) from discontinued operations	884		-4,228
Net loss from continuing operations	-22,733	-18,286	-211,575
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash (used in) provided by operating activities:
Depreciation	2,078	2,024	11,255
Goodwill impairment	0	0	82,524
Intangible asset impairment			135,480
Asset impairment	0	194	37,431
Amortization of intangibles	0	0	8,432
Amortization of deferred financing costs		46	235
Write-off of deferred debt costs on early extinguishment of debt		143	844
Stock-based compensation expense	2,380	1,902	3,494
Non-cash reversal of loss contingency	-4,089
Non-cash reversal of restructuring accrual	-1,045
Loss (gain) on disposal of property, plant and equipment	451	-185	2
Non-cash change in income tax receivable	-7,166	-5,455	-6,951
Provision for bad debt expense	483	1,824	486
Loss on reclassification of held for sale assets	1,179
Deferred income tax expense (benefit)	14,867	-1,849	-60,194
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable	-8,188	-1,252	8,747
Cash received from income tax refunds	11,908
Inventories	-57	112	20,244
Other current assets	-566	40	4,103
Accounts payable	155	-321	-1,773
Accrued liabilities	-1,825	-2,076	-1,379
Income taxes payable	-872	-58	2,715
Other, net	-1,398	403	-238
Net cash (used in) provided by continuing operations	-14,438	-22,794	33,882
Net cash (used in) provided by discontinued operations	-31	834	-32
Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities	-14,469	-21,960	33,850
INVESTING ACTIVITIES
Capital investments	-3,115	-2,238	-10,677
Proceeds from sale of fixed assets	6,805	186
Net cash provided by (used in) continuing operations	3,690	-2,052	-10,677
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	3,690	-2,052	-10,677
FINANCING ACTIVITIES
Repurchase of common stock in tender offer	-24,042
Tender offer fees	-2,387
Special dividend	-22,580
Common stock issuance to Zhenfa	21,662
Common stock issuance fees	-3,016
Common stock issued under employee stock purchase plan	2	19	41
Other issuance costs			-43
Net cash (used in) provided by continuing operations	-30,361	19	-2
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities	-30,361	19	-2
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash	-481	181	20
Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents	-41,621	-23,812	23,191
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period	58,173	81,985	58,794
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	16,552	58,173	81,985
SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURE OF CASH FLOW INFORMATION - Cash (received) paid during the period for:
Income taxes	($11,877)	($650)	$2,514

BASIS_OF_PRESENTATION_AND_NATU

BASIS OF PRESENTATION AND NATURE OF OPERATIONS	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
BASIS OF PRESENTATION AND NATURE OF OPERATIONS
BASIS OF PRESENTATION AND NATURE OF OPERATIONS	NOTE 1—BASIS OF PRESENTATION AND NATURE OF OPERATIONS
	Basis of Presentation
	These consolidated financial statements reflect the financial statements of STR Holdings, Inc. ("Holdings") or (the "Company") and its subsidiaries on a consolidated basis. Due to the divestiture of the Quality Assurance ("QA") business as discussed below, the QA business' historical operating results are recorded in discontinued operations in the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Loss and Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for all applicable periods presented. See Note 3 below.
	On January 30, 2015, the Company filed a Certificate of Amendment to its Restated Certificate of Incorporation in order to effect a one-for-three reverse split of its common stock and its common stock began trading on the New York Stock Exchange ("NYSE") on a split-adjusted basis on the same date. No fractional shares were issued in connection with the reverse stock split. As a result of the reverse stock split, the number of issued and outstanding shares of its common stock was reduced to approximately 18,074,291 and 18,073,051, respectively, at December 31, 2014. The change in the number of shares resulting from the reverse stock split has been applied retroactively to all shares and per share amounts presented in the consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes.
	The accompanying consolidated financial statements and the related information contained within the notes to the consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America ("GAAP") and applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") for financial information and annual reports on the Form 10-K.
	Certain prior periods' disclosures have been reclassified to conform to the current period's presentation.
	Nature of Operations
	The Company was incorporated in 1944 as a plastics and industrial materials research and development company and evolved into two core businesses: solar encapsulant manufacturing and quality assurance services. The Company currently designs, develops and manufactures encapsulants that protect the embedded semiconductor circuits of solar panels for sale to solar module manufacturers worldwide.
	The Company launched its former QA business in 1973 and commenced sales of solar encapsulant products in the late 1970s. The Company's strategic divestiture of the QA business is described below and in Note 3.
	On September 1, 2011, the Company completed the sale of the QA business to Underwriters Laboratories, Inc. ("UL"). This strategic divestiture was executed to allow the Company to focus exclusively on the solar encapsulant opportunity and to seek further product offerings related to the solar industry, as well as other growth markets related to the Company's polymer manufacturing capabilities, and to retire its long-term debt. The following transactions occurred as a result of the divestiture:
	•	The Company received $275,000, plus assumed cash in proceeds. The sale generated an after-tax gain of approximately $14,071 that included a tax liability of approximately $105,934. In 2012, the Company finalized the taxable gain and recorded an income tax benefit to discontinued operations of $4,228. See Note 3.
	•	In order to sell the assets of QA free and clear of liens, the Company terminated its former first lien credit agreement and the second lien credit agreement by using $237,732 of the sale proceeds to repay all amounts outstanding thereunder on September 1, 2011 to Credit Suisse AG as administrative and collateral agent.

SUMMARY_OF_SIGNIFICANT_ACCOUNT

SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES	NOTE 2—SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
	A summary of the Company's significant accounting policies is as follows:
	Basis of Accounting.    The consolidated financial statements are prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
	Principles of Consolidation.    The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its wholly-owned subsidiaries. Intercompany transactions and account balances have been eliminated.
	Use of Estimates.    The preparation of consolidated financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires the Company to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the consolidated financial statements and the accompanying notes. The Company's significant estimates include its revenue recognition, allowance for doubtful accounts receivable, inventory valuation, the recorded amounts and amortization periods of its intangible assets, valuation of goodwill and long-lived assets, product performance accrual, income taxes payable, deferred income taxes, its assessment of uncertain tax positions and its valuation of stock-based compensation costs. Actual results could differ materially from these estimates.
	Fair Value Estimates.    Accounting Standards Codification ("ASC") 820-10 Fair Value Measurements, defines fair value as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. ASC 820-10 classifies the inputs used to measure fair value into the following hierarchy:
	Level 1:	Unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities
	Level 2:	Unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for similar assets or liabilities, or unadjusted quoted prices for identical or similar assets or liabilities in markets that are not active, or inputs other than quoted prices that are observable for the asset or liability
	Level 3:	Unobservable inputs for the asset or liability
	The carrying values for cash, accounts receivable, income tax receivable, accounts payable, accrued liabilities, income tax payable and other current assets and liabilities approximate their fair values due to their short maturities. The carrying value of the Company's money market funds is based on the balance of its money market funds as of December 31, 2014, which is a Level 1 input. The carrying value of deferred compensation in 2014, which is a Level 2 input is based upon the effective valuation of the transaction with Zhenfa of $4.80 per share. The carrying value of deferred compensation in 2013, which is a Level 2 input was based on the Company's common stock price as of December 31, 2013. See Note 11.
	Foreign Currency Translation and Transactions.    The Company's international operations use the local currency as their functional currency, except for its Malaysian subsidiary whose functional currency is the U.S. dollar. Assets and liabilities of international operations are translated at period-end rates of exchange; revenues and expenses are translated at average rates of exchange. The resulting translation gains or losses are reflected in accumulated other comprehensive loss. Gains or losses resulting from foreign currency transactions are included in net loss.
	Cash and Cash Equivalents.    All highly-liquid investments with a maturity of three months or less at the date of purchase are considered to be cash equivalents. The Company deposits its cash balances with a limited number of banks. Cash balances in these accounts generally exceed government insured limits.
	Recognition of Revenue and Accounts Receivable.    The Company recognizes revenue net of any sales returns and allowances when evidence of an arrangement exists, delivery of the product or service has occurred and title and risk of loss have passed to the customer, the sales price is fixed or determinable, and collectability of the resulting receivable is reasonably assured.
	The Company recognizes revenue from the manufacture and sale of its encapsulants, which is the only contractual deliverable, either at the time of shipping or at the time the product is received at the customer's port or dock, depending upon terms of the sale. The Company does not offer a general right of return on its products.
	In isolated occasions, the Company has offered limited short-term performance warranties relating to its encapsulants not causing module power loss. The Company performs long-term performance testing of its encapsulants during product development prior to launching new product introductions and in customer certification of its products prior to entering into mass production. The Company has operated its solar business since the 1970s and over 20 GW worth of solar modules utilizing its encapsulants have been installed in the field with no reported module power performance issues caused by its encapsulants and no related warranty claims to-date. Based on this fact pattern, the Company has not accrued any warranty liability associated for this potential liability as it is remote of occurrence. If the Company were to ever receive a warranty claim for such matter, it would assess the need for a warranty accrual at that time.
	Allowance for Doubtful Accounts.    The Company maintains an allowance for doubtful accounts for estimated losses resulting from the inability of its customers to make required payments. The Company reviews the collectability of its receivables on an ongoing basis and writes-off accounts receivable after reasonable collection efforts have been made and collection is deemed questionable or uncollectible.
	Inventories.    The Company's inventories are stated at the lower of cost or market. The Company's primary raw materials consist of resin, paper, packaging material and chemicals/additives. The Company's finished goods inventories are typically made-to-order and possess a shelf life of six to nine months from the date of manufacture. Cost is determined on a first-in, first-out basis and includes both the costs of acquisition and the costs of manufacturing. These costs include direct material, direct labor and fixed and variable indirect manufacturing costs, including depreciation expense.
	The Company will write-down inventory to its net realizable value when it is probable that its inventory carrying cost is not fully recoverable through sale or other disposition. The Company's write-down considers overall market conditions, customer inventory levels, legal or contractual provisions and age of the inventories.
	In 2014, the Company reserved $955 of inventory, a majority of which is related to excess raw material and expired finished goods inventory related to recent product introductions.
	In 2013, the Company reserved $445 of inventory, a majority of which is related to raw material inventory procured and not delivered due to the loss of a customer.
	In 2012, the Company incurred a write-down of approximately $678 associated with excess paper raw material inventory due to changes in customer specifications and the Company being in the process of removing paper from its manufacturing process.
	Long-Lived Assets.    The Company's long-lived assets have consisted of goodwill, other intangible assets and property, plant and equipment.
	Property, plant and equipment are recorded at cost and include expenditures for items that increase the useful lives of existing equipment. Maintenance and repairs are expensed as incurred. Property, plant and equipment accounts are relieved at cost, less related accumulated depreciation, when properties are disposed of or otherwise retired. Gains and losses from disposal of property, plant and equipment are included in net loss.
	In accordance with ASC 360-Property, Plant, and Equipment, the Company reviews the carrying value of its long-lived assets, including property, plant and equipment, for impairment when events or changes in circumstances indicate the carrying value of an asset may not be recoverable. If a long-lived asset is found to be impaired, the amount recognized for impairment is equal to the difference between the carrying value and the asset's fair value. Fair value is estimated based upon discounted future cash flows or other reasonable estimates of fair market value. The Company recognized an impairment loss of $0, $194 and $37,431 in 2014, 2013 and 2012, respectively. See Note 6.
	Goodwill represented the excess of the purchase price consideration over the estimated fair value assigned to the individual assets acquired and liabilities assumed from the DLJ Merchant Banking Partners IV, LP's acquisition of the Company in 2007 ("the Acquisition"). The Company did not amortize goodwill, but instead tested goodwill for impairment in accordance with the two-step method described in ASC 350-Intangibles, Goodwill and Other. The Company performed its annual impairment review of goodwill on October 1st and would also perform a review if at any time facts and circumstances warranted. During the first quarter of 2012, the Company recorded a non-cash goodwill impairment charge of $82,524. Refer to Note 6.
	The Company's intangible assets included its customer relationships, trademarks and proprietary technology and resulted from the Acquisition. The Company accounted for the Acquisition using the purchase method of accounting and recorded definite-lived intangible assets separately from goodwill. Intangible assets were recorded at their estimated fair value at the date of acquisition. During the fourth quarter of 2012, the Company recorded a non-cash impairment charge of $135,480. Refer to Note 6.
	Asset Retirement Obligations.    The Company accounts for asset retirement obligations in accordance with ASC 410-Asset Retirement and Environmental Obligations, which requires a company to recognize a liability for the fair value of obligations to retire tangible long-lived assets when there is a contractual obligation to incur such costs. The Company has recorded its asset retirement obligations relating to the cost of removing improvements from lease facilities at the end of the lease terms. The Company's conditional asset retirement obligations are not material.
	Deferred Financing Costs.    The Company capitalized debt issuance costs and amortized the costs to expense over the term of the related debt facility. In connection with entering into the Credit Agreement in 2011, the Company incurred $1,306 of issuance costs. The Company amended its Credit Agreement in 2012 and incurred $43 of additional issuance costs. In conjunction with entering into the amendment in 2012, the Company wrote-off $844 of the remaining prior capitalized issuance costs based on the proportion of its new borrowing capacity compared to its prior availability. During 2013, the Company terminated the Credit Agreement since it was not able to draw on it without posting cash collateral, and the Company had liquidity with its then existing cash balance to run its operations. The Company had no outstanding indebtedness pursuant to the amended Credit Agreement. As a part of the termination, the Company wrote-off approximately $143 of the remaining unamortized deferred financing costs associated with the Credit Agreement. Amortization of deferred financing costs were $0, $189 and $1,079 for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012, respectively.
	Leases.    The Company leases certain facilities and equipment used in its operations. The Company accounts for its leases under the provisions of ASC 840-Leases, which requires that leases be evaluated and classified as operating or capital leases for financial reporting purposes. Operating lease expense is recorded on a straight-line basis over the lease term.
	Income Taxes.    The Company accounts for income taxes using the asset and liability method in accordance with ASC 740-Income Taxes. Under this method, the Company recognizes deferred tax assets and liabilities for the future tax consequences attributable to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases, and for operating loss and tax credit carryforwards. The Company estimates its deferred tax assets and liabilities using the enacted tax laws expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled, and will recognize the effect of a change in tax laws on deferred tax assets and liabilities in the results of its operations during the period that includes the enactment date. The Company records a valuation allowance to reduce its deferred tax assets if it determines that it is more likely than not that some or all of the deferred tax assets will not be realized.
	The Company operates in multiple taxing jurisdictions and is subject to the jurisdiction of a number of U.S. and non-U.S. tax authorities and to tax agreements and treaties among those authorities. Operations in these jurisdictions are taxed on various bases in accordance with jurisdictional regulations.
	Tax benefits related to uncertain tax positions taken or expected to be taken on a tax return are recorded when such benefits meet a more likely than not threshold. Otherwise, these tax benefits are recorded when a tax position has been effectively settled, which means that the appropriate taxing authority has completed their examination even though the statute of limitations remains open or the statute of limitation expires. Interest and penalties related to uncertain tax positions are recognized as part of the Company's provision for income taxes and are accrued beginning in the period that such interest and penalties would be applicable under relevant tax law until such time that the related tax benefits are recognized. See Note 13.
	Product Performance Accrual.    The Company provides a short-term warranty that it has manufactured its products to the Company's specifications. On limited occasions, the Company incurs costs to service its products in connection with specific product performance matters that do not meet the Company's specifications. Anticipated future costs are recorded as part of cost of sales and accrued liabilities for specific product performance matters when it is probable that a liability has been incurred and the amount of the liability can be reasonably estimated.
	In isolated occasions, the Compay has offered limited short-term performance warranties relating to its encapsulants not causing module power loss. The Company performs long-term performance testing of its encapsulants during product development prior to launching new product introductions and in customer certification of its products prior to entering into mass production. The Company has operated its solar business since the 1970s and over 20 GW worth of solar modules utilizing its encapsulants have been installed in the field with no reported module power performance issues caused by its encapsulants and no related warranty claims to-date. Based on this fact pattern, the Company has not accrued any warranty liability associated for this potential liability as it is remote of occurrence. If the Company were to ever receive a warranty claim for such matter, it would assess the need for a warranty accrual at that time.
	Cost of Sales.    The Company includes the cost of inventory sold and related costs for the distribution of its product in cost of sales. These costs include raw materials and other components, direct labor, product performance matters, manufacturing overhead, salaries, and other personnel-related expenses, write-off of inventory, quality control, freight, insurance and depreciation. Shipping and handling costs are classified as a component of cost of sales. Customer payments for shipping and handling costs are recorded as a component of net sales.
	Selling, General and Administrative Expenses.    Selling, general and administrative expenses consist primarily of salaries, travel, commissions and other personnel-related expenses for employees engaged in sales, marketing and support of the Company's products and services, trade shows and promotions. General and administrative expenses consist of expenses for the Company's finance, administrative, information technology, compliance and human resource functions.
	Research and Development Expense.    The Company's research and development expense consists primarily of salaries and fringe benefit costs and the cost of materials and outside services used in its pre-commercialization process and development efforts. The Company records depreciation expense for equipment that is used specifically for research and development activities.
	Stock-Based Compensation.    In accordance with ASC 718-Compensation-Stock Compensation, the Company recognizes the grant date fair value of stock-based awards as compensation expense over the vesting period of the awards. See Note 15.
	Loss Per Share.    The Company computes basic loss per share in accordance with ASC 260-Earnings Per Share. Under the provisions of ASC 260, basic net loss per share is computed by dividing the net loss available to common stockholders by the weighted-average common shares outstanding during the period. Diluted net loss per common share adjusts basic net loss per common share for the effects of stock options and restricted stock awards only in periods in which such effect is dilutive. See Note 4.
	Comprehensive Loss.    Comprehensive loss consists of net loss and the effects on the consolidated financial statements of translating the financial statements of the Company's international subsidiaries. Comprehensive loss is presented in the consolidated statements of comprehensive loss. The Company's accumulated other comprehensive loss is presented as a component of equity in its consolidated balance sheets and consists of the cumulative amount of the Company's foreign currency translation adjustments, net of tax impact.
	Recent Accounting Pronouncements:
	In April 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued Accounting Standards Update ("ASU") 2014-08, "Presentation of Financial Statements (Topic 205) and Property, Plant and Equipment (Topic 360): Reporting Discontinued Operations and Disclosures of Disposals of Components of an Entity." The amendments contained in this update change the criteria for reporting discontinued operations and enhance the reporting requirements for discontinued operations. Under the revised standard, a discontinued operation must represent a strategic shift that has or will have a major effect on an entity's operations and financial results. Examples could include a disposal of a major line of business, a major geographical area, a major equity method investment or other major parts of an entity. The revised standard will also allow an entity to have certain continuing cash flows or involvement with the component after the disposal. Additionally, the standard requires expanded disclosures about discontinued operations that will provide financial statement users with more information about the assets, liabilities, income and expenses of discontinued operations. This ASU is effective for reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2014 with early adoption permitted, but only for disposals (or classifications as held for sale) that have not been reported in financial statements previously issued or available for issue. The Company is currently evaluating the new guidance to determine the impact it may have to its consolidated financial statements.
	In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU No. 2014-09, "Revenue from Contracts with Customers" (Topic 606). This ASU is intended to clarify the principles for recognizing revenue by removing inconsistencies and weaknesses in revenue requirements; providing a more robust framework for addressing revenue issues; improving comparability of revenue recognition practices across entities, industries, jurisdictions and capital markets; and providing more useful information to users of financial statements through improved revenue disclosure requirements. The provisions of this ASU are effective for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2016. The Company is currently evaluating the new guidance to determine the impact it may have to its consolidated financial statements.
	In August 2014, the FASB issued ASU No. 2014-15, "Presentation of Financial Statements-Going Concern (Subtopic 205-40): Disclosure of Uncertainties About an Entity's Ability to Continue as a Going Concern". This update provides guidance on management's responsibility in evaluating whether there is substantial doubt about a company's ability to continue as a going concern and about related footnote disclosures. For each reporting period, management will be required to evaluate whether there are conditions or events that raise substantial doubt about a company's ability to continue as a going concern within one year from the date the financial statements are issued. This ASU is effective for the annual reporting period ending after December 15, 2016, and for interim and annual reporting periods thereafter, with early adoption permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the new guidance to determine the impact it may have to its consolidated financial statements.
	In November 2014, the FASB issued ASU No. 2014-17 "Business Combinations" (Topic 805). This update is to provide guidance on whether and at what threshold an acquired entity that is a business or nonprofit activity can apply pushdown accounting in its separate financial statements. The amendments in this update provide an acquired entity with an option to apply pushdown accounting in its separate financial statements upon occurrence of an event in which an acquirer obtains control of the acquired entity. The amendments in this update are effective on November 18, 2014. After the effective date, an acquired entity can make an election to apply the guidance to future change-in-control events or to its most recent change-in-control event. However, if the financial statements for the period in which the most recent change-in-control event occurred already have been issued or made available to be issued, the application of this guidance would be a change in accounting principle. The Company is currently evaluating the new guidance to determine the impact it may have to its consolidated financial statements.

DISCONTINUED_OPERATIONS

DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS
DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS	NOTE 3—DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS
	On August 16, 2011, the Company entered into an equity purchase agreement to sell its QA business to UL for $275,000 plus assumed cash. The QA business provided consumer product testing, inspection, auditing and consulting services that enabled retailers and manufacturers to determine whether products and facilities met applicable safety, regulatory, quality, performance, social and ethical standards. In addition, the Company and UL entered into a transition services agreement, pursuant to which the Company agreed to provide certain services to UL following the closing of the sale, including accounting, tax, legal, payroll and employee benefit services. UL agreed to provide certain information technology services to the Company pursuant to such agreement. On September 1, 2011, the Company completed the sale of the QA business for total net cash proceeds of $283,376, which included $8,376 of estimated cash assumed in certain QA business locations. On September 1, 2011, pursuant to the terms and conditions of the equity purchase agreement, as amended, the Company transferred the applicable assets, liabilities, subsidiaries and employees of the QA business to Nutmeg Holdings, LLC ("Nutmeg") and STR International, LLC ("International," and together with Nutmeg and their respective subsidiaries, the "Nutmeg Companies"), and immediately thereafter sold its equity interest in each of the Nutmeg Companies to designated affiliates of UL. The Company decided to sell the QA business in order to focus exclusively on the solar encapsulant opportunity and to seek further product offerings related to the solar industry, as well as other growth markets related to the Company's polymer manufacturing capabilities, and to retire its long-term debt.
	In accordance with ASC 250-20-Presentation of Financial Statements—Discontinued Operations and ASC 740-20-Income Taxes-Intraperiod Tax Allocation, the accompanying Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Loss and Consolidated Cash Flows present the results of the QA business as discontinued operations. Prior to the sale, the QA business was a segment of the Company. The Company has no continuing involvement in the operations of the QA business and does not have any direct cash flows from the QA business subsequent to the sale. Accordingly, the Company has presented the QA business as discontinued operations in these consolidated financial statements.
	During the third quarter of 2014, the Company received proposed audit adjustments for the tax years 2009, 2010 and 2011 related to state filings of the Company's former QA business. As a result, the Company recorded an aggregate income tax expense to discontinued operations of $884.
	Out of Period Adjustment
	During the third quarter of 2012, the taxable gain associated with the sale of the Company's QA business was finalized in conjunction with filing of the Company's 2011 income tax returns. As part of this process, the Company identified and recorded an income tax benefit to discontinued operations of $4,228. The Company determined that $1,629 of this benefit was an error that should have been recorded in 2011. The Company has determined that the error was not quantitatively or qualitatively material to the annual or interim periods in 2012 and 2011.
	The following table sets forth the operating results of the QA business as being presented as a discontinued operation for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012, respectively:
		Year Ended		Year Ended		Year Ended
		December 31,		December 31,		December 31,
		2014		2013		2012
	Net sales	$	—	$	—	$	—
	Loss from operations before income tax expense		—		—		—
	Gain on sale before income tax expense		—		—		—
	Net earnings before income tax expense	$	—	$	—	$	—
	Income tax expense (benefit)	$	884	$	—	$	(4,228	)

EARNINGS_PER_SHARE

EARNINGS PER SHARE	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
EARNINGS PER SHARE
EARNINGS PER SHARE	NOTE 4—EARNINGS PER SHARE
	On January 30, 2015, the Company filed a Certificate of Amendment to its Restated Certificate of Incorporation in order to effect a one-for-three reverse split of its common stock and its common stock began trading on the NYSE on a split-adjusted basis on the same date. No fractional shares were issued in connection with the reverse stock split. The change in the number of shares resulting from the reverse stock split has been applied retroactively to all shares and per share amounts presented in the consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes, unless otherwise noted. As a result of the reverse stock split, the number of issued and outstanding shares of its common stock was reduced to approximately 18,074,291 and 18,073,051, respectively, at December 31, 2014. The calculation of basic and diluted (loss) earnings per share for the periods presented is as follows:
		Year Ended			Year Ended			Year Ended
		December 31,			December 31,			December 31,
		2014			2013			2012
	Basic and diluted net (loss) earnings per share
	Numerator:
	Net loss from continuing operations	$	(22,733	)	$	(18,286	)	$	(211,575	)
	Net (loss) earnings from discontinued operations		(884	)		—			4,228
	Net loss	$	(23,617	)	$	(18,286	)	$	(207,347	)
	Denominator:
	Weighted-average shares outstanding		10,920,200			13,873,289			13,771,536
	Add:
	Dilutive effect of stock options		—			—			—
	Dilutive effect of restricted common stock		—			—			—
	Weighted-average shares outstanding with dilution		10,920,200			13,873,289			13,771,536
	Net (loss) earnings per share:
	Basic from continuing operations	$	(2.08	)	$	(1.32	)	$	(15.37	)
	Basic from discontinued operations		(0.08	)		—			0.31
	Basic	$	(2.16	)	$	(1.32	)	$	(15.06	)
	Diluted from continuing operations	$	(2.08	)	$	(1.32	)	$	(15.37	)
	Diluted from discontinued operations		(0.08	)		—			0.31
	Diluted	$	(2.16	)	$	(1.32	)	$	(15.06	)
	As of December 31, 2014, the Company had 18,073,051 shares outstanding. On March 7, 2014, the Company repurchased 5,203,986 shares of its common shares at $4.62 per share in connection with a modified "Dutch Auction" tender offer. As such, the weighted-average shares for 2014 does not reflect the full impact of the shares repurchased since the transaction occurred in the last month of the first quarter.
	On August 11, 2014, the Company entered into a Stock Purchase Agreement (the "Purchase Agreement") with the Purchaser, pursuant to which the Company agreed to issue and sell to the Purchaser, and the Purchaser agreed to purchase from the Company, an aggregate of approximately 9,210,710 shares (the "Purchased Shares") of its authorized but unissued common stock, par value $0.01 per share (the "Common Stock"), to the Purchaser for an aggregate purchase price ("Purchased Price") of approximately $21,664, or $2.35 per share (the "Transaction"). The Purchased Shares represented approximately 51% of the Company's outstanding shares upon the closing of the Transaction (the "Closing"), which occurred on December 15, 2015. As such, the weighted-average shares for 2014 does not reflect the full impact of the shares issued since the Transaction occurred in the last month of 2014.
	Due to the loss from continuing operations during the years ending December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012, the weighted-average common shares outstanding does not include any stock options and any shares of unvested restricted common stock as these potential awards do not share in any loss generated by the Company and are anti-dilutive.
	Because the effect would be anti-dilutive, there were 4, 36 and 54 shares of common stock issuable upon the exercise of options issued under the STR Holdings, Inc. 2010 Employee Stock Purchase Plan ("ESPP") that were not included in the computation of diluted weighted-average shares outstanding for the years ending December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012, respectively.
	Because the effect would be anti-dilutive, there were 0, 3,771,305 and 2,744,910 stock options outstanding that were not included in the computation of diluted weighted-average shares outstanding for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013, 2012, respectively.

INVENTORIES_NET

INVENTORIES, NET	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
INVENTORIES, NET
INVENTORIES, NET	NOTE 5—INVENTORIES, NET
	Inventories consist of the following:
		December 31,			December 31,
		2014			2013
	Finished goods	$	1,806		$	2,938
	Raw materials		7,397			6,064
	Reserve		(955	)		(445	)
	Inventories, net	$	8,248		$	8,557

LONGLIVED_ASSETS_AND_GOODWILL

LONG-LIVED ASSETS AND GOODWILL	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
LONG-LIVED ASSETS AND GOODWILL
LONG-LIVED ASSETS AND GOODWILL	NOTE 6—LONG-LIVED ASSETS AND GOODWILL
	Property, Plant and Equipment
	Property, plant and equipment consist of the following:
		Estimated		December 31,			December 31,
		Useful		2014			2013
		Lives
	Land			$	3,571		$	5,917
	Buildings and improvements	15 - 40			12,412			15,844
	Machinery and equipment	8-May			19,615			19,251
	Furniture, fixtures and computers	5-Mar			3,493			4,090
	Less: accumulated depreciation				(19,552	)		(20,315	)
	Subtotal				19,539			24,787
	Construction-in-progress				656			3,611
	Property, plant and equipment, net			$	20,195		$	28,398
	Depreciation expense was $2,078, $2,024 and $11,255 for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012, respectively.
	On June 9, 2014, the Company received a signed letter of intent from a potential buyer for its East Windsor, Connecticut facility for approximately $4,750. In July, the Company executed the formal purchase and sale agreement and in October the sale of the property was finalized. The sale of the property was part of the Company's focus to reduce its footprint and operating costs. As such, an analysis of the asset group was performed and a loss on reclassification of $1,179 was recorded during 2014. The Company has relocated its corporate and research and development functions to its owned facility located in Enfield, Connecticut.
	In 2014, the Company sold its land use rights for a parcel of land located in Suzhou, China to the Administration Committee of Changkun Industrial Government for $1,924. The Company recorded a loss on disposal of fixed assets for the sale of this asset of $435.
	In 2013, the Company recorded a $194 impairment to its property, plant and equipment. The impairment was driven by the Company's decision to cease the construction of its China manufacturing plant due to electing to lease an existing building to conduct its manufacturing operations. As such, the Company wrote-off costs incurred to date relating to the construction of its own facility.
	Due to continued and expected low production utilization levels, the Company recorded $2,818 of accelerated depreciation associated with shortened useful lives of certain machinery and equipment during the fourth quarter of 2012. In addition, the Company recorded an impairment charge of $37,431 to its property, plant and equipment as of December 31, 2012.
	Intangible Assets
	The Company recorded the estimated fair values of intangible assets acquired in connection with the Acquisition. As described in the impairment testing section below, the Company impaired its Intangible assets as of December 31, 2012 as follows:
		December 31, 2012
		Gross			Accumulated			Impairment as of		Net
		Carrying			Amortization			December 31,
		Amount						2012
	Customer relationships	$	71,100		$	19,701		$	51,399	$	—
	Trademarks		40,800			7,537			33,263		—
	Proprietary technology		70,300			19,482			50,818		—
		$	182,200		$	46,720		$	135,480	$	—
	The Company amortized its intangible assets utilizing the straight-line method as this method approximated the anticipated economic benefit derived from these assets. Amortization expense of such assets was $0, $0 and $8,432 for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012, respectively. The Company recorded a non-cash impairment charge of $135,480 as of December 31, 2012.
	Goodwill
	Goodwill represented the excess purchase price consideration of the estimated fair value assigned to the individual assets acquired and liabilities assumed in the Acquisition. The Company recorded an impairment of $0, $0 and $82,524 during 2014, 2013 and 2012, respectively, as further discussed below. Goodwill was $0 at December 31, 2014 and 2013. Goodwill was not deductible for tax purposes.
	Impairment Testing
	In accordance with ASC 350-Intangibles-Goodwill and Other and ASC 360-Property, Plant and Equipment, the Company assessed the impairment of its long-lived assets including its definite-lived intangible assets, property, plant and equipment and goodwill, at least annually for goodwill, and whenever changes in events or circumstances indicated that the carrying value of such assets may not be recoverable. During each reporting period, the Company assessed if the following factors were present which would cause an impairment review: overall negative solar industry conditions; a significant or prolonged decrease in net sales that were generated under its trademarks; loss of a significant customer or a reduction in demand for customers' products; a significant adverse change in the extent to or manner in which the Company used its trademarks or proprietary technology; such assets becoming obsolete due to new technology or manufacturing processes entering the markets or an adverse change in legal factors; and the market capitalization of the Company's common stock.
	During the first quarter of 2012, the market capitalization of the Company's common stock declined by approximately 50%. As a result of this decline that did not appear to be temporary, the Company determined that a triggering event occurred requiring it to test its long-lived assets and its goodwill for impairment as of March 31, 2012. Prior to performing its goodwill impairment test, the Company first assessed its long-lived assets for impairment as of March 31, 2012. The Company concluded that no impairment existed as the sum of the undiscounted expected future cash flows exceeded the carrying value of the Company's asset group which is its reporting unit. The key assumptions driving the undiscounted cash flows were the forecasted sales growth rate and EBITDA margin.
	At March 31, 2012, the Company valued its reporting unit with the assistance of a valuation specialist and determined that its reporting unit's net book value exceeded its fair value. The Company then performed step two of the goodwill impairment assessment which involved calculating the implied fair value of goodwill by allocating the fair value of the reporting unit to all of its assets and liabilities other than goodwill and comparing the residual amount to the carrying amount of goodwill. The Company determined that the implied fair value of goodwill was lower than its carrying value and recorded a non-cash goodwill impairment charge of $82,524. The Company estimated the fair value of its reporting unit under the income approach using a discounted cash flow method which incorporated the Company's cash flow projections.
	Based on the other-than-temporary decline in the Company's stock price and its net book value exceeding the market capitalization of its common stock during the first quarter of 2012, the market approach was giving a higher weighting in determining fair value. The Company believes the cash flow projections and valuation assumptions used were reasonable and consistent with market participants. Many of the factors used in assessing the fair value were outside the control of management, and these assumptions and estimates could have changed in future periods as a result of both Company-specific factors, industry conditions and overall economic conditions.
	As of December 31, 2012, due to continued pricing pressure, trade complaints escalating in the industry, increased competition from non-EVA encapsulant materials and the Company's initial 2013 sales outlook which included the loss of its then largest customer, the Company determined that a trigger event occurred to test its long-lived assets for recoverability. In conjunction with a valuation specialist, the Company determined that the sum of the undiscounted expected future cash flows did not exceed the carrying value of the Company's asset group which is its reporting unit. The key assumptions driving the undiscounted cash flows were the forecasted sales growth rate and EBITDA margin.
	Since the asset group's carrying value was not recoverable, the Company, in conjunction with a valuation specialist, fair valued the asset group incorporating market participant assumptions. The Company estimated the fair value of its asset group under the income approach using a discounted cash flow model which incorporated its cash flow projections. The Company also considered its market capitalization, control premiums and other valuation assumptions in reconciling the calculated fair value to the market capitalization at the assessment date. Based on the assessment, the Company calculated an impairment charge which was allocated to each of the long-lived assets on a pro-rata basis using the relative carrying values of those assets as of December 31, 2012. However, the Company did not reduce the carrying value of such assets below their fair value where such value could be determined without undue cost and effort. Therefore, the Company recorded a non-cash impairment charge of $135,480 to its intangible assets and $37,431 to its property, plant and equipment as of December 31, 2012. The Company re-evaluated the depreciable lives of such long-lived assets and determined a revision to those lives was not warranted.
	At December 31, 2013, there were no indicators that significantly changed from the December 31, 2012 impairment test and a detailed impairment analysis was not performed. However, the Company did perform an analysis using appraisals and other data in order to assess the recoverability of its property, plant and equipment as of December 31, 2013. As a result of this analysis, the Company determined its long-lived assets were recoverable and the depreciable lives were appropriate as of December 31, 2013.
	At December 31, 2014, the Company recorded valuation allowances against its deferred tax assets. As such, the Company determined this to be an indicator to test its long-lived assets for impairment. The valuation allowances were recorded since the Company has three consecutive years of taxable losses and it determined that its history of actual net losses is negative evidence that should be given more weight than future projections. As such, the Company determined the recording of valuation allowances to be an indicator to test its long-lived assets, which consist solely of property, plant and equipment, for impairment. The Company concluded that no impairment existed as the sum of the undiscounted expected future cash flows exceeded the carrying value of its asset group which is its reporting unit ($57,723 as of December 31, 2014) by $54,854. The key assumptions driving the undiscounted cash flows were the forecasted sales growth rate and EBITDA margin. In addition to assessing the undiscounted cash flows, the Company also assessed the specific recoverability of its property, plant and equipment using updated real estate appraisals and other data for its other fixed assets, mainly production equipment. Based upon this analysis, the Company believes its property, plant and equipment's carrying value is recoverable and depreciable lives are appropriate as of December 31, 2014. If the Company experiences a significant reduction in future sales volume, further ASP reductions, lower profitability, ceases operations at any of its facilities, or negative changes in Malaysia, U.S. or Spain real estate markets, the Company's property, plant and equipment may be subject to future impairment or accelerated depreciation.

LEASES

LEASES	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
LEASES
LEASES	NOTE 7—LEASES
	The Company leases facility space under non-cancelable operating leases. The leases require the Company to pay property taxes, common area maintenance and certain other costs in addition to base rent. The Company also leases office equipment under operating leases.
	Future minimum payments under all non-cancelable operating leases were as follows as of December 31, 2014:
	2015	$	168
	2016		166
	2017		166
	2018		71
	2019		1
	Thereafter		—
		$	572
	Rental expense on facility space and equipment operating leases was $392, $450 and $474 for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012, respectively.

ACCRUED_LIABILITIES

ACCRUED LIABILITIES	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
ACCRUED LIABILITIES
ACCRUED LIABILITIES	NOTE 8—ACCRUED LIABILITIES
	Accruals consist of the following:
		December 31,		December 31,
		2014		2013
	Product performance (see Note 9)	$	189	$	4,141
	Grants (see Note 9)		—		1,071
	Salary and wages		381		412
	Professional fees		704		563
	Restructuring severance and benefits (see Note 10)		32		1,667
	Environmental (see Note 9)		57		76
	Accrued franchise tax		565		191
	Other		852		311
	Total	$	2,780	$	8,432

COMMITMENTS_AND_CONTINGENCIES

COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES	NOTE 9—COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
	The Company is a party to claims and litigation in the normal course of its operations. Management believes that the ultimate outcome of these matters will not have a material adverse effect on the Company's financial position, results of operations, or cash flows.
	Product Performance Matters
	The Company provides a short-term warranty that it has manufactured its products to the Company's specifications. On limited occasions, the Company incurs costs to service its products in connection with specific product performance matters that do not meet the Company's specifications. Anticipated future costs are recorded as part of cost of sales and accrued liabilities for specific product performance matters when it is probable that a liability has been incurred and the amount of the liability can be reasonably estimated.
	In isolated occasions, the Company has also offered limited short-term performance warranties relating to its encapsulants not causing module power loss. The Company performs long-term performance testing of its encapsulants during product development prior to launching new product introductions and in customer certification of its products prior to entering into mass production. The Company has operated its solar business since the 1970s and over 20 GW worth of solar modules utilizing its encapsulants have been installed in the field with no reported module power performance issues caused by the Company's encapsulants and no related warranty claims to-date. Based on this fact pattern, the Company has not accrued any warranty liability associated for this potential liability as it is remote of occurrence. If the Company was to ever receive a warranty claim for such matter, the Company would assess the need for a warranty accrual at that time.
	The Company has accrued for specific product performance matters incurred in 2014 and 2013 that are based on management's best estimate of ultimate expenditures that it may incur for such items. The following table summarizes the Company's product performance liability that is recorded in accrued liabilities in the consolidated balance sheets:
		December 31,			December 31,
		2014			2013
	Balance as of beginning of period	$	4,141		$	3,959
	Additions		528			17
	Reversals		(4,089	)		—
	Reductions		(355	)		—
	Foreign exchange impact		(36	)		165
	Balance as of end of period	$	189		$	4,141
	During 2014, the Company reversed $4,089 of an accrual related to a quality claim by one of the Company's customers in connection with a non-encapsulant product that the Company purchased from a vendor in 2005 and 2006 and resold. The reversal was recorded in other income in the consolidated statements of comprehensive loss for the year ended December 31, 2014. The Company stopped selling this product in 2006. The Company has concluded that the settlement of this contingency is no longer probable and is remote.
	Environmental
	During 2010, the Company performed a Phase II environmental site assessment at its 10 Water Street, Enfield, Connecticut location. During its investigation, the site was found to contain a presence of volatile organic compounds. The Company has been in contact with the Department of Environmental Protection and has engaged a licensed contractor to remediate this circumstance. Based on ASC 450-Contingencies, the Company has accrued the estimated cost to remediate. The following table summarizes the Company's environmental liability that is recorded in accrued liabilities in the consolidated balance sheets:
		December 31,			December 31,
		2014			2013
	Balance as of beginning of period	$	76		$	105
	Additions		—			—
	Reductions		(19	)		(29	)
	Balance as of end of period	$	57		$	76
	Spanish Grants
	The Company's Spanish subsidiary has received financial grants for certain fixed assets that requires the Company's Spanish subsidiary to maintain a specific level of employment and to continue to operate certain fixed assets. In the third quarter of 2013, the Company's Spanish subsidiary repaid $1,558 of grants that were accrued in 2012 in conjunction with cost reduction measures that failed to comply with employment level requirements for certain grants. During the fourth quarter of 2014, $974 of grants were reversed to other income and SG&A, as the Company met all of the grant requirements. If the Company's Spanish subsidiary fails to satisfy these or other requirements, such subsidiary will not qualify for future incentives and may be required to refund a portion of previously granted incentives. If the Company's Spanish subsidiary fails to comply with its obligations under the grants, or the respective government agencies determine that the Company's Spanish subsidiary has not complied with all of its grants, the Company could be required to make additional potential repayments ranging from zero to $4,000. Any such additional potential repayment could have a material adverse effect on the Company's results of operations, prospects, cash flows and financial condition.
	Galica/JPS
	In October 2007, the Company's wholly-owned subsidiary, Specialized Technology Resources, Inc. ("STR"), filed a complaint against James P. Galica ("Galica") and JPS Elastomerics Corp. ("JPS") in the Massachusetts Superior Court in Hampshire County (the "Court"). STR alleged that the defendants misappropriated trade secrets and violated the Massachusetts Unfair and Deceptive Trade Practices Act as well as breaches of contract, the implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing, and fiduciary duty against Galica (the "State Court Action"). The Court determined that JPS and Galica had violated the Massachusetts Unfair and Deceptive Trade Practices Act, finding that the technology for STR's polymeric sheeting product is a trade secret and that JPS and Galica had misappropriated STR's trade secrets. On January 27, 2011, the Court awarded STR the right to recover from the defendants (i) actual monetary damages of $1,100, (ii) punitive damages of $2,200, (iii) reasonable attorney's fees of $3,900, (iv) reasonable costs of $1,100, and (v) 12% interest on each of the monetary awards from the date of the judgment (except for the actual monetary damages which accrued interest from October 2, 2007, the date the complaint was entered). In addition, the Court imposed a five year production injunction (the "Production Injunction") against producing low shrink EVA encapsulant, and a permanent use injunction against the defendants using STR's trade secrets.
	On September 17, 2010, JPS filed an amended complaint against STR, in the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts (the "Federal Court Action"). The amended complaint alleged various antitrust and unfair competition claims and that the State Court Action (described above) was sham litigation initiated by STR in an attempt to monopolize the domestic and international market for low-shrink EVA encapsulants. JPS also alleged other schemes to monopolize and unfair competition in violation of federal and state laws. JPS sought $60,000 in compensatory damages, treble damages, a permanent injunction against STR for various activities, reimbursement of legal fees for the State Court Action as well as for this matter, and disgorgement of proceeds obtained by STR from allegedly anti-competitive and tortious acts. On October 13, 2010, STR filed a motion to dismiss the amended complaint, and on January 5, 2011, the Court held a hearing on STR's motion to dismiss. At the hearing, the Court ruled in favor of STR and dismissed the case. On February 10, 2011, JPS filed a notice of appeal with the Appellate Court. JPS filed its appellate brief on May 2, 2011 and STR filed its appellate brief on June 14, 2011.
	On February 10, 2012, the Company, STR, JPS, JPS Industries, Inc., the parent corporation of JPS, and Galica entered into a Global Settlement Agreement and Release (the "Settlement Agreement"). Pursuant to the Settlement Agreement, the parties agreed to, (i) payment by JPS of $7,132 to the Company (which was received on February 16, 2012), (ii) dismissals of the State Court Action, the Federal Court Action, and all associated appeals and proceedings, (iii) the satisfaction of outstanding judgments in the State Court Action, (iv) the disbursement to the Company of $70, deposited with and held in escrow by the Court, (v) the discharge of attachments of certain assets of JPS, (vi) the modification of the injunction issued in the State Court Action: (a) reducing the term of the Production Injunction from five years to four years, (b) permitting JPS to permanently bond encapsulant to fiberglass mesh and laminate non-low shrink encapsulant to paper, (c) the deletion of JPS's obligations with respect to the review and deletion of certain documents, (vii) the delivery to the Company by JPS of certain components of an equipment line purchased by it, (viii) the deletion by JPS of certain data, (ix) the general release of claims by the parties related to the State Court Action and the Federal Court Action, subject to the retention by the Company of certain rights, (x) the covenant by JPS not to sue the Company (and its affiliates) with respect to matters related to the Federal Court Action, (xi) the agreement by JPS and Galica to cooperate with the Company in connection with investigations related to the potential dissemination of the Company's trade secrets, and (xii) certain other customary terms and conditions.
	The Company received the $7,202 payment during the first quarter of 2012, which is recorded in Other Income in its Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Loss for the year ended December 31, 2012.

COST_REDUCTION_ACTIONS

COST REDUCTION ACTIONS	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
COST-REDUCTION ACTIONS
COST-REDUCTION ACTIONS	NOTE 10—COST REDUCTION ACTIONS
	During 2012, the Company entered into a Labor Force Adjustment Plan ("LFAP") with the union and the local government at its Spain facility that temporarily furloughed approximately 60 employees for the period of February 1, 2012 to July 31, 2012. The Company entered into an agreement to extend its LFAP at its Spain facility. Under this agreement, the Company was responsible for 10% of the salary of employees who were furloughed during the period from August 1, 2012 through October 31, 2012. On October 17, 2012, the Company permanently reduced headcount at this facility by 58 employees to better align its cost structure with current and anticipated sales volumes. In addition, the Company also reduced headcount by 39 employees at its Connecticut facilities in 2012. In conjunction with these headcount reductions, the Company recognized severance of $998 in cost of sales and $440 in selling, general and administrative expense for the year ended December 31, 2012, respectively.
	On January 22, 2013, the Board of Directors approved a cost reduction action to cease manufacturing at its East Windsor, Connecticut facility after being notified that its largest customer selected an alternative supplier. In connection with ongoing cost reduction measures by the Company, on October 15, 2013, the Company eliminated the positions of Chief Operating Officer, Vice President of Human Resources, Chief Technology Officer and Vice President of Finance effective November 15, 2013. These cost reduction actions were implemented to better align the Company's organization and cost-structure to its current and expected level of business. In total, the Company executed headcount reductions of approximately 180 employees on a global basis for the year ended December 31, 2013. In conjunction with these headcount reductions, the Company recognized severance and related benefits of $1,698 in cost of sales and $2,633 in selling, general and administrative expense for the year ended December 31, 2013.
	In light of the continued shift in module manufacturing to mainland China, and the requirement within this growing market for just-in-time delivery, the Company announced plans in 2013 to cease production at its Johor, Malaysia facility in 2014. In conjunction with the anticipated closure, the Company recognized severance and other benefits of $386 in cost of sales and $377 in selling, general and administrative expenses in 2013. During 2014, the Company reassessed the strategic benefit of its Malaysia facility. Due to continued solar trade disputes between China and the United States and Europe, including the levy of tariffs and anti-dumping duties, solar module production is expected to increase in Asia outside of China. As such, the Company believes its Malaysia facility is strategically located in this region, and it will remain open indefinitely. As such, the Company reversed restructuring accruals recorded in 2013 during 2014 resulting in a positive benefit to cost of sales of $407 and selling, general and administrative expense of $388.
	During 2014, the Company received notification that it fulfilled the necessary Spanish grant requirements provided by the government and in turn reversed $250 of an accrual initially recorded in 2012.
	The activity during the year ended December 31, 2014 related to cash settlements of previous accrued amounts, minor adjustments for cost reduction actions initiated in 2013 and the non-cash reversal of prior accruals relating to the Malaysia facility that will now remain open and the Spanish grants.
	The restructuring accrual consists of $32 for severance and benefits as of December 31, 2014. A rollforward of the severance and other exit cost accrual activity was as follows:
	Balance at December 31, 2012	$	200
	Additions		4,331
	Reductions		(2,597	)
	Balance at December 31, 2013	$	1,934
	Additions	$	440
	Reversals		(1,045	)
	Reductions		(1,297	)
	Balance at December 31, 2014	$	32

FAIR_VALUE_MEASUREMENTS

FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS
FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS	NOTE 11—FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS
	The Company measures certain financial assets and liabilities at fair value on a recurring basis in the financial statements. The hierarchy ranks the quality and reliability of inputs, or assumptions, used in the determination of fair value and requires financial assets and liabilities carried at fair value to be classified and disclosed in one of the following three categories:
	•	Level 1—quoted prices in active markets for identical assets and liabilities;
	•	Level 2—unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for similar assets or liabilities, or unadjusted quoted prices for identical or similar assets or liabilities in markets that are not active, or inputs other than quoted prices that are observable for the asset or liability; and
	•	Level 3—unobservable inputs that are not corroborated by market data.
	The following table provides the fair value measurements of applicable financial assets and liabilities as of December 31, 2014:
			Financial assets and liabilities
			at fair value as of
			December 31, 2014
			Level 1		Level 2			Level 3
	Money market funds(1)		$	1,441	$	—		$	—
	Deferred compensation(2)		$	—	$	(204	)	$	—
	Total		$	1,441	$	(204	)	$	—
	The following table provides the fair value measurements of applicable financial assets and liabilities as of December 31, 2013:
			Financial assets and liabilities
			at fair value as of
			December 31, 2013
			Level 1		Level 2			Level 3
	Money market funds(1)		$	29,458	$	—		$	—
	Deferred compensation(2)		$	—	$	(830	)	$	—
	Total		$	29,458	$	(830	)	$	—
	-1	Included in cash and cash equivalents on the Company's Consolidated Balance Sheets. The carrying amount of money market funds is a reasonable estimate of fair value.
	-2	Included in other short-term and other long-term liabilities on the Company's Consolidated Balance Sheets. Refer to Note 15 for further information.

LONGTERM_DEBT

LONG-TERM DEBT	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
LONG-TERM DEBT.
LONG-TERM DEBT	NOTE 12—LONG-TERM DEBT
	The Company had no outstanding long-term debt as of December 31, 2014 and 2013.
	2011 Credit Agreement
	On October 7, 2011, the Company entered into a multicurrency credit agreement (the "Credit Agreement") with certain of its domestic subsidiaries, as guarantors (the "Guarantors"), the lenders from time to time party thereto ("the Lenders") and Bank of America, N.A., as administrative agent, swing line lender and letter of credit issuer ("the Administrative Agent"). The Credit Agreement originally provided for a revolving senior credit facility of up to $150,000 which was to mature on October 7, 2015. The Credit Agreement originally included a $50,000 sublimit for multicurrency borrowings, a $25,000 sublimit for the issuance of letters of credit and a $5,000 sublimit for swing line loans. The Credit Agreement also contained an expansion option permitting the Company to request an increase of the revolving senior credit facility from time to time up to an aggregate additional $50,000 from any of the lenders or other eligible lenders as may have been invited to join the Credit Agreement, that elected to make such increase available, upon the satisfaction of certain conditions.
	The obligations under the Credit Agreement were unconditional and were guaranteed by substantially all of the Company's existing and subsequently acquired or organized domestic subsidiaries. The Credit Agreement and related guarantees were secured on a first-priority basis, and by security interests (subject to liens permitted under the Credit Agreement) in substantially all tangible and intangible assets owned by the Company and each of the Company's domestic subsidiaries, subject to certain exceptions, including limiting pledges to 66% of the voting stock of foreign subsidiaries.
	Borrowings under the Credit Agreement may have been used to finance working capital, capital investments and other lawful corporate purposes, including the financing of certain permitted acquisitions, payment of dividends and/or stock repurchases, subject to certain restrictions.
	Each Eurocurrency rate loan bore interest at the Eurocurrency rate (as was defined in the Credit Agreement) plus an applicable rate that ranged from 200 basis points to 250 basis points based on our Consolidated Leverage Ratio (as was defined in the Credit Agreement) plus, when funds were lent by certain overseas lending offices, an additional cost.
	Base rate loans and swing line loans bore interest at the base rate (as defined below) plus the applicable rate, which ranged from 100 basis points to 150 basis points based on the Company's Consolidated Leverage Ratio. The base rate was the highest of (i) the Federal funds rate (as published by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York from time to time) plus 1/2 of 1%, (ii) Bank of America's "prime rate" as publicly announced from time to time, and (iii) the Eurocurrency rate for Eurocurrency loans of one month plus 1%.
	If any amount was not paid when due under the Credit Agreement or an event of default existed, then, at the request of the lenders holding a majority of the unfunded commitments and outstanding loans, obligations under the Credit Agreement would have bore interest at a rate per annum equal to 200 basis points higher than the interest rate otherwise applicable. In addition, the Company was required to pay the Lenders a commitment fee equal to an applicable rate, which ranged from 25 basis points to 35 basis points based on the Company's Consolidated Leverage Ratio from time to time, multiplied by the actual daily amount of the Lender's aggregate unused commitments under the Credit Agreement. The facility fee was payable quarterly in arrears. The Company would also pay a letter of credit fee equal to the applicable rate for Eurocurrency rate loans times the dollar equivalent of the daily amount available to be drawn under such letter of credit.
	The Company could optionally prepay the loans or irrevocably reduce or terminate the unutilized portion of the commitments under the Credit Agreement, in whole or in part, without premium or penalty (other than if Eurocurrency loans were prepaid prior to the end of the applicable interest period) at any time by the delivery of a notice to that effect as provided under the Credit Agreement.
	2012 Amendment to the Credit Agreement
	On September 28, 2012 (the "Effective Date"), the Company, the Guarantors, the Lenders and the Administrative Agent entered into the First Amendment to Credit Agreement and Security Agreement (the "First Amendment"), amending (i) the Credit Agreement and (ii) the Security Agreement and dated as of October 7, 2011, among the Company, the Guarantors and the Administrative Agent. The Company had no outstanding indebtedness pursuant to the Credit Agreement.
	The First Amendment reduced the amount available under the revolving senior credit facility from $150,000 to $25,000. During the cash collateral period, the Company may have borrowed under the revolving senior credit facility. However, the Company must have maintained cash collateral deposited by the Company and/or the Company's subsidiaries in an account controlled by the Administrative Agent in an amount equal to any outstanding borrowing under the Credit Agreement, as amended. In addition, the Company was not required to comply with the financial covenants set forth in the Credit Agreement, as amended, during the cash collateral period.
	Termination of the Credit Agreement
	On September 16, 2013, the Company terminated its Credit Agreement. The Company had no outstanding indebtedness pursuant to the amended Credit Agreement. The Company cancelled the Credit Agreement since it was not able to draw on it without posting cash collateral and the Company had liquidity with its then existing cash balance to run its operations. As a part of the termination, the Company wrote-off approximately $143 of the remaining unamortized deferred financing costs associated with the Credit Agreement.

INCOME_TAXES

INCOME TAXES	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
INCOME TAXES
INCOME TAXES	NOTE 13—INCOME TAXES
	Loss from continuing operations before income tax expense (benefit) is as follows:
		Year Ended			Year Ended			Year Ended
		December 31, 2014			December 31, 2013			December 31, 2012
	Domestic	$	(6,341	)	$	(14,611	)	$	(262,451	)
	Foreign		(9,860	)		(11,024	)		(15,388	)
	Total	$	(16,201	)	$	(25,635	)	$	(277,839	)
	The expense (benefit) for income taxes from continuing operations consists of the following components:
		Year Ended			Year Ended			Year Ended
		December 31, 2014			December 31, 2013			December 31, 2012
	Current income tax (benefit) expense from continuing operations
	U.S. federal	$	(8,377	)	$	(5,610	)	$	(8,825	)
	Foreign		12			122			3,405
	State and local		30			(12	)		(650	)
	Total current income tax (benefit) expense from continuing operations		(8,335	)		(5,500	)		(6,070	)
	Deferred income tax expense (benefit) from continuing operations
	U.S. federal		12,300			(741	)		(58,015	)
	Foreign		2,567			(1,134	)		(1,722	)
	State and local		—			26			(457	)
	Total deferred income tax expense (benefit) from continuing operations		14,867			(1,849	)		(60,194	)
	Total income tax expense (benefit) from continuing operations	$	6,532		$	(7,349	)	$	(66,264	)
	There were no tax benefits for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012, respectively, associated with the exercise of stock options that were recorded to additional paid-in capital. Tax benefits associated with the "Windfall" for stock options exercised are determined on a "with and without" basis.
	During 2012, vested non-qualified stock options (NQSO) were cancelled resulting in a reversal of the related deferred tax asset. As a result, the Company's additional paid-in capital "windfall" account was reduced to zero and an additional deferred tax expense of $113 was reflected in tax expense. For 2013, a deferred tax expense of $11 was reflected in tax expense related to cancelled vested non-qualified stock options. For 2014, all outstanding non-qualified stock options were cancelled resulting in a deferred tax expense of $4,806.
	A deferred tax expense of $0, $244, and $70 relating to the cumulative translation adjustment of the Company's foreign subsidiaries financial statements is recorded in other comprehensive (loss) income for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012, respectively.
	During the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012, the Company recorded adjustments to income tax and deferred income taxes related to a change in state taxable income apportionment percent. Amounts recorded in 2014, 2013 and 2012 were to recognize a deferred income tax expense of $0, $26 and a state deferred income tax benefit of $331, respectively.
	Following is a reconciliation of the Company's effective income tax rate from continuing operations to the United States federal statutory tax rate:
		Year Ended			Year Ended			Year Ended
		December 31, 2014			December 31, 2013			December 31, 2012
	Expected tax at U.S. statutory income tax rate		35.0	%		35.0	%		35.0	%
	U.S. state and local income taxes net of federal income tax effect		(0.1	)%		(0.1	)%		0.3	%
	Foreign rate differential		(5.6	)%		(5.9	)%		(1.1	)%
	Foreign unremitted earnings		(20.1	)%		1.1	%		0.4	%
	Goodwill impairment		0.0	%		0.0	%		(10.4	)%
	Other non-deductible fees and expenses		0.0	%		(0.5	)%		(0.1	)%
	Unrecognized tax benefits		1.4	%		(0.6	)%		0.3	%
	Stock option cancellations		(32.3	)%		0.0	%		0.0	%
	Change in valuation allowance		(19.0	)%		0.0	%		0.0	%
	Other		0.4	%		(0.3	)%		(0.5	)%
	Effective tax rate		(40.3	)%		28.7	%		23.9	%
	The effect of temporary differences is included in deferred tax accounts as follows:
		Year Ended			Year Ended
		December 31, 2014			December 31, 2013
	Deferred tax assets:
	Current deferred tax assets:
	Accrued salaries and benefits	$	11		$	67
	Deferred compensation		—			221
	Bad debt reserves		48			49
	Inventories		14			236
	Product performance accrual		21			1,483
	Other		—			25
	Total current deferred tax assets before valuation allowance	$	94		$	2,081
	Valuation allowance		(94	)		—
	Current deferred tax assets	$	—		$	2,081
	Long-term deferred tax assets:
	Deferred compensation	$	71		$	70
	Non-qualified stock option compensation		—			4,223
	Restricted stock compensation		2			537
	Operating loss carryforwards		6,436			4,225
	Fixed assets		272			4,998
	Other		549			392
	Total long-term deferred tax assets before valuation allowance	$	7,330		$	14,445
	Valuation allowance		(7,330	)		(1,247	)
	Long term-deferred tax assets		—			13,198
	Total deferred tax assets	$	—		$	15,279
Deferred tax liabilities:
Foreign unremitted earnings	$	—		$	—
Total deferred tax liabilities	$	—		$	—
Total net deferred tax assets	$	—		$	15,279
A valuation allowance is recorded on certain deferred tax assets if it has been determined it is more likely than not that all or a portion of these assets will not be realized. The Company has recorded a valuation allowance of $7,424 and $1,247 for deferred tax assets existing as of December 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013, respectively. The valuation allowance as of December 31, 2014 is attributable to deferred taxes in the United States and net operating loss carryforwards in the United States, Spain, China and Hong Kong. The valuation allowance as of December 31, 2013 was primarily attributable to net operating loss carryforwards in China and Hong Kong.
The Company recognizes interest accrued related to its liability for unrecognized tax benefits and penalties in income tax expense. The Company recorded interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits as a component of income tax expense from continuing operations in the amount of approximately $(85), $214 and $5 for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012, respectively. The Company had approximately $1,183 and $1,154 for the payments of interest and penalties accrued at December 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013, respectively.
A reconciliation of the beginning and ending amount of the Company's liability for unrecognized tax benefits, excluding interest and penalties, is as follows (includes continuing and discontinued operations):
Balance at January 1, 2012	$	4,742
Additions for tax positions of prior years		375
Reductions for tax positions of prior years		(1,805	)
Balance at December 31, 2012	$	3,312
Additions for tax positions of prior years		—
Reductions for tax positions of prior years		—
Balance at December 31, 2013	$	3,312
Additions for tax positions of prior years		—
Reductions for tax positions of prior years		(113	)
Balance at December 31, 2014	$	3,199
The amount of unrecognized tax benefit that would potentially impact the Company's effective tax rate from continuing operations was $3,199, $3,274 and $3,274 (excluding interest and penalties) as of December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012, respectively. The Company has open tax years from 2004-2014 with various foreign tax jurisdictions. The Company expects $3,199 (excluding interest and penalties) of unrecognized tax benefits to reverse within the next twelve months.
The Company conducts its business globally and as a result, the Company and one or more of its subsidiaries file income tax returns in the U.S. federal jurisdiction and various state and foreign jurisdictions. The Company is subject to examination by taxing authorities in each of these jurisdictions.
The Company has an open tax year of 2014 for U.S. federal tax purposes. The Company has open tax years from 2009-2014 with various state tax jurisdictions. In connection with the examination of the Company's tax returns, contingencies can arise that generally result from differing interpretations of applicable tax laws and regulations as they relate to the amount, timing or inclusion of revenues or expenses in taxable income, or the sustainability of tax credits to reduce incomes taxes payable. The Company believes it has sufficient accruals for its contingent tax liabilities. Annual tax provisions include amounts considered sufficient to pay assessments that may result from examination of prior year tax returns, although actual results may differ.
During 2013 and 2014, the Company went through several examinations that resulted in no material adjustments, including: an examination in the United States by the Internal Revenue Service for tax years 2011, 2012 and 2013; an examination by the State of Florida for the tax years 2010, 2011 and 2012; and an inspection for the 2012 return filed for Spain. The Company is currently under audit by the State of Massachusetts for tax years 2009, 2010 and 2011.
No U.S. taxes need to be provided for the undistributed earnings of a foreign subsidiary if the Company can assert that such earnings are planned to be reinvested indefinitely outside of the United States. The Company periodically assesses its business operations and the cash flow needs of its foreign and domestic subsidiaries to determine if the earnings of any of its foreign subsidiaries will be indefinitely reinvested outside the United States. As of December 31, 2013, the Company no longer asserted that it would permanently reinvest its Malaysia subsidiary's earnings, as such, the Company is not permanently reinvesting earnings generated in any foreign jurisdiction.
The Company's subsidiary in Malaysia is operating under a tax holiday arrangement which extends through 2019. The impact of its tax holiday on its effective rate is a reduction in the benefit of 5.6%, 4.5% and 0.9% percentage points for 2014, 2013 and 2012, respectively.
During 2014, the Company recorded an accrual for potential adjustments relating to a state audit on filings of the Company's QA business, which was sold in 2011. The Company recorded an income tax expense to discontinued operations of $884. Refer to Note 3-Discontinued Operations for further explanation.

STOCKHOLDERS_EQUITY

STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY	NOTE 14—STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
	Preferred Stock
	The Company's Board of Directors has authorized 20,000,000 shares of preferred stock, $0.01 par value, issuable in series. At December 31, 2014 and 2013, there were no shares issued or outstanding.
	Common Stock
	Reverse Stock Split
	As more fully described in Note 2, the Company effected a one-for-three reverse split of its common stock on January 30, 2015.
	The Company's Board of Directors has authorized 200,000,000 shares of common stock, $0.01 par value. At December 31, 2014, there were 18,074,291 shares of issued and 18,073,051 shares of outstanding common stock. Each share of common stock is entitled to one vote per share. Included in the 18,073,051 shares outstanding are 18,065,672 shares of common stock and 7,379 shares of restricted unvested common stock.
	At December 31, 2013, there were 13,962,305 shares of issued and 13,961,065 shares of outstanding common stock. Each share of common stock is entitled to one vote per share. Included in the 13,961,065 shares are 13,922,842 common shares and 38,223 restricted unvested common shares.
	On January 31, 2014, the Company commenced a modified "Dutch Auction" tender offer (the "Offer") to repurchase, for cash, up to $30,000 of shares of the Company's common stock. On March 7, 2014, the Offer closed resulting in the repurchase of 5,203,986 shares at $4.62 per share. The Company used a portion of the Company's cash and cash equivalents to purchase and retire such shares of its common stock for an aggregate purchase price of $24,042, excluding fees and expenses associated with the Offer. Fees and expenses relating to the tender amounted to $2,387, all of which were paid during the year ended December 31, 2014.
	On August 11, 2014, the Company entered into the Purchase Agreement with the Purchaser, pursuant to which the Company agreed to issue and sell to the Purchaser, and the Purchaser agreed to purchase from the Company, an aggregate of approximately 9,210,710 shares (the "Purchased Shares") of its authorized but unissued common stock, par value $0.01 per share (the "Common Stock"), to the Purchaser for an aggregate purchase price ("Purchased Price") of approximately $21,664, or $2.35 per share (the "Transaction"). The Purchased Shares represented approximately 51% of the Company's outstanding shares upon the closing of the Transaction (the "Closing"), which occurred on December 15, 2014.
	Treasury Stock
	At December 31, 2014 and 2013, there were 1,240 shares held in treasury that were purchased at a cost of $57.

STOCKBASED_COMPENSATION

STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION
STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION	NOTE 15—STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION
	On November 6, 2009, the Company's Board of Directors approved the Company's 2009 Equity Incentive Plan (the "2009 Plan") which became effective on the same day. Effective May 14, 2013, the 2009 Plan was amended to increase the number of shares subject to the Plan. As a result, a total of 4,133,333 shares of common stock are reserved for issuance under the 2009 Plan. The 2009 Plan is administered by the Board of Directors or any committee designated by the Board of Directors, which has the authority to designate participants and determine the number and type of awards to be granted, the time at which awards are exercisable, the method of payment and any other terms or conditions of the awards. The 2009 Plan provides for the grant of stock options, including incentive stock options and nonqualified stock options, collectively, "options," stock appreciation rights, shares of restricted stock, or "restricted stock," rights to dividend equivalents and other stock-based awards, collectively, the "awards." The Board of Directors or the committee will, with regard to each award, determine the terms and conditions of the award, including the number of shares subject to the award, the vesting terms of the award, and the purchase price for the award. Awards may be made in assumption of or in substitution for outstanding awards previously granted by the Company or its affiliates, or a company acquired by the Company or with which it combines. Options outstanding generally vest over a three or four-year period and expire ten years from date of grant.
	The following table summarizes the Company's stock-based compensation awards under the 2009 Plan during 2014, 2013 and 2012:
	Date		Award		Exercise			Shares			Recipient
			Type		Price
	4th Quarter 2014		Restricted Stock		$	4.11			20,857		Board of Directors
	3rd Quarter 2014		Restricted Stock		$	4.05			17,735		Board of Directors
	2nd Quarter 2014		Restricted Stock		$	4.30			57,568		Board of Directors
	2nd Quarter 2014		Options		$	1.59			1,000,000		Various Employees
	1st Quarter 2014		Restricted Stock		$	4.71			16,720		Board of Directors
	4th Quarter 2013		Restricted Stock		$	6.69			11,772		Board of Directors
	3rd Quarter 2013		Restricted Stock		$	6.81			12,496		Board of Directors
	3rd Quarter 2013		Options		$	2.27			50,000		Various Employees
	2rd Quarter 2013		Restricted Stock		$	8.25			43,917		Board of Directors
	4th Quarter 2012		Options		$	3.10			1,185,000		Various Employees
	3rd Quarter 2012		Restricted Stock		$	12.81			3,061		Board of Directors
	2rd Quarter 2012		Restricted Stock		$	11.46			14,912		Board of Directors
	There were 3,514,878 shares available for grant under the 2009 Plan as of December 31, 2014.
	The 1,000,000 options granted during the year ended December 31, 2014, vest equally on each of the three anniversaries of the date of grant, subject to acceleration in certain circumstances.
	The Company determined the fair value of the stock options issued in 2014 and 2013 using the Black-Scholes option pricing model. The Company's assumptions about stock-price volatility were based on the historical implied volatilities of its common stock and those of other publicly traded options to buy stock with contractual terms closest to the expected life of options granted to the Company's employees. The expected term represents the estimated time until employee exercise is estimated to occur taking into account vesting schedules and using the Hull-White model. The risk-free interest rate for periods within the contractual life of the award is based on the U.S. Treasury 10 year zero-coupon strip yield in effect at the time of grant. The expected dividend yield was based on the assumption that no dividends are expected to be distributed in the near future.
	The following table presents the assumptions used to estimate the fair values of the stock options granted during the periods presented below:
			Year Ended			Year Ended			Year Ended
			December 31, 2014			December 31, 2013			December 31, 2012
	Expected volatility			55.1	%		58.9	%		75.3	%
	Risk-free interest rates			2.7	%		2.5	%		0.6	%
	Expected term (in years)			6.7			7.4			4.4
	Dividend yield			—			—			—
	Weighted-average estimated fair value of options granted during the period		$	0.90		$	1.40		$	1.79
	Stock Option Cancellations
	During 2014, 1,365,916 stock options were cancelled due to the termination of employment of certain employees at the end of 2013. Since no tax windfall pool existed in additional paid-in-capital, the reduction in the deferred tax asset of $1,377 was charged to income tax expense as a discrete item 2014.
	Due to the closing of the transaction with Zhenfa, which constituted a change of control transaction under the Company's equity incentive plan, it elected, as permtitted under such plan, to cancel all outstanding options effective as of the closing of that transaction. The Company cancelled the options due to material changes in its business and capital structure which would significantly impact its previous issued options. These changes included the share issuance which represented a change in control and approximately doubled the Company's share count, payment of the Special Dividend and the reverse stock split. All of these items represented material changes to its capital structure and market captitalization and could materially impact the trading price of its common stock. Due to the uncertainity, the Company cancelled the options prior to the transaction with Zhenfa and would reissue new options at a later date when its capital structure was established, including the amount of the reverse stock split, and the Company's stock price traded for a period of time subsequent to all of these transactions.
	In total, options to purchase 3,405,389 shares were cancelled of which options to purchase 2,100,389 shares had been fully vested. The Company recorded a non-cash stock compensation expense of $1,076 associated with the cancellation. As of December 31, 2014 the Company has not reissued new options.
	The following table summarizes the stock option activity under the Company's 2009 Plan for the three years ended December 31, 2014:
			Options Outstanding
			Number of			Weighted-			Weighted-			Weighted-		Aggregate
			Shares			Average			Average			Average		Intrinsic
						Exercise			Remaining			Grant-Date		Value(1)
						Price			Contractual			Fair
									Term			Value
									(in years)
	Balance at January 1, 2012			3,400,121		$	11.63					$	4.82	$	(30,975	)
	Options granted			1,185,000		$	3.1					$	1.79	$	—
	Exercised			—		$	—					$	—	$	—
	Cancelled/forfeited			(655,211	)	$	11.84					$	—	$	—
	Balance at December 31, 2012			3,929,910		$	9.03			7.75		$	3.84	$	(29,317	)
	Options granted			50,000		$	2.27			7.41		$	1.4	$	(35	)
	Exercised			—		$	—			—		$	—	$	—
	Cancelled/forfeited			(208,605	)	$	5.43			—		$	2.85	$	—
	Balance at December 31, 2013			3,771,305		$	9.13			6.71		$	3.87	$	(29,265	)
	Options granted			1,000,000		$	1.59					$	0.9	$	—
	Exercised			—		$	—			—		$	—	$	—
	Cancelled/forfeited			(4,771,305	)	$	7.55			—		$	3.25	$	—
	Balance at December 31, 2014			—		$	—			—		$	—	$	—
	Vested and exercisable as of December 31, 2014			—		$	—			—		$	—	$	—
	Vested and exercisable as of December 31, 2014 and expected to vest thereafter			—		$	—			—		$	—	$	—
	-1	The aggregate intrinsic value for December 31, 2013 is calculated as the difference between the exercise price of the underlying awards and the closing stock price of $1.37 of the Company's common stock on December 31, 2014. For December 31, 2012 the closing stock price of $1.57 as of December 31, 2013 was used and for January 1, 2012 the closing stock price of $2.52 as of December 31, 2012 was used.
	As of December 31, 2014, there was $0 of unrecognized compensation cost related to outstanding stock option awards. The Company did not receive any proceeds related to the exercise of stock options for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012, respectively.
	The following table summarizes the restricted shares activity for the three years ended December 31, 2014:
			Unvested
			Restricted Shares
			Number of			Weighted-Average
			Shares			Grant-Date
						Fair Value
	Unvested at January 1, 2012			141,770		$	30.24
Granted			17,973		$	11.7
Vested			(117,056	)	$	30.33
Cancelled			—		$	—
Unvested at December 31, 2012			42,687		$	22.38
Granted			68,185		$	7.92
Vested			(68,814	)	$	14.25
Cancelled			(3,835	)	$	24.33
Unvested at December 31, 2013			38,223		$	12.96
Granted			112,880		$	4.74
Vested			(135,512	)	$	9.15
Cancelled			(8,212	)	$	—
Unvested at December 31, 2014			7,379		$	—
Expected to vest after December 31, 2014			7,379		$	—
As of December 31, 2014, there was $23 of unrecognized compensation cost related to unvested restricted shares. This amount is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average remaining vesting period of less than one year. To the extent the actual forfeiture rate is different from what the Company has anticipated, stock-based compensation related to these awards will be different from its expectations.
On November 9, 2010, the Company's Board of Directors adopted the ESPP and reserved 166,667 shares of the Company's common stock for issuance thereunder. The ESPP was made effective upon its approval by the votes of the Company's stockholders on May 24, 2011 during the Company's annual meeting for the purpose of qualifying such shares for special tax treatment under Section 423 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
Under the ESPP, eligible employees may use payroll withholdings to purchase shares of the Company's common stock at a 10% discount. The Company has established four offering periods in which eligible employees may participate. The first offering period commenced in the fourth quarter of 2011. The Company purchases the number of required shares each period based upon the employees' contribution plus the 10% discount. The number of shares purchased times the 10% discount is recorded by the Company as stock-based compensation. The Company recorded less than $1, $1 and $4 in stock-based compensation expense relating to the ESPP for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012, respectively. There were 159,592 shares available for purchase under the ESPP as of December 31, 2014.
Stock-based compensation expense was included in the following consolidated statements of comprehensive loss categories for continuing operations:
		Years Ended December 31,
		2014			2013			2012
Selling, general and administrative expense		$	2,380		$	1,872		$	3,466
Research and development expense		$	—		$	30		$	28
Total option exercise recognized tax benefit		$	—		$	—		$	—
Deferred Compensation
The Company had a deferred compensation arrangement with certain members of management, including Robert S. Yorgenesen, that stated upon the earlier of December 31, 2015, sale of the Company (which included a change of control transaction), or termination of employment for any reason, the members were entitled to bonus payments based upon a formula set forth in their respective employment agreements. The payments were tied to distribution amounts they would have received with respect to their former ownership in the predecessor Company if the assets were sold at fair market value compared to the value of the Company's stock price. The amount of the potential bonus payment was capped at $1,180. In accordance with ASC 718-30, the obligation should have been remeasured quarterly at fair value. The Company determined fair value using observable current market information as of the reporting date. The most significant input to determine the fair value was determined to be the Company's common stock price which is a Level 2 input. Based upon the difference of the floor in the agreements and the effective valuation of the Transaction of $4.80 per share for Mr. Yorgensen, $204 of accrued compensation was recorded in other current liabilities in the Consolidated Balance Sheet.

REPORTABLE_SEGMENT_AND_GEOGRAP

REPORTABLE SEGMENT AND GEOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
REPORTABLE SEGMENT AND GEOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION
REPORTABLE SEGMENT AND GEOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION	NOTE 16—REPORTABLE SEGMENT AND GEOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION
	ASC 280-10-50-Disclosure about Segments of an Enterprise and Related Information, establishes standards for the manner in which companies report information about operating segments, products, geographic areas and major customers. The method of determining what information to report is based on the way that management organizes the operating segments within the enterprise for making operating decisions and assessing financial performance. Prior to the sale of its QA business, the Company reported two operating segments: QA and Solar. Due to the sale, QA is being reported as a discontinued operation and the Company reassessed its segment reporting. Since the Company has one product, sells to global customers in one industry, procures raw materials from similar vendors and expects similar long-term economic characteristics, the Company has one reporting segment and the information as to its operation is set forth below.
	Adjusted EBITDA is the main metric used by the management team and the Board of Directors to plan, forecast and review the Company's segment performance. Adjusted EBITDA represents net loss from continuing operations before interest income and expense, income tax expense, depreciation, amortization of intangible assets, stock-based compensation expense, restructuring, transaction fees and certain non-recurring income and expenses from the results of operations.
	The following tables set forth information about the Company's operations by its reportable segment and by geographic area:
	Operations by Reportable Segment
		Year Ended			Year Ended			Year Ended
		December 31, 2014			December 31, 2013			December 31, 2012
	Reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA to Net Loss from Continuing Operations
	Adjusted EBITDA	$	(15,559	)	$	(17,150	)	$	3,123
	Depreciation and amortization		(2,078	)		(2,024	)		(19,687	)
	Amortization of deferred financing costs		—			(189	)		(1,079	)
	Interest income (expense), net		27			(30	)		(196	)
	Income tax (expense) benefit		(6,532	)		7,349			66,264
	Goodwill impairment		—			—			(82,524	)
	Intangible asset impairment		—			—			(135,480	)
	Asset impairment		—			(194	)		(37,431	)
	Restructuring		356			(4,331	)		(1,069	)
	Stock-based compensation		(2,380	)		(1,902	)		(3,494	)
	Non-cash reversal of loss contingency		4,089			—			—
	Loss on reclassification of held for sale assets		(1,179	)		—			—
	Non-cash reversal of Spanish grants		974			—			—
	(Loss) gain on disposal of property, plant and equipment		(451	)		185			(2	)
	Net Loss from Continuing Operations	$	(22,733	)	$	(18,286	)	$	(211,575	)
	Operations by Geographic Area
		Year Ended			Year Ended			Year Ended
		December 31, 2014			December 31, 2013			December 31, 2012
	Net Sales
	United States	$	52		$	1,976		$	17,037
	Spain		24,110			16,996			38,881
	Malaysia		8,959			11,553			39,427
	China		6,167			1,335			—
	Total Net Sales	$	39,288		$	31,860		$	95,345
	Long-Lived Assets by Geographic Area
		December 31,			December 31,
		2014			2013
	Long-Lived Assets
	United States	$	583		$	6,906
	Malaysia		8,611			9,354
	Spain		7,997			9,141
	China		3,004			2,994
	Hong Kong		—			3
	Total Long-Lived Assets	$	20,195		$	28,398
	Foreign sales are based on the country in which the net sales originated. Net sales to one of the Company's major customers for the year ended December 31, 2014 was $14,345. Net sales to four of the Company's major customers that exceeded 10% of the Company's consolidated net sales for the year ended December 31, 2013 was $17,924. Net sales to one of the Company's major customers for the year ended December 31, 2012 was $39,162. Accounts receivable from one customer amounted to $6,334 as of December 31, 2014 and from four customers amounted to $4,148 as of December 31, 2013.

EMPLOYEE_BENEFIT_PLANS

EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS
EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS	NOTE 17—EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS
	The Company maintained one defined contribution benefit plan for the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013 covering substantially all U.S. domestic employees. The Company makes matching contributions to the plans and can also make discretionary contributions to the plans. The Company's expense under these plans was $0, $0 and $225 for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012, respectively.
	The Company also maintained defined contribution benefit plans for certain foreign employees. The expense under these plans was $161, $123 and $98 for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012, respectively.

RELATED_PARTIES

RELATED PARTIES	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
RELATED PARTIES
RELATED PARTIES	NOTE 18—RELATED PARTIES
	The Company did not have any related party transactions during 2013 and 2012. For further information regarding 2014, see Note 19 and Note 20.

TRANSACTION_WITH_ZHEN_FA_NEW_E

TRANSACTION WITH ZHEN FA NEW ENERGY (U.S.) CO., LTD. AND ZHENFA ENERGY GROUP CO., LTD.	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
TRANSACTION WITH ZHEN FA NEW ENERGY (U.S.) CO., LTD. AND ZHENFA ENERGY GROUP CO., LTD.
TRANSACTION WITH ZHEN FA NEW ENERGY (U.S.) CO., LTD. AND ZHENFA ENERGY GROUP CO., LTD.	NOTE 19—TRANSACTION WITH ZHEN FA NEW ENERGY (U.S.) CO., LTD. AND ZHENFA ENERGY GROUP CO., LTD.
	The Company has entered into certain definitive agreements with Zhenfa Energy Group Co., Ltd., a Chinese limited liability company ("Zhenfa") and its indirect wholly-owned subsidiary, Zhen Fa New Energy (U.S.) Co., Ltd., a Nevada corporation (the "Purchaser").
	Purchase Agreement and Special Dividend
	On August 11, 2014, the Company entered into a Stock Purchase Agreement with the Purchaser, pursuant to which the Company agreed to issue and sell to the Purchaser, and the Purchaser agreed to purchase from the Company, an aggregate of approximately 9,210,710 shares of its common stock, par value $0.01 per share, to the Purchaser for an aggregate purchase price of approximately $21,664, or $2.35 per share. The Purchased Shares represented approximately 51% of the Company's outstanding shares of common stock upon the closing of the Transaction, which occurred on December 15, 2014.
	In connection with the Closing, the Company declared a special dividend (the "Special Dividend") on December 11, 2014 to be paid to all of its stockholders of record (other than the Purchaser) in an amount equal to $2.55 per common share on January 2, 2015.
	In addition, in connection with the execution of the Purchase Agreement, Specialized Technology Resources, Inc., a subsidiary of the Company, entered into a sales service agreement (the "Sales Service Agreement") with Zhenfa, whereby Zhenfa agreed, among other things, to assist the Compnay in a number of endeavors, including, without limitation, marketing and selling its products in China, acquiring local raw materials, hiring and training personnel in China, and complying with Chinese law. The Company also entered into a guarantee agreement ("Guarantee Agreement") with Zhenfa pursuant to which Zhenfa agreed to guarantee all obligations of the Purchaser under the Purchase Agreement, including, but not limited to, the payment of the Purchase Price and the performance of all covenants and agreements of the Purchaser in the Purchase Agreement.
	Sales Service Agreement
	In connection with the execution of the Purchase Agreement, Specialized Technology Resources, Inc., the opreatin subsidiaryof the Company, entered into the Sales Service Agreement with Zhenfa whereby Zhenfa has agreed, among other things, to assist the Company in a number of endeavors, including, without limitation, marketing and selling the Company's products in China, acquiring local raw materials, hiring and training personnel in China, and complying with Chinese law. Pursuant to the Sales Service Agreement, Zhenfa has also provided the Company with an option to lease a manufacturing facility owned by Zhenfa. Such facility will be at least 107,639 square feet and will be rent free for a period of at least five years. The Sales Service Agreement further provides that if the Company leases the facility, Zhenfa will provide an option to extend the lease at 50% of market rent (as to be determined) for a second five year term. The Sales Service Agreement became effective on the Closing date, has an initial term of two years following the date of Closing and is automatically extended for one year periods unless terminated earlier by either party. The Sales Service Agreement may also be terminated by either party at such time as Zhenfa and its affiliates own less than 10% of the outstanding common stock of the Company.
	About Zhenfa
	Zhenfa Energy Group Co. Ltd., referred to as Zhenfa Energy, is a leading solar systems integrator, engineering, procurement, and construction company and solar power station owner-operator within China. At the end of 2013, the Zhenfa Group had developed and installed approximately two GW of solar power in China, including unique utility scale solar projects in which solar arrays are constructed and utilized in conjunction with fisheries in intertidal zones and agricultural projects in desertification areas. The Zhenfa Group holds Chinese patents in a self-adaptive sun tracking system for solar arrays that increases the efficiency of solar projects by up to 25% over fixed tracking systems, and in 2013 won a bid to construct a 13 MW ground mounted solar project in Canberra, Australia.
	The Company entered into this Transaction for the following strategic considerations:
	•	that China has become one of the world's largest solar module manufacturing markets. The Company has struggled to effectively penetrate that market in order to compete effectively. The Zhenfa Group is owned and headquartered in China and represents a significant customer of many top-tier Chinese module manufacturers;
	•	that the proposed Transaction should enhance the Company's presence in China and could significantly improve the Company's operating results if the Zhenfa Group were to be successful in assisting the Company in marketing and selling the Company's products to China-based solar module manufacturers;
	•	that the Sales Service Agreement contemplates that the Zhenfa Group will provide the Company with the opportunity to lease on favorable terms a manufacturing facility in China, and other valuable assistance in doing business in China; and
	•	that, given their complementary businesses, additional opportunities may be available to the Zhenfa Group and the Company to successfully expand their cooperation.
	For further information on the the Stock Purchase Agreement, the Sales Service Agreement, the Guarantee Agreement, Zhenfa and the Transaction, refer to the proxy statement filed with the SEC on October 8, 2014.

SUBSEQUENT_EVENTS

SUBSEQUENT EVENTS	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
SUBSEQUENT EVENTS
SUBSEQUENT EVENTS	NOTE 20—SUBSEQUENT EVENTS
	Reverse Stock Split
	On January 30, 2015, the Company effected a one-for-three reverse split of its common stock. No fractional shares were issued in connection with the reverse stock split. The change in the number of shares resulting from the reverse stock split has been applied retroactively to all shares and per share amounts presented in the consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes, unless otherwise noted. As a result of the reverse stock split, the number of issued and outstanding shares of its common stock was reduced to approximately 18,074,291 and 18,073,051, respectively, at December 31, 2014.
	Related Party Transaction
	The Company's Chinese subsidiary, Specialized Technology Resources Solar (Suzhou) Co. Ltd. ("STR China") entered into a supply agreement (the "Huhui Supply Agreement") dated as of December 31, 2014 with Zhangjiagang Huhui Segpv Co. Ltd ("Huhui"), an affiliate of Zhenfa. Pursuant to the Huhui Supply Agreement, STR China has agreed to supply Huhui, a solar module manufacturer, with the Company's encapsulant products and Huhui has agreed (i) to purchase not less than 535 MW worth of encapsulants (the "Minimum Amount") during each contract year, (ii) pay the Company a deposit equal to 10% of the Minimum Amount, and (iii) not to purchase encapsulant products from other encapsulant manufacturers. The term of Huhui Supply Agreement terminates on December 31, 2015 and shall automatically renew for additional one year terms if either party fails to notify the other party at least 90 days prior to the end of the then current term that it is electing to terminate the agreement. The Company expects to commence receiving purchase orders from Huhui during the second quarter of 2015 following the completion of qualification testing which is currently underway. The Company believes that the terms and conditions set forth in the Huhui Agreement are fair and reasonable to the Company.

Schedule_IIValuation_and_Quali

Schedule II-Valuation and Qualifying Accounts	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Schedule II-Valuation and Qualifying Accounts
Schedule II-Valuation and Qualifying Accounts	Schedule II-Valuation and Qualifying Accounts
	STR Holdings, Inc. and Subsidiaries
		Beginning		Additions/		Currency			Reductions			Balance
		Balance		Charged		Impact						at
				to								End of
				Expenses								Period
	Accounts Receivable Allowance for Doubtful Accounts:
	Year ended December 31, 2014	$	2,051		483		(133	)		(1,568	)	$	833
	Year ended December 31, 2013	$	118		1,824		109			—		$	2,051
	Year ended December 31, 2012	$	225		486		—			(593	)	$	118
	Tax Valuation Allowance:
	Year ended December 31, 2014	$	1,247		6,177		—			—		$	7,424
	Year ended December 31, 2013	$	491		756		—			—		$	1,247
	Year ended December 31, 2012	$	—		491		—			—		$	491
	Inventory Reserve:
	Year ended December 31, 2014	$	445		907		(2	)		(395	)	$	955
	Year ended December 31, 2013	$	678		352		2			(587	)	$	445
	Year ended December 31, 2012	$	446		260		2			(30	)	$	678

SUMMARY_OF_SIGNIFICANT_ACCOUNT1

SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Policies)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
Basis of Accounting	Basis of Accounting.    The consolidated financial statements are prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
Principles of Consolidation	Principles of Consolidation.    The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its wholly-owned subsidiaries. Intercompany transactions and account balances have been eliminated.
Use of Estimates	Use of Estimates.    The preparation of consolidated financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires the Company to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the consolidated financial statements and the accompanying notes. The Company's significant estimates include its revenue recognition, allowance for doubtful accounts receivable, inventory valuation, the recorded amounts and amortization periods of its intangible assets, valuation of goodwill and long-lived assets, product performance accrual, income taxes payable, deferred income taxes, its assessment of uncertain tax positions and its valuation of stock-based compensation costs. Actual results could differ materially from these estimates.
Fair Value Estimates	Fair Value Estimates.    Accounting Standards Codification ("ASC") 820-10 Fair Value Measurements, defines fair value as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. ASC 820-10 classifies the inputs used to measure fair value into the following hierarchy:
	Level 1:	Unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities
	Level 2:	Unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for similar assets or liabilities, or unadjusted quoted prices for identical or similar assets or liabilities in markets that are not active, or inputs other than quoted prices that are observable for the asset or liability
	Level 3:	Unobservable inputs for the asset or liability
	The carrying values for cash, accounts receivable, income tax receivable, accounts payable, accrued liabilities, income tax payable and other current assets and liabilities approximate their fair values due to their short maturities. The carrying value of the Company's money market funds is based on the balance of its money market funds as of December 31, 2014, which is a Level 1 input. The carrying value of deferred compensation in 2014, which is a Level 2 input is based upon the effective valuation of the transaction with Zhenfa of $4.80 per share. The carrying value of deferred compensation in 2013, which is a Level 2 input was based on the Company's common stock price as of December 31, 2013. See Note 11.
Foreign Currency Translation and Transactions	Foreign Currency Translation and Transactions.    The Company's international operations use the local currency as their functional currency, except for its Malaysian subsidiary whose functional currency is the U.S. dollar. Assets and liabilities of international operations are translated at period-end rates of exchange; revenues and expenses are translated at average rates of exchange. The resulting translation gains or losses are reflected in accumulated other comprehensive loss. Gains or losses resulting from foreign currency transactions are included in net loss.
Cash and Cash Equivalents	Cash and Cash Equivalents.    All highly-liquid investments with a maturity of three months or less at the date of purchase are considered to be cash equivalents. The Company deposits its cash balances with a limited number of banks. Cash balances in these accounts generally exceed government insured limits.
Recognition of Revenue and Accounts Receivable	Recognition of Revenue and Accounts Receivable.    The Company recognizes revenue net of any sales returns and allowances when evidence of an arrangement exists, delivery of the product or service has occurred and title and risk of loss have passed to the customer, the sales price is fixed or determinable, and collectability of the resulting receivable is reasonably assured.
	The Company recognizes revenue from the manufacture and sale of its encapsulants, which is the only contractual deliverable, either at the time of shipping or at the time the product is received at the customer's port or dock, depending upon terms of the sale. The Company does not offer a general right of return on its products.
	In isolated occasions, the Company has offered limited short-term performance warranties relating to its encapsulants not causing module power loss. The Company performs long-term performance testing of its encapsulants during product development prior to launching new product introductions and in customer certification of its products prior to entering into mass production. The Company has operated its solar business since the 1970s and over 20 GW worth of solar modules utilizing its encapsulants have been installed in the field with no reported module power performance issues caused by its encapsulants and no related warranty claims to-date. Based on this fact pattern, the Company has not accrued any warranty liability associated for this potential liability as it is remote of occurrence. If the Company were to ever receive a warranty claim for such matter, it would assess the need for a warranty accrual at that time.
Allowance for Doubtful Accounts	Allowance for Doubtful Accounts.    The Company maintains an allowance for doubtful accounts for estimated losses resulting from the inability of its customers to make required payments. The Company reviews the collectability of its receivables on an ongoing basis and writes-off accounts receivable after reasonable collection efforts have been made and collection is deemed questionable or uncollectible.
Inventories	Inventories.    The Company's inventories are stated at the lower of cost or market. The Company's primary raw materials consist of resin, paper, packaging material and chemicals/additives. The Company's finished goods inventories are typically made-to-order and possess a shelf life of six to nine months from the date of manufacture. Cost is determined on a first-in, first-out basis and includes both the costs of acquisition and the costs of manufacturing. These costs include direct material, direct labor and fixed and variable indirect manufacturing costs, including depreciation expense.
	The Company will write-down inventory to its net realizable value when it is probable that its inventory carrying cost is not fully recoverable through sale or other disposition. The Company's write-down considers overall market conditions, customer inventory levels, legal or contractual provisions and age of the inventories.
	In 2014, the Company reserved $955 of inventory, a majority of which is related to excess raw material and expired finished goods inventory related to recent product introductions.
	In 2013, the Company reserved $445 of inventory, a majority of which is related to raw material inventory procured and not delivered due to the loss of a customer.
	In 2012, the Company incurred a write-down of approximately $678 associated with excess paper raw material inventory due to changes in customer specifications and the Company being in the process of removing paper from its manufacturing process.
Long-Lived Assets, property, plant and equipment	Long-Lived Assets.    The Company's long-lived assets have consisted of goodwill, other intangible assets and property, plant and equipment.
	Property, plant and equipment are recorded at cost and include expenditures for items that increase the useful lives of existing equipment. Maintenance and repairs are expensed as incurred. Property, plant and equipment accounts are relieved at cost, less related accumulated depreciation, when properties are disposed of or otherwise retired. Gains and losses from disposal of property, plant and equipment are included in net loss.
	In accordance with ASC 360-Property, Plant, and Equipment, the Company reviews the carrying value of its long-lived assets, including property, plant and equipment, for impairment when events or changes in circumstances indicate the carrying value of an asset may not be recoverable. If a long-lived asset is found to be impaired, the amount recognized for impairment is equal to the difference between the carrying value and the asset's fair value. Fair value is estimated based upon discounted future cash flows or other reasonable estimates of fair market value. The Company recognized an impairment loss of $0, $194 and $37,431 in 2014, 2013 and 2012, respectively. See Note 6.
Long-Lived Assets, goodwill and other intangible assets	Goodwill represented the excess of the purchase price consideration over the estimated fair value assigned to the individual assets acquired and liabilities assumed from the DLJ Merchant Banking Partners IV, LP's acquisition of the Company in 2007 ("the Acquisition"). The Company did not amortize goodwill, but instead tested goodwill for impairment in accordance with the two-step method described in ASC 350-Intangibles, Goodwill and Other. The Company performed its annual impairment review of goodwill on October 1st and would also perform a review if at any time facts and circumstances warranted. During the first quarter of 2012, the Company recorded a non-cash goodwill impairment charge of $82,524. Refer to Note 6.
	The Company's intangible assets included its customer relationships, trademarks and proprietary technology and resulted from the Acquisition. The Company accounted for the Acquisition using the purchase method of accounting and recorded definite-lived intangible assets separately from goodwill. Intangible assets were recorded at their estimated fair value at the date of acquisition. During the fourth quarter of 2012, the Company recorded a non-cash impairment charge of $135,480. Refer to Note 6.
Asset Retirement Obligations	Asset Retirement Obligations.    The Company accounts for asset retirement obligations in accordance with ASC 410-Asset Retirement and Environmental Obligations, which requires a company to recognize a liability for the fair value of obligations to retire tangible long-lived assets when there is a contractual obligation to incur such costs. The Company has recorded its asset retirement obligations relating to the cost of removing improvements from lease facilities at the end of the lease terms. The Company's conditional asset retirement obligations are not material.
Deferred Financing Costs	Deferred Financing Costs.    The Company capitalized debt issuance costs and amortized the costs to expense over the term of the related debt facility. In connection with entering into the Credit Agreement in 2011, the Company incurred $1,306 of issuance costs. The Company amended its Credit Agreement in 2012 and incurred $43 of additional issuance costs. In conjunction with entering into the amendment in 2012, the Company wrote-off $844 of the remaining prior capitalized issuance costs based on the proportion of its new borrowing capacity compared to its prior availability. During 2013, the Company terminated the Credit Agreement since it was not able to draw on it without posting cash collateral, and the Company had liquidity with its then existing cash balance to run its operations. The Company had no outstanding indebtedness pursuant to the amended Credit Agreement. As a part of the termination, the Company wrote-off approximately $143 of the remaining unamortized deferred financing costs associated with the Credit Agreement. Amortization of deferred financing costs were $0, $189 and $1,079 for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012, respectively.
Leases	Leases.    The Company leases certain facilities and equipment used in its operations. The Company accounts for its leases under the provisions of ASC 840-Leases, which requires that leases be evaluated and classified as operating or capital leases for financial reporting purposes. Operating lease expense is recorded on a straight-line basis over the lease term.
Income Taxes	Income Taxes.    The Company accounts for income taxes using the asset and liability method in accordance with ASC 740-Income Taxes. Under this method, the Company recognizes deferred tax assets and liabilities for the future tax consequences attributable to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases, and for operating loss and tax credit carryforwards. The Company estimates its deferred tax assets and liabilities using the enacted tax laws expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled, and will recognize the effect of a change in tax laws on deferred tax assets and liabilities in the results of its operations during the period that includes the enactment date. The Company records a valuation allowance to reduce its deferred tax assets if it determines that it is more likely than not that some or all of the deferred tax assets will not be realized.
	The Company operates in multiple taxing jurisdictions and is subject to the jurisdiction of a number of U.S. and non-U.S. tax authorities and to tax agreements and treaties among those authorities. Operations in these jurisdictions are taxed on various bases in accordance with jurisdictional regulations.
	Tax benefits related to uncertain tax positions taken or expected to be taken on a tax return are recorded when such benefits meet a more likely than not threshold. Otherwise, these tax benefits are recorded when a tax position has been effectively settled, which means that the appropriate taxing authority has completed their examination even though the statute of limitations remains open or the statute of limitation expires. Interest and penalties related to uncertain tax positions are recognized as part of the Company's provision for income taxes and are accrued beginning in the period that such interest and penalties would be applicable under relevant tax law until such time that the related tax benefits are recognized. See Note 13.
Product Performance Accrual	Product Performance Accrual.    The Company provides a short-term warranty that it has manufactured its products to the Company's specifications. On limited occasions, the Company incurs costs to service its products in connection with specific product performance matters that do not meet the Company's specifications. Anticipated future costs are recorded as part of cost of sales and accrued liabilities for specific product performance matters when it is probable that a liability has been incurred and the amount of the liability can be reasonably estimated.
	In isolated occasions, the Compay has offered limited short-term performance warranties relating to its encapsulants not causing module power loss. The Company performs long-term performance testing of its encapsulants during product development prior to launching new product introductions and in customer certification of its products prior to entering into mass production. The Company has operated its solar business since the 1970s and over 20 GW worth of solar modules utilizing its encapsulants have been installed in the field with no reported module power performance issues caused by its encapsulants and no related warranty claims to-date. Based on this fact pattern, the Company has not accrued any warranty liability associated for this potential liability as it is remote of occurrence. If the Company were to ever receive a warranty claim for such matter, it would assess the need for a warranty accrual at that time.
Cost of Sales	Cost of Sales.    The Company includes the cost of inventory sold and related costs for the distribution of its product in cost of sales. These costs include raw materials and other components, direct labor, product performance matters, manufacturing overhead, salaries, and other personnel-related expenses, write-off of inventory, quality control, freight, insurance and depreciation. Shipping and handling costs are classified as a component of cost of sales. Customer payments for shipping and handling costs are recorded as a component of net sales.
Selling, General and Administrative Expenses	Selling, General and Administrative Expenses.    Selling, general and administrative expenses consist primarily of salaries, travel, commissions and other personnel-related expenses for employees engaged in sales, marketing and support of the Company's products and services, trade shows and promotions. General and administrative expenses consist of expenses for the Company's finance, administrative, information technology, compliance and human resource functions.
Research and Development Expense	Research and Development Expense.    The Company's research and development expense consists primarily of salaries and fringe benefit costs and the cost of materials and outside services used in its pre-commercialization process and development efforts. The Company records depreciation expense for equipment that is used specifically for research and development activities.
Stock-Based Compensation	Stock-Based Compensation.    In accordance with ASC 718-Compensation-Stock Compensation, the Company recognizes the grant date fair value of stock-based awards as compensation expense over the vesting period of the awards. See Note 15.
Loss Per Share	Loss Per Share.    The Company computes basic loss per share in accordance with ASC 260-Earnings Per Share. Under the provisions of ASC 260, basic net loss per share is computed by dividing the net loss available to common stockholders by the weighted-average common shares outstanding during the period. Diluted net loss per common share adjusts basic net loss per common share for the effects of stock options and restricted stock awards only in periods in which such effect is dilutive. See Note 4.
Comprehensive Loss	Comprehensive Loss.    Comprehensive loss consists of net loss and the effects on the consolidated financial statements of translating the financial statements of the Company's international subsidiaries. Comprehensive loss is presented in the consolidated statements of comprehensive loss. The Company's accumulated other comprehensive loss is presented as a component of equity in its consolidated balance sheets and consists of the cumulative amount of the Company's foreign currency translation adjustments, net of tax impact.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements	Recent Accounting Pronouncements:
	In April 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued Accounting Standards Update ("ASU") 2014-08, "Presentation of Financial Statements (Topic 205) and Property, Plant and Equipment (Topic 360): Reporting Discontinued Operations and Disclosures of Disposals of Components of an Entity." The amendments contained in this update change the criteria for reporting discontinued operations and enhance the reporting requirements for discontinued operations. Under the revised standard, a discontinued operation must represent a strategic shift that has or will have a major effect on an entity's operations and financial results. Examples could include a disposal of a major line of business, a major geographical area, a major equity method investment or other major parts of an entity. The revised standard will also allow an entity to have certain continuing cash flows or involvement with the component after the disposal. Additionally, the standard requires expanded disclosures about discontinued operations that will provide financial statement users with more information about the assets, liabilities, income and expenses of discontinued operations. This ASU is effective for reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2014 with early adoption permitted, but only for disposals (or classifications as held for sale) that have not been reported in financial statements previously issued or available for issue. The Company is currently evaluating the new guidance to determine the impact it may have to its consolidated financial statements.
	In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU No. 2014-09, "Revenue from Contracts with Customers" (Topic 606). This ASU is intended to clarify the principles for recognizing revenue by removing inconsistencies and weaknesses in revenue requirements; providing a more robust framework for addressing revenue issues; improving comparability of revenue recognition practices across entities, industries, jurisdictions and capital markets; and providing more useful information to users of financial statements through improved revenue disclosure requirements. The provisions of this ASU are effective for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2016. The Company is currently evaluating the new guidance to determine the impact it may have to its consolidated financial statements.
	In August 2014, the FASB issued ASU No. 2014-15, "Presentation of Financial Statements-Going Concern (Subtopic 205-40): Disclosure of Uncertainties About an Entity's Ability to Continue as a Going Concern". This update provides guidance on management's responsibility in evaluating whether there is substantial doubt about a company's ability to continue as a going concern and about related footnote disclosures. For each reporting period, management will be required to evaluate whether there are conditions or events that raise substantial doubt about a company's ability to continue as a going concern within one year from the date the financial statements are issued. This ASU is effective for the annual reporting period ending after December 15, 2016, and for interim and annual reporting periods thereafter, with early adoption permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the new guidance to determine the impact it may have to its consolidated financial statements.
	In November 2014, the FASB issued ASU No. 2014-17 "Business Combinations" (Topic 805). This update is to provide guidance on whether and at what threshold an acquired entity that is a business or nonprofit activity can apply pushdown accounting in its separate financial statements. The amendments in this update provide an acquired entity with an option to apply pushdown accounting in its separate financial statements upon occurrence of an event in which an acquirer obtains control of the acquired entity. The amendments in this update are effective on November 18, 2014. After the effective date, an acquired entity can make an election to apply the guidance to future change-in-control events or to its most recent change-in-control event. However, if the financial statements for the period in which the most recent change-in-control event occurred already have been issued or made available to be issued, the application of this guidance would be a change in accounting principle. The Company is currently evaluating the new guidance to determine the impact it may have to its consolidated financial statements.

DISCONTINUED_OPERATIONS_Tables

DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS
Schedule of operating results of QA business presented as a discontinued operation
		Year Ended		Year Ended		Year Ended
		December 31,		December 31,		December 31,
		2014		2013		2012
	Net sales	$	—	$	—	$	—
	Loss from operations before income tax expense		—		—		—
	Gain on sale before income tax expense		—		—		—
	Net earnings before income tax expense	$	—	$	—	$	—
	Income tax expense (benefit)	$	884	$	—	$	(4,228	)

EARNINGS_PER_SHARE_Tables

EARNINGS PER SHARE (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
EARNINGS PER SHARE
Schedule of calculation of basic and diluted net loss per share
		Year Ended			Year Ended			Year Ended
		December 31,			December 31,			December 31,
		2014			2013			2012
	Basic and diluted net (loss) earnings per share
	Numerator:
	Net loss from continuing operations	$	(22,733	)	$	(18,286	)	$	(211,575	)
	Net (loss) earnings from discontinued operations		(884	)		—			4,228
	Net loss	$	(23,617	)	$	(18,286	)	$	(207,347	)
	Denominator:
	Weighted-average shares outstanding		10,920,200			13,873,289			13,771,536
	Add:
	Dilutive effect of stock options		—			—			—
	Dilutive effect of restricted common stock		—			—			—
	Weighted-average shares outstanding with dilution		10,920,200			13,873,289			13,771,536
	Net (loss) earnings per share:
	Basic from continuing operations	$	(2.08	)	$	(1.32	)	$	(15.37	)
	Basic from discontinued operations		(0.08	)		—			0.31
	Basic	$	(2.16	)	$	(1.32	)	$	(15.06	)
	Diluted from continuing operations	$	(2.08	)	$	(1.32	)	$	(15.37	)
	Diluted from discontinued operations		(0.08	)		—			0.31
	Diluted	$	(2.16	)	$	(1.32	)	$	(15.06	)

INVENTORIES_NET_Tables

INVENTORIES, NET (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
INVENTORIES, NET
Schedule of inventories
		December 31,			December 31,
		2014			2013
	Finished goods	$	1,806		$	2,938
	Raw materials		7,397			6,064
	Reserve		(955	)		(445	)
	Inventories, net	$	8,248		$	8,557

LONGLIVED_ASSETS_AND_GOODWILL_

LONG-LIVED ASSETS AND GOODWILL (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
LONG-LIVED ASSETS AND GOODWILL
Schedule of property, plant and equipment
		Estimated		December 31,			December 31,
		Useful		2014			2013
		Lives
	Land			$	3,571		$	5,917
	Buildings and improvements	15 - 40			12,412			15,844
	Machinery and equipment	8-May			19,615			19,251
	Furniture, fixtures and computers	5-Mar			3,493			4,090
	Less: accumulated depreciation				(19,552	)		(20,315	)
	Subtotal				19,539			24,787
	Construction-in-progress				656			3,611
	Property, plant and equipment, net			$	20,195		$	28,398
Schedule of intangible assets
		December 31, 2012
		Gross			Accumulated			Impairment as of		Net
		Carrying			Amortization			December 31,
		Amount						2012
	Customer relationships	$	71,100		$	19,701		$	51,399	$	—
	Trademarks		40,800			7,537			33,263		—
	Proprietary technology		70,300			19,482			50,818		—
		$	182,200		$	46,720		$	135,480	$	—

LEASES_Tables

LEASES (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
LEASES
Schedule of future minimum payments under all non-cancelable operating leases
	2015	$	168
	2016		166
	2017		166
	2018		71
	2019		1
	Thereafter		—
		$	572

ACCRUED_LIABILITIES_Tables

ACCRUED LIABILITIES (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
ACCRUED LIABILITIES
Schedule of accrued liabilities
		December 31,		December 31,
		2014		2013
	Product performance (see Note 9)	$	189	$	4,141
	Grants (see Note 9)		—		1,071
	Salary and wages		381		412
	Professional fees		704		563
	Restructuring severance and benefits (see Note 10)		32		1,667
	Environmental (see Note 9)		57		76
	Accrued franchise tax		565		191
	Other		852		311
	Total	$	2,780	$	8,432

COMMITMENTS_AND_CONTINGENCIES_

COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Phase II environmental site assessment
Commitments and contingencies
Schedule of liability
		December 31,			December 31,
		2014			2013
	Balance as of beginning of period	$	76		$	105
	Additions		—			—
	Reductions		(19	)		(29	)
	Balance as of end of period	$	57		$	76
Product performance liability
Commitments and contingencies
Schedule of liability
		December 31,			December 31,
		2014			2013
	Balance as of beginning of period	$	4,141		$	3,959
	Additions		528			17
	Reversals		(4,089	)		—
	Reductions		(355	)		—
	Foreign exchange impact		(36	)		165
	Balance as of end of period	$	189		$	4,141

COST_REDUCTION_ACTIONS_Tables

COST REDUCTION ACTIONS (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
COST-REDUCTION ACTIONS
Schedule of rollforward of the severance and other exit cost accrual activity
	Balance at December 31, 2012	$	200
	Additions		4,331
	Reductions		(2,597	)
	Balance at December 31, 2013	$	1,934
	Additions	$	440
	Reversals		(1,045	)
	Reductions		(1,297	)
	Balance at December 31, 2014	$	32

FAIR_VALUE_MEASUREMENTS_Tables

FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS
Schedule of fair value measurements of applicable financial assets and liabilities
			Financial assets and liabilities
			at fair value as of
			December 31, 2014
			Level 1		Level 2			Level 3
	Money market funds(1)		$	1,441	$	—		$	—
	Deferred compensation(2)		$	—	$	(204	)	$	—
	Total		$	1,441	$	(204	)	$	—
			Financial assets and liabilities
			at fair value as of
			December 31, 2013
			Level 1		Level 2			Level 3
	Money market funds(1)		$	29,458	$	—		$	—
	Deferred compensation(2)		$	—	$	(830	)	$	—
	Total		$	29,458	$	(830	)	$	—
	-1	Included in cash and cash equivalents on the Company's Consolidated Balance Sheets. The carrying amount of money market funds is a reasonable estimate of fair value.
	-2	Included in other short-term and other long-term liabilities on the Company's Consolidated Balance Sheets. Refer to Note 15 for further information.

INCOME_TAXES_Tables

INCOME TAXES (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
INCOME TAXES
Schedule of loss from continuing operations before income tax (benefit) expense
		Year Ended			Year Ended			Year Ended
		December 31, 2014			December 31, 2013			December 31, 2012
	Domestic	$	(6,341	)	$	(14,611	)	$	(262,451	)
	Foreign		(9,860	)		(11,024	)		(15,388	)
	Total	$	(16,201	)	$	(25,635	)	$	(277,839	)
Schedule of (benefit) provision for income taxes from continuing operations
		Year Ended			Year Ended			Year Ended
		December 31, 2014			December 31, 2013			December 31, 2012
	Current income tax (benefit) expense from continuing operations
	U.S. federal	$	(8,377	)	$	(5,610	)	$	(8,825	)
	Foreign		12			122			3,405
	State and local		30			(12	)		(650	)
	Total current income tax (benefit) expense from continuing operations		(8,335	)		(5,500	)		(6,070	)
	Deferred income tax expense (benefit) from continuing operations
	U.S. federal		12,300			(741	)		(58,015	)
	Foreign		2,567			(1,134	)		(1,722	)
	State and local		—			26			(457	)
	Total deferred income tax expense (benefit) from continuing operations		14,867			(1,849	)		(60,194	)
	Total income tax expense (benefit) from continuing operations	$	6,532		$	(7,349	)	$	(66,264	)
Schedule of reconciliation of the Company's effective income tax rate from continuing operations to the United States federal statutory tax rate
		Year Ended			Year Ended			Year Ended
		December 31, 2014			December 31, 2013			December 31, 2012
	Expected tax at U.S. statutory income tax rate		35.0	%		35.0	%		35.0	%
	U.S. state and local income taxes net of federal income tax effect		(0.1	)%		(0.1	)%		0.3	%
	Foreign rate differential		(5.6	)%		(5.9	)%		(1.1	)%
	Foreign unremitted earnings		(20.1	)%		1.1	%		0.4	%
	Goodwill impairment		0.0	%		0.0	%		(10.4	)%
	Other non-deductible fees and expenses		0.0	%		(0.5	)%		(0.1	)%
	Unrecognized tax benefits		1.4	%		(0.6	)%		0.3	%
	Stock option cancellations		(32.3	)%		0.0	%		0.0	%
	Change in valuation allowance		(19.0	)%		0.0	%		0.0	%
	Other		0.4	%		(0.3	)%		(0.5	)%
	Effective tax rate		(40.3	)%		28.7	%		23.9	%
Schedule of effect of temporary differences included in deferred tax accounts
		Year Ended			Year Ended
		December 31, 2014			December 31, 2013
	Deferred tax assets:
	Current deferred tax assets:
	Accrued salaries and benefits	$	11		$	67
	Deferred compensation		—			221
	Bad debt reserves		48			49
	Inventories		14			236
	Product performance accrual		21			1,483
	Other		—			25
	Total current deferred tax assets before valuation allowance	$	94		$	2,081
	Valuation allowance		(94	)		—
	Current deferred tax assets	$	—		$	2,081
	Long-term deferred tax assets:
	Deferred compensation	$	71		$	70
	Non-qualified stock option compensation		—			4,223
	Restricted stock compensation		2			537
	Operating loss carryforwards		6,436			4,225
	Fixed assets		272			4,998
	Other		549			392
	Total long-term deferred tax assets before valuation allowance	$	7,330		$	14,445
	Valuation allowance		(7,330	)		(1,247	)
	Long term-deferred tax assets		—			13,198
	Total deferred tax assets	$	—		$	15,279
	Deferred tax liabilities:
	Foreign unremitted earnings	$	—		$	—
	Total deferred tax liabilities	$	—		$	—
	Total net deferred tax assets	$	—		$	15,279
Schedule of reconciliation of the beginning and ending amount of the Company's liability for unrecognized tax benefits, excluding interest and penalties
	Balance at January 1, 2012	$	4,742
	Additions for tax positions of prior years		375
	Reductions for tax positions of prior years		(1,805	)
	Balance at December 31, 2012	$	3,312
	Additions for tax positions of prior years		—
	Reductions for tax positions of prior years		—
	Balance at December 31, 2013	$	3,312
	Additions for tax positions of prior years		—
	Reductions for tax positions of prior years		(113	)
	Balance at December 31, 2014	$	3,199

STOCKBASED_COMPENSATION_Tables

STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION
Summary of the Company's stock-based compensation awards under the 2009 Plan
	Date		Award		Exercise			Shares			Recipient
			Type		Price
	4th Quarter 2014		Restricted Stock		$	4.11			20,857		Board of Directors
	3rd Quarter 2014		Restricted Stock		$	4.05			17,735		Board of Directors
	2nd Quarter 2014		Restricted Stock		$	4.30			57,568		Board of Directors
	2nd Quarter 2014		Options		$	1.59			1,000,000		Various Employees
	1st Quarter 2014		Restricted Stock		$	4.71			16,720		Board of Directors
	4th Quarter 2013		Restricted Stock		$	6.69			11,772		Board of Directors
	3rd Quarter 2013		Restricted Stock		$	6.81			12,496		Board of Directors
	3rd Quarter 2013		Options		$	2.27			50,000		Various Employees
	2rd Quarter 2013		Restricted Stock		$	8.25			43,917		Board of Directors
	4th Quarter 2012		Options		$	3.10			1,185,000		Various Employees
	3rd Quarter 2012		Restricted Stock		$	12.81			3,061		Board of Directors
	2rd Quarter 2012		Restricted Stock		$	11.46			14,912		Board of Directors
Schedule of assumptions used to estimate the fair values of the stock options granted
			Year Ended			Year Ended			Year Ended
			December 31, 2014			December 31, 2013			December 31, 2012
	Expected volatility			55.1	%		58.9	%		75.3	%
	Risk-free interest rates			2.7	%		2.5	%		0.6	%
	Expected term (in years)			6.7			7.4			4.4
	Dividend yield			—			—			—
	Weighted-average estimated fair value of options granted during the period		$	0.90		$	1.40		$	1.79
Summary of options activity
			Options Outstanding
			Number of			Weighted-			Weighted-			Weighted-		Aggregate
			Shares			Average			Average			Average		Intrinsic
						Exercise			Remaining			Grant-Date		Value(1)
						Price			Contractual			Fair
									Term			Value
									(in years)
	Balance at January 1, 2012			3,400,121		$	11.63					$	4.82	$	(30,975	)
	Options granted			1,185,000		$	3.1					$	1.79	$	—
	Exercised			—		$	—					$	—	$	—
	Cancelled/forfeited			(655,211	)	$	11.84					$	—	$	—
	Balance at December 31, 2012			3,929,910		$	9.03			7.75		$	3.84	$	(29,317	)
	Options granted			50,000		$	2.27			7.41		$	1.4	$	(35	)
	Exercised			—		$	—			—		$	—	$	—
	Cancelled/forfeited			(208,605	)	$	5.43			—		$	2.85	$	—
	Balance at December 31, 2013			3,771,305		$	9.13			6.71		$	3.87	$	(29,265	)
	Options granted			1,000,000		$	1.59					$	0.9	$	—
	Exercised			—		$	—			—		$	—	$	—
	Cancelled/forfeited			(4,771,305	)	$	7.55			—		$	3.25	$	—
	Balance at December 31, 2014			—		$	—			—		$	—	$	—
	Vested and exercisable as of December 31, 2014			—		$	—			—		$	—	$	—
	Vested and exercisable as of December 31, 2014 and expected to vest thereafter			—		$	—			—		$	—	$	—
	-1	The aggregate intrinsic value for December 31, 2013 is calculated as the difference between the exercise price of the underlying awards and the closing stock price of $1.37 of the Company's common stock on December 31, 2014. For December 31, 2012 the closing stock price of $1.57 as of December 31, 2013 was used and for January 1, 2012 the closing stock price of $2.52 as of December 31, 2012 was used.
Summary of restricted common stock activity
			Unvested
			Restricted Shares
			Number of			Weighted-Average
			Shares			Grant-Date
						Fair Value
	Unvested at January 1, 2012			141,770		$	30.24
	Granted			17,973		$	11.7
	Vested			(117,056	)	$	30.33
	Cancelled			—		$	—
	Unvested at December 31, 2012			42,687		$	22.38
	Granted			68,185		$	7.92
	Vested			(68,814	)	$	14.25
	Cancelled			(3,835	)	$	24.33
	Unvested at December 31, 2013			38,223		$	12.96
	Granted			112,880		$	4.74
	Vested			(135,512	)	$	9.15
	Cancelled			(8,212	)	$	—
	Unvested at December 31, 2014			7,379		$	—
	Expected to vest after December 31, 2014			7,379		$	—
Schedule of stock-based compensation expense
			Years Ended December 31,
			2014			2013			2012
	Selling, general and administrative expense		$	2,380		$	1,872		$	3,466
	Research and development expense		$	—		$	30		$	28
	Total option exercise recognized tax benefit		$	—		$	—		$	—

REPORTABLE_SEGMENT_AND_GEOGRAP1

REPORTABLE SEGMENT AND GEOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
REPORTABLE SEGMENT AND GEOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION
Schedule of Operations by Reportable Segment
		Year Ended			Year Ended			Year Ended
		December 31, 2014			December 31, 2013			December 31, 2012
	Reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA to Net Loss from Continuing Operations
	Adjusted EBITDA	$	(15,559	)	$	(17,150	)	$	3,123
	Depreciation and amortization		(2,078	)		(2,024	)		(19,687	)
	Amortization of deferred financing costs		—			(189	)		(1,079	)
	Interest income (expense), net		27			(30	)		(196	)
	Income tax (expense) benefit		(6,532	)		7,349			66,264
	Goodwill impairment		—			—			(82,524	)
	Intangible asset impairment		—			—			(135,480	)
	Asset impairment		—			(194	)		(37,431	)
	Restructuring		356			(4,331	)		(1,069	)
	Stock-based compensation		(2,380	)		(1,902	)		(3,494	)
	Non-cash reversal of loss contingency		4,089			—			—
	Loss on reclassification of held for sale assets		(1,179	)		—			—
	Non-cash reversal of Spanish grants		974			—			—
	(Loss) gain on disposal of property, plant and equipment		(451	)		185			(2	)
	Net Loss from Continuing Operations	$	(22,733	)	$	(18,286	)	$	(211,575	)
Schedule of Operations by Geographic Area
		Year Ended			Year Ended			Year Ended
		December 31, 2014			December 31, 2013			December 31, 2012
	Net Sales
	United States	$	52		$	1,976		$	17,037
	Spain		24,110			16,996			38,881
	Malaysia		8,959			11,553			39,427
	China		6,167			1,335			—
	Total Net Sales	$	39,288		$	31,860		$	95,345
Schedule of Long-Lived Assets by Geographic Area
		December 31,			December 31,
		2014			2013
	Long-Lived Assets
	United States	$	583		$	6,906
	Malaysia		8,611			9,354
	Spain		7,997			9,141
	China		3,004			2,994
	Hong Kong		—			3
	Total Long-Lived Assets	$	20,195		$	28,398

BASIS_OF_PRESENTATION_AND_NATU1

BASIS OF PRESENTATION AND NATURE OF OPERATIONS (Details) (USD $)	0 Months Ended			8 Months Ended	12 Months Ended			0 Months Ended	3 Months Ended
In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	Jan. 30, 2015	Dec. 31, 2012	Mar. 31, 2012	Sep. 02, 2011	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 02, 2011	Sep. 30, 2012
				segment	segment
BASIS OF PRESENTATION AND NATURE OF OPERATIONS
Reverse split	0.33
Common stock, shares issued					18,074,291	13,962,305
Common stock, shares outstanding					18,073,051	13,961,065
Number of core businesses of the entity				2	1
Property, plant and equipment, additional disclosures
Impairment loss		$37,431	$0		$0	$194	$37,431
2007 Credit Agreements
Discontinued operations
Repayment of debt								237,732
QA business
Discontinued operations
Sale price received								275,000
Gain on sale								14,071
Tax liability								105,934
Income tax expense to discontinued operations					$884		($4,228)		($4,228)

SUMMARY_OF_SIGNIFICANT_ACCOUNT2

SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
Transaction price	4.8
Inventories
Carrying value of inventory	8,248	$8,557
Finished goods product | Minimum
Inventories
Shelf life	6 months
Finished goods product | Maximum
Inventories
Shelf life	9 months
Inventory procured and not delivered due to loss of customer
Inventories
Inventory reserved / write-downs	955	445
Raw material inventory
Inventories
Inventory reserved / write-downs			$678

SUMMARY_OF_SIGNIFICANT_ACCOUNT3

SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Details 2) (USD $)	3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended			0 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Jun. 09, 2014
Long-lived assets
Depreciation	$2,818	$2,078	$2,024	$11,255
Sale proceeds		6,805	186
Loss on reclassification on held for sale assets		-1,179
East Windsor, Connecticut facility
Long-lived assets
Sale proceeds					4,750
Loss on reclassification on held for sale assets		$1,179

SUMMARY_OF_SIGNIFICANT_ACCOUNT4

SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Details 3) (USD $)	0 Months Ended		3 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2012	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2012	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Property, plant and equipment
Impairment loss	$37,431	$0			$0	$194	$37,431
Goodwill and intangible assets
Goodwill impairment				82,524	0	0	82,524
Non-cash impairment charge of intangible assets	$135,480		$135,480				$135,480

SUMMARY_OF_SIGNIFICANT_ACCOUNT5

SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Details 4) (USD $)	12 Months Ended			0 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 16, 2013	Dec. 31, 2011	Sep. 15, 2013
Deferred financing costs
Write-off of remaining unamortized deferred financing costs		$143	$844
Amortization of deferred financing costs	0	189	1,079
2011 Credit Agreement
Deferred financing costs
Issuance costs					1,306
Write-off of remaining unamortized deferred financing costs			844	143
Outstanding indebtedness						0
2012 Amendment to the Credit Agreement
Deferred financing costs
Issuance costs			43
Outstanding indebtedness				$0

DISCONTINUED_OPERATIONS_Detail

DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS (Details) (USD $)	0 Months Ended	3 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 02, 2011	Dec. 31, 2014	Sep. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2012	Aug. 16, 2011
Operating results
Income tax expense (benefit)				$884	($4,228)
QA business
Discontinued operations
Sale price						275,000
Total net cash proceeds	283,376
Estimated cash assumed	8,376
Aggregate income tax expense for proposed adjustment			-4,228	884	-4,228
Operating results
Income tax expense (benefit)		884		884	-4,228
QA business | Income tax benefit to discontinued operations, out of period adjustment
Operating results
Income tax benefit, prior period adjustment			$1,629

EARNINGS_PER_SHARE_Details

EARNINGS PER SHARE (Details) (USD $)	0 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	Jan. 30, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
EARNINGS PER SHARE
Reverse split	0.33
Common stock, shares issued		18,074,291	13,962,305
Common Stock, Shares, Outstanding		18,073,051	13,961,065
Numerator:
Net loss from continuing operations		($22,733)	($18,286)	($211,575)
Net (loss) earnings from discontinued operations		-884		4,228
Net loss		($23,617)	($18,286)	($207,347)
Denominator:
Weighted-average shares outstanding		10,920,200	13,873,289	13,771,536
Add:
Weighted-average shares outstanding with dilution		10,920,200	13,873,289	13,771,536
Basic loss per share (in dollars per share)		($2.16)	($1.32)	($15.06)
Diluted loss per share (in dollars per share)		($2.16)	($1.32)	($15.06)
Net (loss) earnings per share:
Basic from continuing operations (in dollars per share)		($2.08)	($1.32)	($15.37)
Basic from discontinued operations (in dollars per share)		($0.08)		$0.31
Basic (in dollars per share)		($2.16)	($1.32)	($15.06)
Diluted from continuing operations (in dollars per share)		($2.08)	($1.32)	($15.37)
Diluted from discontinued operations (in dollars per share)		($0.08)		$0.31
Diluted (in dollars per share)		($2.16)	($1.32)	($15.06)

EARNING_PER_SHARE_Details_2

EARNING PER SHARE (Details 2) (USD $)	0 Months Ended	12 Months Ended	0 Months Ended
	Mar. 07, 2014	Dec. 31, 2014	Aug. 11, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
EARNINGS PER SHARE
Common stock, shares outstanding		18,073,051		13,961,065
Transactions
Number of shares repurchased	5,203,986
Purchase price (in dollars per share)	$4.62
Purchase price		$18,204,000
Common stock, par value (in dollars per share)		$0.01		$0.01
Dutch auction tender offer
Transactions
Number of shares repurchased	5,203,986
Purchase price (in dollars per share)	$4.62
Share Purchase Agreement | Zhen Fa New Energy (U.S.) Co. Ltd. (Purchaser) | Expected
Transactions
Number of shares issued			9,210,710
Purchase price			$21,664,000
Price per share (in dollars per share)			$2.35
Common stock, par value (in dollars per share)			$0.01
STR Holdings Incorporated | Share Purchase Agreement | Zhen Fa New Energy (U.S.) Co. Ltd. (Purchaser) | Expected
Transactions
Percentage of outstanding shares upon closing of transaction (as a percent)			51.00%

EARNINGS_PER_SHARE_Details_3

EARNINGS PER SHARE (Details 3)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
ESPP
Effect of anti-dilutive securities
Anti-dilutive securities excluded from diluted weighted-average shares outstanding (in shares)	4	36	54
Employee stock option
Effect of anti-dilutive securities
Anti-dilutive securities excluded from diluted weighted-average shares outstanding (in shares)	0	3,771,305	2,744,910

INVENTORIES_NET_Details

INVENTORIES, NET (Details) (USD $)	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
INVENTORIES, NET
Finished goods	$1,806	$2,938
Raw materials	7,397	6,064
Reserve	-955	-445
Inventories, net	$8,248	$8,557

LONGLIVED_ASSETS_AND_GOODWILL_1

LONG-LIVED ASSETS AND GOODWILL (Details) (USD $)	0 Months Ended		3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended			0 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2012	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Jun. 09, 2014
Property, plant and equipment
Less: accumulated depreciation				($19,552)	($20,315)
Subtotal				19,539	24,787
Construction in progress				656	3,611
Property, Plant and Equipment, Net, Total				20,195	28,398
Depreciation expense			2,818	2,078	2,024	11,255
(Loss) gain on disposal of fixed assets				-451	185	-2
Impairment loss	37,431	0		0	194	37,431
Sale proceeds				6,805	186
Loss on reclassification on held for sale assets				-1,179
East Windsor, Connecticut facility
Property, plant and equipment
Sale proceeds							4,750
Loss on reclassification on held for sale assets				1,179
Land
Property, plant and equipment
Gross				3,571	5,917
Buildings and improvements
Property, plant and equipment
Gross				12,412	15,844
Buildings and improvements | Minimum
Property, plant and equipment
Estimated Useful Lives (in years)				15 years	15 years
Buildings and improvements | Maximum
Property, plant and equipment
Estimated Useful Lives (in years)				40 years
Machinery and equipment
Property, plant and equipment
Gross				19,615	19,251
Machinery and equipment | Minimum
Property, plant and equipment
Estimated Useful Lives (in years)				5 years	5 years
Machinery and equipment | Maximum
Property, plant and equipment
Estimated Useful Lives (in years)				8 years
Furniture, fixtures and computers
Property, plant and equipment
Gross				3,493	4,090
Furniture, fixtures and computers | Minimum
Property, plant and equipment
Estimated Useful Lives (in years)				3 years	3 years
Furniture, fixtures and computers | Maximum
Property, plant and equipment
Estimated Useful Lives (in years)				5 years
Sale of land use rights
Property, plant and equipment
(Loss) gain on disposal of fixed assets				435
Sale of land use rights | Accelerated depreciation, shortened useful-lives | Machinery and equipment
Property, plant and equipment
Proceeds from sale of China land use rights				$1,924

LONGLIVED_ASSETS_AND_GOODWILL_2

LONG-LIVED ASSETS AND GOODWILL (Details 2) (USD $)	0 Months Ended	3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Intangible assets and goodwill
Gross Carrying Amount	$182,200	$182,200			$182,200
Accumulated Amortization	46,720	46,720			46,720
Non-cash impairment related to intangible assets	135,480	135,480			135,480
Amortization expense			0	0	8,432
Customer relationships
Intangible assets and goodwill
Gross Carrying Amount	71,100	71,100			71,100
Accumulated Amortization	19,701	19,701			19,701
Non-cash impairment related to intangible assets					51,399
Trademarks
Intangible assets and goodwill
Gross Carrying Amount	40,800	40,800			40,800
Accumulated Amortization	7,537	7,537			7,537
Non-cash impairment related to intangible assets					33,263
Proprietary technology
Intangible assets and goodwill
Gross Carrying Amount	70,300	70,300			70,300
Accumulated Amortization	19,482	19,482			19,482
Non-cash impairment related to intangible assets					$50,818

LONGLIVED_ASSETS_AND_GOODWILL_3

LONG-LIVED ASSETS AND GOODWILL (Details 3) (USD $)	0 Months Ended		3 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2012	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2012	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2015
Intangible Assets
Impairment charge	$135,480		$135,480				$135,480
Goodwill
Impairment charge				82,524	0	0	82,524
Goodwill	0		0		0	0	0
Impairment Testing
Percentage of decline in market capitalization of common stock				50.00%
Non-cash impairment charge related to property, plant and equipment	37,431	0			0	194	37,431
Number of years of taxable loss					3 years
Undiscounted expected future cash flows exceeded the carrying value					$54,854			$57,723

LEASES_Details

LEASES (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Future minimum payments under all non-cancelable operating leases
2015	$168
2016	166
2017	166
2018	71
2019	1
Total future minimum payments	572
Rental expense
Rental expense on facility space and equipment operating leases	$392	$450	$474

ACCRUED_LIABILITIES_Details

ACCRUED LIABILITIES (Details) (USD $)	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
ACCRUED LIABILITIES
Product performance (see Note 9)	$189	$4,141
Grants (see Note 9)		1,071
Salary and wages	381	412
Professional fees	704	563
Restructuring severance and benefits (see Note 10)	32	1,667
Environmental (see Note 9)	57	76
Accured franchise tax	565	191
Other	852	311
Total Accrued liabilities	$2,780	$8,432

COMMITMENTS_AND_CONTINGENCIES_1

COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Product Performance
Reversals	($4,089)
Phase II environmental site assessment
Environmental
Balance as of beginning of period	76	105
Reductions	-19	-29
Balance as of end of period	57	76
Product performance liability
Product Performance
Balance as of beginning of period	4,141	3,959
Additions	528	17
Reversals	-4,089
Reductions	-355
Foreign exchange impact	-36	165
Balance as of end of period	$189	$4,141

COMMITMENTS_AND_CONTINGENCIES_2

COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES (Details 2) (Spanish subsidiary, Breach of grant requirements, USD $)	3 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2014
Spanish subsidiary | Breach of grant requirements
Commitments and contingencies
Grants repaid	$1,558
Accrual for potential breach of grant requirements		974
Additional potential repayments, minimum		0
Additional potential repayments, maximum		$4,000

COMMITMENTS_AND_CONTINGENCIES_3

COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES (Details 3) (Specialized Technology Resources, Inc., USD $)	0 Months Ended			3 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 17, 2010	Jan. 27, 2011	Feb. 10, 2012	Mar. 31, 2012
Complaint | Galica/JPS
Commitment and contingencies
Damages sought	$60,000
Gain contingency
Settlements
Production injunction period		5 years
Gain contingency | Galica/JPS
Commitment and contingencies
Actual monetary damages awarded		1,100
Punitive damages		2,200
Attorneys' fees		3,900
Reasonable costs		1,100
Percentage of interest on each of the monetary awards from the date of judgment		12.00%
Settlements
Settlement Agreement, Payment due the Company			7,132
Disbursement, deposited with and held in escrow by the Court			70
Production injunction period			5 years
Production injunction period after reduction			4 years
Payment received				$7,202

COST_REDUCTION_ACTIONS_Details

COST REDUCTION ACTIONS (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended			3 Months Ended	0 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2013	Oct. 31, 2012	Oct. 17, 2012	Jul. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2012
						employee	employee	employee
Cost-reduction actions
Reversals	$1,045
Rollforward of the severance and other exit cost accrual activity
Balance as of beginning of year	1,934	200
Additions	440	4,331
Reversals	-1,045
Reductions	-1,297	-2,597
Balance as of end of period	32	1,934		1,934
Spanish grants
Cost-reduction actions
Reversals	250
Rollforward of the severance and other exit cost accrual activity
Reversals	-250
Severance and benefits
Rollforward of the severance and other exit cost accrual activity
Balance as of end of period	32
Facility closure | Johor, Malaysia | Cost of sales
Cost-reduction actions
Severance cost		386
Reversals	407
Rollforward of the severance and other exit cost accrual activity
Reversals	-407
Facility closure | Johor, Malaysia | Selling, general and administrative expense
Cost-reduction actions
Severance cost		377
Reversals	388
Rollforward of the severance and other exit cost accrual activity
Reversals	-388
Headcount reductions
Cost-reduction actions
Headcount reduced		180
Headcount reductions | Cost of sales
Cost-reduction actions
Severance cost			998
Headcount reductions | Selling, general and administrative expense
Cost-reduction actions
Severance cost		2,633	440
Cost-reduction measures
Cost-reduction actions
Severance cost				$1,698
Labor Force Adjustment Plan
Cost-reduction actions
Headcount reduced						58
Headcount temporarily furloughed							60
Percentage of salary of employees that will be furloughed					10.00%
Connecticut facilities cost reduction plan
Cost-reduction actions
Headcount reduced								39

FAIR_VALUE_MEASUREMENTS_Detail

FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS (Details) (Recurring, USD $)	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Level 1
Fair Value Measurements
Total	$1,441	$29,458
Level 1 | Money market funds
Fair Value Measurements
Cash and cash equivalents	1,441	29,458
Level 2
Fair Value Measurements
Other liabilities - Deferred compensation	204	830
Total	($204)	($830)

LONGTERM_DEBT_Details

LONG-TERM DEBT (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended		0 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 02, 2011	Sep. 16, 2013	Sep. 15, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2014	Oct. 07, 2011	Sep. 28, 2012
Long-term debt
Outstanding long-term debt	$0						$0
Write-off of remaining unamortized deferred financing costs	143	844
2007 Credit Agreements
Long-term debt
Repayment of debt			237,732
2011 Credit Agreement
Long-term debt
Write-off of remaining unamortized deferred financing costs		844		143
Limit on pledging of voting stock of foreign subsidiaries (as a percent)					66.00%
Increase in applicable interest rate (as a percent)					2.00%
Outstanding indebtedness					0
2011 Credit Agreement | Minimum
Long-term debt
Commitment fee (as a percent)					0.25%
2011 Credit Agreement | Maximum
Long-term debt
Commitment fee (as a percent)					0.35%
2011 Credit Agreement | Revolving credit facility
Long-term debt
Maximum borrowing capacity								150,000
Aggregate additional increase in credit facility								50,000
2011 Credit Agreement | Letters of credit
Long-term debt
Maximum borrowing capacity								25,000
2011 Credit Agreement | Multicurrency borrowings
Long-term debt
Maximum borrowing capacity								50,000
2011 Credit Agreement | Swing line loans
Long-term debt
Maximum borrowing capacity								5,000
2011 Credit Agreement | Swing line loans | Base rate
Long-term debt
Variable rate basis					Base rate, as defined
2011 Credit Agreement | Eurocurrency rate loans | Eurocurrency rate
Long-term debt
Variable rate basis					Eurocurrency rate, as defined
2011 Credit Agreement | Eurocurrency rate loans | Eurocurrency rate | Minimum
Long-term debt
Applicable margin (as a percent)					2.00%
2011 Credit Agreement | Eurocurrency rate loans | Eurocurrency rate | Maximum
Long-term debt
Applicable margin (as a percent)					2.50%
2011 Credit Agreement | Base rate loans | Eurocurrency rate
Long-term debt
Variable rate basis					Eurocurrency rate of one month Eurocurrency loans
Applicable margin (as a percent)					1.00%
2011 Credit Agreement | Base rate loans | Base rate
Long-term debt
Variable rate basis					Base rate, as defined
2011 Credit Agreement | Base rate loans | Base rate | Minimum
Long-term debt
Applicable margin (as a percent)					1.00%
2011 Credit Agreement | Base rate loans | Base rate | Maximum
Long-term debt
Applicable margin (as a percent)					1.50%
2011 Credit Agreement | Base rate loans | Federal funds rate
Long-term debt
Variable rate basis						Federal funds rate
Applicable margin (as a percent)						0.50%
2011 Credit Agreement | Base rate loans | Bank of America's prime rate
Long-term debt
Variable rate basis					Prime rate
2012 Amendment to the Credit Agreement
Long-term debt
Outstanding indebtedness				0
2012 Amendment to the Credit Agreement | Revolving credit facility
Long-term debt
Maximum borrowing capacity									$25,000

INCOME_TAXES_Details

INCOME TAXES (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Loss from continuing operations before income tax (benefit) expense
Domestic	($6,341)	($14,611)	($262,451)
Foreign	-9,860	-11,024	-15,388
Loss from continuing operations before income tax expense (benefit)	-16,201	-25,635	-277,839
Current income tax (benefit) expense from continuing operations
U.S. federal	-8,377	-5,610	-8,825
Foreign	12	122	3,405
State and local	30	-12	-650
Total current income tax (benefit) expense from continuing operations	-8,335	-5,500	-6,070
Deferred income tax expense (benefit) from continuing operations
U.S. federal	12,300	-741	-58,015
Foreign	2,567	-1,134	-1,722
State and local		26	-457
Total deferred income tax expense (benefit) from continuing operations	14,867	-1,849	-60,194
Total income tax expense (benefit) from continuing operations	6,532	-7,349	-66,264
Additional disclosures
Tax benefits associated with the exercise of stock options	0	0	0
Additional paid-in capital "windfall" account			0
Additional deferred tax expense on cancellation of stock options	4,806	11	113
Deferred tax expense (benefit) relating to the cumulative translation adjustment of foreign subsidiaries financial statements	0	244	70
State deferred income tax expense (benefit) related to change in state taxable income apportionment percent	0	26	-331
Reconciliation of effective income tax rate from continuing operations to the United States federal statutory tax rate
Expected tax at U.S. statutory income tax rate (as a percent)	35.00%	35.00%	35.00%
U.S. state and local income taxes net of federal income tax effect (as a percent)	-0.10%	-0.10%	0.30%
Foreign rate differential (as a percent)	-5.60%	-5.90%	-1.10%
Foreign unremitted earnings (as a percent)	-20.10%	1.10%	0.40%
Goodwill impairment (as a percent)	0.00%	0.00%	-10.40%
Other non-deductible fees and expenses (as a percent)	0.00%	-0.50%	-0.10%
Unrecognized tax benefits (as a percent)	1.40%	-0.60%	0.30%
Stock option cancellations	-32.30%	0.00%	0.00%
Change in valuation allowance	-19.00%	0.00%	0.00%
Other (as a percent)	0.40%	-0.30%	-0.50%
Effective Tax Rate (as a Percent)	-40.30%	28.70%	23.90%
Current deferred tax assets:
Accrued salaries and benefits	11	67
Deferred compensation		221
Bad debt reserves	48	49
Inventories	14	236
Product performance accrual	21	1,483
Other		25
Total current deferred tax assets before valuation allowance	94	2,081
Valuation allowance	-94
Current deferred tax assets		2,081
Long-term deferred tax assets:
Deferred compensation	71	70
Non-qualified stock option compensation		4,223
Restricted stock compensation	2	537
Operating loss carryforwards	6,436	4,225
Fixed assets	272	4,998
Other	549	392
Total long-term deferred tax assets before valuation allowance	7,330	14,445
Valuation allowance	-7,330	-1,247
Deferred Tax Assets, Net of Valuation Allowance, Noncurrent, Total		13,198
Total deferred tax assets		15,279
Deferred tax liabilities:
Total net deferred tax assets		15,279
Deferred Tax Assets, Valuation Allowance	7,424	1,247
Unrecognized tax benefits
Interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits	-85	214	5
Interest and penalties accrued	1,183	1,154
Reconciliation of the beginning and ending amount of liability for unrecognized tax benefits, excluding interest and penalties
Balance at the beginning of the period	3,312	3,312	4,742
Additions for tax positions of prior years			375
Reductions for tax positions of prior years	-113		-1,805
Balance at the end of the period	3,199	3,312	3,312
Amount of unrecognized tax benefit that would potentially impact effective tax rate from continuing operations	3,199	3,274	3,274
Expected Unrecognized tax benefits	$3,199

INCOME_TAXES_Details_2

INCOME TAXES (Details 2) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Undistributed earnings of foreign subsidiary
Cash available	16,552	58,173	81,985	$58,794
MALAYSIA
Undistributed earnings of foreign subsidiary
Reduction in effective tax rate (as a percent)	5.60%	4.50%	0.90%
U.S. federal and state | MALAYSIA
Undistributed earnings of foreign subsidiary
Taxes provided	0

INCOME_TAXES_Details_3

INCOME TAXES (Details 3) (QA business, USD $)	3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2012
QA business
Discontinued operations
Income tax expense to discontinued operations	($4,228)	$884	($4,228)

STOCKHOLDERS_EQUITY_Details

STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY (Details) (USD $)	0 Months Ended		12 Months Ended		0 Months Ended
	Jan. 30, 2015	Mar. 07, 2014	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Aug. 11, 2014	Dec. 31, 2012	Jan. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2011
Stockholders' equity
Preferred stock, authorized (in shares)			20,000,000	20,000,000
Preferred stock, par value (in dollars per share)			$0.01	$0.01
Preferred stock, shares issued			0	0		0
Preferred stock, shares outstanding			0	0		0
Reverse split	0.33
Common stock, authorized (in shares)			200,000,000	200,000,000
Common stock, par value (in dollars per share)			$0.01	$0.01
Common stock, issued (in shares)			18,074,291	13,962,305
Common stock, outstanding (in shares)			18,073,051	13,961,065
Number of voting rights entitled per share of common stock owned			1	1
Shares held in treasury			1,240	1,240
Cost of treasury stock			$57,000	$57,000
Number of shares tendered/sold		5,203,986
Purchase price (in dollars per share)		$4.62
Purchase price			18,204,000
Dutch auction tender offer
Stockholders' equity
Authorized amount of stock repurchase							30,000,000
Number of shares tendered/sold		5,203,986
Purchase price (in dollars per share)		$4.62
Fees and expenses associated with the purchase and retirement of shares of common stock		2,387,000
Cash and equivalents used to purchase and retire shares of common stock, excluding fees and expenses		24,042,000
Restricted common stock
Stockholders' equity
Unvested common stock (in shares)			7,379	38,223		42,687		141,770
Share Purchase Agreement | Zhen Fa New Energy (U.S.) Co. Ltd. (Purchaser) | Expected
Stockholders' equity
Common stock, par value (in dollars per share)					$0.01
Number of shares issued					9,210,710
Purchase price					$21,664,000
Price per share (in dollars per share)					$2.35
Common stock, excluding unvested restricted stock
Stockholders' equity
Shares outstanding			18,065,672	13,922,842		13,851,060		13,730,490
Number of shares tendered/sold			5,203,986
Number of shares issued			9,210,710
STR Holdings Incorporated | Zhen Fa New Energy (U.S.) Co. Ltd. (Purchaser) | Share Purchase Agreement | Expected
Stockholders' equity
Percentage of outstanding shares upon closing of transaction (as a percent)					51.00%

STOCKBASED_COMPENSATION_Detail

STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended			3 Months Ended
In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Jun. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2014	Sep. 30, 2014	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Jun. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2012	Nov. 09, 2010	Dec. 31, 2011
Stock Option Cancellations
Reduction in deferred tax asset	$1,377
Stock options canceled (in shares)	3,405,389
Fully vested (in shares)	2,100,389
Non-cash stock compensation expense	1,076
Stock-based compensation, additional disclosure
Closing stock price (in dollars per share)	$1.37	$1.57	$2.52			$2.52	$1.37			$1.57
2010 ESPP
Allocated Share-based Compensation Expense	2,380	1,902	3,494
2009 Equity Incentive Plan
Stock-based compensation
Number of shares reserved for issuance	4,133,333						4,133,333
Number of shares available for grant or purchase	3,514,878						3,514,878
ESPP
Stock-based compensation
Number of shares available for grant or purchase	159,592						159,592
2010 ESPP
Shares reserved for issuance under stock purchase plan														166,667
Discount rate (as a percent)	10.00%
Number of Offering periods	4
Allocated Share-based Compensation Expense	1	1	4
Employee stock option
Stock-based compensation
Expiration period	10 years
Options granted (in shares)	1,000,000	50,000	1,185,000
Term of U.S. Treasury zero-coupon strip	10 years
Expected amount of dividend to be distributed	0
Assumptions used to estimate the fair values of the stock options granted
Expected volatility (as a percent)	55.10%	58.90%	75.30%
Risk-free interest rate (as a percent)	2.70%	2.50%	0.60%
Expected life (in years)	6 years 8 months 12 days	7 years 4 months 24 days
Stock Option Cancellations
Stock options canceled	4,771,305	208,605	655,211
Stock options canceled (in shares)	1,365,916
Number of Shares
Outstanding at the beginning of the period (in shares)	3,771,305	3,929,910	3,400,121						3,771,305
Options granted (in shares)	1,000,000	50,000	1,185,000
Cancelled/forfeited (in shares)	-4,771,305	-208,605	-655,211
Outstanding at the end of the period (in shares)		3,771,305	3,929,910			3,929,910				3,771,305
Weighted-Average Exercise Price
Outstanding at the beginning of the period (in dollars per share)	$9.13	$9.03	$11.63						$9.13
Options granted (in dollars per share)	$1.59	$2.27	$3.10
Canceled/forfeited (in dollars per share)	$7.55	$5.43	$11.84
Outstanding at the end of the period (in dollars per share)		$9.13	$9.03			$9.03				$9.13
Weighted-Average Remaining Contractual Term (in years)
Outstanding at the end of the period		6 years 8 months 16 days	7 years 9 months
Options granted		7 years 4 months 28 days
Weighted-Average Grant-Date Fair Value
Outstanding (in dollars per share)		$3.87	$3.84			$3.84				$3.87					$4.82
Options granted (in dollars per share)	$0.90	$1.40	$1.79
Canceled/forfeited (in dollars per share)	$3.25	$2.85
Aggregate Intrinsic Value
Outstanding at the beginning of the period	-29,265	-29,317	-30,975						-29,265
Options granted		-35								-35
Outstanding at the end of the period		-29,265	-29,317			-29,317				-29,265
Stock-based compensation, additional disclosure
Proceeds from exercise of stock options	0	0	0
Unrecognized compensation cost
Unrecognized compensation cost	0						0
Employee stock option | Minimum
Stock-based compensation
Vesting period	3 years
Assumptions used to estimate the fair values of the stock options granted
Expected life (in years)			4 years 4 months 24 days
Employee stock option | Maximum
Stock-based compensation
Vesting period	4 years
Employee stock option | Various Employees
Stock-based compensation
Options granted (in shares)				1,000,000	50,000	1,185,000
Number of Shares
Options granted (in shares)				1,000,000	50,000	1,185,000
Weighted-Average Grant-Date Fair Value
Options granted (in dollars per share)				$1.59	$2.27	$3.10
Restricted common stock
Number of units
Unvested at the beginning of the period (in shares)	38,223	42,687	141,770						38,223
Granted (in shares)	112,880	68,185	17,973
Vested (in shares)	135,512	68,814	117,056
Cancelled (in shares)	8,212	-3,835
Unvested at the end of the period (in shares)	7,379	38,223	42,687			42,687	7,379			38,223
Expected to vest at the end of the period (in shares)	7,379						7,379
Weighted-Average Grant-Date Fair Value
Unvested at the beginning of the period (in dollars per share)	$12.96	$22.38	$30.24						$12.96
Granted (in dollars per share)	$4.74	$7.92	$11.70
Vested (in dollars per share)	$9.15	$14.25	$30.33
Canceled (in dollars per share)		$24.33
Unvested at the end of the period (in dollars per share)		$12.96	$22.38			$22.38				$12.96
Unrecognized compensation cost
Unrecognized compensation cost	$23						$23
Restricted common stock | Board of Directors
Number of units
Granted (in shares)				57,568	12,496		20,857	17,735	16,720	11,772	43,917	3,061	14,912
Weighted-Average Grant-Date Fair Value
Granted (in dollars per share)				$4.30	$6.81		$4.11	$4.05	$4.71	$6.69	$8.25	$12.81	$11.46

STOCKBASED_COMPENSATION_Detail1

STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION (Details 2) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Stock-based compensation expense:
Stock-based compensation expense	$2,380	$1,902	$3,494
Total option exercise recognized tax benefit	0	0	0
Selling, general and administrative expense
Stock-based compensation expense:
Stock-based compensation expense	2,380	1,872	3,466
Research and development expense
Stock-based compensation expense:
Stock-based compensation expense		$30	$28

STOCKBASED_COMPENSATION_Detail2

STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION (Details 3) (USD $)	Dec. 31, 2014
In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified
Deferred compensation arrangement
Transaction price	$4.80
Level 2
Deferred compensation arrangement
Transaction price	$4.80
Deferred compensation | Certain member of management | Expected | Maximum
Deferred compensation arrangement
Potential bonus payable to members of management	$1,180
Deferred compensation | Certain member of management | Recurring | Level 2 | Other current liabilities
Deferred compensation arrangement
Deferred compensation liability, current	$204

REPORTABLE_SEGMENT_AND_GEOGRAP2

REPORTABLE SEGMENT AND GEOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION (Details) (USD $)	0 Months Ended		3 Months Ended		8 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2012	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2012	Mar. 31, 2012	Sep. 02, 2011	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
					segment	product
						item
						segment
REPORTABLE SEGMENT AND GEOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION
Number of products sold by entity						1
Number of industries in which products are sold to global customers						1
Number of reportable segments					2	1
Reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA to Net Loss from Continuing Operations
Operating loss / Segment adjusted EBITDA						($19,709)	($25,235)	($283,485)
Depreciation and amortization						-2,078	-2,024	-19,687
Amortization of deferred financing costs							-189	-1,079
Interest income (expense), net						27	-30	-196
Income tax benefit (expense)						-6,532	7,349	66,264
Goodwill impairment				-82,524		0	0	-82,524
Intangible asset impairment	-135,480		-135,480					-135,480
Asset impairment	-37,431	0				0	-194	-37,431
Restructuring						-440	-4,331
Stock-based compensation						-2,380	-1,902	-3,494
Non-cash reversal of loss contingency						4,089
Loss on reclassification on held for sale assets						-1,179
Non-cash reversal of Spanish grants						974
Gain (loss) on disposal of property, plant and equipment						-451	185	-2
Net loss from continuing operations						-22,733	-18,286	-211,575
Reporting segment
Reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA to Net Loss from Continuing Operations
Operating loss / Segment adjusted EBITDA						-15,559	-17,150	3,123
Reconciling items
Reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA to Net Loss from Continuing Operations
Restructuring						$356	($4,331)	($1,069)

REPORTABLE_SEGMENT_AND_GEOGRAP3

REPORTABLE SEGMENT AND GEOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION (Details 2) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Net Sales
Net sales	$39,288	$31,860	$95,345
Long-Lived Assets
Long-Lived Assets	20,195	28,398
United States
Net Sales
Net sales	52	1,976	17,037
Long-Lived Assets
Long-Lived Assets	583	6,906
MALAYSIA
Net Sales
Net sales	8,959	11,553	39,427
Long-Lived Assets
Long-Lived Assets	8,611	9,354
Spain
Net Sales
Net sales	24,110	16,996	38,881
Long-Lived Assets
Long-Lived Assets	7,997	9,141
China
Net Sales
Net sales	6,167	1,335
Long-Lived Assets
Long-Lived Assets	3,004	2,994
Hong Kong
Long-Lived Assets
Long-Lived Assets		$3

REPORTABLE_SEGMENT_AND_GEOGRAP4

REPORTABLE SEGMENT AND GEOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION (Details 3) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Reportable segments and geographical information
Net sales	$39,288	$31,860	$95,345
Four of the major customers
Reportable segments and geographical information
Number of major customers		4
Net sales		17,924
Accounts receivable		4,148
One of the major customers
Reportable segments and geographical information
Number of major customers	1		1
Net sales	14,345		39,162
Accounts receivable	$6,334

EMPLOYEE_BENEFIT_PLANS_Details

EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
	item	item
Defined contribution benefit plans covering U.S. domestic employees
Employee benefit plans
Number of defined contribution benefit plans for employees	1	1
Expense under the plans	$0	$0	$225
Defined contribution benefit plans for foreign employees
Employee benefit plans
Expense under the plans	$161	$123	$98

TRANSACTION_WITH_ZHEN_FA_NEW_E1

TRANSACTION WITH ZHEN FA NEW ENERGY (U.S.) CO., LTD. AND ZHENFA ENERGY GROUP CO., LTD (Details) (USD $)	0 Months Ended	12 Months Ended	0 Months Ended
	Jan. 30, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 11, 2014	Aug. 11, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Transaction with Zhen Fa New Energy (U.S.) Co., Ltd. and Zhenfa Energy Group Co., Ltd.
Common stock, par value (in dollars per share)		$0.01			$0.01
Purchase price		$18,204,000
Reverse split	0.33
Special Dividend Declared | Expected
Transaction with Zhen Fa New Energy (U.S.) Co., Ltd. and Zhenfa Energy Group Co., Ltd.
Dividend payable on common stock (in dollars per share)			$2.55
Share Purchase Agreement | Zhen Fa New Energy (U.S.) Co. Ltd. (Purchaser) | Expected
Transaction with Zhen Fa New Energy (U.S.) Co., Ltd. and Zhenfa Energy Group Co., Ltd.
Number of shares issued				9,210,710
Common stock, par value (in dollars per share)				$0.01
Purchase price				$21,664,000
Price per share (in dollars per share)				$2.35
Zhen Fa New Energy (U.S.) Co. Ltd. (Purchaser) | Share Purchase Agreement | STR Holdings Incorporated | Expected
Transaction with Zhen Fa New Energy (U.S.) Co., Ltd. and Zhenfa Energy Group Co., Ltd.
Percentage of outstanding shares upon closing of transaction (as a percent)				51.00%

TRANSACTION_WITH_ZHEN_FA_NEW_E2

TRANSACTION WITH ZHEN FA NEW ENERGY (U.S.) CO., LTD. AND ZHENFA ENERGY GROUP CO., LTD (Details 2) (Specialized Technology Resources, Inc., Sales Service Agreement, Zhenfa Energy Group Co., Ltd. (Zhenfa Energy), Expected)	0 Months Ended
	Aug. 11, 2014
Sales Service Agreement
Initial term of agreement	2 years
Term of extension to agreement	1 year
Manufacturing Facility
Sales Service Agreement
Percentage of market rent for second five year term	50.00%
Second term of lease	5 years
Manufacturing Facility | Minimum
Sales Service Agreement
Area of facility	107,639
Rent free period	5 years

TRANSACTION_WITH_ZHEN_FA_NEW_E3

TRANSACTION WITH ZHEN FA NEW ENERGY (U.S.) CO., LTD. AND ZHENFA ENERGY GROUP CO., LTD (Details 3) (USD $)	12 Months Ended	0 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014	Aug. 11, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Capitalization
Purchase price	$18,204,000
Aggregate dividend	22,580,000
Cash and cash equivalents	16,552,000		58,173,000	81,985,000	58,794,000
Total liabilities	12,079,000		17,347,000
Share Purchase Agreement | Zhen Fa New Energy (U.S.) Co. Ltd. (Purchaser) | Expected
Capitalization
Purchase price		$21,664,000
Zhenfa Energy Group Co., Ltd. (Zhenfa Energy)
Capitalization
Generating capacity of developed and installed solar power			2
Generating capacity of ground mounted solar project			13
Zhenfa Energy Group Co., Ltd. (Zhenfa Energy) | Maximum
Capitalization
Percentage of increase in efficiency of self-adaptive sun tracking system for solar arrays over fixed tracking systems	25.00%

SUBSEQUENT_EVENT_Details

SUBSEQUENT EVENT (Details)	0 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Jan. 30, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
		MW
SUBSEQUENT EVENT
Reverse split	0.33
Common stock, shares issued		18,074,291	13,962,305
Common stock, shares outstanding		18,073,051	13,961,065
Subsequent event
SUBSEQUENT EVENT
Reverse split	0.33
Common stock, shares issued		18,074,291
Common stock, shares outstanding		18,073,051
Subsequent event | Huhui | Huhui Supply Agreement
SUBSEQUENT EVENT
Purchase of minimum amount of encapsulants		535
Deposit percentage		10.00%
Automatic renewal additional term		1 year
Notice period prior to end of current term		90 days

Schedule_IIValuation_and_Quali1

Schedule II-Valuation and Qualifying Accounts (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Accounts Receivable Allowance for Doubtful Accounts
Movement in valuation and qualifying accounts
Beginning Balance	$2,051	$118	$225
Additions/Charged to Expenses	483	1,824	486
Currency Impact	-133	109
Reductions	-1,568		-593
Balance at End of Period	833	2,051	118
Tax Valuation Allowance
Movement in valuation and qualifying accounts
Beginning Balance	1,247	491
Additions/Charged to Expenses	6,177	756	491
Balance at End of Period	7,424	1,247	491
Inventory Reserve
Movement in valuation and qualifying accounts
Beginning Balance	445	678	446
Additions/Charged to Expenses	907	352	260
Currency Impact	-2	2	2
Reductions	-395	-587	-30
Balance at End of Period	$955	$445	$678