Lydall (LDL) 10-Q 30 Apr 15 2015 Q1 Quarterly report Financial data

Document_And_Entity_Informatio

Document And Entity Information	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015	Apr. 13, 2015
Document And Entity Information [Abstract]
Document Type	10-Q
Amendment Flag	FALSE
Document Period End Date	31-Mar-15
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2015
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q1
Trading Symbol	LDL
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		17,014,967
Entity Registrant Name	LYDALL INC /DE/
Entity Central Index Key	60977
Current Fiscal Year End Date	-19
Entity Filer Category	Accelerated Filer

CONDENSED_CONSOLIDATED_STATEME

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (USD $)	3 Months Ended
In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2015		Mar. 31, 2014
Income Statement [Abstract]
Net sales	$127,306	[1]	$125,226	[2]
Cost of sales	99,606		99,027
Gross profit	27,700		26,199
Selling, product development and administrative expenses	17,622		18,573
Operating income	10,078	[1]	7,626	[2]
Gain on sale of business	-18,647		0
Interest expense	222		212
Other (income) expense, net	-1,022		55
Income before income taxes	29,525		7,359
Income tax expense	10,588		3,643
Net income	$18,937		$3,716
Earnings per share:
Basic (usd per share)	$1.12		$0.22
Diluted (usd per share)	$1.11		$0.22
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding:
Basic (in shares)	16,837		16,542
Diluted (in shares)	17,109		16,852
[1]	Other Products and Services reports results for the period preceding the date of disposition of January 30, 2015.
[2]	Industrial Filtration segment reports results for the period following the date of acquisition of February 20, 2014 through March 31, 2014.

CONDENSED_CONSOLIDATED_STATEME1

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (USD $)	3 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2015	Mar. 31, 2014
Statement of Comprehensive Income [Abstract]
Net income	$18,937	$3,716
Other comprehensive income:
Foreign currency translation adjustments	-9,919	-336
Pension liability adjustment, net of tax	137	111
Comprehensive income	$9,155	$3,491

CONDENSED_CONSOLIDATED_BALANCE

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (USD $)	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$72,103	$62,051
Accounts receivable, less allowances (2015 - $907; 2014 - $709)	91,252	84,366
Inventories	53,640	51,241
Taxes receivable	1,426	4,539
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	10,205	11,109
Total current assets	228,626	213,306
Property, plant and equipment, at cost	289,473	304,811
Accumulated depreciation	-179,184	-189,454
Net, property, plant and equipment	110,289	115,357
Goodwill	16,796	21,943
Other intangible assets, net	7,323	7,841
Other assets, net	3,522	3,323
Total assets	366,556	361,770
Current liabilities:
Current portion of long-term debt	550	615
Accounts payable	48,488	49,325
Accrued payroll and other compensation	9,118	14,550
Accrued taxes	10,334	1,447
Other accrued liabilities	9,711	7,140
Total current liabilities	78,201	73,077
Long-term debt	40,146	40,315
Deferred tax liabilities	11,571	13,867
Benefit plan liabilities	18,966	19,142
Other long-term liabilities	2,681	2,770
Commitments and Contingencies
Stockholders’ equity:
Preferred stock	0	0
Common stock	2,460	2,463
Capital in excess of par value	70,402	68,961
Retained earnings	261,036	242,099
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	-33,943	-24,161
Treasury stock, at cost	-84,964	-76,763
Total stockholders’ equity	214,991	212,599
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity	$366,556	$361,770

CONDENSED_CONSOLIDATED_BALANCE1

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (Parenthetical) (USD $)	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Statement of Financial Position [Abstract]
Allowances of accounts receivable	$907	$709

CONDENSED_CONSOLIDATED_STATEME2

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (USD $)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015	Mar. 31, 2014
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income	$18,937,000	$3,716,000
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash used for operating activities:
Gain on sale of business	-18,647,000	0
Depreciation and amortization	4,362,000	3,848,000
Inventory step-up amortization	0	1,282,000
Deferred income taxes	-1,746,000	315,000
Stock based compensation	635,000	573,000
Loss on disposition of property, plant and equipment	106,000	0
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable	-12,017,000	-20,259,000
Inventories	-6,465,000	3,601,000
Accounts payable	3,644,000	5,970,000
Accrued payroll and other compensation	-4,409,000	-1,934,000
Accrued taxes	8,978,000	1,460,000
Other, net	5,525,000	-1,432,000
Net cash used for operating activities	-1,097,000	-2,860,000
Cash flows from investing activities:
Business acquisitions, net of cash acquired	0	-79,157,000
Proceeds from the sale of business, net	28,370,000	0
Proceeds from the sale of business, net	-7,396,000	-2,807,000
Net cash provided by (used for) investing activities	20,974,000	-81,964,000
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from borrowings	0	60,000,000
Debt repayments	-140,000	-162,000
Common stock issued	605,000	433,000
Common stock repurchased	-7,246,000	-479,000
Excess tax benefit on stock awards	286,000	222,000
Net cash (used for) provided by financing activities	-6,495,000	60,014,000
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash	-3,330,000	531,000
Increase (Decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	10,052,000	-24,279,000
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	62,051,000	75,407,000
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	72,103,000	51,128,000
Non-cash capital expenditures included in accounts payable	$2,400,000

Basis_of_Financial_Statement_P

Basis of Financial Statement Presentation	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015
Accounting Policies [Abstract]
Basis of Financial Statement Presentation	Basis of Financial Statement Presentation
	Description of Business
	Lydall, Inc. and its subsidiaries (the “Company” or “Lydall”) design and manufacture specialty engineered filtration media, life science filtration media, industrial thermal insulating solutions, automotive thermal and acoustical barriers for filtration/separation and thermal/acoustical applications.
	Basis of Presentation
	The accompanying Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements include the accounts of Lydall, Inc. and its subsidiaries. All financial information is unaudited for the interim periods reported. All significant intercompany transactions have been eliminated in the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements. The Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements have been prepared, in all material respects, in accordance with the same accounting principles followed in the preparation of the Company’s annual financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2014. The operating results of the Industrial Filtration segment have been included in the Consolidated Statement of Operations since the date of acquisition, February 20, 2014. The operating results of the Life Sciences Vital Fluids business have been included in the Consolidated Statement of Operations through the date of disposition, January 30, 2015. The year-end Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet was derived from the December 31, 2014 audited financial statements, but does not include all disclosures required by accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. Management believes that all adjustments, which include only normal recurring adjustments necessary for a fair statement of the Company’s condensed consolidated financial position, results of operations and cash flows for the periods reported, have been included. For further information, refer to the audited consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014.
	Recent Accounting Pronouncements
	Effective January 1, 2015, the Company adopted the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") Accounting Standards Update ("ASU") No. 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." ASU 2014-08 raises the threshold for a disposal to qualify as a discontinued operation and requires new disclosures of both discontinued operations and certain other disposals that do not meet the definition of a discontinued operation. The Company evaluated the impact the adoption of ASU 2014-08 had on the Company's consolidated financial statements and disclosures related to the January 2015 sale of its Life Sciences Vital Fluids business and determined that the sale of this business did not qualify as a discontinued operation.

Acquisition_and_Divestiture

Acquisition and Divestiture	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015
Business Combinations [Abstract]
Acquisition and Divestiture	Acquisition and Divestiture
	Divestiture
	On January 30, 2015, the Company sold all of the outstanding shares of common stock of its Life Sciences Vital Fluids business, reported as Other Products and Services, for a cash purchase price of $30.1 million (including a post-closing adjustment of $0.2 million). The disposition was completed pursuant to a Stock Purchase and Sale Agreement, dated January 30, 2015, by and among the Company, and the buyer. The Company recognized a pre-tax gain on the sale of $18.6 million, reported as non-operating income in the first quarter of 2015. Net of income taxes, the Company reported a gain on sale of $11.8 million.
	In April 2014, the FASB issued ASU No. 2014-08, and in accordance with the revised accounting guidance for reporting discontinued operations, the Company did not report Life Sciences Vital Fluids as a discontinued operation as it would not be considered a strategic shift in Lydall's business. Accordingly, the operating results of Life Sciences Vital Fluids are included in the operating results of the Company through the sale date.
	Acquisition
	On February 20, 2014, the Company completed the acquisition of certain industrial filtration businesses of Andrew Industries Limited, an Altham, United Kingdom based corporation. The Industrial Filtration business serves a global customer base in the manufacture of non-woven felt filtration media and filter bags used primarily in industrial air filtration applications including power, cement, asphalt, incineration, food and pharmaceutical. This business, which strengthened the Company’s position as an industry leading, global provider of filtration and engineered materials products, added complementary and new technologies and diversified the Company’s end markets and geographic base. The Company acquired the Industrial Filtration business for $86.9 million in cash (including cash acquired of $7.5 million and a post-closing adjustment payment of $0.2 million to Andrew Industries Limited) and with no debt being acquired. The purchase price was financed with a combination of cash on hand and $60.0 million of borrowings through the Company’s amended $100 million credit facility.
	The following table summarizes the fair values of identifiable assets acquired and liabilities assumed at the date of the acquisition:
	In thousands
	Cash	$	7,493
	Accounts Receivable	26,779
	Inventory	25,046
	Other current assets	2,894
	Property, plant and equipment	38,780
	Deferred Taxes	2,501
	Intangible assets (Note 4)	5,596
	Goodwill (Note 4)	3,943
	Total assets acquired	113,032
	Other liabilities	(18,002		)
	Deferred taxes	(8,130		)
	Total liabilities assumed	(26,132		)
	Net assets acquired	$	86,900
	The following table reflects the unaudited pro forma operating results of the Company for the quarter ended March 31, 2014, which give effect to the acquisition of Industrial Filtration as if it had occurred on January 1, 2013. The pro forma information includes the historical financial results of the Company and Industrial Filtration. The pro forma results are not necessarily indicative of the operating results that would have occurred had the acquisition been effective January 1, 2013, nor are they intended to be indicative of results that may occur in the future. The pro forma information does not include the effects of any synergies related to the acquisition.
		(Unaudited Pro Forma)
	In thousands	Quarter Ended March 31, 2014
	Net Sales	$	142,742
	Net Income	$	7,476
	Earnings per share:
	Basic	$	0.45
	Diluted	$	0.44
	Pro forma earnings during the quarter ended March 31, 2014 were adjusted to exclude non-recurring items such as acquisition-related costs of $2.4 million and expense related to the fair value adjustment to inventory of $1.3 million, and to include additional amortization of the acquired Industrial Filtration intangible assets recognized at fair value in purchase accounting as well as additional interest expense associated with borrowings under the Company’s Amended Credit Facility. No amount was included in the pro forma earnings during the three months ended March 31, 2014 related to inventory fair value adjustments as the corresponding inventory would have been completely sold during 2013.

Inventories

Inventories	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015
Inventory Disclosure [Abstract]
Inventories	Inventories
	Inventories as of March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014 were as follows:
	In thousands	March 31,			December 31,
		2015			2014
	Raw materials	$	23,520		$	21,248
	Work in process	16,831			15,753
	Finished goods	14,794			15,348
		55,145			52,349
	Less: Progress billings	(1,505		)	(1,108		)
	Total inventories	$	53,640		$	51,241
	Included in work in process is gross tooling inventory of $10.7 million and $9.9 million at March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014, respectively. Tooling inventory, net of progress billings, was $9.2 million and $8.8 million at March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014, respectively.

Goodwill_and_Other_Intangible_

Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015
Goodwill and Intangible Assets Disclosure [Abstract]
Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets	Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets
	Goodwill:
	The Company tests its goodwill for impairment annually in the fourth quarter, and whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value may exceed its fair value.
	The changes in the carrying amount of goodwill by segment as of and for the three months ended March 31, 2015 were as follows:
		December 31,		Currency			Other Activity			31-Mar-15
	In thousands	2014		translation adjustments
	Performance Materials	$	13,340	$	(487	)	$	—		$	12,853
	Industrial Filtration	3,943		—			—			3,943
	Other Products and Services	4,660		—			(4,660		)	—
	Total goodwill	$	21,943	$	(487	)	$	(4,660	)	$	16,796
	The other activity in goodwill associated with Other Products and Services of $4.7 million was the result of the sale of the Company's Life Science Vital Fluids business on January 30, 2015.
	The goodwill associated with the Industrial Filtration segment results from the acquisition of the Industrial Filtration business on February 20, 2014. The amount allocated to goodwill is reflective of the benefits the Company expects to realize from the entrance into new global markets and Industrial Filtration's assembled workforce. None of the recognized goodwill is deductible for income tax purposes.
	Other Intangible Assets:
	The table below presents the gross carrying amount and, as applicable, the accumulated amortization of the Company’s acquired intangible assets other than goodwill included in “Other intangible assets, net” in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets as of March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014:
		March 31, 2015					December 31, 2014
	In thousands	Gross Carrying Amount		Accumulated Amortization			Gross Carrying Amount			Accumulated Amortization
	Amortized intangible assets
	License agreements	$	767	$	(767	)	$	818		$	(818	)
	Technology	2,500		(185		)	2,500			(143		)
	Customer Relationships	2,439		(248		)	2,477			(195		)
	Patents	5,430		(3,025		)	6,037			(3,274		)
	Other	621		(209		)	691			(252		)
	Total amortized intangible assets	$	11,757	$	(4,434	)	$	12,523		$	(4,682	)

Longterm_Debt_and_Financing_Ar

Long-term Debt and Financing Arrangements	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015
Debt Disclosure [Abstract]
Long-term Debt and Financing Arrangements	Long-term Debt and Financing Arrangements
	On February 18, 2014, the Company amended and restated its $35.0 million senior secured domestic revolving credit facility (“Amended Credit Facility”) with a financial institution and two additional lenders, increasing the available borrowing from $35 million to $100 million. The Amended Credit Facility is secured by substantially all of the assets of the Company. The maturity date for the Amended Credit Facility is January 31, 2019, at which time amounts outstanding under the Amended Credit Facility are due and payable. The Company entered into this Amended Credit Facility in part to fund a majority of the purchase price of the Industrial Filtration acquisition.
	Under the terms of the Amended Credit Facility, the lenders are providing a $100 million revolving credit facility to the Company, under which the lenders may make revolving loans and issue letters of credit to or for the benefit of the Company and its subsidiaries. The Amended Credit Facility may be increased by an aggregate amount not to exceed $50 million through an accordion feature, subject to specified conditions.
	The Amended Credit Facility contains a number of affirmative and negative covenants, including financial and operational covenants. The Company is required to meet a minimum interest coverage ratio. The interest coverage ratio requires that, at the end of each fiscal quarter, the ratio of consolidated EBIT to Consolidated Interest Charges, both as defined in the Amended Credit Facility, may not be less than 2.0 to 1.0 for the immediately preceding 12 month period. In addition, the Company must maintain a Consolidated Leverage Ratio, as defined in the Amended Credit Facility, as of the end of each fiscal quarter of no greater than 3.0 to 1.0. The Company must also meet minimum consolidated EBITDA as of the end of each fiscal quarter for the preceding 12 month period of $30.0 million. The Company was in compliance with all covenants at March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014.
	Interest is charged on borrowings at the Company’s option of either: (i) Base Rate plus the Applicable Rate, or (ii) the Eurodollar Rate plus the Applicable Rate. The Base Rate is a fluctuating rate equal to the highest of (a) the federal funds rate plus 0.50%, (b) the prime rate as set by Bank of America, and (c) the Eurocurrency Rate plus 1.00%. The Eurocurrency Rate means (i) if denominated in LIBOR quoted currency, a fluctuating LIBOR per annum rate equal to the London Interbank Offered Rate; (ii) if denominated in Canadian Dollars, the rate per annum equal to the Canadian Dealer Offered Rate; or (iii) the rate per annum as designated with respect to such alternative currency at the time such alternative currency is approved by the Lenders. The Applicable Rate is determined based on the Company’s Consolidated Leverage Ratio (as defined in the Amended Credit Agreement). The Applicable Rate added to the Base Rate Committed Loans ranges from 15 basis points to 100 basis points, and the Applicable Rate added to Eurocurrency Rate Committed Loans and Letters of Credit ranges from 75 basis points to 175 basis points. The Company pays a quarterly fee ranging from 20 basis points to 30 basis points on the unused portion of the $100 million available under the Amended Credit Agreement. At March 31, 2015, the Company had borrowing availability of $57.7 million under the Amended Credit Facility net of standby letters of credit outstanding of $2.3 million.
	The Company has a capital lease agreement for the land and building at the St. Nazaire, France operating facility, included in the Thermal/Acoustical Metals segment, requiring monthly principal and interest payments through 2016. The capital lease provides an option for the Company to purchase the land and building at the end of the lease for a nominal amount.
	Total outstanding debt consists of:
					March 31,			December 31,
	In thousands	Effective Rate		Maturity	2015			2014
	Revolver Loan, due January 31, 2019	1.18	%	2019	$	40,000		$	40,000
	Capital Lease, land and building, St. Nazaire, France	5.44	%	2016	665			893
	Capital Lease, manufacturing equipment, Hamptonville, North Carolina	5	%	2017	31			37
					40,696			40,930
	Less portion due within one year				(550		)	(615		)
	Total long-term debt				$	40,146		$	40,315
	The carrying value of the Company’s Amended Credit Facility approximates fair value given the variable rate nature of the debt. As such this debt would be classified as a Level 2 liability within the fair value hierarchy.
	The weighted average interest rate on long-term debt was 1.3% for the three months ended March 31, 2015 and 1.5% for the year ended December 31, 2014.

Equity_Compensation_Plans

Equity Compensation Plans	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015
Disclosure of Compensation Related Costs, Share-based Payments [Abstract]
Equity Compensation Plans	Equity Compensation Plans
	As of March 31, 2015, the Company’s equity compensation plans consisted of the 2003 Stock Incentive Compensation Plan (the “2003 Plan”) and the 2012 Stock Incentive Plan (the “2012 Plan” and together with the 2003 Plan, the “Plans”) under which incentive and non-qualified stock options and time and performance based restricted shares have been granted to employees and directors from authorized but unissued shares of common stock or treasury shares. The 2003 Plan is not active, but continues to govern all outstanding awards granted under the plan until the awards themselves are exercised or terminate in accordance with their terms. The 2012 Plan, approved by shareholders on April 27, 2012, authorizes 1.75 million shares of common stock for awards. The 2012 Plan also authorizes an additional 1.2 million shares of common stock to the extent awards granted under prior stock plans that were outstanding as of April 27, 2012 are forfeited. The 2012 Plan provides for the following types of awards: options, restricted stock, restricted stock units and other stock-based awards.
	The Company incurred compensation expense of $0.6 million for each of the quarters ended March 31, 2015 and March 31, 2014, for the Plans, including restricted stock awards. No compensation costs were capitalized as part of inventory.
	Stock Options
	The following table is a summary of outstanding and exercisable options as of March 31, 2015:
	In thousands except per share	Shares	Weighted-		Weighted-	Aggregate
	amounts and years		Average		Average	Intrinsic Value
			Exercise Price		Remaining
					Contractual
					Term
					(years)
	Outstanding at March 31, 2015	539	$	15.35	6.9	$	8,816
	Exercisable at March 31, 2015	261	$	9.96	5	$	5,684
	Expected to Vest at March 31, 2015	218	$	20.61	8.7	$	2,421
	There were no stock options granted and 59,582 stock options exercised during the quarter ended March 31, 2015 and no stock options granted and 45,288 stock options exercised during the quarter ended March 31, 2014. The amount of cash received from the exercise of stock options was $0.6 million during the quarter ended March 31, 2015 and $0.4 million during the quarter ended March 31, 2014. The intrinsic value of stock options exercised was $1.2 million with a tax benefit of $0.4 million during the quarter ended March 31, 2015 and the intrinsic value of stock options exercised was $0.5 million with a tax benefit of $0.2 million during the quarter ended March 31, 2014. At March 31, 2015, the total unrecognized compensation cost related to non-vested stock option awards was approximately $1.4 million, with a weighted average expected amortization period of 3.0 years.
	Restricted Stock
	Restricted stock includes both performance-based and time-based awards. There were no time-based restricted shares granted during the quarter ended March 31, 2015 and 28,769 time-based restricted shares granted during the quarter ended March 31, 2014. There were no performance-based restricted shares granted during the quarter ended March 31, 2015 and 138,000 performance-based restricted shares granted during the quarter ended March 31, 2014, which have a 2016 earnings per share target. During the quarter ended March 31, 2015, there were no performance-based shares that vested and there were 64,200 performance-based shares that vested in the quarter ended March 31, 2014 in accordance with Plan provisions. There were 10,321 time-based shares that vested during the quarter ended March 31, 2015 and there were 3,000 time-based restricted shares that vested during the quarter ended March 31, 2014. At March 31, 2015, there were 353,791 unvested restricted stock awards with total unrecognized compensation cost related to these awards of $4.0 million with a weighted average expected amortization period of 2.0 years. Compensation expense for performance based awards is recorded based on management’s assessment of the probability of achieving the performance goals and service period.

Stock_Repurchases

Stock Repurchases	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015
Equity [Abstract]
Stock Repurchases	Stock Repurchases
	In April 2012, the Company’s Board of Directors approved a stock repurchase program (the “2012 Stock Repurchase Program”), which authorized the Company to repurchase up to 1.0 million shares of its common stock. The Company repurchased 259,213 shares of its common stock at an average price of $31.16 per share for an aggregate purchase price of approximately $8.1 million during the quarter ended March 31, 2015 under the 2012 Stock Repurchase Program. As of March 31, 2015, there were 7,876 shares remaining and authorized for repurchase under the 2012 Stock Repurchase Program, which were subsequently purchased in April 2015.
	During the first quarter ended March 31, 2015, the Company purchased 3,891 shares of common stock valued at $0.1 million, through withholding, pursuant to provisions in agreements with recipients of restricted stock granted under the Company’s equity compensation plans, which allow the Company to withhold the number of shares having fair value equal to each recipient’s tax withholding due.

Employer_Sponsored_Benefit_Pla

Employer Sponsored Benefit Plans	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015
Compensation and Retirement Disclosure [Abstract]
Employer Sponsored Benefit Plans	Employer Sponsored Benefit Plans
	As of March 31, 2015, the Company maintains a defined benefit pension plan that covers certain domestic Lydall employees (“domestic pension plan”) that is closed to new employees and benefits are no longer accruing. The domestic pension plan is noncontributory and benefits are based on either years of service or eligible compensation paid while a participant is in the plan. The Company’s funding policy is to fund not less than the ERISA minimum funding standard and not more than the maximum amount that can be deducted for federal income tax purposes.
	The Company expects to contribute approximately $5.9 million in cash to its domestic pension plan in 2015. There were no contributions made during the first quarter of 2015. Contributions of $3.0 million were made during the first quarter of 2014.
	The following is a summary of the components of net periodic benefit cost, which is recorded primarily within selling, product development and administrative expenses, for the domestic pension plan for the quarters ended March 31, 2015 and 2014:
		Quarter Ended
		March 31,
	In thousands	2015			2014
	Components of net periodic benefit cost
	Interest cost	$	516		$	666
	Expected return on assets	(590		)	(794		)
	Amortization of actuarial loss	225			180
	Net periodic benefit cost	$	151		$	52

Income_Taxes

Income Taxes	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]
Income Taxes	Income Taxes
	The Company’s effective tax rate for the first quarter of 2015 was 35.9% compared to an effective tax rate of 49.5% in the first quarter of 2014. The difference in the Company's effective tax rate for the quarter ended March 31, 2015 compared to the quarter ended March 31, 2014 was primarily due to discrete tax charges, in the first quarter of 2014, of approximately $1.0 million primarily for non-deductible transaction related expenses associated with the acquisition of the Industrial Filtration business.
	The Company and its subsidiaries file a consolidated federal income tax return, as well as returns required by various state and foreign jurisdictions. In the normal course of business, the Company is subject to examination by taxing authorities, including such major jurisdictions as the United States, France, Germany, China, the United Kingdom and the Netherlands. With few exceptions, the Company is no longer subject to U.S. federal examinations for years before 2010, state and local examinations for years before 2002, and non-U.S. income tax examinations for years before 2003.
	The Company’s effective tax rates in future periods could be affected by earnings being lower or higher than anticipated in countries where tax rates differ from the United States federal rate, the relative impact of permanent tax adjustments on higher or lower earnings from domestic operations, changes in net deferred tax asset valuation allowances, the impact of the completion of acquisitions or divestitures, changes in tax rates or tax laws and the completion of tax audits.

Earnings_Per_Share

Earnings Per Share	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]
Earnings Per Share	Earnings Per Share
	For the quarters ended March 31, 2015 and 2014, basic earnings per share were computed by dividing net income by the weighted average number of shares of common stock outstanding during the period. Unexercised stock options and unvested restricted shares are excluded from this calculation but are included in the diluted earnings per share calculation using the treasury stock method as long as their effect is not antidilutive.
	The following table provides a reconciliation of weighted-average shares used to determine basic and diluted earnings per share.
		Quarter Ended
		March 31,
	In thousands	2015	2014
	Basic average common shares outstanding	16,837	16,542
	Effect of dilutive options and restricted stock awards	272	310
	Diluted average common shares outstanding	17,109	16,852
	For the quarters ended March 31, 2015 and 2014, stock options for 0.1 million shares of common stock were not considered in computing diluted earnings per common share because they were antidilutive.

Segment_Information

Segment Information	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015
Segment Reporting [Abstract]
Segment Information	Segment Information
	On February 20, 2014, the Company acquired the Industrial Filtration business from Andrew Industries Limited, which is being reported as a separate reportable segment since the acquisition date. Segment information is consistent with how management reviews the businesses, makes investing and resource allocation decisions and assesses operating performance.
	The Company’s reportable segments are Performance Materials, Industrial Filtration, Thermal/Acoustical Metals, and Thermal/Acoustical Fibers. Other Products and Services (“OPS”) included Life Sciences Vital Fluids, which was sold on January 30, 2015.
	Performance Materials Segment
	The Performance Materials segment includes filtration media solutions primarily for air, fluid power, and industrial applications (“Filtration”), air and liquid life science applications (“Life Sciences Filtration”), and thermal insulation solutions for building products, appliances, and energy and industrial markets (“Thermal Insulation”). Filtration products include LydAir® MG (Micro-Glass) Air Filtration Media, LydAir® MB (Melt Blown) Air Filtration Media, LydAir® SC (Synthetic Composite) Air Filtration Media, and Arioso™ Membrane Composite Media. These products constitute the critical media component of clean-air systems for applications in clean-space, commercial, industrial and residential HVAC, power generation, and industrial processes. Lydall has leveraged its extensive technical expertise and applications knowledge into a suite of media products covering the vast liquid filtration landscape across the engine and industrial fields. The LyPore® Liquid Filtration Media series address a variety of application needs in fluid power including hydraulic filters, air-water and air-oil coalescing, industrial fluid processes and diesel fuel filtration.
	Industrial Filtration Segment
	The Industrial Filtration segment includes non-woven felt media and filter bags used primarily in industrial air and liquid filtration applications. Non-woven filter media is the most commonly used filter technology to satisfy increasing emission control regulations in a wide range of industries, including power, cement, steel, asphalt, incineration, mining, food, and pharmaceutical. The business also produces non-woven media that is used in automotive and other commercial applications.
	Industrial Filtration segment products include air and liquid filtration media sold under the brand names Fiberlox® high performance filtration felts, Checkstatic™ conductive filtration felts, Microfelt® high efficiency filtration felts, Pleatlox® pleatable filtration felts, Ultratech™ PTFE filtration felts, Powertech® and Powerlox® power generation filtration felts, Microcap® high efficiency liquid filtration felts, Duotech membrane composite filtration felts, along with traditional scrim supported filtration felts. Industrial Filtration also offers extensive finishing and coating capabilities which provide custom engineered properties tailored to meet the most demanding filtration applications. The business leverages a wide range of fiber types and extensive technical capabilities to provide filtration products that meet our customers’ needs across a variety of applications providing both high filtration performance and durability.
	Thermal/Acoustical Metals Segment
	The Thermal/Acoustical Metals segment offers a full range of innovative engineered products to assist in noise and heat abatement within the transportation sector. Lydall products are found in the underbody (tunnel, fuel tank, exhaust, rear muffler and spare tire) and under hood (engine compartment, turbo charger, and manifolds) of cars, trucks, SUVs, heavy duty trucks and recreational vehicles.
	Thermal/Acoustical Metals segment products are stamped metal combinations which provide thermal and acoustical shielding solutions for the global automotive and truck markets. Thermal/Acoustical Metals products include AMS®, which is an all metal shield designed to be used in various vehicle applications, and Direct Exhaust Mount Heat shields, which are mounted to high temperature surfaces like exhaust down-pipes or engine manifolds using aluminized and stainless steel with high performance heat absorbing materials. Additionally, a patented CLD (constraint layer damped) material is a lightweight material with characteristics to reduce vibration and parasitic noise on powertrain mounted heat shields.
	Thermal/Acoustical Fibers Segment
	The Thermal/Acoustical Fibers segment offers a full line of innovative engineered products to assist in noise and heat abatement within the transportation sector. Lydall products are found in the interior (dash insulators, cabin flooring), underbody (wheel well, aerodynamic belly pan, fuel tank, exhaust) and under hood (engine compartment) of cars, trucks, SUVs, heavy duty trucks and recreational vehicles.
	Thermal/Acoustical Fibers segment products offer thermal and acoustical insulating solutions comprised of organic and inorganic fiber composites for the automotive and truck markets primarily in North America. Lydall’s dBCore® is a lightweight acoustical composite that emphasizes absorption principles over heavy-mass type systems. Lydall’s dBLyte® is a high-performance acoustical barrier with sound absorption and blocking properties and can be used throughout a vehicle’s interior to minimize intrusive noise from an engine compartment and road. Lydall’s ZeroClearance® is an innovative thermal solution that utilizes an adhesive backing for attachment and is used to protect vehicle components from excessive heat. Lydall’s specially engineered products provide a solution that provides weight reduction, superior noise suppression, and increased durability over conventional designs.
	Thermal/Acoustical Metals segment and Thermal/Acoustical Fibers segment operating results include allocations of certain costs shared between the segments.
	Other Products and Services
	The Life Sciences Vital Fluids business offered specialty products for blood filtration devices, blood transfusion single-use containers and the design and manufacture of single-use solutions for cell growth, frozen storage and fluid handling, as well as equipment for bioprocessing applications.
	On January 30, 2015, the Company sold all of the outstanding shares of common stock of its Life Sciences Vital Fluids business for a cash purchase price of $30.1 million (including a$0.2 million post-closing adjustment). The disposition was completed pursuant to a Stock Purchase and Sale Agreement, dated January 30, 2015, by and among the Company, and the Buyer. The Company recognized an after tax gain on the sale of this business of approximately $11.8 million in the first quarter of 2015.
	The tables below present net sales and operating income by segment for the quarters ended March 31, 2015 and 2014, and also a reconciliation of total segment net sales and operating income to total consolidated net sales and operating income.
	Consolidated net sales by segment:
				Quarter Ended
				March 31,
	In thousands			(1)				(2)
				2015				2014
	Performance Materials Segment:
	Filtration			$	15,067			$	17,873
	Thermal Insulation			7,485				8,528
	Life Sciences Filtration			2,506				2,452
	Performance Materials Segment net sales			25,058				28,853
	Industrial Filtration Segment:
	Industrial Filtration			34,200				17,656
	Industrial Filtration net sales			34,200				17,656
	Thermal/Acoustical Metals Segment:
	Metal parts			35,022				37,025
	Tooling			3,093				5,431
	Thermal/Acoustical Metals Segment net sales			38,115				42,456
	Thermal/Acoustical Fibers Segment:
	Fiber parts			30,411				30,322
	Tooling			706				2,191
	Thermal/Acoustical Fibers Segment net sales			31,117				32,513
	Other Products and Services:
	Life Sciences Vital Fluids			1,671				4,724
	Other Products and Services net sales			1,671				4,724
	Eliminations and Other			(2,855		)		(976		)
	Consolidated Net Sales			$	127,306			$	125,226
	Operating income by segment:
			Quarter Ended
			March 31,
	In thousands		(1)				(2)
			2015				2014
	Performance Materials		$	1,306			$	1,863
	Industrial Filtration		3,154				786
	Thermal/Acoustical Metals		3,581				3,653
	Thermal/Acoustical Fibers		7,093				7,341
	Other Products and Services		118				420
	Corporate Office Expenses		(5,174		)		(6,437		)
	Consolidated Operating Income		$	10,078			$	7,626
	-1	Other Products and Services reports results for the period preceding the date of disposition of January 30, 2015.
	-2	Industrial Filtration segment reports results for the period following the date of acquisition of February 20, 2014 through March 31, 2014.

Commitments_and_Contingencies

Commitments and Contingencies	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]
Commitments and Contingencies	Commitments and Contingencies
	The Company is subject to legal proceedings, claims, investigations and inquiries that arise in the ordinary course of business such as, but not limited to, actions with respect to commercial, intellectual property, employment, personal injury and environmental matters. While the outcome of any matter is inherently uncertain and the Company cannot be sure that it will prevail in any of the cases, subject to the matter referenced below, the Company is not aware of any matters pending that are expected to be material with respect to the Company’s business, financial position, results of operations or cash flows.
	Lydall Gerhardi GmbH & Co. KG ("Lydall Gerhardi"), which is an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company and part of the Thermal/Acoustical Metals segment, is cooperating with the German Federal Cartel Office (Bundeskartellamt) in connection with an investigation, initiated in the second quarter of 2014, relating to possible violations of German anti-trust laws by and among certain European automotive heat shield manufacturers, including Lydall Gerhardi.
	The Company is conducting an internal investigation utilizing outside counsel. In the course of this internal investigation, the Company has discovered instances of inappropriate conduct by certain German employees of Lydall Gerhardi. The Company has disclosed its findings in an application for leniency submitted to the German Federal Cartel Office on July 22, 2014. The Company is continuing its internal investigation and has taken, and will continue to take, remedial actions.
	The German Federal Cartel Office has wide discretion in fixing the amount of a fine, up to a maximum fine of ten percent (10%) of the Company’s annual revenue of the year preceding the year in which the fine is imposed. The Company believes a loss is probable. However, in light of the uncertainties and variables involved, the Company is unable to estimate either the timing or the amount of the loss associated with this matter. There can be no assurance that this matter will not have a material adverse effect on the Company.

Changes_in_Accumulated_Other_C

Changes in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax [Abstract]
Changes in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)	Changes in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)
	The following table discloses the changes by classification within accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) for the periods ended March 31, 2015 and 2014:
	In thousands		Foreign Currency			Defined Benefit			Total
			Translation			Pension			Accumulated
			Adjustment			Adjustment			Other
									Comprehensive
									(Loss) Income
	Balance at December 31, 2013		$	6,128		$	(14,972	)	$	(8,844	)
	Other Comprehensive loss		(336		)	—			(336		)
	Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income (a)		—			111			111
	Balance at March 31, 2014		5,792			(14,861		)	(9,069		)
	Balance at December 31, 2014		(6,586		)	(17,575		)	(24,161		)
	Other Comprehensive loss		(9,919		)	—			(9,919		)
	Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income (a)		—			137			137
	Balance at March 31, 2015		$	(16,505	)	$	(17,438	)	$	(33,943	)
	(a)	Amount represents amortization of actuarial losses, a component of net periodic benefit cost. This amount was $0.1 million net of $0.1 million tax benefit for the quarters ended March 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively.

Acquisition_and_Divestiture_Ta

Acquisition and Divestiture (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015
Business Combinations [Abstract]
Schedule of Recognized Identified Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed	The following table summarizes the fair values of identifiable assets acquired and liabilities assumed at the date of the acquisition:
	In thousands
	Cash	$	7,493
	Accounts Receivable	26,779
	Inventory	25,046
	Other current assets	2,894
	Property, plant and equipment	38,780
	Deferred Taxes	2,501
	Intangible assets (Note 4)	5,596
	Goodwill (Note 4)	3,943
	Total assets acquired	113,032
	Other liabilities	(18,002		)
	Deferred taxes	(8,130		)
	Total liabilities assumed	(26,132		)
	Net assets acquired	$	86,900
Business Acquisition, Pro Forma Information	The following table reflects the unaudited pro forma operating results of the Company for the quarter ended March 31, 2014, which give effect to the acquisition of Industrial Filtration as if it had occurred on January 1, 2013. The pro forma information includes the historical financial results of the Company and Industrial Filtration. The pro forma results are not necessarily indicative of the operating results that would have occurred had the acquisition been effective January 1, 2013, nor are they intended to be indicative of results that may occur in the future. The pro forma information does not include the effects of any synergies related to the acquisition.
		(Unaudited Pro Forma)
	In thousands	Quarter Ended March 31, 2014
	Net Sales	$	142,742
	Net Income	$	7,476
	Earnings per share:
	Basic	$	0.45
	Diluted	$	0.44

Inventories_Tables

Inventories (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015
Inventory Disclosure [Abstract]
Inventories	Inventories as of March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014 were as follows:
	In thousands	March 31,			December 31,
		2015			2014
	Raw materials	$	23,520		$	21,248
	Work in process	16,831			15,753
	Finished goods	14,794			15,348
		55,145			52,349
	Less: Progress billings	(1,505		)	(1,108		)
	Total inventories	$	53,640		$	51,241

Goodwill_and_Other_Intangible_1

Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015
Goodwill and Intangible Assets Disclosure [Abstract]
Changes in Carrying Amount of Goodwill by Segment	The changes in the carrying amount of goodwill by segment as of and for the three months ended March 31, 2015 were as follows:
		December 31,		Currency			Other Activity			31-Mar-15
	In thousands	2014		translation adjustments
	Performance Materials	$	13,340	$	(487	)	$	—		$	12,853
	Industrial Filtration	3,943		—			—			3,943
	Other Products and Services	4,660		—			(4,660		)	—
	Total goodwill	$	21,943	$	(487	)	$	(4,660	)	$	16,796
Amortization of the Company's Acquired Intangible Assets other than Goodwill	The table below presents the gross carrying amount and, as applicable, the accumulated amortization of the Company’s acquired intangible assets other than goodwill included in “Other intangible assets, net” in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets as of March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014:
		March 31, 2015					December 31, 2014
	In thousands	Gross Carrying Amount		Accumulated Amortization			Gross Carrying Amount			Accumulated Amortization
	Amortized intangible assets
	License agreements	$	767	$	(767	)	$	818		$	(818	)
	Technology	2,500		(185		)	2,500			(143		)
	Customer Relationships	2,439		(248		)	2,477			(195		)
	Patents	5,430		(3,025		)	6,037			(3,274		)
	Other	621		(209		)	691			(252		)
	Total amortized intangible assets	$	11,757	$	(4,434	)	$	12,523		$	(4,682	)

Longterm_Debt_and_Financing_Ar1

Long-term Debt and Financing Arrangements (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015
Debt Disclosure [Abstract]
Schedule of Maturities of Long-term Debt	Total outstanding debt consists of:
					March 31,			December 31,
	In thousands	Effective Rate		Maturity	2015			2014
	Revolver Loan, due January 31, 2019	1.18	%	2019	$	40,000		$	40,000
	Capital Lease, land and building, St. Nazaire, France	5.44	%	2016	665			893
	Capital Lease, manufacturing equipment, Hamptonville, North Carolina	5	%	2017	31			37
					40,696			40,930
	Less portion due within one year				(550		)	(615		)
	Total long-term debt				$	40,146		$	40,315

Equity_Compensation_Plans_Tabl

Equity Compensation Plans (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015
Disclosure of Compensation Related Costs, Share-based Payments [Abstract]
Summary Of Outstanding And Exercisable Options	The following table is a summary of outstanding and exercisable options as of March 31, 2015:
	In thousands except per share	Shares	Weighted-		Weighted-	Aggregate
	amounts and years		Average		Average	Intrinsic Value
			Exercise Price		Remaining
					Contractual
					Term
					(years)
	Outstanding at March 31, 2015	539	$	15.35	6.9	$	8,816
	Exercisable at March 31, 2015	261	$	9.96	5	$	5,684
	Expected to Vest at March 31, 2015	218	$	20.61	8.7	$	2,421

Employer_Sponsored_Benefit_Pla1

Employer Sponsored Benefit Plans (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015
Compensation and Retirement Disclosure [Abstract]
Summary Of The Components Of Net Periodic Benefit Cost For The Domestic Pension Plan	The following is a summary of the components of net periodic benefit cost, which is recorded primarily within selling, product development and administrative expenses, for the domestic pension plan for the quarters ended March 31, 2015 and 2014:
		Quarter Ended
		March 31,
	In thousands	2015			2014
	Components of net periodic benefit cost
	Interest cost	$	516		$	666
	Expected return on assets	(590		)	(794		)
	Amortization of actuarial loss	225			180
	Net periodic benefit cost	$	151		$	52

Earnings_Per_Share_Tables

Earnings Per Share (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]
Reconciliation of Weighted Average Shares Used to Determine Basic and Diluted Earnings Per Share	The following table provides a reconciliation of weighted-average shares used to determine basic and diluted earnings per share.
		Quarter Ended
		March 31,
	In thousands	2015	2014
	Basic average common shares outstanding	16,837	16,542
	Effect of dilutive options and restricted stock awards	272	310
	Diluted average common shares outstanding	17,109	16,852

Segment_Information_Tables

Segment Information (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015
Segment Reporting [Abstract]
Consolidated Net Sales by Segment	The tables below present net sales and operating income by segment for the quarters ended March 31, 2015 and 2014, and also a reconciliation of total segment net sales and operating income to total consolidated net sales and operating income.
	Consolidated net sales by segment:
				Quarter Ended
				March 31,
	In thousands			(1)				(2)
				2015				2014
	Performance Materials Segment:
	Filtration			$	15,067			$	17,873
	Thermal Insulation			7,485				8,528
	Life Sciences Filtration			2,506				2,452
	Performance Materials Segment net sales			25,058				28,853
	Industrial Filtration Segment:
	Industrial Filtration			34,200				17,656
	Industrial Filtration net sales			34,200				17,656
	Thermal/Acoustical Metals Segment:
	Metal parts			35,022				37,025
	Tooling			3,093				5,431
	Thermal/Acoustical Metals Segment net sales			38,115				42,456
	Thermal/Acoustical Fibers Segment:
	Fiber parts			30,411				30,322
	Tooling			706				2,191
	Thermal/Acoustical Fibers Segment net sales			31,117				32,513
	Other Products and Services:
	Life Sciences Vital Fluids			1,671				4,724
	Other Products and Services net sales			1,671				4,724
	Eliminations and Other			(2,855		)		(976		)
	Consolidated Net Sales			$	127,306			$	125,226
Operating Income by Segment	Operating income by segment:
			Quarter Ended
			March 31,
	In thousands		(1)				(2)
			2015				2014
	Performance Materials		$	1,306			$	1,863
	Industrial Filtration		3,154				786
	Thermal/Acoustical Metals		3,581				3,653
	Thermal/Acoustical Fibers		7,093				7,341
	Other Products and Services		118				420
	Corporate Office Expenses		(5,174		)		(6,437		)
	Consolidated Operating Income		$	10,078			$	7,626
	-1	Other Products and Services reports results for the period preceding the date of disposition of January 30, 2015.
	-2	Industrial Filtration segment reports results for the period following the date of acquisition of February 20, 2014 through March 31, 2014.

Changes_in_Accumulated_Other_C1

Changes in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax [Abstract]
Changes By Classification Within Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)	The following table discloses the changes by classification within accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) for the periods ended March 31, 2015 and 2014:
	In thousands		Foreign Currency			Defined Benefit			Total
			Translation			Pension			Accumulated
			Adjustment			Adjustment			Other
									Comprehensive
									(Loss) Income
	Balance at December 31, 2013		$	6,128		$	(14,972	)	$	(8,844	)
	Other Comprehensive loss		(336		)	—			(336		)
	Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income (a)		—			111			111
	Balance at March 31, 2014		5,792			(14,861		)	(9,069		)
	Balance at December 31, 2014		(6,586		)	(17,575		)	(24,161		)
	Other Comprehensive loss		(9,919		)	—			(9,919		)
	Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income (a)		—			137			137
	Balance at March 31, 2015		$	(16,505	)	$	(17,438	)	$	(33,943	)
	(a)	Amount represents amortization of actuarial losses, a component of net periodic benefit cost. This amount was $0.1 million net of $0.1 million tax benefit for the quarters ended March 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively.

Acquisition_and_Divestiture_De

Acquisition and Divestiture (Details) (USD $)	Feb. 20, 2014
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Business Combinations [Abstract]
Cash	$7,493
Accounts Receivable	26,779
Inventory	25,046
Other current assets	2,894
Property, plant and equipment	38,780
Deferred Taxes	2,501
Intangible assets	5,596
Goodwill	3,943
Total assets acquired	113,032
Other liabilities	-18,002
Deferred taxes	-8,130
Total liabilities assumed	-26,132
Net assets acquired	$86,900

Acquisition_and_Divestiture_De1

Acquisition and Divestiture (Details 1) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2015
Business Combinations [Abstract]
Net Sales	$142,742
Net Income	$7,476
Earnings per share:
Basic (usd per share)	$0.45
Diluted (usd per share)	$0.44

Acquisition_and_Divestiture_Di

Acquisition and Divestiture - Divestitures (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		0 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015	Mar. 31, 2014	Jan. 30, 2015
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Proceeds from the sale of business, net	$28,370,000	$0
Gain (Loss) on Disposition of Business	18,647,000	0
Vital Fluids [Member]
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Proceeds from the sale of business, net			30,100,000
Post closing adjustment to cash purchase price			200,000
Gain (Loss) on Disposition of Business	18,600,000
Gain on sale of business, net of tax	$11,800,000

Acquisition_and_Divestiture_Ad

Acquisition and Divestiture - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended	0 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014	Feb. 20, 2014	Mar. 31, 2015
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Cash acquired		$7,493,000
Borrowings for acquisition of business, amended credit facility		60,000,000
Line of credit facility, maximum borrowing capacity		100,000,000	100,000,000
Acquisition-related Costs [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Revenues	2,400,000
Amortization of Acquired Intangible Assets [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Revenues	1,300,000
Andrew Industries Limited [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Payments to acquire business		86,900,000
Cash acquired		7,500,000
Post closing adjustment payment		$200,000

Inventories_Detail

Inventories (Detail) (USD $)	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Inventory, Net [Abstract]
Raw materials	$23,520	$21,248
Work in process	16,831	15,753
Finished goods	14,794	15,348
Gross inventory total	55,145	52,349
Less: Progress billings	-1,505	-1,108
Total inventories	$53,640	$51,241

Inventories_Additional_Informa

Inventories - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
Inventory Disclosure [Abstract]
Gross Tooling Inventory	$10.70	$9.90
Tooling inventory net of progress billings	$9.20	$8.80

Goodwill_and_Other_Intangible_2

Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2015
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance	$21,943
Currency translation adjustments	-487
Other Activity	-4,660
Ending Balance	16,796
Performance Materials [Member]
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance	13,340
Currency translation adjustments	-487
Other Activity	0
Ending Balance	12,853
Industrial Filtration [Member]
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance	3,943
Currency translation adjustments	0
Other Activity	0
Ending Balance	3,943
Other Products and Services [Member]
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance	4,660
Currency translation adjustments	0
Other Activity	-4,660
Ending Balance	$0

Goodwill_and_Other_Intangible_3

Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets (Detail 1) (USD $)	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Amortized intangible assets
Amortized intangible assets, gross carrying amount	$11,757	$12,523
Amortized intangible assets, accumulated amortization	-4,434	-4,682
Licensing Agreements [Member]
Amortized intangible assets
Amortized intangible assets, gross carrying amount	767	818
Amortized intangible assets, accumulated amortization	-767	-818
Technology [Member]
Amortized intangible assets
Amortized intangible assets, gross carrying amount	2,500	2,500
Amortized intangible assets, accumulated amortization	-185	-143
Customer Relationships [Member]
Amortized intangible assets
Amortized intangible assets, gross carrying amount	2,439	2,477
Amortized intangible assets, accumulated amortization	-248	-195
Patents [Member]
Amortized intangible assets
Amortized intangible assets, gross carrying amount	5,430	6,037
Amortized intangible assets, accumulated amortization	-3,025	-3,274
Other [Member]
Amortized intangible assets
Amortized intangible assets, gross carrying amount	621	691
Amortized intangible assets, accumulated amortization	($209)	($252)

Goodwill_and_Other_Intangible_4

Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2015
Goodwill [Line Items]
Changes to goodwill	$4,660
Other Products and Services [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Changes to goodwill	$4,660

Longterm_Debt_and_Financing_Ar2

Long-term Debt and Financing Arrangements (Detail) (USD $)	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long term debt, including current maturities	$40,696	$40,930
Less portion due within one year	-550	-615
Long-term debt	40,146	40,315
Revolver Loan, due January 31, 2019 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Effective Percentage	1.18%
Long term debt, including current maturities	40,000	40,000
Capital Lease, land and building, St. Nazaire, France [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Effective Percentage	5.44%
Long term debt, including current maturities	665	893
Capital Lease, manufacturing equipment, Hamptonville, North Carolina [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Effective Percentage	5.00%
Long term debt, including current maturities	$31	$37

Longterm_Debt_and_Financing_Ar3

Long-term Debt and Financing Arrangements - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)	0 Months Ended	3 Months Ended
	Feb. 18, 2014	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Feb. 20, 2014
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Line of credit facility, maximum borrowing capacity		$100,000,000		$100,000,000
Line of credit facility maximum borrowing capacity increased value	100,000,000
Line of credit facility maximum borrowing capacity possible value of increase	50,000,000
Credit facility fixed charge coverage ratio		2
Required consolidated leverage ratio as of end of each fiscal quarter		3
Required Consolidated EBITDA		30,000,000
Line of credit facility, remaining borrowing capacity		57,700,000
Standby letters of credit, outstanding		2,300,000
Debt, Weighted Average Interest Rate		1.30%	1.50%
Federal Funds Effective Swap Rate [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Basis spread on variable rate		0.50%
Eurocurrency Rate [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Basis spread on variable rate		1.00%
Minimum [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Line of credit facility, maximum borrowing capacity	35,000,000
Minimum [Member] | Eurocurrency Rate [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Basis spread on variable rate		0.75%
Maximum [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Line of credit facility, maximum borrowing capacity	100,000,000
Maximum [Member] | Eurocurrency Rate [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Basis spread on variable rate		1.75%
Domestic Credit Facility [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Line of credit facility, maximum borrowing capacity	$35,000,000

Longterm_Debt_and_Financing_Ar4

Long-term Debt and Financing Arrangements - Phantom (Details)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015
Eurocurrency Rate [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Basis spread on variable rate	1.00%
Minimum [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Fee percentage on unused portion of credit facility	0.20%
Minimum [Member] | Base Rate [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Basis spread on variable rate	0.15%
Minimum [Member] | Eurocurrency Rate [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Basis spread on variable rate	0.75%
Maximum [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Fee percentage on unused portion of credit facility	0.30%
Maximum [Member] | Base Rate [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Basis spread on variable rate	1.00%
Maximum [Member] | Eurocurrency Rate [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Basis spread on variable rate	1.75%

Equity_Compensation_Plans_Deta

Equity Compensation Plans (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2015
Shares
Outstanding at March 31, 2015	539
Exercisable at March 31, 2015	261
Expected to Vest at March 31, 2015	218
Weighted-Average Exercise Price (usd per share)
Outstanding at March 31, 2015	$15.35
Exercisable at March 31, 2015	$9.96
Expected to Vest at March 31, 2015	$20.61
Weighted- Average Remaining Contractual Term (years)
Outstanding at March 31, 2015	6 years 11 months 0 days
Exercisable at March 31, 2015	5 years 0 months 0 days
Expected to Vest at March 31, 2015	8 years 8 months 0 days
Aggregate Intrinsic Value
Outstanding at March 31, 2015	$8,816
Exercisable at March 31, 2015	5,684
Expected to Vest at March 31, 2015	$2,421

Equity_Compensation_Plans_Addi

Equity Compensation Plans - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		0 Months Ended
In Millions, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2015	Mar. 31, 2014	Apr. 27, 2012
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Stock based compensation expense		$0.60
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Grants in Period, Gross	0
Cash received from exercise of stock option	0.6	0.4
Number of options exercised, intrinsic value	1.2	0.5
Intrinsic value of stock options exercised, tax benefit	0.4	0.2
Stock Option Plan 2012 [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Share options and restricted shares authorized			1,750,000
Additional shares authorized under the plan			1,200,000
Time Based Restricted Stock [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Restricted shares granted	0	28,769
Restricted shares Vested		3,000
Performance Based Restricted Stock Awards [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Restricted shares granted	138,000
Restricted shares Vested	64,200
Time Based Restricted Stock Awards [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Restricted shares Vested	10,321
Restricted Stock [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Total unrecognized compensation cost	4
Weighted average expected amortization period	3 years 0 months 0 days
Unvested restricted stock awards	353,791
Employee Stock Option [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Stock Options Exercised	59,582	45,288
Total unrecognized compensation cost	$1.40
Weighted average expected amortization period	2 years 0 months 0 days

Stock_Repurchases_Details

Stock Repurchases (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
In Millions, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2015	Apr. 30, 2012
Share Purchases [Line Items]
Stock repurchased during period, shares	3,891
Treasury Stock, Value, Acquired, Cost Method	$0.10
Share Repurchase Program Two Thousand and Twelve [Member]
Share Purchases [Line Items]
Stock repurchase program, number of shares authorized to be repurchased		1,000,000
Shares remaining and authorized for repurchase	7,876
Stock repurchased during period, shares	259,213
Average cost per share of shares repurchased	$31.16
Treasury Stock, Value, Acquired, Cost Method	$8.10

Employer_Sponsored_Benefit_Pla2

Employer Sponsored Benefit Plans (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2015	Mar. 31, 2014
Components of net periodic benefit cost
Interest cost	$516	$666
Expected return on assets	-590	-794
Amortization of actuarial loss	225	180
Net periodic benefit cost	$151	$52

Employer_Sponsored_Benefit_Pla3

Employer Sponsored Benefit Plans - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015	Mar. 31, 2014
Compensation and Retirement Disclosure [Abstract]
Expected domestic pension plan contribution in current year	$5,900,000
Contributions made for domestic pension plan	$0	$3,000,000

Income_Taxes_Additional_Inform

Income Taxes - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2015	Mar. 31, 2014
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]
Effective tax rate for income from continuing operations	35.90%	49.50%
Discrete tax charges	$1

Earnings_Per_Share_Detail

Earnings Per Share (Detail)	3 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2015	Mar. 31, 2014
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]
Basic average common shares outstanding (in shares)	16,837	16,542
Effect of dilutive options and restricted stock awards (in shares)	272	310
Diluted average common shares outstanding (in shares)	17,109	16,852

Earnings_Per_Share_Additional_

Earnings Per Share - Additional Information (Detail)	3 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2015	Mar. 31, 2014
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]
Shares excluded from computation of diluted earnings per share (in shares)	0.1	0.1

Segment_Information_Detail

Segment Information (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2015		Mar. 31, 2014
Segment Reporting, Revenue Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Net sales	$127,306	[1]	$125,226	[2]
Performance Materials [Member]
Segment Reporting, Revenue Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Net sales	25,058	[1]	28,853	[2]
Performance Materials [Member] | Industrial Filtration [Member]
Segment Reporting, Revenue Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Net sales	15,067	[1]	17,873	[2]
Performance Materials [Member] | Thermal Insulation [Member]
Segment Reporting, Revenue Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Net sales	7,485	[1]	8,528	[2]
Performance Materials [Member] | Life Sciences Filtration [Member]
Segment Reporting, Revenue Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Net sales	2,506	[1]	2,452	[2]
Industrial Filtration Segment [Member]
Segment Reporting, Revenue Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Net sales	34,200	[1]	17,656	[2]
Industrial Filtration Segment [Member] | Industrial Filtration [Member]
Segment Reporting, Revenue Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Net sales	34,200	[1]	17,656	[2]
Thermal/Acoustical Metals Segment [Member]
Segment Reporting, Revenue Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Net sales	38,115	[1]	42,456	[2]
Thermal/Acoustical Metals Segment [Member] | Metal Parts [Member]
Segment Reporting, Revenue Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Net sales	35,022	[1]	37,025	[2]
Thermal/Acoustical Metals Segment [Member] | Tooling [Member]
Segment Reporting, Revenue Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Net sales	3,093	[1]	5,431	[2]
Thermal/Acoustical Fibers Segment [Member]
Segment Reporting, Revenue Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Net sales	31,117	[1]	32,513	[2]
Thermal/Acoustical Fibers Segment [Member] | Tooling [Member]
Segment Reporting, Revenue Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Net sales	706	[1]	2,191	[2]
Thermal/Acoustical Fibers Segment [Member] | Fiber Parts [Member]
Segment Reporting, Revenue Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Net sales	30,411	[1]	30,322	[2]
Other Products and Services [Member]
Segment Reporting, Revenue Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Net sales	1,671	[1]	4,724	[2]
Other Products and Services [Member] | Life Sciences Vital Fluids [Member]
Segment Reporting, Revenue Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Net sales	1,671	[1]	4,724	[2]
Intersegment Eliminations [Member]
Segment Reporting, Revenue Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Net sales	($2,855)	[1]	($976)	[2]
[1]	Other Products and Services reports results for the period preceding the date of disposition of January 30, 2015.
[2]	Industrial Filtration segment reports results for the period following the date of acquisition of February 20, 2014 through March 31, 2014.

Segment_Information_Detail_1

Segment Information (Detail 1) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2015		Mar. 31, 2014
Segment Reporting, Reconciling Item for Operating Profit (Loss) from Segment to Consolidated [Line Items]
Consolidated Operating Income	$10,078	[1]	$7,626	[2]
Performance Materials [Member]
Segment Reporting, Reconciling Item for Operating Profit (Loss) from Segment to Consolidated [Line Items]
Consolidated Operating Income	1,306	[1]	1,863	[2]
Industrial Filtration [Member]
Segment Reporting, Reconciling Item for Operating Profit (Loss) from Segment to Consolidated [Line Items]
Consolidated Operating Income	3,154	[1]	786	[2]
Thermal/Acoustical Metals Segment [Member]
Segment Reporting, Reconciling Item for Operating Profit (Loss) from Segment to Consolidated [Line Items]
Consolidated Operating Income	3,581	[1]	3,653	[2]
Thermal/Acoustical Fibers Segment [Member]
Segment Reporting, Reconciling Item for Operating Profit (Loss) from Segment to Consolidated [Line Items]
Consolidated Operating Income	7,093	[1]	7,341	[2]
Other Products and Services [Member]
Segment Reporting, Reconciling Item for Operating Profit (Loss) from Segment to Consolidated [Line Items]
Consolidated Operating Income	118	[1]	420	[2]
Corporate Office Expenses [Member]
Segment Reporting, Reconciling Item for Operating Profit (Loss) from Segment to Consolidated [Line Items]
Consolidated Operating Income	($5,174)	[1]	($6,437)	[2]
[1]	Other Products and Services reports results for the period preceding the date of disposition of January 30, 2015.
[2]	Industrial Filtration segment reports results for the period following the date of acquisition of February 20, 2014 through March 31, 2014.

Segment_Information_Narrative_

Segment Information - Narrative (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		0 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015	Mar. 31, 2014	Jan. 30, 2015
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Proceeds from the sale of business, net	$28,370,000	$0
Vital Fluids [Member]
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Proceeds from the sale of business, net			30,100,000
Post closing adjustment to cash purchase price			200,000
Gain on sale of business, net of tax	$11,800,000

Commitments_and_Contingencies_

Commitments and Contingencies (Details) (Lydall Gerhardi [Member], Unfavorable Regulatory Action [Member])	Mar. 31, 2015
Lydall Gerhardi [Member] | Unfavorable Regulatory Action [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Maximum potential fine, percent of revenue	10.00%

Recovered_Sheet1

Changes in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2015		Mar. 31, 2014
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance	($24,161)		($8,844)
Other Comprehensive loss	-9,919		-336
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income	137	[1]	111	[1]
Ending Balance	-33,943		-9,069
Accumulated Translation Adjustment [Member]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance	-6,586		6,128
Other Comprehensive loss	-9,919		-336
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income	0		0
Ending Balance	-16,505		5,792
Accumulated Defined Benefit Plans Adjustment [Member]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance	-17,575		-14,972
Other Comprehensive loss	0		0
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income	137	[1]	111	[1]
Ending Balance	($17,438)		($14,861)
[1]	Amount represents amortization of actuarial losses, a component of net periodic benefit cost. This amount was $0.1 million net of $0.1 million tax benefit for the quarters ended March 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively.

Recovered_Sheet2

Changes in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2015	Mar. 31, 2014
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax [Abstract]
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income, pension and other postretirement plans, net of tax	($0.10)	$0.10
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income, pension and other postretirement plans, tax	($0.10)	$0.10