Annual report pursuant to Section 13 and 15(d)

Industry Segments (Narrative) (Details)

v3.3.1.900
Industry Segments (Narrative) (Details)
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2015
USD ($)
subsidiaries
segments
Entitiies
Jan. 03, 2015
USD ($)
Entitiies
Dec. 28, 2013
USD ($)
Entitiies
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]      
Number of Reportable Segments | segments 2    
Goodwill $ 1,354,730 $ 23,250,201 $ 17,252,678
Goodwill, Impairment Loss $ 17,158,249 0 0
Metals Segment [Member]      
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]      
Number of subsidiaries (subsidiaries) | subsidiaries 3    
Goodwill $ 0 21,895,471 15,897,948
Goodwill, Impairment Loss $ 17,158,249 0 0
Concentration risk (percentage) 78.00%    
Number of suppliers (entities) | Entitiies 7    
Number of suppliers providing majority of supplies (entities) | Entitiies 1    
Specialty Chemicals Segment [Member]      
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]      
Number of subsidiaries (subsidiaries) | subsidiaries 2    
Goodwill $ 1,354,730 1,354,730 1,354,730
Goodwill, Impairment Loss $ 0    
Concentration risk (percentage) 45.00%    
Number of suppliers providing majority of supplies (entities) | Entitiies 8    
Corporate [Member]      
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]      
Environmental charges $ 93,000 $ (13,000) $ 17,000
Supplier One [Member] | Metals Segment [Member]      
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]      
Concentration risk (percentage) 34.00%    
Revenue [Member] | Metals Segment [Member]      
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]      
Concentration risk (percentage) 14.00%   10.00%
Revenue [Member] | Specialty Chemicals Segment [Member]      
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]      
Concentration risk (percentage) 31.00% 31.00% 40.00%
United States [Member] | Metals Segment [Member]      
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]      
Number of major customers (entities) | Entitiies 1 0 1
United States [Member] | Specialty Chemicals Segment [Member]      
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]      
Number of major customers (entities) | Entitiies 1 1 1
BRISMET, Palmer and Specialty [Member] | Metals Segment [Member]      
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]      
Ownership percentage of subsidiary (percent) 100.00%    
Manufacturers Soap and Chemical Company [Member] | Specialty Chemicals Segment [Member]      
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]      
Ownership percentage of subsidiary (percent) 100.00%    
Maximum [Member] | Revenue [Member] | Metals Segment [Member]      
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]      
Concentration risk (percentage)   10.00%