Document And Entity Information
us-gaap_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredAndLiabilitiesAssumedIntangibles
Intangible assets
Dividends
Note To Financial Statement Details Textual
Significant Accounting Policies
Share-based Payment Arrangement, Option, Exercise Price Range [Table Text Block]
Note 1 - Summary of Options and Significant Accounting Policies
Note 2 - Acquisition
Risk-free interest rate
Note 5 - Supplemental Balance Sheet Information
Note 6 - Commitments and Contingencies
Note 7 - Shareholders' Equity
Note 8 - Income Taxes
Note 9 - Operating Leases
Category of Item Purchased [Axis]
Note 11 - Business Segment Information
us-gaap_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredAndLiabilitiesAssumedCurrentAssetsReceivables
Accounts receivable
Long-term Purchase Commitment, Category of Item Purchased [Domain]
Income Tax Disclosure [Text Block]
Note 1 - Summary of Operations and Significant Accounting Policies - Property, Plant and Equipment Estimated Useful Life (Details)
us-gaap_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredAndLiabilitiesAssumedCurrentAssetsOther
Other current assets
Note 1 - Summary of Operations and Significant Accounting Policies - Impact to Previously Reported Results (Details)
ulbi_LineOfCreditFacilityMaximumBorrowingCapacityContingentOnBankApproval
Line Of Credit Facility Maximum Borrowing Capacity Contingent On Bank Approval
Represents line of credit facility maximum borrowing capacity contingent on bank approval.
Note 2 - Acquisition - Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed (Details)
us-gaap_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredAndLiabilitiesAssumedCashAndEquivalents
Cash
us-gaap_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredAndLiabilitiesAssumedInventory
Inventories
Note 2 - Acquisition - Pro Forma Information (Details)
Volatility factor
Note 5 - Supplemental Balance Sheet Information - Cash and Restricted Cash (Details)
us-gaap_LiabilitiesCurrent
Total current liabilities
Note 5 - Supplemental Balance Sheet Information - Components of Inventory (Details)
Note 5 - Supplemental Balance Sheet Information - Components of Property, Plant and Equipment (Details)
Note 5 - Supplemental Balance Sheet Information - Summary of Goodwill (Details)
Note 5 - Supplemental Balance Sheet Information - Composition of Intangible Assets (Details)
Weighted Average Expected Life (Year)
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities
us-gaap_OtherLiabilitiesCurrent
Note 5 - Supplemental Balance Sheet Information - Amortization of Intangible Assets (Details)
Note 6 - Commitments and Contingencies - Changes in Produce Warranty Liability (Details)
Note 7 - Stock-based Compensation - Non-cash Stock Compensation Expense (Details)
Note 7 - Stock-based Compensation - Stock Option Assumptions (Details)
Note 7 - Shareholders' Equity - Stock Option Activity (Details)
Schedule of Share-based Payment Award, Stock Options, Valuation Assumptions [Table Text Block]
Note 7 - Shareholders' Equity - Options Range of Exercise Prices (Details)
Note 8 - Income Taxes - Income Tax Expense (Details)
Note 8 - Income Taxes - Deferred Tax Assets and Liabilities (Details)
Note 8 - Income Taxes - Net Deferred Tax Liabilities (Details)
Note 8 - Income Taxes - United States and Foreign Income (Loss) From Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes (Details)
Share-based Payment Arrangement, Option, Activity [Table Text Block]
Note 8 - Income Taxes - Effective Rate Reconciliation (Details)
Note 9 - Operating Leases - Lease Cost (Details)
us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsGrantsInPeriodWeightedAverageGrantDateFairValue
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Equity Instruments Other than Options, Grants in Period, Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value
Note 9 - Operating Leases - Supplement Cash Flow Information Related to Leases (Details)
us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionPercentageOfVotingInterestsAcquired
Business Acquisition, Percentage of Voting Interests Acquired
Note 9 - Operating Leases - Supplemental Balance Sheet Information Related to Leases (Details)
Note 9 - Operating Leases - Future Minimum Lease Payments (Details)
Note 11 - Business Segment Information - Segment Activity (Details)
Note 11 - Business Segment Information - Domestic and International Revenue by Segment (Details)
us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionProFormaEarningsPerShareBasic
Basic (in dollars per share)
Note 11 - Business Segment Information - Revenue by Business Segment Sector (Details)
Foreign currency translation adjustments
Notes To Financial Statements
Notes To Financial Statements [Abstract]
Options vested and expected to vest - weighted average remaining contractual term (Year)
us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionProFormaEarningsPerShareDiluted
Diluted (in dollars per share)
Options vested and expected to vest - weighted average exercise price (in dollars per share)
Current portion of long-term debt
Options exercisable - aggregate intrinsic value
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Vested and Expected to Vest (in shares)
Options vested and expected to vest - aggregate intrinsic value
us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionsProFormaNetIncomeLoss
Net Income attributable to Ultralife Corporation
Options exercisable - weighted average remaining contractual term (Year)
us-gaap_BusinessCombinationProFormaInformationRevenueOfAcquireeSinceAcquisitionDateActual
Business Combination, Pro Forma Information, Revenue of Acquiree since Acquisition Date, Actual
us-gaap_BusinessCombinationProFormaInformationEarningsOrLossOfAcquireeSinceAcquisitionDateActual
Business Combination, Pro Forma Information, Earnings or Loss of Acquiree since Acquisition Date, Actual
us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsExercisesInPeriodTotalIntrinsicValue
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Exercises in Period, Intrinsic Value
Business Acquisition, Pro Forma Information [Table Text Block]
Grant [Member]
us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionsProFormaRevenue
Revenue
Options Exercisable (in shares)
us-gaap_StockholdersEquityIncludingPortionAttributableToNoncontrollingInterest
Total shareholders’ equity
Balance
Balance
Options outstanding - weighted average remaining contractual term (Year)
Options outstanding - aggregate intrinsic value
us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsGrantsInPeriodWeightedAverageGrantDateFairValue
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Grants in Period, Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value
us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsOutstandingWeightedAverageExercisePrice
Options outstanding - weighted average exercise price (in dollars per share)
Options outstanding - weighted average exercise price (in dollars per share)
Options forfeited or expired - weighted average exercise price (in dollars per share)
Options granted - weighted average exercise price (in dollars per share)
Share-based Compensation Arrangements by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Grants in Period, Weighted Average Exercise Price
Schedule of Goodwill [Table Text Block]
Options exercised - weighted average exercise price (in dollars per share)
Accrued compensation and related benefits
Lessee, Operating Leases [Text Block]
Accounts payable
Southwest Electronic Energy Corporation [Member]
Related to the entity Southwest Electronic Energy Corporation.
Revolving Credit Facility [Member]
us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsOutstandingNumber
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Outstanding, Number, Ending Balance
Shares under Option, beginning of period (in shares)
Shares under option, end of period (in shares)
Construction in process in accounts payable
us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsForfeituresAndExpirationsInPeriod
Options forfeited or expired (in shares)
Credit Facility [Axis]
Credit Facility [Domain]
Schedule of Recognized Identified Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed [Table Text Block]
Trademarks [Member]
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Investments [Table Text Block]
us-gaap_PolicyTextBlockAbstract
Accounting Policies
Trade Names [Member]
us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardAcceleratedCompensationCost
Share-based Payment Arrangement, Accelerated Cost
us-gaap_IncrementalCommonSharesAttributableToShareBasedPaymentArrangements
Incremental Common Shares Attributable to Share-based Payment Arrangements, Total
us-gaap_PaymentsToAcquirePropertyPlantAndEquipment
Purchases of property, plant and equipment
us-gaap_SharebasedCompensationArrangementBySharebasedPaymentAwardExpirationPeriod
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Expiration Period
us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardNumberOfSharesAuthorized
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Number of Shares Authorized
us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardAwardVestingPeriod1
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Award Vesting Period
Two Customers [Member]
Information pertaining to two customers.
Current Liabilities:
Supplemental Balance Sheet Disclosures [Text Block]
Sales Commissions [Policy Text Block]
Disclosure of accounting policy for sales commissions.
Patented Technology [Member]
Total assets
us-gaap_Assets
Total assets
Supplemental cash flow information:
Disclosure of Share-based Compensation Arrangements by Share-based Payment Award [Table Text Block]
Plan Name [Axis]
Shareholders' Equity and Share-based Payments [Text Block]
Plan Name [Domain]
us-gaap_EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationNonvestedAwardsTotalCompensationCostNotYetRecognizedStockOptions
Share-based Payment Arrangement, Nonvested Award, Option, Cost Not yet Recognized, Amount
us-gaap_EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationNonvestedAwardsTotalCompensationCostNotYetRecognizedShareBasedAwardsOtherThanOptions
Share-based Payment Arrangement, Nonvested Award, Excluding Option, Cost Not yet Recognized, Amount
us-gaap_EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationNonvestedAwardsTotalCompensationCostNotYetRecognizedPeriodForRecognition1
Share-based Payment Arrangement, Nonvested Award, Cost Not yet Recognized, Period for Recognition
Customer Relationships [Member]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets by Major Class [Axis]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Major Class Name [Domain]
Shipping and Handling Costs [Policy Text Block]
Disclosure of accounting policy for the classification of shipping and handling costs, including whether the costs are included in cost of sales or included in other income statement accounts. If shipping and handling fees are significant and are not included in cost of sales, disclosure includes both the amounts of such costs and the line item on the income statement which includes such costs.
us-gaap_AdjustmentsRelatedToTaxWithholdingForShareBasedCompensation
Tax withholdings on option exercises
Award Type [Domain]
Business Description and Accounting Policies [Text Block]
Restricted cash
us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalents
Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents, Total
Inventory reserves
The amount of increase (decrease) in inventories reserves during the period.
Award Type [Axis]
Net income attributable to Ultralife
us-gaap_NetIncomeLoss
Net income attributable to Ultralife Corporation
Accumulated Amortization
Net
Cost
Restricted Stock [Member]
Net income attributable to non-controlling interest
Non-controlling interest
Share-based Payment Arrangement, Option [Member]
Effect of foreign currency translation
Acquisition of SWE
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Text Block]
us-gaap_AccumulatedDepreciationDepletionAndAmortizationPropertyPlantAndEquipment
Less – Accumulated depreciation
Property, plant and equipment, net
Total
Goodwill
Goodwill
Goodwill balance
Goodwill balance
Property, plant and equipment, gross
Capital Addition Purchase Commitments [Member]
us-gaap_TemporaryEquityForeignCurrencyTranslationAdjustments
Foreign currency translation adjustments
Net income
Net income
INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
us-gaap_DeferredFinanceCostsGross
Debt Issuance Costs, Gross
Income tax provision (benefit)
Income Tax Expense (Benefit), Total
Total income tax provision
CHINA
us-gaap_OperatingExpenses
Total operating expenses
us-gaap_DebtInstrumentTerm
Debt Instrument, Term
us-gaap_DefinedContributionPlanEmployerDiscretionaryContributionAmount
Defined Contribution Plan, Employer Discretionary Contribution Amount
us-gaap_DefinedContributionPlanEmployerMatchingContributionPercent
Defined Contribution Plan, Employer Matching Contribution, Percent of Employees' Gross Pay
us-gaap_DefinedContributionPlanEmployerMatchingContributionPercentOfMatch
Defined Contribution Plan, Employer Matching Contribution, Percent of Match
Cash
Cash
us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue
Stock-based comepensation expense
Amendment Flag
Entity Interactive Data Current
us-gaap_ComprehensiveIncomeNetOfTax
Comprehensive income attributable to Ultralife Corporation
Use of Estimates, Policy [Policy Text Block]
New Accounting Pronouncements, Policy [Policy Text Block]
us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInAccountsPayableAndOtherOperatingLiabilities
Accounts payable and other liabilities
Reclassification, Policy [Policy Text Block]
us-gaap_TreasuryStockSharesAcquired
Treasury Stock, Shares, Acquired
Income taxes receivable and payable
Common stock, shares outstanding (in shares)
Balance (in shares)
Balance (in shares)
Current Fiscal Year End Date
us-gaap_DebtInstrumentBasisSpreadOnVariableRate1
Debt Instrument, Basis Spread on Variable Rate
Variable lease cost
us-gaap_LeaseCost
Total lease cost
us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateEffectivePercentage
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Effective Percentage
Weighted-average discount rate
Document Fiscal Period Focus
Operating lease cost
Document Fiscal Year Focus
Consolidation, Policy [Policy Text Block]
us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInDeferredIncomeTaxes
Deferred income tax expense
Lease, Cost [Table Text Block]
Document Period End Date
Right-of-use assets obtained in exchange for lease liabilities:
us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInPrepaidExpense
Prepaid expenses and other assets
Weighted-average remaining lease term (years) (Year)
Entity Emerging Growth Company
us-gaap_DebtInstrumentFaceAmount
Debt Instrument, Face Amount
Document Type
Interim Period, Costs Not Allocable [Domain]
Entity Small Business
Entity Shell Company
Document Information [Line Items]
Document Information [Table]
Nature of Expense [Axis]
Entity Public Float
Entity Filer Category
Debt Instrument [Axis]
Entity Current Reporting Status
Debt Instrument, Name [Domain]
Entity Voluntary Filers
us-gaap_BusinessCombinationAcquisitionRelatedCosts
Business Combination, Acquisition Related Costs
Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer
London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) [Member]
Variable Rate [Domain]
Fed Funds Effective Rate Overnight Index Swap Rate [Member]
us-gaap_GoodwillImpairmentLoss
Goodwill, Impairment Loss
Variable Rate [Axis]
us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskPercentage1
Concentration Risk, Percentage
us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInAccountsReceivable
Accounts receivable
Entity Central Index Key
us-gaap_DepreciationAndAmortization
Depreciation and amortization of intangible assets
Entity Registrant Name
Stock-based compensation -stock options
Entity [Domain]
Customer Concentration Risk [Member]
Legal Entity [Axis]
us-gaap_TreasuryStockValueAcquiredCostMethod
Treasury Stock, Value, Acquired, Cost Method
Share repurchases
Amortization of intangible assets
NETHERLANDS
Concentration Risk Type [Axis]
Concentration Risk Type [Domain]
us-gaap_TreasuryStockValue
Treasury stock - at cost; 4,401,182 shares and 4,132,750 shares, respectively
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding (in shares)
Revenue, Segment Benchmark [Member]
Revenue Benchmark [Member]
us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInInventories
Inventories, gross
Trading Symbol
Concentration Risk Benchmark [Axis]
Concentration Risk Benchmark [Domain]
Stock option exercises (in shares)
Options exercised (in shares)
us-gaap_TableTextBlock
Notes Tables
us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodSharesRestrictedStockAwardGross
Stock Issued During Period, Shares, Restricted Stock Award, Gross
us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityMaximumBorrowingCapacity
Line of Credit Facility, Maximum Borrowing Capacity
Stock-based compensation -restricted stock (in shares)
Stock option exercises
us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityUnusedCapacityCommitmentFeePercentage
Line of Credit Facility, Unused Capacity, Commitment Fee Percentage
Selling, general and administrative
Options granted (in shares)
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Grants in Period, Gross
Line of Credit Facility, Lender [Domain]
Raw materials
Lender Name [Axis]
us-gaap_LiabilitiesAndStockholdersEquity
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity
Finished products
Work in process
UNITED STATES
Accumulated deficit
Research and development
Accumulated other comprehensive loss
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Debt Disclosure [Text Block]
Amortization of financing fees
us-gaap_DisclosureTextBlockAbstract
Notes to Financial Statements
Operating lease liability, net of current portion
Schedule of Inventory, Current [Table Text Block]
Total operating lease liability
Present value of remaining lease payments
Current operating lease liability
Other intangible assets, net
Pension and Other Postretirement Benefits Disclosure [Text Block]
Subsequent Events [Text Block]
Operating lease right-of-use asset
us-gaap_LesseeOperatingLeaseLiabilityPaymentsDue
Total lease payments
us-gaap_LesseeOperatingLeaseLiabilityUndiscountedExcessAmount
Less: Imputed interest
us-gaap_DeferredIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit
Total deferred tax provision (benefit)
2022
2023
2024
Thereafter
Fair Value Measurement, Policy [Policy Text Block]
us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAmortizationExpenseYearTwo
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Amortization Expense, Year Two
us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAmortizationExpenseYearThree
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Amortization Expense, Year Three
us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAmortizationExpenseYearFour
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Amortization Expense, Year Four
2020
us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAmortizationExpenseYearFive
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Amortization Expense, Year Five
2021
Segment Reporting, Policy [Policy Text Block]
Proceeds from government grant
The amount of proceeds from government subsidies.
us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAmortizationExpenseNextTwelveMonths
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Amortization Expense, Next Twelve Months
ulbi_OptionAcceleratedVestingThresholdTradingDays
Option Accelerated Vesting, Threshold Trading Days
Threshold number of specified trading days that common stock price for an accelerated option avesting must exceed threshold percentage within a 30 day trading period for the option accelerated vesting.
ulbi_OptionAcceleratedVestingStockPriceTrigger
Option Accelerated Vesting, Stock Price Trigger
Price of the entity's common stock which would be required to be attained for the option accelerated vesting to become effective.
Foreign Currency Transactions and Translations Policy [Policy Text Block]
Lessee, Operating Lease, Liability, Maturity [Table Text Block]
Other noncurrent assets
Stock-based compensation
Stock-based compensation
Earnings Per Share, Policy [Policy Text Block]
Revenue
us-gaap_Revenues
Revenues, Total
Operating expenses:
Income Tax, Policy [Policy Text Block]
Schedule of Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Table Text Block]
us-gaap_LesseeOperatingLeaseTermOfContract
Lessee, Operating Lease, Term of Contract
Research and Development Expense, Policy [Policy Text Block]
Depreciation
Depreciation, Total
us-gaap_AssetsCurrent
Total current assets
Share-based Payment Arrangement [Policy Text Block]
Stockholders' Equity Note Disclosure [Text Block]
Treasury stock, shares (in shares)
Common stock – par value $.10 per share; authorized 40,000,000 shares; issued – 20,268,050 shares and 20,053,335 shares, respectively; outstanding – 15,866,868 shares and 15,920,585 shares, respectively
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash (used in) provided by operating activities:
Common stock, shares authorized (in shares)
Common stock, shares issued (in shares)
Common stock, par value (in dollars per share)
Restatement [Axis]
Restatement [Domain]
Previously Reported [Member]
us-gaap_CommonStockCapitalSharesReservedForFutureIssuance
Common Stock, Capital Shares Reserved for Future Issuance
Restatement Adjustment [Member]
us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsValuationAllowance
Valuation allowance for deferred tax assets
Environmental Cost, Expense Policy [Policy Text Block]
Statistical Measurement [Domain]
Operating cash flows from operating leases
Maximum [Member]
Minimum [Member]
Guarantees, Indemnifications and Warranties Policies [Policy Text Block]
Product and Service [Axis]
Deferred tax assets
Product and Service [Domain]
us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsNet
Net deferred tax assets
Statistical Measurement [Axis]
Preferred stock – par value $.10 per share; authorized 1,000,000 shares; none issued
us-gaap_NumberOfReportingUnits
Number of Reporting Units
Net Deferred Tax Assets
Net deferred tax assets
Preferred stock, shares issued (in shares)
Interest paid
Income taxes paid
KeyBank [Member]
Related to the lender KeyBank.
us-gaap_NoncurrentAssets
Long-Lived Assets
Geographical [Axis]
Goodwill and Intangible Assets, Policy [Policy Text Block]
Geographical [Domain]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Table Text Block]
us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsGross
Total deferred tax assets
Preferred stock, shares authorized (in shares)
us-gaap_DeferredIncomeTaxLiabilities
Total deferred tax liabilities
Inventories, net
Total
Preferred stock, par value (in dollars per share)
Leasehold Improvements
Revenue
Revenue
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities
Amount of accrued expenses and liabilities classified as other, due within one year or the normal operating cycle, if longer.
Lessee, Lease, Cash Flow Information [Table Text Block]
Tabular disclosure of cash flow information related lessee's lease .
Customer [Axis]
Customer [Domain]
us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsGoodwillAndIntangibleAssets
Intangible assets
Lessee, Lease, Balance Sheet Information [Table Text Block]
Tabular disclosure of balance sheet information related lessee's lease .
us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsPropertyPlantAndEquipment
Property, plant and equipment
us-gaap_ProductWarrantyAccrualPayments
Settlements made
Assumed warranty obligations – SWE
us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentGrossPeriodIncreaseDecrease
Capital expenditures
Provision for warranties issued
us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsTaxDeferredExpenseReservesAndAccrualsAccruedLiabilities
Accrued expenses, reserves and other
Stock-based compensation -restricted stock
This element represents the amount of recognized equity-based compensation related to restricted stock options during the period.
Estimated useful lives (Year)
Construction in Progress [Member]
Non-controlling interest
OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
Schedule of Segment Reporting Information, by Segment [Table Text Block]
Revenue [Policy Text Block]
Statement [Line Items]
Trade accounts receivable, allowance for doubtful accounts
us-gaap_NumberOfOperatingSegments
Number of Operating Segments
Furniture and Fixtures [Member]
Trade accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $324 and $296, respectively
Capital in excess of par value
Building and Building Improvements [Member]
Building [Member]
AOCI Attributable to Parent [Member]
Schedule of Product Warranty Liability [Table Text Block]
Shareholders' Equity:
Land [Member]
Interest and financing expense
Leasehold Improvements [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment, Policy [Policy Text Block]
ulbi_CustomerFundedResearchAndDevelopmentExpenseIncludedInCostOfGoodsSold
Customer Funded Research and Development Expense Included in Cost of Goods Sold
Represents the amount of R&D included in cost of goods sold that is customer funded.
us-gaap_OtherNonoperatingIncomeExpense
Miscellaneous
Property, Plant and Equipment, Type [Axis]
us-gaap_NonoperatingIncomeExpense
Other income (expense)
ulbi_ResearchAndDevelopmentExpenseGross
Research and Development Expense, Gross
The gross costs incurred (1) in a planned search or critical investigation aimed at discovery of new knowledge with the hope that such knowledge will be useful in developing a new product or service, a new process or technique, or in bringing about a significant improvement to an existing product or process; or (2) to translate research findings or other knowledge into a plan or design for a new product or process or for a significant improvement to an existing product or process whether intended for sale or the entity's use, during the reporting period charged to research and development projects, including the costs of developing computer software up to the point in time of achieving technological feasibility, and costs allocated in accounting for a business combination to in-process projects deemed to have no alternative future use.
Segment Reporting Disclosure [Text Block]
Property, Plant and Equipment, Type [Domain]
us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsTaxCreditCarryforwards
Tax credit carryforwards
Government & Defense [Member]
Represents information pertaining to the Government and Defense customer.
us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsOperatingLossCarryforwards
Net operating loss carryforwards
Revenue, percentage
The percentage of total revenue for the period.
Commercial [Member]
Represents information pertaining to the Commercial customer.
Current Assets:
ulbi_OperatingLeaseRemainingLeaseTerm
Operating Lease, Remaining Lease Term
Remaining lease term for operating lease, in 'PnYnMnDTnHnMnS' format, for example, 'P1Y5M13D' represents reported fact of one year, five months, and thirteen days.
us-gaap_CashCashEquivalentsRestrictedCashAndRestrictedCashEquivalents
Cash, Cash Equivalents, Restricted Cash and Restricted Cash Equivalents, Ending Balance
Total
Cash - Beginning of year
Cash - End of year
Schedule of Revenues from External Customers by Business Segment Sector [Table Text Block]
Tabular disclosure of material revenue from specific sectors of each business segment.
Inventory, Policy [Policy Text Block]
Property, Plant and Equipment, Estimated Useful Life [Table Text Block]
The tabular disclosure of estimated useful life for property, plant and equipment.
us-gaap_CashCashEquivalentsRestrictedCashAndRestrictedCashEquivalentsPeriodIncreaseDecreaseIncludingExchangeRateEffect
INCREASE (DECREASE) IN CASH
us-gaap_NetCashProvidedByUsedInFinancingActivities
Net cash provided by financing activities
us-gaap_Liabilities
Total liabilities
Commitments and contingencies (Note 6)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash
Segment contribution
us-gaap_OperatingIncomeLoss
Operating income
us-gaap_NetCashProvidedByUsedInOperatingActivities
Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities
Other expense (income):
us-gaap_DeferredTaxLiabilitiesOther
Other
Prepaid expenses and other current assets
us-gaap_NetCashProvidedByUsedInInvestingActivities
Net cash used in investing activities
us-gaap_DeferredTaxLiabilitiesGoodwillAndIntangibleAssetsIntangibleAssets
Intangible assets
Cost of products sold
us-gaap_GrossProfit
Gross profit
Base Rate [Member]
Counterparty Name [Axis]
Counterparty Name [Domain]
ulbi_DefinedContributionPlanMaximumEmployeeContributionPercentageSubjectToEmployerMatchingContribution
Defined Contribution Plan, Maximum Employee Contribution Percentage, Subject to Employer Matching Contribution
The maximum employee contribution percentage that is subject to employer matching contribution within a defined contribution plan.
Accounting Standards Update 2016-02 [Member]
Schedule of Net Deferred Tax Liabilities [Table Text Block]
Tabular disclosure of the components of net deferred tax liability recognized in an entity's statement of financial position.
Type of Adoption [Domain]
Concentration Risk, Credit Risk, Policy [Policy Text Block]
us-gaap_PaymentsRelatedToTaxWithholdingForShareBasedCompensation
Tax withholdings on stock-based awards
Property, plant and equipment
us-gaap_DeferredTaxLiabilitiesPropertyPlantAndEquipment
ulbi_MinimumFixedChargeCoverageRatio
Minimum Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio
The minimum fixed charge coverage ratio required for certain debt covenants.
Adjustments for New Accounting Pronouncements [Axis]
us-gaap_ProductWarrantyAccrual
Balance, January 1
Balance, December 31
President [Member]
Noncontrolling Interest [Member]
The 2004 Long-term Incentive Plan [Member]
Represents the long-term incentive stockholder's equity compensation plan.
us-gaap_PaymentsForRepurchaseOfCommonStock
Repurchase of common stock
The 2014 Long-term Incentive Plan [Member]
Represents the long-term incentive stockholder's equity compensation plan.
Range Three [Member]
Represents information pertaining to range three.
Range One [Member]
Represents information pertaining to range one.
Range Two [Member]
Represents information pertaining to range two.
Forfeiture rate
The forfeiture rate assumption that is used in valuing an option on its own shares.
ulbi_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardAwardVestingRightsIncrementalVestingShares
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Award Vesting Rights, Incremental Vesting Shares
Represents the incremental amount of shares to vest annually.
Retained Earnings [Member]
Range Four [Member]
Represents information pertaining to range four.
Proceeds from exercise of stock options
Proceeds from Stock Options Exercised
Title of Individual [Domain]
us-gaap_CurrentStateAndLocalTaxExpenseBenefit
State
Title of Individual [Axis]
ulbi_SharebasedCompensationArrangementBySharebasedPaymentAwardAwardVestingRightsMinimumClosingSharePrice
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Award Vesting Rights, Minimum Closing Share Price
Represents the minimum closing price per share to release shares expected to vest.
State
us-gaap_DeferredStateAndLocalIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit
Treasury Stock [Member]
us-gaap_CurrentForeignTaxExpenseBenefit
Foreign
Foreign
us-gaap_DeferredForeignIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit
Additional Paid-in Capital [Member]
us-gaap_CurrentFederalTaxExpenseBenefit
Federal
Common Stock [Member]
Federal
us-gaap_DeferredFederalIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit
us-gaap_StockRepurchaseProgramNumberOfSharesAuthorizedToBeRepurchased
Stock Repurchase Program, Number of Shares Authorized to be Repurchased
Equity Components [Axis]
Equity Component [Domain]
us-gaap_CurrentIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit
Total current tax provision
Foreign
us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesExtraordinaryItemsNoncontrollingInterest
Income Before Income Taxes
United States
us-gaap_LineOfCredit
Long-term Line of Credit, Total
us-gaap_PaymentsOfDebtIssuanceCosts
Payments of Debt Issuance Costs
Payment of debt issuance costs
Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs (HMRC) [Member]
State and Local Jurisdiction [Member]
Income Tax Authority, Name [Axis]
Income Tax Authority, Name [Domain]
us-gaap_SecuredDebt
Secured Debt, Total
Internal Revenue Service (IRS) [Member]
Income Tax Authority [Axis]
Income Tax Authority [Domain]
Domestic Tax Authority [Member]
Foreign Tax Authority [Member]
Machinery and Equipment [Member]
Computer Equipment [Member]
Cash and Cash Equivalents, Policy [Policy Text Block]
Balance Sheet Location [Axis]
Balance Sheet Location [Domain]
Receivable [Policy Text Block]
ulbi_NumberOfMajorCustomers
Number of Major Customers
Represents the number of major customers.
us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefits
Unrecognized Tax Benefits, Ending Balance
Accounting Policies [Abstract]
us-gaap_OpenTaxYear
Open Tax Year
Large Defense Primary Contractor, 1 [Member]
Represents large defense primary contractor 1.
Selling, General and Administrative Expenses [Member]
Awards Other than Stock Options and SARs [Member]
Represents awards other than stock options and SARs.
us-gaap_RepaymentsOfSecuredDebt
Payment of term loan facility
us-gaap_CumulativeEffectOfNewAccountingPrincipleInPeriodOfAdoption
Cumulative effect adjustment
Options III [Member]
Represents the third issuance of options.
Options I [Member]
Represents all options issued under the first issuance.
Title of 12(b) Security
Options II [Member]
Represents the second issuance of options.
Options IV [Member]
Represents the fourth issuance of options.
Research and Development Expense [Member]
Proceeds from revolving credit facility
Proceeds from Long-term Lines of Credit
Proceeds from term loan facility
Income Statement Location [Axis]
Income Statement Location [Domain]
Segments [Axis]
Segments [Domain]
Corporate Segment [Member]
us-gaap_WeightedAverageNumberDilutedSharesOutstandingAdjustment
Weighted Average Number Diluted Shares Outstanding Adjustment, Total
us-gaap_TaxCreditCarryforwardAmount
Tax Credit Carryforward, Amount
General Business Tax Credit Carryforward [Member]
us-gaap_AntidilutiveSecuritiesExcludedFromComputationOfEarningsPerShareAmount
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share, Amount
Weighted average shares outstanding – Diluted (in shares)
Tax Credit Carryforward [Axis]
Tax Credit Carryforward, Name [Domain]
Non-US [Member]
us-gaap_OperatingLossCarryforwards
Operating Loss Carryforwards, Total
Statement [Table]
Statement of Financial Position [Abstract]
Net income per share attributable to Ultralife Corporation common shareholders – Diluted: (in dollars per share)
Weighted average shares outstanding – Basic (in shares)
Other
us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationOtherReconcilingItemsPercent
Effective income tax rate
Business Acquisition [Axis]
Net income per share attributable to Ultralife Corporation common shareholders – Basic: (in dollars per share)
Business Acquisition, Acquiree [Domain]
Valuation allowance
Statement of Cash Flows [Abstract]
Statement of Stockholders' Equity [Abstract]
Income Statement [Abstract]
Large Defense Primary Contractor, 2 [Member]
Represents large defense primary contractor 2.
us-gaap_LongTermDebtMaturitiesRepaymentsOfPrincipalInYearThree
Long-term Debt, Maturities, Repayments of Principal in Year Three
us-gaap_LongTermDebtMaturitiesRepaymentsOfPrincipalInYearFour
Long-term Debt, Maturities, Repayments of Principal in Year Four
Revenue from External Customers by Geographic Areas [Table Text Block]
us-gaap_LongTermDebtMaturitiesRepaymentsOfPrincipalInNextTwelveMonths
Long-term Debt, Maturities, Repayments of Principal in Next Twelve Months
us-gaap_LongTermDebtMaturitiesRepaymentsOfPrincipalInYearTwo
Long-term Debt, Maturities, Repayments of Principal in Year Two
Incentive Stock Options [Member]
Represents information pertaining the Incentive Stock Options.
Schedule of Income before Income Tax, Domestic and Foreign [Table Text Block]
us-gaap_BusinessCombinationProvisionalInformationInitialAccountingIncompleteAdjustmentInventory
Business Combination, Provisional Information, Initial Accounting Incomplete, Adjustment, Inventory
Schedule of Components of Income Tax Expense (Benefit) [Table Text Block]
Schedule of Deferred Tax Assets and Liabilities [Table Text Block]
us-gaap_BusinessCombinationProvisionalInformationInitialAccountingIncompleteAdjustmentIntangibles
Business Combination, Provisional Information, Initial Accounting Incomplete, Adjustment, Intangibles
Schedule of Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation [Table Text Block]
Equity compensation
Schedule of New Accounting Pronouncements and Changes in Accounting Principles [Table Text Block]
Finite-lived Intangible Assets Amortization Expense [Table Text Block]
Foreign tax rates
us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationTaxCreditsResearch
Income tax credits
FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Other noncurrent liabilities
Statutory income tax rate
ulbi_BusinessCombinationInterestExpenseFinancing
Business Combination, Interest Expense, Financing
The amount of interest expense related to financing for a business combination.
us-gaap_IncomeTaxReconciliationChangeInDeferredTaxAssetsValuationAllowance
Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation, Change in Deferred Tax Assets Valuation Allowance, Amount
ulbi_BusinessAcquisitionProFormaOperatingIncomeLoss
Operating income
The pro forma operating income (loss) for a period as if the business combination or combinations had been completed at the beginning of the period.
Accounting, Legal, and Due Diligence Services [Member]
Related to accounting, legal, and due diligence services.
ulbi_LongtermDebtWeightedAverageTerm
Long-term Debt, Weighted Average Term
The weighted average term of long-term debt.
ulbi_MaximumConsolidatedSeniorLeverageRatio
Maximum Consolidated Senior Leverage Ratio
Represents information related to consolidated senior leverage ratio.
Term Loan Facility [Member]
Represents information related to term loan facility.
Deferred income taxes
Deferred tax liabilities
Amended Credit Agreement [Member]
Represents information related to Amended Credit Agreement.
Long-term Debt, Current Maturities [Member]
Represents Amount, after unamortized (discount) premium and debt issuance costs, of long-term debt, classified as current. Includes, but not limited to, notes payable, bonds payable, debentures, mortgage loans and commercial paper. Excludes capital lease obligation
ulbi_DebtInstrumentNumberOfMonthlyPayment
Debt Instrument, Number of Monthly Payment
Represents number of monthly payments for debt instrument.
us-gaap_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredGoodwillAndLiabilitiesAssumedNet
Net assets acquired
Communications Systems Segment [Member]
Represents the company's communications systems segment.
Battery & Energy Products Segment [Member]
Represents the company's battery & energy products segment.
Distributor Relationships [Member]
Represents information pertaining to distributor relationships.
us-gaap_StockholdersEquity
Total Ultralife Corporation equity
Shenzhen Facility [Member]
Represents information related to Shenzhen Facility.
us-gaap_PaymentsToAcquireBusinessesNetOfCashAcquired
Payments to Acquire Businesses, Net of Cash Acquired, Total
Purchase of SWE, net of cash acquired
Class of Stock [Axis]
us-gaap_CashAcquiredFromAcquisition
Cash Acquired from Acquisition
us-gaap_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredAndLiabilitiesAssumedDeferredTaxLiabilities
Deferred tax liability, net
Long-term debt
us-gaap_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredAndLiabilitiesAssumedCurrentLiabilitiesOther
Other current liabilities
Options outstanding, weighted-average exercise price (in dollars per share)
Options outstanding, weighted-average remaining contractual life (Year)
Options exercisable, number of options exercisable (in shares)
us-gaap_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredAndLiabilitiesAssumedCurrentLiabilitiesAccountsPayable
Accounts payable
Options exercisable, weighted-average exercise price (in dollars per share)
Upper range limit (in dollars per share)
Options outstanding, number of outstanding options (in shares)
us-gaap_LongTermPurchaseCommitmentAmount
Long-term Purchase Commitment, Amount
Exercise Price Range [Axis]
Exercise Price Range [Domain]
us-gaap_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredAndLiabilitiesAssumedPropertyPlantAndEquipment
Property, plant and equipment
Lower range limit (in dollars per share)