Segment Information (Details 1) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 03, 2011	Aug. 27, 2011	May 28, 2011	Feb. 26, 2011	Nov. 27, 2010	Aug. 28, 2010	May 29, 2010	Feb. 27, 2010	Dec. 03, 2011 segments	Nov. 27, 2010	Nov. 28, 2009
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Number of segments									3
Segment Reporting, Disclosure of Major Customers									No single customer accounted for 10% or more of the Company’s consolidated sales	No single customer accounted for 10% or more of the Company’s consolidated sales	No single customer accounted for 10% or more of the Company’s consolidated sales
Net sales	$ 307,529	$ 284,819	$ 288,533	$ 245,720	$ 275,659	$ 262,770	$ 257,869	$ 215,131	$ 1,126,601	$ 1,011,429	$ 907,748
Operating profit									181,267	144,649	105,733
Other income (expense), net									41	(1,226)	(84)
Earnings before income taxes									181,308	143,423	105,649
Assets	1,134,933				1,042,411				1,134,933	1,042,411	973,890
Additions to property, plant, and equipment									24,171	24,453	21,740
Depreciation and amortization									32,435	30,921	30,962
Engine Mobile Filtration [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales									510,012	446,104	373,295
Operating profit									112,839	92,246	75,216
Assets	338,197				292,196				338,197	292,196	252,747
Additions to property, plant, and equipment									11,406	7,704	8,360
Depreciation and amortization									9,325	9,810	9,645
Industrial Environmental Filtration [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales									523,026	470,359	461,000
Operating profit									58,028	43,515	24,712
Assets	693,266				650,530				693,266	650,530	629,488
Additions to property, plant, and equipment									8,775	14,597	11,744
Depreciation and amortization									19,231	17,151	17,322
Packaging [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales									93,563	94,966	73,453
Operating profit									10,400	8,888	5,805
Assets	39,571				40,450				39,571	40,450	36,456
Additions to property, plant, and equipment									3,824	2,152	1,399
Depreciation and amortization									3,166	3,260	3,308
Corporate [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Assets	63,899				59,235				63,899	59,235	55,199
Additions to property, plant, and equipment									166	0	237
Depreciation and amortization									$ 713	$ 700	$ 687