Segment Information (Details 1) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 01, 2012	Sep. 01, 2012	Jun. 02, 2012	Mar. 03, 2012	Dec. 03, 2011	Aug. 27, 2011	May 28, 2011	Feb. 26, 2011	Dec. 01, 2012 segments	Dec. 03, 2011	Nov. 27, 2010
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	$ 292,913	$ 286,733	$ 284,855	$ 257,264	$ 307,529	$ 284,819	$ 288,533	$ 245,720	$ 1,121,765	$ 1,126,601	$ 1,011,429
Operating profit									182,714	181,267	144,649
Other income (expense), net									283	41	(1,226)
Earnings before income taxes									182,997	181,308	143,423
Assets	1,205,502				1,134,933				1,205,502	1,134,933	1,042,411
Additions to property, plant, and equipment									36,647	24,171	24,453
Depreciation and amortization									31,815	32,435	30,921
Engine Mobile Filtration [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales									503,607	510,012	446,104
Operating profit									111,653	112,839	92,246
Assets	372,011				338,197				372,011	338,197	292,196
Additions to property, plant, and equipment									24,062	11,406	7,704
Depreciation and amortization									9,327	9,325	9,810
Industrial Environmental Filtration [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales									541,364	523,026	470,359
Operating profit									64,766	58,028	43,515
Assets	706,610				693,266				706,610	693,266	650,530
Additions to property, plant, and equipment									9,264	8,775	14,597
Depreciation and amortization									18,692	19,231	17,151
Packaging [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales									76,794	93,563	94,966
Operating profit									6,295	10,400	8,888
Assets	36,350				39,571				36,350	39,571	40,450
Additions to property, plant, and equipment									3,250	3,824	2,152
Depreciation and amortization									3,090	3,166	3,260
Corporate [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Assets	90,531				63,899				90,531	63,899	59,235
Additions to property, plant, and equipment									71	166	0
Depreciation and amortization									$ 706	$ 713	$ 700