Goodwill and intangible assets (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Jul. 31, 2016

Goodwill and Intangible Assets Disclosure [Abstract]

Schedule of Indefinite-Lived Intangible Assets [Table Text Block]

The Company’s change in the net carrying amount of intangible assets, all in the Life Sciences segment is as follows:

	Gross			Accumulated Amortization			Net
July 31, 2014	$	28,478		$	(20,370	)	$	8,108
Amortization expense		—			(1,770	)		(1,770	)
Foreign currency translation		(640	)		457			(183	)
July 31, 2015	$	27,838		$	(21,683	)	$	6,155
Amortization expense		—			(1,677	)		(1,677	)
Foreign currency translation		(188	)		132			(56	)
July 31, 2016	$	27,650		$	(23,228	)	$	4,422

Schedule of Intangible Assets [Table Text Block]

Intangible assets, all finite-lived, consist of the following:

	July 31, 2016							July 31, 2015
	Gross		Accumulated Amortization			Net		Gross		Accumulated Amortization			Net
Patents	$	11,027	$	(10,905	)	$	122	$	11,028	$	(10,871	)	$	157
Customer relationships		12,122		(8,331	)		3,791		12,243		(7,398	)		4,845
Website and acquired content		1,011		(1,011	)		—		1,020		(1,020	)		—
Licensed technology and other		485		(437	)		48		518		(441	)		77
Trademarks		3,005		(2,544	)		461		3,029		(1,953	)		1,076
Total	$	27,650	$	(23,228	)	$	4,422	$	27,838	$	(21,683	)	$	6,155

Schedule of Useful Lives For Acquisitions [Table Text Block]

At July 31, 2016 information with respect to the intangibles acquired is as follows:

	Useful life assigned	Weighted average remaining useful life
Customer relationships	8-15 years	4 years
Trademarks	5 years	1 years
Other intangibles	10 years	3 years

Schedule of Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Future Amortization Expense [Table Text Block]

Estimated amortization expense related to these finite-lived intangible assets for the five succeeding fiscal years ending July 31 is as follows:

2017	$	1,508
2018		1,141
2019		827
2020		512
2021		283