Post Retirement Benefit Plans - Components of Net Periodic Pension Cost (Detail) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Oct. 31, 2012	Oct. 31, 2011	Oct. 31, 2010
Pension Plans, Postretirement and Other Employee Benefits [Line Items]
Expected return on plan assets	$ (0.065)
Pension Plans, Defined Benefit [Member]
Pension Plans, Postretirement and Other Employee Benefits [Line Items]
Service cost	13,400,000	12,700,000	12,700,000
Interest cost	29,600,000	29,600,000	29,300,000
Expected return on plan assets	(33,900,000)	(36,800,000)	(34,800,000)
Amortization of transition net asset
Amortization of prior service cost	1,500,000	1,900,000	900,000
Recognized net actuarial loss	11,400,000	8,400,000	6,700,000
Net periodic pension cost	22,000,000	15,800,000	14,800,000
USA [Member]
Pension Plans, Postretirement and Other Employee Benefits [Line Items]
Service cost	10,000,000	9,000,000	9,200,000
Interest cost	16,600,000	16,600,000	16,000,000
Expected return on plan assets	(17,600,000)	(19,700,000)	(18,100,000)
Amortization of transition net asset
Amortization of prior service cost	1,500,000	1,900,000	900,000
Recognized net actuarial loss	9,900,000	7,100,000	5,900,000
Net periodic pension cost	20,400,000	14,900,000	13,900,000
Germany [Member]
Pension Plans, Postretirement and Other Employee Benefits [Line Items]
Service cost	400,000	500,000	400,000
Interest cost	1,400,000	1,400,000	1,400,000
Expected return on plan assets
Amortization of transition net asset
Amortization of prior service cost
Recognized net actuarial loss	100,000	100,000
Net periodic pension cost	1,900,000	2,000,000	1,800,000
United Kingdom [Member]
Pension Plans, Postretirement and Other Employee Benefits [Line Items]
Service cost	2,100,000	2,100,000	2,300,000
Interest cost	7,000,000	7,100,000	7,000,000
Expected return on plan assets	(11,800,000)	(12,700,000)	(11,600,000)
Amortization of transition net asset
Amortization of prior service cost
Recognized net actuarial loss	600,000	400,000	500,000
Net periodic pension cost	(2,100,000)	(3,100,000)	(1,800,000)
Netherlands [Member]
Pension Plans, Postretirement and Other Employee Benefits [Line Items]
Service cost	500,000	700,000	400,000
Interest cost	3,900,000	3,900,000	4,300,000
Expected return on plan assets	(3,600,000)	(3,700,000)	(4,400,000)
Amortization of transition net asset
Amortization of prior service cost
Recognized net actuarial loss	400,000	400,000
Net periodic pension cost	1,200,000	1,300,000	300,000
Other International [Member]
Pension Plans, Postretirement and Other Employee Benefits [Line Items]
Service cost	400,000	400,000	400,000
Interest cost	700,000	600,000	600,000
Expected return on plan assets	(900,000)	(700,000)	(700,000)
Amortization of transition net asset
Amortization of prior service cost
Recognized net actuarial loss	400,000	400,000	300,000
Net periodic pension cost	$ 600,000	$ 700,000	$ 600,000