Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities (Details)					3 Months Ended		3 Months Ended
	Nov. 30, 2012 Foreign Currency Forward Contracts Level 1 USD ($)	Nov. 30, 2012 Foreign Currency Forward Contracts Level 1 EUR (€)	Nov. 30, 2011 Foreign Currency Forward Contracts Level 1 USD ($)	Nov. 30, 2011 Foreign Currency Forward Contracts Level 1 EUR (€)	Nov. 30, 2012 Interest rate swap contract Level 2 USD ($)	Nov. 30, 2011 Interest rate swap contract Level 2 USD ($)	Nov. 30, 2012 Interest rate swap contract Level 2 Industrial Development Revenue Bond	Dec. 24, 2009 Interest rate swap contract Level 2 Industrial Development Revenue Bond USD ($)
Derivative instruments and hedging activities
Notional amount of cash flow hedges		€ 252,089		€ 140,000
Gain (loss) recorded in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)	(2,000)		(3,000)		(2,700,000)	(2,200,000)
Amount of debt hedged								27,300,000
Fixed interest rate (as a percent)							2.827%
Variable rate basis of interest rate swap							SIFMA
Variable rate of interest based on the SIFMA index (as a percent)							0.182%
Loss classified as interest expense					170,000
Amount of deferred net losses contained in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), expected to be reclassified to earnings during the next 12 months					$ 705,000