GOODWILL AND OTHER INTANGIBLE ASSETS (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2010	Sep. 30, 2009	Sep. 30, 2011 Bronze [Member]	Sep. 30, 2010 Bronze [Member]	Sep. 30, 2011 Casket [Member]	Sep. 30, 2010 Casket [Member]	Sep. 30, 2011 Cremation [Member]	Sep. 30, 2010 Cremation [Member]	Sep. 30, 2011 Graphics Imaging [Member]	Sep. 30, 2010 Graphics Imaging [Member]	Sep. 30, 2011 Marking Products [Member]	Sep. 30, 2010 Marking Products [Member]	Sep. 30, 2011 Merchandising Solutions [Member]	Sep. 30, 2010 Merchandising Solutions [Member]	Oct. 31, 2010 Rudolf Reproflex GmbH & Co. KG [Member]	Sep. 30, 2011 Trade names not subject to amortization [Member]		Sep. 30, 2010 Trade names not subject to amortization [Member]		Sep. 30, 2011 Trade names [Member]	Sep. 30, 2010 Trade names [Member]	Sep. 30, 2011 Customer relationships [Member]	Sep. 30, 2010 Customer relationships [Member]	Sep. 30, 2011 Copyrights/patents/other [Member]	Sep. 30, 2010 Copyrights/patents/other [Member]
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill, gross	$ 414,432	$ 394,471		$ 88,613	$ 79,707	$ 140,553	$ 122,896	$ 16,799	$ 13,887	$ 149,161	$ 158,863	$ 10,168	$ 9,980	$ 9,138	$ 9,138
Accumulated impairment losses	(9,252)	(9,252)		(412)	(412)	0	0	(5,000)	(5,000)	(3,840)	(3,840)	0	0	0	0
Goodwill	405,180	385,219		88,201	79,295	140,553	122,896	11,799	8,887	145,321	155,023	10,168	9,980	9,138	9,138
Additions during period	64,014	29,905		0	10,554	22,266	17,657	0	2,968	22,521	(1,403)	19,227	129	0	0
Translation and other adjustments	(4,191)	(9,944)		(471)	(1,648)	0	0	(64)	(56)	(3,854)	(8,299)	198	59	0	0
Goodwill, gross	474,255	414,432	394,471	88,142	88,613	162,819	140,553	16,735	16,799	167,828	149,161	29,593	10,168	9,138	9,138
Accumulated impairment losses	(9,252)	(9,252)	(9,252)	(412)	(412)	0	0	(5,000)	(5,000)	(3,840)	(3,840)	0	0	0	0
Goodwill	465,003	405,180	385,219	87,730	88,201	162,819	140,553	11,735	11,799	163,988	145,321	29,593	10,168	9,138	9,138
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Remaining ownership interest acquired (in hundredths)																25.00%
Other Intangible Assets [Abstract]
Carrying amount, not subject to amortization																	24,266		24,314
Carrying amount, gross																					2,227	1,689	47,876	40,607	9,870	8,984
Carrying amount, total	84,239	75,594
Accumulated amortization	(21,414)	(17,652)															0	[1]	0	[1]	(1,147)	(780)	(13,228)	(10,674)	(7,039)	(6,198)
Net	62,825	57,942															24,266		24,314		1,080	909	34,648	29,933	2,831	2,786
Amortization expense on intangible assets	4,200	3,720	4,310
Future amortization expense [Abstract]
Future amortization expense 2012	3,904
Future amortization expense 2013	3,544
Future amortization expense 2014	3,320
Future amortization expense 2015	3,087
Future amortization expense 2016	$ 2,778

[1] Not subject to amortization