Gross Carrying Amount and Accumulated Amortization of Other Intangible Assets (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	9 Months Ended
	May. 31, 2015	Aug. 31, 2014
Indefinite And Finite Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Accumulated Amortization	$ 159,772	$ 148,184
Other intangibles, gross	476,681	513,361
Other intangibles, net	316,909	365,177
Tradenames
Indefinite And Finite Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Gross Carrying Value	$ 112,843	125,905
Customer relationships
Indefinite And Finite Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Weighted Average Amortization Period (Years)	15 years
Gross Carrying Value	$ 304,265	325,164
Accumulated Amortization	127,241	117,706
Net Book Value	$ 177,024	207,458
Patents
Indefinite And Finite Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Weighted Average Amortization Period (Years)	10 years
Gross Carrying Value	$ 30,879	31,678
Accumulated Amortization	19,229	17,494
Net Book Value	$ 11,650	14,184
Trademarks and tradenames
Indefinite And Finite Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Weighted Average Amortization Period (Years)	18 years
Gross Carrying Value	$ 21,850	23,241
Accumulated Amortization	6,797	6,201
Net Book Value	$ 15,053	17,040
Other intangibles
Indefinite And Finite Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Weighted Average Amortization Period (Years)	3 years
Gross Carrying Value	$ 6,844	7,373
Accumulated Amortization	6,505	6,783
Net Book Value	$ 339	$ 590