CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended			9 Months Ended
	May 31, 2016	Feb. 29, 2016	May 31, 2015	May 31, 2016	May 31, 2015
Income Statement [Abstract]
Net sales	$ 305,341		$ 320,100	$ 873,641	$ 948,870
Cost of products sold	197,815		201,540	566,524	593,573
Gross profit	107,526		118,560	307,117	355,297
Selling, administrative and engineering expenses	70,120		69,569	210,202	227,809
Amortization of intangible assets	5,567		5,989	17,347	18,362
Restructuring charges	3,496		0	11,458	0
Impairment charges	0	$ 186,511	0	186,511	84,353
Operating profit (loss)	28,343		43,002	(118,401)	24,773
Financing costs, net	7,253		7,462	21,236	20,683
Other expense (income), net	751		569	1,605	(489)
Earnings (loss) before income taxes	20,339		34,971	(141,242)	4,579
Income tax (benefit) expense	(827)		(2,987)	(18,666)	6,785
Net earnings (loss)	$ 21,166		$ 37,958	$ (122,576)	$ (2,206)
Earnings (loss) per share:
Basic	$ 0.36		$ 0.64	$ (2.08)	$ (0.04)
Diluted	$ 0.36		$ 0.63	$ (2.08)	$ (0.04)
Weighted average common shares outstanding:
Basic	58,923		59,617	59,034	61,911
Diluted	59,589		60,243	59,034	61,911