Impairment & divestiture charges related to the disposition of Viking business

No definition available.

Name:	atu_Impairmentdivestiturecharges
Namespace Prefix:	atu_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Sum of the carrying amounts as of the balance sheet date of all assets that are recognized. Assets are probable future economic benefits obtained or controlled by an entity as a result of past transactions or events.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 944
-SubTopic 210
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.7-03(a)(12))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6879938&loc=d3e572229-122910

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 942
-SubTopic 210
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.9-03(11))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6876686&loc=d3e534808-122878

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_Assets
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The net result for the period of deducting operating expenses from operating revenues.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_OperatingIncomeLoss
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Total revenue from sale of goods and services rendered during the reporting period, in the normal course of business, reduced by sales returns and allowances, and sales discounts.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 225
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-03.1)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=63488584&loc=d3e20235-122688

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_SegmentReportingInformationLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis=atu_IndustrialToolsServicesMemberDomain
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis=atu_ProductsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis=atu_ServiceRentalMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis=atu_EngineeredComponentsSystemsMemberDomain
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis=atu_OnHighwayMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis=atu_AgricultureOffHighwayandOtherMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis=atu_RopeCableSolutionsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis=atu_ConcreteTensioningMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis=atu_OffShoreMooringMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis=atu_GeneralCoporateMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_IncomeStatementBalanceSheetAndAdditionalDisclosuresByDisposalGroupsIncludingDiscontinuedOperationsAxis=atu_FY19HeldforSaleEntitiesDomain
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Summary of Financial Information by Reportable Segment and Product Line (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Nov. 30, 2018	Nov. 30, 2017	Aug. 31, 2018
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	$ 292,531	$ 288,955
Operating Profit (Loss)	(9,318)	14,673
Assets	1,450,033		$ 1,481,338
Impairment & divestiture charges	36,453	0
Industrial Tools & Services [Member] [Domain]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	148,655	141,991
Operating Profit (Loss)	26,374	20,836
Assets	588,003		589,932
Products [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	102,768	101,120
Service & Rental [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	45,887	40,871
Engineered Components & Systems [Member] [Domain]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	143,876	146,964
Operating Profit (Loss)	(28,292)	4,035
Assets	655,978		657,370
On-Highway [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	60,591	64,883
Agriculture, Off-Highway and Other
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	53,884	51,316
Rope & Cable Solutions [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	16,166	16,386
Concrete Tensioning [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	13,235	11,634
Off-Shore Mooring [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	0	2,745
General Corporate
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating Profit (Loss)	(7,400)	$ (10,197)
Assets	206,052		$ 234,036
FY19 Held for Sale Entities [Domain]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Impairment & divestiture charges	$ 36,453