CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2019	Aug. 31, 2018	Aug. 31, 2017
Net sales	$ 654,758	$ 641,303	$ 616,591
Cost of products sold	362,106	358,019	356,221
Gross profit	292,652	283,284	260,370
Selling, administrative and engineering expenses	209,231	210,256	208,128
Amortization of intangible assets	8,922	9,280	9,097
Director & officer transition charges	0	0	7,784
Restructuring charges	4,156	10,555	3,234
Impairment & divestiture charges	22,827	2,987	116,979
Operating profit (loss)	47,516	50,206	(84,852)
Financing costs, net	28,163	30,872	29,221
Other expense, net	629	138	3,816
Earnings (loss) before income tax expense (benefit)	18,724	19,196	(117,889)
Income Tax Expense (Benefit)	10,657	14,450	(22,614)
Net Earnings (Loss) from Continuing Operations	8,067	4,746	(95,275)
Net (Loss) Earnings from Discontinued Operations	(257,212)	(26,394)	29,062
Net loss	$ (249,145)	$ (21,648)	$ (66,213)
Earnings per share:
Earnings (loss) per basic share from continuing operations	$ 0.13	$ 0.08	$ (1.60)
Earnings (loss) per diluted share from continuing operations	0.13	0.08	(1.60)
(Loss) earnings per basic share from Discontinued Operations	(4.21)	(0.44)	0.49
(Loss) earnings per diluted share from Discontinued Operations	(4.18)	(0.43)	0.49
Loss per share - Basic (in dollars per share)	(4.07)	(0.36)	(1.11)
Loss per share - Diluted (in dollars per share)	$ (4.04)	$ (0.35)	$ (1.11)
Weighted average common shares outstanding:
Basic (in shares)	61,151	60,441	59,436
Diluted (in shares)	61,607	61,028	59,436
Product [Member]
Net sales	$ 478,946	$ 489,623	$ 460,390
Cost of products sold	247,771	264,878	261,888
Service [Member]
Net sales	175,812	151,680	156,201
Cost of products sold	$ 114,335	$ 93,141	$ 94,333