Guarantor Subsidiaries (Schedule Of Condensed Consolidating Statements Of Earnings) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Nov. 30, 2011	Nov. 30, 2010
Guarantor Obligations [Line Items]
Net sales	$ 392,799	$ 318,412
Cost of products sold	240,191	196,559
Gross profit	152,608	121,853
Selling, administrative and engineering expenses	88,109	74,192
Amortization of intangible assets	7,218	6,089
Operating profit	57,281	41,572
Financing costs, net	8,222	7,552
Other expense (income), net	657	448
Earnings from continuing operations before income taxes	48,402	33,572
Income tax expense (benefit)	11,228	6,911
Net earnings (loss) from continuing operations before equity in earnings of subsidiaries	37,174	26,661
Earnings from continuing operations	37,174	26,661
Loss from discontinued operations		(771)
Net earnings	37,174	25,890
Parent [Member]
Guarantor Obligations [Line Items]
Net sales	48,520	35,969
Cost of products sold	15,279	10,425
Gross profit	33,241	25,544
Selling, administrative and engineering expenses	20,666	19,170
Amortization of intangible assets	335
Operating profit	12,240	6,374
Financing costs, net	8,237	7,552
Intercompany expense (income), net	(7,491)	1,885
Other expense (income), net	193	(313)
Earnings from continuing operations before income taxes	11,301	(2,750)
Income tax expense (benefit)	2,622	(565)
Net earnings (loss) from continuing operations before equity in earnings of subsidiaries	8,679	(2,185)
Equity in earnings (loss) of subsidiaries	28,495	28,075
Earnings from continuing operations		25,890
Net earnings	37,174	25,890
Guarantors [Member]
Guarantor Obligations [Line Items]
Net sales	136,441	122,729
Cost of products sold	94,632	87,163
Gross profit	41,809	35,566
Selling, administrative and engineering expenses	26,262	23,988
Amortization of intangible assets	3,420	3,726
Operating profit	12,127	7,852
Financing costs, net	3
Intercompany expense (income), net	566	4,424
Other expense (income), net	344	404
Earnings from continuing operations before income taxes	11,214	3,024
Income tax expense (benefit)	2,601	623
Net earnings (loss) from continuing operations before equity in earnings of subsidiaries	8,613	2,401
Equity in earnings (loss) of subsidiaries	16,794	19,263
Earnings from continuing operations		21,664
Net earnings	25,407	21,664
Non-Guarantors [Member]
Guarantor Obligations [Line Items]
Net sales	207,838	159,714
Cost of products sold	130,280	98,971
Gross profit	77,558	60,743
Selling, administrative and engineering expenses	41,181	31,034
Amortization of intangible assets	3,463	2,363
Operating profit	32,914	27,346
Financing costs, net	(18)
Intercompany expense (income), net	6,925	(6,309)
Other expense (income), net	120	357
Earnings from continuing operations before income taxes	25,887	33,298
Income tax expense (benefit)	6,005	6,853
Net earnings (loss) from continuing operations before equity in earnings of subsidiaries	19,882	26,445
Equity in earnings (loss) of subsidiaries	(488)	1,342
Earnings from continuing operations		27,787
Loss from discontinued operations		(771)
Net earnings	19,394	27,016
Eliminations [Member]
Guarantor Obligations [Line Items]
Equity in earnings (loss) of subsidiaries	(44,801)	(48,680)
Earnings from continuing operations		(48,680)
Net earnings	$ (44,801)	$ (48,680)