Condensed Consolidating Statements of Earnings and Comprehensive Income (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Nov. 30, 2012	Nov. 30, 2011
Guarantor Obligations [Line Items]
Net sales	$ 377,248	$ 392,799
Cost of products sold	230,262	240,191
Gross profit	146,986	152,608
Selling, administrative and engineering expenses	87,830	88,109
Amortization of intangible assets	7,854	7,218
Operating profit	51,302	57,281
Financing costs, net	6,322	8,222
Other expense (income), net	364	657
Earnings before income tax expense	44,616	48,402
Income tax expense	8,273	11,228
Net earnings before equity in earnings of subsidiaries	36,343	37,174
Net earnings	36,343	37,174
Comprehensive income	48,518	4,788
Parent
Guarantor Obligations [Line Items]
Net sales	45,838	48,520
Cost of products sold	12,408	15,279
Gross profit	33,430	33,241
Selling, administrative and engineering expenses	17,453	20,666
Amortization of intangible assets	321	335
Operating profit	15,656	12,240
Financing costs, net	6,358	8,237
Intercompany expense (income), net	(7,270)	(7,491)
Other expense (income), net	(364)	193
Earnings before income tax expense	16,932	11,301
Income tax expense	3,140	2,622
Net earnings before equity in earnings of subsidiaries	13,792	8,679
Equity in earnings (loss) of subsidiaries	22,551	28,495
Net earnings	36,343	37,174
Comprehensive income	48,518	4,788
Guarantors
Guarantor Obligations [Line Items]
Net sales	124,117	136,441
Cost of products sold	87,868	94,632
Gross profit	36,249	41,809
Selling, administrative and engineering expenses	25,040	26,262
Amortization of intangible assets	3,449	3,420
Operating profit	7,760	12,127
Financing costs, net	5	3
Intercompany expense (income), net	1,955	566
Other expense (income), net	(316)	344
Earnings before income tax expense	6,116	11,214
Income tax expense	1,134	2,601
Net earnings before equity in earnings of subsidiaries	4,982	8,613
Equity in earnings (loss) of subsidiaries	17,899	16,794
Net earnings	22,881	25,407
Comprehensive income	28,858	8,339
Non-Guarantors
Guarantor Obligations [Line Items]
Net sales	207,293	207,838
Cost of products sold	129,986	130,280
Gross profit	77,307	77,558
Selling, administrative and engineering expenses	45,337	41,181
Amortization of intangible assets	4,084	3,463
Operating profit	27,886	32,914
Financing costs, net	(41)	(18)
Intercompany expense (income), net	5,315	6,925
Other expense (income), net	1,044	120
Earnings before income tax expense	21,568	25,887
Income tax expense	3,999	6,005
Net earnings before equity in earnings of subsidiaries	17,569	19,882
Equity in earnings (loss) of subsidiaries	1,024	(488)
Net earnings	18,593	19,394
Comprehensive income	26,019	11,321
Eliminations
Guarantor Obligations [Line Items]
Equity in earnings (loss) of subsidiaries	(41,474)	(44,801)
Net earnings	(41,474)	(44,801)
Comprehensive income	$ (54,877)	$ (19,660)