The aggregate expense charged against earnings to allocate the cost of intangible assets (nonphysical assets not used in production) in a systematic and rational manner to the periods expected to benefit from such assets. As a noncash expense, this element is added back to net income when calculating cash provided by or used in operations using the indirect method.

+ References+ Details

The percentage of ownership of common stock or equity participation in the investee accounted for under the equity method of accounting.

+ References+ Details

- Definition

Loss recognized during the period that results from the write-down of goodwill after comparing the implied fair value of reporting unit goodwill with the carrying amount of that goodwill. Goodwill is assessed at least annually for impairment.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 350

-SubTopic 20

-Section 50

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (e)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=14024403&loc=d3e13816-109267

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 142

-Paragraph 43

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 141R

-Paragraph 72

-Subparagraph d

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 142

-Paragraph 45

-Subparagraph e

-Clause 5

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 230

-SubTopic 10

-Section 45

-Paragraph 28

-Subparagraph (b)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6943989&loc=d3e3602-108585

Reference 6: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 142

-Paragraph 20

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 7: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 142

-Paragraph 47

-Subparagraph b

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 8: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 350

-SubTopic 20

-Section 50

-Paragraph 2

-Subparagraph (b)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=14024403&loc=d3e13854-109267

Reference 9: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 350

-SubTopic 20

-Section 45

-Paragraph 2

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6388280&loc=d3e13777-109266

+ Details

Intangible Assets (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
Intangible Assets (Details) (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2010
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Amortization of intangible assets	$ 2,599,000	$ 4,752,000	$ 4,477,000
Customer Relationships [Member]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Useful life of intangible asset	15 years
Trademarks [Member]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Useful life of intangible asset	15 years
Trade Names [Member]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Useful life of intangible asset	10 years
Non-Compete Agreements [Member]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Useful life of intangible asset	5 years
Supply Agreement [Member]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Useful life of intangible asset	15 years
Purchased Technology [Member] \| Maximum [Member]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Useful life of intangible asset	7 years
Purchased Technology [Member] \| Minimum [Member]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Useful life of intangible asset	6 years
Powell Canada [Member]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Loss on impairment of Goodwill			7,500,000
Loss on impairment of intangible assets		$ 7,200,000
Kazakhstan Joint Venture [Member]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Equity investment in Kazakhstan			50.00%