CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
Net sales	$ 812,970	$ 771,582	$ 685,740
Costs and expenses:
Cost of sales	508,521	490,397	436,918
Selling, general and administrative expenses	172,109	162,431	148,433
Amortization of intangible assets	19,488	18,328	16,338
Interest expense, net	8,396	8,748	4,578
Other expenses (income), net	2,240	3,655	(680)
Total costs and expenses	710,754	683,559	605,587
Earnings before income tax	102,216	88,023	80,153
Income tax expense (benefit)	21,177	(4,113)	26,450
Net earnings	$ 81,039	$ 92,136	$ 53,703
Earnings per share:
Basic - Net earnings	$ 3.12	$ 3.56	$ 2.08
Diluted - Net earnings	$ 3.10	$ 3.54	$ 2.07
Average common shares outstanding (in thousands):
Basic	25,946	25,874	25,774
Diluted	26,097	26,058	25,995