Other Financial Data (Schedule Of Other Financial Data) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2010
Component of Operating Other Cost and Expense [Line Items]
Salaries and wages (including fringes)	$ 197,642	$ 187,214	$ 160,780
Maintenance and repairs	5,389	4,530	3,440
Research and development	39,238	42,101	36,234
Other engineering costs	17,646	11,490	13,250
Total R&D and other engineering costs	56,884	53,591	49,484
As a % of net sales	8.30%	7.70%	8.10%
Company-Sponsored [Member]
Component of Operating Other Cost and Expense [Line Items]
Research and development	30,067	33,574	32,199
Customer-Sponsored [Member]
Component of Operating Other Cost and Expense [Line Items]
Research and development	$ 9,171	$ 8,527	$ 4,035

- Definition

The aggregate costs incurred (1) in a planned search or critical investigation aimed at discovery of new knowledge with the hope that such knowledge will be useful in developing a new product or service, a new process or technique, or in bringing about a significant improvement to an existing product or process; or (2) to translate research findings or other knowledge into a plan or design for a new product or process or for a significant improvement to an existing product or process whether intended for sale or the entity's use, during the reporting period charged to research and development projects, including the costs of developing computer software up to the point in time of achieving technological feasibility, and costs allocated in accounting for a business combination to in-process projects deemed to have no alternative future use.

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