Property, Plant and Equipment, net (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2014		Aug. 31, 2013		Aug. 31, 2012
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, plant and equipment, gross	$ 1,183,305,000		$ 1,162,415,000
Less: accumulated depreciation	(659,872,000)		(597,989,000)
Property, plant and equipment, net	523,433,000	[1]	564,426,000	[1]
Depreciation and amortization expense	75,000,000		78,000,000		77,000,000
Machinery and equipment
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, plant and equipment, gross	714,636,000		696,776,000
Land and improvements
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, plant and equipment, gross	261,447,000		251,793,000
Buildings and leasehold improvements
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, plant and equipment, gross	123,869,000		114,313,000
Office equipment
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, plant and equipment, gross	50,148,000		47,995,000
ERP systems
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, plant and equipment, gross	15,056,000		15,246,000
Construction in progress
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, plant and equipment, gross	$ 18,149,000		$ 36,292,000

[1] Property, plant and equipment, net includes $75 million and $85 million as of August 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively, at our Canadian locations.