Property, Plant and Equipment, net (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		12 Months Ended
		Aug. 31, 2015	Aug. 31, 2014	Aug. 31, 2013
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, plant and equipment, gross		$ 1,106,589	$ 1,183,305
Less: accumulated depreciation		(679,035)	(659,872)
Property, plant and equipment, net	[1]	427,554	523,433
Depreciation and amortization expense		66,000	75,000	$ 78,000
Depreciation and Amortization, Discontinued Operations		1,000	1,000	$ 1,000
Machinery and equipment
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, plant and equipment, gross		662,018	714,636
Land and improvements
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, plant and equipment, gross		250,545	261,447
Building and Leasehold Improvements
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, plant and equipment, gross		106,804	123,869
Office equipment
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, plant and equipment, gross		50,083	50,148
ERP systems
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, plant and equipment, gross		17,340	15,056
Construction in progress
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, plant and equipment, gross		$ 19,799	$ 18,149

[1] Property, plant and equipment, net includes $29 million and $75 million as of August 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively, at our Canadian locations.