Property, Plant and Equipment, net

12 Months Ended

Aug. 31, 2011

Property, Plant and Equipment, Net [Abstract]

Property, plant and equipment, net consisted of the following as of August 31 (in thousands):



	2011			2010
Machinery and equipment	$	640,573		$	533,373
Land and improvements	216,230			190,673
Buildings and leasehold improvements	85,131			62,663
Office equipment	40,580			32,380
ERP systems	14,087			13,773
Construction in progress	29,988			39,039
Property, plant and equipment, gross	1,026,589			871,901
Less: accumulated depreciation	(471,305		)	(411,091		)
Property, plant and equipment, net	$	555,284		$	460,810

Depreciation expense for property, plant and equipment, which includes amortization of assets under capital leases, was $68 million, $57 million and $56 million for the years ended August 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009, respectively.

- Definition

The entire disclosure for long-lived, physical assets that are used in the normal conduct of business to produce goods and services and not intended for resale. Examples include land, buildings, machinery and equipment, and other types of furniture and equipment including, but not limited to, office equipment, furniture and fixtures, and computer equipment and software. This disclosure may include property plant and equipment accounting policies and methodology, a schedule of property, plant and equipment gross, additions, deletions, transfers and other changes, depreciation, depletion and amortization expense, net, accumulated depreciation, depletion and amortization expense and useful lives, income statement disclosures, assets held for sale and public utility disclosures.

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