Property, Plant and Equipment, net (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Aug. 31, 2011

Property, Plant and Equipment, Net [Abstract]

Schedule Of Property Plant And Equipment [Table Text Block]

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