Condensed Consolidating Financial Information (Details 2) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2010	Sep. 30, 2009
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 53,782	$ 50,810	$ 90,984	$ 15,934
Trade receivables, net	102,006	90,931
Inventories	31,588	33,247
Current and deferred income taxes	10,873	3,087
Assets held for sale	5,864	6,777
Other	10,583	6,954
Total current assets	214,696	191,806
Property, plant and equipment, net	159,706	164,709
Other assets:
Intangible assets, net	143,911	164,221
Goodwill	116,671	116,671	115,999
Assets held for sale	7,807	24,446
Other	38,146	66,384
Total other assets	306,535	371,722
Total assets	680,937	728,237	888,974
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable	17,477	18,979
Accrued personnel costs	47,048	23,030
Accrued interest	16,267	18,336
Liabilities associated with assets held for sale	8,640	7,470
Current and deferred income taxes	790
Other accrued liabilities	50,946	45,387
Current portion of long-term debt	0	9,014
Total current liabilities	141,168	122,216
Long-term liabilities:
Long-term debt	500,539	518,789
Income taxes	22,079	15,909
Liabilities associated with assets held for sale	9,966	5,507
Other	10,314	9,080
Total long-term liabilities	542,898	549,285
Total liabilities	684,066	671,501
Stockholders' equity (net capital deficiency):
Common stock	61	61
Capital in excess of par value	640,047	637,547
Retained earnings (accumulated deficit)	(643,109)	(580,861)
Treasury stock and other	(128)	(11)
Total stockholders' equity (net capital deficiency)	(3,129)	56,736	281,941	324,720
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity (net capital deficiency)	680,937	728,237
Guarantor Subsidiaries
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	44,111	36,122	21,168	(2,947)
Trade receivables, net	102,006	90,931
Inventories	31,588	33,247
Current and deferred income taxes	16,168	13,734
Assets held for sale	5,864	6,777
Other	10,426	6,617
Total current assets	210,163	187,428
Property, plant and equipment, net	157,477	164,446
Other assets:
Intangible assets, net	143,911	164,221
Goodwill	116,671	116,671
Assets held for sale	7,807	22,446
Investments in subsidiaries and intercompany accounts	362,569	311,527
Intercompany notes	(637,046)	(637,046)
Deferred income taxes	70,285	89,158
Other	15,645	43,639
Total other assets	79,842	110,616
Total assets	447,482	462,490
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable	17,389	18,397
Accrued personnel costs	14,678	10,677
Liabilities associated with assets held for sale	8,640	7,470
Current and deferred income taxes	19,232	24,569
Other accrued liabilities	48,760	43,544
Total current liabilities	108,699	104,657
Long-term liabilities:
Income taxes	89,025	99,951
Liabilities associated with assets held for sale	9,966	5,507
Other	4,100	3,158
Total long-term liabilities	103,091	108,616
Total liabilities	211,790	213,273
Stockholders' equity (net capital deficiency):
Common stock		209,346
Capital in excess of par value	458,498	249,152
Retained earnings (accumulated deficit)	(222,806)	(209,270)
Treasury stock and other		(11)
Total stockholders' equity (net capital deficiency)	235,692	249,217
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity (net capital deficiency)	447,482	462,490
Parent Company
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	9,671	14,688	69,816	18,881
Current and deferred income taxes	17,827	12,720
Other	157	337
Total current assets	27,655	27,745
Property, plant and equipment, net	2,229	263
Other assets:
Assets held for sale		2,000
Investments in subsidiaries and intercompany accounts	95,929	146,971
Intercompany notes	637,046	637,046
Deferred income taxes	18,309	21,670
Other	22,501	22,745
Total other assets	773,785	830,432
Total assets	803,669	858,440
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable	88	582
Accrued personnel costs	32,370	12,353
Accrued interest	16,267	18,336
Current and deferred income taxes	4,680	(1,202)
Other accrued liabilities	2,186	1,843
Current portion of long-term debt		9,014
Total current liabilities	55,591	40,926
Long-term liabilities:
Long-term debt	500,539	518,789
Income taxes	21,648	26,786
Other	6,214	5,922
Total long-term liabilities	528,401	551,497
Total liabilities	583,992	592,423
Stockholders' equity (net capital deficiency):
Common stock	61	61
Capital in excess of par value	640,047	637,547
Retained earnings (accumulated deficit)	(420,303)	(371,591)
Treasury stock and other	(128)
Total stockholders' equity (net capital deficiency)	219,677	266,017
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity (net capital deficiency)	803,669	858,440
Eliminations and Reclassifications
Current assets:
Current and deferred income taxes	(23,122)	(23,367)
Total current assets	(23,122)	(23,367)
Other assets:
Investments in subsidiaries and intercompany accounts	(458,498)	(458,498)
Deferred income taxes	(88,594)	(110,828)
Total other assets	(547,092)	(569,326)
Total assets	(570,214)	(592,693)
Current liabilities:
Current and deferred income taxes	(23,122)	(23,367)
Total current liabilities	(23,122)	(23,367)
Long-term liabilities:
Income taxes	(88,594)	(110,828)
Total long-term liabilities	(88,594)	(110,828)
Total liabilities	(111,716)	(134,195)
Stockholders' equity (net capital deficiency):
Common stock		(209,346)
Capital in excess of par value	(458,498)	(249,152)
Total stockholders' equity (net capital deficiency)	(458,498)	(458,498)
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity (net capital deficiency)	$ (570,214)	$ (592,693)