Condensed Consolidating Financial Information (Details 2) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011	Mar. 31, 2011	Sep. 30, 2010
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 38,080	$ 50,810	$ 50,689	$ 90,984
Trade receivables, net	69,089	90,931
Inventories	35,328	33,247
Current and deferred income taxes	2,035	3,087
Assets held for sale	4,776	6,777
Other	13,880	6,954
Total current assets	163,188	191,806
Property, plant and equipment, net	159,187	164,709
Other assets:
Intangible assets, net	153,758	164,221
Goodwill	116,671	116,671
Assets held for sale	25,366	24,446
Other	41,753	66,384
Total other assets	337,548	371,722
Total assets	659,923	728,237	766,815
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable	14,531	18,979
Accrued personnel costs	22,835	23,030
Accrued interest	16,307	18,336
Current and deferred income taxes	2,878
Liabilities held for sale	8,062	7,470
Other accrued liabilities	37,157	45,387
Current portion of long-term debt	9,178	9,014
Total current liabilities	110,948	122,216
Long-term liabilities:
Long-term debt	502,787	518,789
Deferred income taxes	4,370	4,216
Unrecognized income tax benefits	10,858	11,693
Liabilities held for sale	7,587	5,507
Other	9,655	9,080
Total long-term liabilities	535,257	549,285
Total liabilities	646,205	671,501
Stockholders' equity:
Common stock	61	61
Capital in excess of par value	638,824	637,547
Retained earnings (accumulated deficit)	(625,167)	(580,861)
Other	0	(11)
Total stockholders' equity	13,718	56,736
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	659,923	728,237
Guarantor Subsidiaries
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	23,786	36,122	23,246	21,168
Trade receivables, net	69,089	90,931
Inventories	35,328	33,247
Current and deferred income taxes	13,806	13,734
Assets held for sale	4,776	6,777
Other	3,412	6,617
Total current assets	150,197	187,428
Property, plant and equipment, net	158,748	164,446
Other assets:
Intangible assets, net	153,758	164,221
Goodwill	116,671	116,671
Assets held for sale	25,366	22,446
Investments in subsidiaries and intercompany accounts	358,926	321,026
Intercompany notes	(637,046)	(637,046)
Deferred income taxes	81,586	89,158
Other	19,212	19,263
Total other assets	118,473	95,739
Total assets	427,418	447,613
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable	13,782	18,397
Accrued personnel costs	9,600	10,677
Current and deferred income taxes	15,903	21,981
Liabilities held for sale	8,062	7,470
Other accrued liabilities	35,645	43,544
Total current liabilities	82,992	102,069
Long-term liabilities:
Deferred income taxes	89,087	92,752
Unrecognized income tax benefits	7,063	7,226
Liabilities held for sale	7,587	5,507
Other	2,803	3,158
Total long-term liabilities	106,540	108,643
Total liabilities	189,532	210,712
Stockholders' equity:
Common stock	213,812	209,346
Capital in excess of par value	245,341	249,152
Retained earnings (accumulated deficit)	(221,267)	(221,597)
Total stockholders' equity	237,886	236,901
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	427,418	447,613
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	0	0	0	0
Other assets:
Investments in subsidiaries and intercompany accounts	9,023	(9,499)
Other		24,376
Total other assets	9,023	14,877
Total assets	9,023	14,877
Current liabilities:
Current and deferred income taxes	3,518	2,588
Total current liabilities	3,518	2,588
Long-term liabilities:
Deferred income taxes		(27)
Unrecognized income tax benefits	13
Total long-term liabilities	13	(27)
Total liabilities	3,531	2,561
Stockholders' equity:
Retained earnings (accumulated deficit)	5,492	12,327
Other		(11)
Total stockholders' equity	5,492	12,316
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	9,023	14,877
Parent Company
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	14,294	14,688	27,443	69,816
Current and deferred income taxes	8,952	12,720
Other	10,468	337
Total current assets	33,714	27,745
Property, plant and equipment, net	439	263
Other assets:
Assets held for sale		2,000
Investments in subsidiaries and intercompany accounts	91,204	146,971
Intercompany notes	637,046	637,046
Deferred income taxes	23,830	21,670
Other	22,541	22,745
Total other assets	774,621	830,432
Total assets	808,774	858,440
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable	749	582
Accrued personnel costs	13,235	12,353
Accrued interest	16,307	18,336
Current and deferred income taxes	4,180	(1,202)
Other accrued liabilities	1,512	1,843
Current portion of long-term debt	9,178	9,014
Total current liabilities	45,161	40,926
Long-term liabilities:
Long-term debt	502,787	518,789
Deferred income taxes	20,699	22,319
Unrecognized income tax benefits	3,782	4,467
Other	6,852	5,922
Total long-term liabilities	534,120	551,497
Total liabilities	579,281	592,423
Stockholders' equity:
Common stock	61	61
Capital in excess of par value	638,824	637,547
Retained earnings (accumulated deficit)	(409,392)	(371,591)
Total stockholders' equity	229,493	266,017
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	808,774	858,440
Eliminations and Reclassifications
Current assets:
Current and deferred income taxes	(20,723)	(23,367)
Total current assets	(20,723)	(23,367)
Other assets:
Investments in subsidiaries and intercompany accounts	(459,153)	(458,498)
Deferred income taxes	(105,416)	(110,828)
Total other assets	(564,569)	(569,326)
Total assets	(585,292)	(592,693)
Current liabilities:
Current and deferred income taxes	(20,723)	(23,367)
Total current liabilities	(20,723)	(23,367)
Long-term liabilities:
Deferred income taxes	(105,416)	(110,828)
Total long-term liabilities	(105,416)	(110,828)
Total liabilities	(126,139)	(134,195)
Stockholders' equity:
Common stock	(213,812)	(209,346)
Capital in excess of par value	(245,341)	(249,152)
Total stockholders' equity	(459,153)	(458,498)
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	$ (585,292)	$ (592,693)