Condensed Consolidating Financial Information (Details 2) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Mar. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 63,613	$ 53,782	$ 38,080	$ 50,810
Trade receivables, net	73,157	102,006
Inventories	45,458	31,588
Current and deferred income taxes	10,432	10,873
Assets held for sale	0	5,864
Other	15,998	10,583
Total current assets	208,658	214,696
Property, plant and equipment, net	161,771	159,706
Other assets:
Intangible assets, net	154,708	143,911
Goodwill	132,176	116,671
Assets held for sale	0	7,807
Other	39,124	38,146
Total other assets	326,008	306,535
Total assets	696,437	680,937	659,923
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable	17,967	17,477
Accrued personnel costs	34,041	47,048
Accrued interest	16,211	16,267
Current and deferred income taxes	0	790
Liabilities associated with assets held for sale	0	8,640
Other accrued liabilities	44,400	50,946
Current portion of long-term debt	38,085	0
Total current liabilities	150,704	141,168
Long-term liabilities:
Long-term debt	449,341	500,539
Income taxes	19,214	22,079
Liabilities associated with assets held for sale	0	9,966
Other	15,207	10,314
Total long-term liabilities	483,762	542,898
Total liabilities	634,466	684,066
Stockholders' equity (net capital deficiency):
Common stock	73	61
Capital in excess of par value	719,462	640,047
Retained earnings (accumulated deficit)	(657,241)	(643,109)
Treasury stock	(323)	(128)
Total stockholders' equity (net capital deficiency)	61,971	(3,129)
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity (net capital deficiency)	696,437	680,937
Guarantor Subsidiaries
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	52,903	44,111	23,786	36,122
Trade receivables, net	73,157	102,006
Inventories	45,458	31,588
Current and deferred income taxes	15,222	16,168
Assets held for sale		5,864
Other	14,890	10,426
Total current assets	201,630	210,163
Property, plant and equipment, net	158,465	157,477
Other assets:
Intangible assets, net	154,708	143,911
Goodwill	132,176	116,671
Assets held for sale		7,807
Investments in subsidiaries and intercompany accounts	336,788	362,569
Deferred income taxes	68,993	70,285
Other	17,331	15,645
Total other assets	709,996	716,888
Total assets	1,070,091	1,084,528
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable	17,941	17,389
Accrued personnel costs	8,820	14,678
Current and deferred income taxes	20,469	19,232
Liabilities associated with assets held for sale		8,640
Other accrued liabilities	42,574	48,760
Total current liabilities	89,804	108,699
Long-term liabilities:
Income taxes	86,682	89,025
Liabilities associated with assets held for sale		9,966
Intercompany notes	637,046	637,046
Other	8,155	4,100
Total long-term liabilities	731,883	740,137
Total liabilities	821,687	848,836
Stockholders' equity (net capital deficiency):
Capital in excess of par value	458,498	458,498
Retained earnings (accumulated deficit)	(210,094)	(222,806)
Total stockholders' equity (net capital deficiency)	248,404	235,692
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity (net capital deficiency)	1,070,091	1,084,528
Parent Company
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	10,710	9,671	14,294	14,688
Current and deferred income taxes	32,019	17,827
Other	1,108	157
Total current assets	43,837	27,655
Property, plant and equipment, net	3,306	2,229
Other assets:
Investments in subsidiaries and intercompany accounts	121,710	95,929
Intercompany notes	637,046	637,046
Deferred income taxes	18,994	18,309
Other	21,793	22,501
Total other assets	799,543	773,785
Total assets	846,686	803,669
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable	26	88
Accrued personnel costs	25,221	32,370
Accrued interest	16,211	16,267
Current and deferred income taxes	16,340	4,680
Other accrued liabilities	1,826	2,186
Current portion of long-term debt	38,085
Total current liabilities	97,709	55,591
Long-term liabilities:
Long-term debt	449,341	500,539
Income taxes	20,519	21,648
Other	7,052	6,214
Total long-term liabilities	476,912	528,401
Total liabilities	574,621	583,992
Stockholders' equity (net capital deficiency):
Common stock	73	61
Capital in excess of par value	719,462	640,047
Retained earnings (accumulated deficit)	(447,147)	(420,303)
Treasury stock	(323)	(128)
Total stockholders' equity (net capital deficiency)	272,065	219,677
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity (net capital deficiency)	846,686	803,669
Eliminations and Reclassifications
Current assets:
Current and deferred income taxes	(36,809)	(23,122)
Total current assets	(36,809)	(23,122)
Other assets:
Investments in subsidiaries and intercompany accounts	(458,498)	(458,498)
Intercompany notes	(637,046)	(637,046)
Deferred income taxes	(87,987)	(88,594)
Total other assets	(1,183,531)	(1,184,138)
Total assets	(1,220,340)	(1,207,260)
Current liabilities:
Current and deferred income taxes	(36,809)	(23,122)
Total current liabilities	(36,809)	(23,122)
Long-term liabilities:
Income taxes	(87,987)	(88,594)
Intercompany notes	(637,046)	(637,046)
Total long-term liabilities	(725,033)	(725,640)
Total liabilities	(761,842)	(748,762)
Stockholders' equity (net capital deficiency):
Capital in excess of par value	(458,498)	(458,498)
Total stockholders' equity (net capital deficiency)	(458,498)	(458,498)
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity (net capital deficiency)	$ (1,220,340)	$ (1,207,260)