Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net earnings	$ 200,507	$ 180,838	$ 181,452
Adjustments to reconcile net earnings to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	80,917	69,036	75,235
Loss (gain) due to settlements or curtailments of postretirement plan (Note 17)		47
Net (gain) loss on sales of assets	(3,604)	(4,431)	(626)
Stock-based compensation	17,282	15,122	14,255
Deferred income taxes	22,772	(52,744)	15,504
(Gain) loss on derivatives reclassified from accumulated comprehensive earnings into earnings	(72)	21	99
Proceeds from formation of joint venture (Note 4)	0	250,000	0
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable	(53,151)	(9,190)	14,845
Inventories	(10,857)	(17,658)	(8,824)
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	64,659	17,461	3,029
Current income taxes	3,323	(834)	(7,487)
Retirement benefit obligations	(2,932)	(3,416)	(4,537)
Other	(11,307)	(8,873)	13,045
Net cash provided by operating activities	307,537	435,379	295,990
Cash flows from investing activities:
Payments for purchase of property, plant and equipment	(92,336)	(175,692)	(286,612)
Proceeds from sale of assets	3,743	6,664	2,529
Proceeds from sales of short-term investments	5,313	0	0
Purchases of short-term investments	(8,586)	(4,918)	0
Net cash used in investing activities	(91,866)	(173,946)	(284,083)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Cash dividends paid	(29,745)	(26,606)	(24,646)
Proceeds from sales of treasury stock	14,195	15,892	8,400
Payments for repurchases of common stock	(71,751)	(125,541)	(158,762)
Borrowings on revolving lines of credit and short-term borrowings	1,506,000	695,000	999,971
Payments on revolving lines of credit and short-term borrowings	(1,630,100)	(890,896)	(856,610)
Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt		179,308
Payments of long-term debt and capital lease obligations	(412)	(107,287)
Payments of debt financing costs		(863)	(2,359)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	(211,813)	(260,993)	(34,006)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents	2,604	(1,552)	(10,986)
Net change in cash and cash equivalents	6,462	(1,112)	(33,085)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year	81,090	82,202	115,287
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	$ 87,552	$ 81,090	$ 82,202