Segment Information (Details 1) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2013	Sep. 01, 2012	Aug. 31, 2013 segments	Sep. 01, 2012	Dec. 01, 2012
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Number of reportable segments			3
Net sales	$ 289,126	$ 286,733	$ 832,980	$ 828,852
Operating profit	41,985	46,181	125,201	129,604
Other income (expense), net	235	(206)	7	404
Earnings before income taxes	42,220	45,975	125,208	130,008
Identifiable assets	1,235,744		1,235,744		1,205,502
Operating Segments [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	289,126	286,733	832,980	828,852
Operating profit	41,985	46,181	125,201	129,604
Operating Segments [Member] | Engine Mobile Filtration [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	129,148	126,903	379,195	377,863
Operating profit	28,611	28,478	81,156	81,403
Identifiable assets	389,296		389,296		372,011
Operating Segments [Member] | Industrial Environmental Filtration [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	139,659	138,532	398,945	394,275
Operating profit	11,315	15,741	39,404	44,193
Identifiable assets	701,511		701,511		706,610
Operating Segments [Member] | Packaging [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	20,319	21,298	54,840	56,714
Operating profit	2,059	1,962	4,641	4,008
Identifiable assets	41,818		41,818		36,350
Corporate and Reconciling Items [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Other income (expense), net	235	(206)	7	404
Corporate, Non-Segment [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Identifiable assets	$ 103,119		$ 103,119		$ 90,531