Goodwill and intangible assets (Tables)

6 Months Ended

Jan. 31, 2017

Goodwill and Intangible Assets Disclosure [Abstract]

Schedule of Indefinite-Lived Intangible Assets [Table Text Block]

The Company’s change in the net carrying amount of intangible assets, all in the Life Sciences segment is as follows:

	Gross			Accumulated Amortization			Net
July 31, 2016	$	27,650		$	(23,228	)	$	4,422
Amortization expense		—			(819	)		(819	)
Foreign currency translation		(203	)		160			(43	)
January 31, 2017	$	27,447		$	(23,887	)	$	3,560

Schedule of Intangible Assets [Table Text Block]

Intangible assets, all finite lived, consist of the following:

	January 31, 2017							July 31, 2016
	Gross		Accumulated Amortization			Net		Gross		Accumulated Amortization			Net
Patents	$	11,026	$	(10,922	)	$	104	$	11,027	$	(10,905	)	$	122
Customer relationships		12,007		(8,739	)		3,268		12,122		(8,331	)		3,791
Website and acquired content		1,005		(1,005	)		—		1,011		(1,011	)		—
Licensed technology and other		475		(440	)		35		485		(437	)		48
Trademarks		2,934		(2,781	)		153		3,005		(2,544	)		461
Total	$	27,447	$	(23,887	)	$	3,560	$	27,650	$	(23,228	)	$	4,422

Schedule of Useful Lives For Acquisitions [Table Text Block]

At January 31, 2017, information with respect to intangibles assets acquired is as follows:

	Useful life assigned	Weighted average remaining useful life
Customer relationships	8-15 years	3.5 years
Trademarks	5 years	0.5 year
Other intangibles	10 years	2.5 years