Gross Carrying Amount and Accumulated Amortization of Other Intangible Assets (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	6 Months Ended
Feb. 28, 2015	Aug. 31, 2014
Indefinite And Finite Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Accumulated Amortization	$ 154,523	$ 148,184
Other intangibles, gross	479,390	513,361
Other intangibles, net	324,867	365,177
Tradenames
Indefinite And Finite Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Gross Carrying Value	113,264	125,905
Customer relationships
Indefinite And Finite Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Weighted Average Amortization Period (Years)	15 years
Gross Carrying Value	306,159	325,164
Accumulated Amortization	122,912	117,706
Net Book Value	183,247	207,458
Patents
Indefinite And Finite Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Weighted Average Amortization Period (Years)	10 years
Gross Carrying Value	30,960	31,678
Accumulated Amortization	18,580	17,494
Net Book Value	12,380	14,184
Trademarks and tradenames
Indefinite And Finite Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Weighted Average Amortization Period (Years)	18 years
Gross Carrying Value	22,106	23,241
Accumulated Amortization	6,534	6,201
Net Book Value	15,572	17,040
Other intangibles
Indefinite And Finite Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Weighted Average Amortization Period (Years)	3 years
Gross Carrying Value	6,901	7,373
Accumulated Amortization	6,497	6,783
Net Book Value	$ 404	$ 590

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Accumulated amount of amortization of assets, excluding financial assets and goodwill, lacking physical substance with a finite life.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 350

-SubTopic 30

-Section 50

-Paragraph 2

-Subparagraph (a)(1)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=26713463&loc=d3e16323-109275

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Amount before amortization of assets, excluding financial assets and goodwill, lacking physical substance with a finite life.

+ References

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- Definition

Amount after amortization of assets, excluding financial assets and goodwill, lacking physical substance with a finite life.

+ References

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Useful life of finite-lived intangible assets, in 'PnYnMnDTnHnMnS' format, for example, 'P1Y5M13D' represents the reported fact of one year, five months, and thirteen days.

+ References

No definition available.

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Amount of assets, excluding financial assets and goodwill, lacking physical substance and having a projected indefinite period of benefit.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 350

-SubTopic 30

-Section 50

-Paragraph 2

-Subparagraph (b)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=26713463&loc=d3e16323-109275

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- Definition

Amount before accumulated amortization of intangible assets, excluding goodwill.

+ References

No definition available.

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- Definition

Sum of the carrying amounts of all intangible assets, excluding goodwill, as of the balance sheet date, net of accumulated amortization and impairment charges.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 350

-SubTopic 30

-Section 45

-Paragraph 1

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6388964&loc=d3e16212-109274

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-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 350

-SubTopic 30

-Section 50

-Paragraph 2

-Subparagraph ((a)(1),(b))

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=26713463&loc=d3e16323-109275

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