Gross Carrying Amount and Accumulated Amortization of Other Intangible Assets (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	May 31, 2017	Aug. 31, 2016
Indefinite And Finite Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Accumulated Amortization	$ 216,707	$ 202,311
Other intangibles, gross	439,993	441,786
Other intangibles, net	223,286	239,475
Tradenames
Indefinite And Finite Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Accumulated Amortization	0	0
Gross Carrying Value	$ 90,651	90,909
Customer relationships
Indefinite And Finite Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Weighted Average Amortization Period (Years)	15 years
Gross Carrying Value	$ 291,307	292,671
Accumulated Amortization	178,168	166,252
Net Book Value	$ 113,139	126,419
Patents
Indefinite And Finite Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Weighted Average Amortization Period (Years)	11 years
Gross Carrying Value	$ 30,204	30,296
Accumulated Amortization	23,558	22,233
Net Book Value	$ 6,646	8,063
Trademarks and tradenames
Indefinite And Finite Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Weighted Average Amortization Period (Years)	18 years
Gross Carrying Value	$ 21,236	21,283
Accumulated Amortization	8,891	7,936
Net Book Value	$ 12,345	13,347
Other intangibles
Indefinite And Finite Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Weighted Average Amortization Period (Years)	3 years
Gross Carrying Value	$ 6,595	6,627
Accumulated Amortization	6,090	5,890
Net Book Value	$ 505	$ 737