Summary of Financial Information by Reportable Segment and Product Line (Details) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended			9 Months Ended
	May 31, 2017 USD ($)	May 31, 2016 USD ($)	Feb. 29, 2016 USD ($)	May 31, 2017 USD ($) Segment	May 31, 2016 USD ($)	Aug. 31, 2016 USD ($)
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Asset Impairment Charges	$ 0	$ 0	$ 186,511	$ 0	$ 186,511
Number of reportable segments | Segment				3
Net sales	295,427	305,341		$ 820,089	873,641
Operating profit (Loss)	27,332	28,343		49,003	(118,401)
Assets	1,488,039			1,488,039		$ 1,438,660
Industrial Tools [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	87,404	81,770		245,122	233,599
Industrial
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	100,503	95,750		279,441	265,809
Operating profit (Loss)	23,705	21,712		60,860	58,994
Assets	308,148			308,148		308,222
Heavy Lifting Technology [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	13,099	13,980		34,319	32,210
Energy
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Asset Impairment Charges					140,900
Net sales	83,480	101,300		241,010	301,288
Operating profit (Loss)	905	10,870		3,537	(115,803)
Assets	501,528			501,528		479,169
Energy Maintenance & Integrity
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	59,905	73,377		176,316	210,762
Other Energy Solutions [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	23,575	27,923		64,694	90,526
Engineered Solutions
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Asset Impairment Charges					45,700
Net sales	111,444	108,291		299,638	306,544
Operating profit (Loss)	8,105	3,651		10,676	(37,943)
Assets	511,391			511,391		493,840
On-Highway
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	57,710	58,440		159,952	161,949
Agriculture, Off-Highway and Other
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	53,734	49,851		139,686	144,595
General Corporate
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating profit (Loss)	(5,383)	$ (7,890)		(26,070)	$ (23,649)
Assets	$ 166,972			$ 166,972		$ 157,429