Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Oct. 31, 2012	Oct. 31, 2011	Oct. 31, 2010
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income	$ 248,644	$ 175,430	$ 112,803
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization expense	111,214	98,149	94,001
Accrued litigation settlements	1,724	10,000	0
Share-based compensation expense	21,540	13,876	9,638
Loss on disposal of property, plant and equipment	4,265	12,068	7,840
Loss on extinguishment of debt and other	867	16,487	0
Deferred income taxes	(6,806)	(4,420)	(1,755)
Provision for doubtful accounts	(456)	527	(833)
Change in assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable	(4,956)	(2,684)	(24,789)
Inventories	(58,094)	(17,205)	34,978
Other assets	(7,924)	196	16,078
Accounts payable	13,575	5,185	8,644
Accrued liabilities	(12,258)	19,315	2,474
Accrued income taxes	(1,254)	(3,541)	468
Other long-term liabilities	5,040	12,898	8,116
Net cash provided by operating activities	315,121	336,281	267,663
Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchases of property, plant and equipment	(99,779)	(103,665)	(73,757)
Acquisitions of businesses, net of cash acquired, and other	(145,319)	(58,010)	(32,847)
Insurance proceeds received	6,624	0	0
Net cash used in investing activities	(238,474)	(161,675)	(106,604)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from long-term debt	1,262,469	1,416,523	564,114
Repayments and repurchase of long-term debt	(1,254,267)	(1,680,625)	(736,560)
Long-term debt acquisition costs	(1,323)	(9,617)	0
Repayment of capital lease	0	0	(10,000)
Net (repayments of) proceeds from short-term debt	(63,631)	21,319	12,108
Repurchase of common stock	(71,150)	0	0
Issuance of common stock for employee stock plans	55,053	82,035	11,096
Excess tax benefit from share-based compensation arrangements	10,760	2,895	407
Dividends on common stock	(2,857)	(2,816)	(2,732)
Purchase or Origio shares from noncontrolling interests	(2,158)	0	0
Payment of contingent consideration	(1,339)	(2,587)	0
Cash used in financing activities	(68,443)	(172,873)	(161,567)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents	(539)	(131)	149
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	7,665	1,602	(359)
Cash and cash equivalents - beginning of period	5,175	3,573	3,932
Cash and cash equivalents - end of period	12,840	5,175	3,573
Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information:
Interest, net of amounts capitalized	10,559	25,629	36,658
Income taxes	15,781	12,207	8,603
Litigation settlement charges	$ 10,000	$ 750	$ 27,000