Operating segments (Tables)

9 Months Ended

Jul. 31, 2011

Operating segments (Tables) [Abstract]

Reportable segments

	Adhesive			Advanced		Industrial
	Dispensing			Technology		Coating
	Systems			Systems		Systems		Corporate			Total
Three months ended July 31, 2011
Net external sales	$	153,071		$	111,652	$	47,532	$	—		$	312,255
Operating profit (loss)		51,385			30,884		8,417		(12,030)	a		78,656
Three months ended July 31, 2010
Net external sales	$	135,517		$	102,980	$	40,624	$	—		$	279,121
Operating profit (loss)		43,763			26,572		5,004		(7,644)	b		67,695
Nine months ended July 31, 2011
Net external sales	$	449,479		$	321,339	$	131,323	$	—		$	902,141
Operating profit (loss)		157,230	c		87,726		19,125		(27,473)	a		236,608
Nine months ended July 31, 2010
Net external sales	$	382,681		$	267,888	$	100,800	$	—		$	751,369
Operating profit (loss)		119,661			58,940		6,834		(23,880)	b		161,555

Total consolidated income before income taxes

Three months ended	July 31, 2011			July 31, 2010
Total profit for reportable segments	$	78,656		$	67,695
Interest expense		(827	)		(1,580	)
Interest and investment income		190			170
Other-net		169			177
Income before income taxes	$	78,188		$	66,462

Nine months ended	July 31, 2011			July 31, 2010
Total profit for reportable segments	$	236,608		$	161,555
Interest expense		(3,560	)		(4,661	)
Interest and investment income		430			649
Other-net		2,896			700
Income before income taxes	$	236,374		$	158,243

Sales information by geographic area

Three months ended	July 31, 2011		July 31, 2010
United States	$	77,883	$	71,953
Americas		26,510		21,146
Europe		97,620		81,925
Japan		26,663		26,864
Asia Pacific		83,579		77,233
Total net sales	$	312,255	$	279,121

Nine months ended	July 31, 2011		July 31, 2010
United States	$	227,456	$	197,337
Americas		72,528		56,556
Europe		285,927		243,374
Japan		81,895		67,041
Asia Pacific		234,335		187,061
Total net sales	$	902,141	$	751,369