Income taxes (Details 2) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
Oct. 31, 2011	Oct. 31, 2010	Oct. 31, 2009
Income taxes computed at the U.S. statutory rate and income tax
Tax at statutory rate of 35%	$ 110,096	$ 80,962	$ (44,517)
Impact of goodwill charge			79,064
Domestic Production Deduction	(5,530)	(1,737)	(1,134)
Foreign tax rate variances, net of foreign tax credits	(7,906)	(10,550)	1,279
State and local taxes, net of federal income tax benefit	1,310	(1,828)	1,160
Tax expense related to tax law change		5,249
Tax benefit from sale of UV product lines		(10,243)
Amounts related to prior years	(4,123)	776	(3,283)
Other - net	(1,650)	642	295
Total income tax expense	$ 92,197	$ 63,271	$ 32,864

Income tax reconciliation tax expense related to tax law change.

No definition available.

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- Definition

The sum of the current income tax expense (benefit) and the deferred income tax expense (benefit) pertaining to continuing operations.

+ References

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

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 08

-Paragraph h

-Article 4

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 109

-Paragraph 45

-Subparagraph a, b

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- Definition

The portion of the difference between total income tax expense (benefit) as reported in the Income Statement for the period and the expected income tax expense (benefit) computed by applying the domestic federal statutory income tax rates to pretax income from continuing operations attributable to the deduction for qualified production activities received under enacted tax laws.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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- Definition

The portion of the difference between total income tax expense (benefit) as reported in the Income Statement and the expected income tax expense (benefit) computed by applying the domestic federal statutory income tax rates to pretax income from continuing operations attributable to the disposition of a business (not qualifying for treatment as a discontinued operation) in the period.

+ References

No definition available.

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- Definition

The portion of the difference, between total income tax expense (benefit) as reported in the Income Statement for the period and the expected income tax expense (benefit) computed by applying the domestic federal statutory income tax rates to pretax income from continuing operations, that is attributable to total foreign income tax expense (benefit). The foreign income tax expense (benefit) difference represents the income tax expense (benefit) at applicable domestic statutory income tax rates applied to foreign earnings (loss) for the period versus the foreign income tax expense (benefit) calculated by applying the appropriate foreign tax rates.

+ References

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

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 08

-Paragraph h

-Subparagraph 1

-Article 4

+ Details

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- Definition

The amount of income tax expense (benefit) for the period computed by applying the domestic federal statutory tax rates to pretax income from continuing operations.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 109

-Paragraph 47

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 08

-Paragraph h

-Subparagraph 2

-Article 4

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- Definition

The portion of the difference between total income tax expense (benefit) as reported in the Income Statement for the period and the expected income tax expense (benefit) computed by applying the domestic federal statutory income tax rates to pretax income from continuing operations attributable to nondeductible impairment losses under enacted tax laws.

+ References

No definition available.

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- Definition

The sum of other amounts reflected in the reconciliation of the statutory tax provision (benefit) to the actual tax provision (benefit).

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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- Definition

The portion of the difference between total income tax expense (benefit) as reported in the Income Statement for the current period and the expected income tax expense (benefit) computed attributable to revisions of previously reported income tax expense.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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- Definition

+ References

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

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 08

-Paragraph h

-Subparagraph 1

-Article 4

+ Details

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