Income taxes (Details 3) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Oct. 31, 2011	Oct. 31, 2010
Deferred tax assets:
Sales to international subsidiaries and related consolidation adjustments	$ 10,315	$ 8,919
Employee benefits	79,027	63,520
Other accruals not currently deductible for taxes	12,114	11,681
Tax credit and loss carryforwards	10,812	5,664
Inventory adjustments	4,085	3,585
Translation of foreign currency accounts	716	316
Other - net		268
Total deferred tax assets	117,069	93,953
Valuation allowance	(4,287)	(5,729)
Total deferred tax assets	112,782	88,224
Deferred tax liabilities:
Depreciation and Amortization	94,487	64,198
Translation of foreign currency accounts	17
Other - net		195
Total deferred tax liabilities	94,504	64,393
Net deferred tax assets	$ 18,278	$ 23,831

Deferred tax assets on sales to international subsidiaries and related consolidation adjustments.

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- Definition

The sum of the tax effects as of the balance sheet date of the amount of excesses of tax deductions over gross income in a year which cannot be used on the tax returns in the current year but can be carried forward to reduce taxable income or income taxes payable in a future year, for which there must be sufficient tax-basis income to utilize a portion or all of the carryforward amount to realize the deferred tax asset, plus the tax effect as of the balance sheet date of the amount of future tax deductions arising from all unused tax credit carryforwards.

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The amount as of the balance sheet date of the estimated future tax effects attributable to the difference between the tax basis of capital assets and the basis of capital assets computed in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. The difference in basis, attributable to different capitalization of costs, depreciation, or amortization methodologies, will increase future taxable income when such basis difference is realized. Capital assets include but are not limited to assets such as land, real estate, leasehold improvements, machinery and equipment and furniture and fixtures, plus the amount as of the balance sheet date of the estimated future tax effects attributable to the difference between the tax basis of other long-lived assets and the basis of long-lived assets computed in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. The basis difference, whether due to impairment charges or other reasons, will increase future taxable income when it reverses.

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The sum of the tax effects as of the balance sheet date of the amounts of all future tax deductions arising from temporary differences between tax basis and generally accepted accounting principles basis recognition of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses, which can only be deducted for tax purposes when permitted under enacted tax laws ( before the valuation allowance, if any, to reduce such sum amount to net realizable value). Includes any tax benefit realized in deferred tax assets for significant impacts of tax planning strategies.

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The tax effect as of the balance sheet date of the amount of the estimated future tax deductions attributable to inventory related items which can only be realized if sufficient taxable income is generated in future periods to enable the deduction to be taken.

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For entities that net deferred tax assets and tax liabilities, represents the unclassified net amount of deferred tax assets and liabilities as of the balance sheet date, which result from applying the applicable enacted tax rate to net temporary differences and carryforwards pertaining to assets or liabilities. A temporary difference is a difference between the tax basis of an asset or liability and its carrying amount in the financial statements prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles that will reverse in ensuing periods.

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The aggregate tax effects as of the balance sheet date of all future tax deductions arising from temporary differences between tax basis and generally accepted accounting principles basis recognition of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses, which can only be deducted for tax purposes when permitted under enacted tax laws; net of deducting the allocated valuation allowance, if any, to reduce such amount to net realizable value.

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The tax effect as of the balance sheet date of the amount of estimated future tax deductions arising from other temporary differences not otherwise specified in the taxonomy.

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The sum of the tax effects as of the balance sheet date of the amount of the estimated future tax deductions arising from all employee compensation and benefits costs, which can only be deducted for tax purposes when the actual costs are incurred, and which can only be realized if sufficient tax-basis income is generated in future periods to enable the deduction to be taken.

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The tax effect as of the balance sheet date of the amount of the estimated future tax deductions arising from all currently nondeductible expenses reflected in all reserves and accrued liabilities, which can only be deducted for tax purposes when relevant losses are realized or relevant obligations are actually incurred, and which can only be realized if sufficient tax-basis income is generated in future periods to enable the deduction to be taken.

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The tax effect as of the balance sheet date of the amount of the estimated future tax deductions arising from unrealized losses on foreign currency transactions which can only be deducted for tax purposes when the losses are realized, and which can only be realized if sufficient tax-basis income is generated in future periods to enable the deduction to be taken.

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The sum of the portions of deferred tax assets as of the balance sheet date for which, based on the weight of available evidence, it is more likely than not will not be realized through future reductions of tax-based income.

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The cumulative amount of all deferred tax liabilities, which result from applying the applicable tax rate to net taxable temporary differences pertaining to each jurisdiction to which the entity is obligated to pay income tax. A taxable temporary difference is a difference between the tax basis and the carrying amount of an asset or liability in the financial statements prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles that will result in taxable amounts in one or more future periods.

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The cumulative amount of the estimated future tax effects attributable to other temporary differences not otherwise specified in this taxonomy that were expensed for tax purposes but capitalized in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles, or which were recognized as revenue under GAAP but not for tax purposes, which will reverse in future periods.

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The amount as of the balance sheet date of the estimated future tax effects arising from unrealized gains on foreign currency transactions that were recognized as income in the period.

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