Details of Balance Sheet - Details of Balance Sheet (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Oct. 31, 2014	Oct. 31, 2013	Oct. 31, 2012
Receivables:
Accounts	$ 347,259us-gaap_AccountsReceivableGrossCurrent	$ 292,469us-gaap_AccountsReceivableGrossCurrent
Notes	6,339	9,467
Other	16,733us-gaap_OtherReceivablesGrossCurrent	11,036us-gaap_OtherReceivablesGrossCurrent
Receivables, total	370,331ndsn_ReceivableGross	312,972ndsn_ReceivableGross
Allowance for doubtful accounts	(4,487)	(4,265)
Receivables-net	365,844us-gaap_ReceivablesNetCurrent	308,707us-gaap_ReceivablesNetCurrent
Inventories:
Raw materials and component parts	86,573	81,943
Work-in-process	27,994us-gaap_InventoryWorkInProcess	34,756us-gaap_InventoryWorkInProcess
Finished goods	130,544us-gaap_InventoryFinishedGoods	115,078us-gaap_InventoryFinishedGoods
Inventories gross	245,111us-gaap_InventoryGross	231,777us-gaap_InventoryGross
Obsolescence and other reserves	(26,744)us-gaap_InventoryValuationReserves	(26,579)us-gaap_InventoryValuationReserves
LIFO reserve	(7,496)us-gaap_InventoryLIFOReserve	(6,797)us-gaap_InventoryLIFOReserve
Inventories net	210,871us-gaap_InventoryNet	198,401us-gaap_InventoryNet
Property, plant and equipment:
Property, plant and equipment gross	574,849us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentGross	527,856us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentGross
Accumulated depreciation and amortization	(350,410)	(326,877)
Property, plant and equipment - net	224,439us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentNet	200,979us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentNet	174,931us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentNet
Accrued liabilities:
Salaries and other compensation	57,722	44,561
Pension and retirement	1,738	720
Taxes other than income taxes	6,367	5,570
Other	71,174us-gaap_OtherAccruedLiabilitiesCurrent	59,677us-gaap_OtherAccruedLiabilitiesCurrent
Accrued liabilities total	137,001us-gaap_AccruedLiabilitiesCurrent	110,528us-gaap_AccruedLiabilitiesCurrent
Land [Member]
Property, plant and equipment:
Property, plant and equipment gross	10,216	10,383
Land Improvements [Member]
Property, plant and equipment:
Property, plant and equipment gross	3,827	3,849
Buildings [Member]
Property, plant and equipment:
Property, plant and equipment gross	141,880	127,178
Machinery and Equipment [Member]
Property, plant and equipment:
Property, plant and equipment gross	319,110	294,374
Enterprise Management System [Member]
Property, plant and equipment:
Property, plant and equipment gross	44,682	43,983
Construction in Progress [Member]
Property, plant and equipment:
Property, plant and equipment gross	27,419	21,251
Leased Property Under Capitalized Leases [Member]
Property, plant and equipment:
Property, plant and equipment gross	$ 27,715	$ 26,838

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Amount before valuation and LIFO reserves of completed merchandise or goods expected to be sold within one year or operating cycle, if longer.

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Carrying value as of the balance sheet date of obligations incurred through that date and payable arising from transactions not otherwise specified in the taxonomy. Used to reflect the current portion of the liabilities (due within one year or within the normal operating cycle if longer).

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