Operating Segments and Geographic Area Data - Reportable Segments (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
		Oct. 31, 2015	Jul. 31, 2015	Apr. 30, 2015	Jan. 31, 2015	Oct. 31, 2014	Jul. 31, 2014	Apr. 30, 2014	Jan. 31, 2014	Oct. 31, 2015		Oct. 31, 2014		Oct. 31, 2013
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net external sales		$ 446,200	$ 462,731	$ 400,727	$ 379,008	$ 468,590	$ 458,550	$ 417,461	$ 359,420	$ 1,688,666		$ 1,704,021		$ 1,542,921
Depreciation										37,707		34,446		31,766
Operating profit (loss)										317,730		367,105		323,849
Identifiable assets		2,360,444				2,280,130				2,360,444		2,280,130		2,053,179
Operating Segments [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net external sales										1,688,666		1,704,021		1,542,921
Depreciation										37,707		34,446		31,766
Operating profit (loss)										317,730		367,105		323,849
Identifiable assets	[1]	2,372,639				2,292,415				2,372,639		2,292,415		2,053,784
Expenditures for long-lived assets										62,087		43,574		47,219
Operating Segments [Member] | Adhesive Dispensing Systems [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net external sales										836,066		899,696		793,488
Depreciation										14,804		15,467		15,326
Operating profit (loss)	[2]									195,902		229,556		203,757
Identifiable assets	[1]	734,145				747,063				734,145		747,063		750,616
Expenditures for long-lived assets										12,880		15,886		20,498
Operating Segments [Member] | Advanced Technology Systems [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net external sales										593,858		561,784		516,266
Depreciation										13,015		10,433		9,180
Operating profit (loss)	[3]									120,940		140,240		123,403
Identifiable assets	[1]	1,021,221				919,052				1,021,221		919,052		721,524
Expenditures for long-lived assets										36,182		15,163		10,080
Operating Segments [Member] | Industrial Coating Systems [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net external sales										258,742		242,541		233,167
Depreciation										3,194		3,368		3,084
Operating profit (loss)										41,458	[4]	38,117	[4]	33,786
Identifiable assets	[1]	130,421				130,624				130,421		130,624		113,835
Expenditures for long-lived assets										5,112		4,057		6,239
Corporate [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Depreciation										6,694		5,178		4,176
Operating profit (loss)										(40,570)		(40,808)		(37,097)
Identifiable assets	[1],[5]	$ 486,852				$ 495,676				486,852		495,676		467,809
Expenditures for long-lived assets										$ 7,913		$ 8,468		$ 10,402

[1] Operating segment identifiable assets include notes and accounts receivable net of customer advance payments and allowance for doubtful accounts, inventories net of reserves, property, plant and equipment net of accumulated depreciation and goodwill.

[2] Includes $7,972, $1,731 and $315 of severance and restructuring costs in 2015, 2014 and 2013, respectively.

[3] Includes $3,060, $579 and $811 of severance and restructuring costs 2015, 2014 and 2013, respectively.

[4] Includes $379 and $241 of severance and restructuring costs in 2015 and 2014, respectively.

[5] Corporate assets are principally cash and cash equivalents, deferred income taxes, capital leases, headquarter facilities, the major portion of our enterprise management system, and intangible assets.