Operating Segments and Geographic Area Data - Reportable Segments (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
		Oct. 31, 2016	Jul. 31, 2016	Apr. 30, 2016	Jan. 31, 2016	Oct. 31, 2015	Jul. 31, 2015	Apr. 30, 2015	Jan. 31, 2015	Oct. 31, 2016		Oct. 31, 2015		Oct. 31, 2014
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net external sales		$ 509,283	$ 489,899	$ 437,592	$ 372,220	$ 446,200	$ 462,731	$ 400,727	$ 379,008	$ 1,808,994		$ 1,688,666		$ 1,704,021
Depreciation										41,243		37,707		34,446
Operating profit (loss)										388,431		317,730		367,105
Identifiable assets		2,422,365				2,360,444				2,422,365		2,360,444		2,280,130
Expenditures for long-lived assets										60,851		62,087		43,574
Operating Segments [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net external sales										1,808,994		1,688,666		1,704,021
Depreciation										41,243		37,707		34,446
Operating profit (loss)										388,431		317,730		367,105
Identifiable assets	[1]	2,437,457				2,372,639				2,437,457		2,372,639		2,292,415
Expenditures for long-lived assets										60,851		62,087		43,574
Operating Segments [Member] | Adhesive Dispensing Systems [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net external sales										879,573		836,066		899,696
Depreciation										15,229		14,804		15,467
Operating profit (loss)	[2]									229,143		195,902		229,556
Identifiable assets	[1]	751,153				734,145				751,153		734,145		747,063
Expenditures for long-lived assets										17,407		12,880		15,886
Operating Segments [Member] | Advanced Technology Systems [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net external sales										676,329		593,858		561,784
Depreciation										15,386		13,015		10,433
Operating profit (loss)	[3]									159,531		120,940		140,240
Identifiable assets	[1]	1,080,711				1,021,221				1,080,711		1,021,221		919,052
Expenditures for long-lived assets										18,967		36,182		15,163
Operating Segments [Member] | Industrial Coating Systems [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net external sales										253,092		258,742		242,541
Depreciation										3,308		3,194		3,368
Operating profit (loss)										43,511	[4]	41,458	[4]	38,117
Identifiable assets	[1]	140,169				130,421				140,169		130,421		130,624
Expenditures for long-lived assets										17,357		5,112		4,057
Corporate [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Depreciation										7,320		6,694		5,178
Operating profit (loss)										(43,754)		(40,570)		(40,808)
Identifiable assets	[1],[5]	$ 465,424				$ 486,852				465,424		486,852		495,676
Expenditures for long-lived assets										$ 7,120		$ 7,913		$ 8,468

[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 $7,800, $7,972 and $1,731 of severance and restructuring costs in 2016, 2015 and 2014, respectively.

[3] Includes $1,054, $3,060 and $579 of severance and restructuring costs 2016, 2015 and 2014, respectively.

[4] Includes $1,921, $379 and $241 of severance and restructuring costs in 2016, 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.