Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Oct. 31, 2016	Oct. 31, 2015	Oct. 31, 2014
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income	$ 271,843	$ 211,111	$ 246,773
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation	41,243	37,707	34,446
Amortization	29,061	27,487	25,308
Provision for losses on receivables	1,867	1,014	867
Deferred income taxes	(3,597)	2,100	3,489
Tax benefit from the exercise of stock options	(3,476)	(3,661)	(6,385)
Non-cash stock compensation	18,211	15,262	17,407
Loss on sale of property, plant and equipment	859	376	218
Other non-cash	2,973	56	406
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Receivables	(41,247)	(37,179)	(65,692)
Inventories	1,784	(14,208)	(8,699)
Prepaid expenses	(8,667)	1,799	(1,852)
Other noncurrent assets	7,773	1,733	(232)
Accounts payable	7,296	(1,261)	6,906
Income taxes payable	(2,684)	15,616	9,524
Accrued liabilities	23,328	5,817	27,932
Customer advance payments	3,631	(1,062)	(2,103)
Other noncurrent liabilities	(17,739)	2,830	59
Other	(1,301)	(3,586)	(217)
Net cash provided by operating activities	331,158	261,951	288,155
Cash flows from investing activities:
Additions to property, plant and equipment	(60,851)	(62,087)	(43,574)
Proceeds from sale of property, plant and equipment	1,300	597	323
Acquisition of businesses, net of cash acquired	(42,650)	(75,565)	(186,420)
Equity investments		(1,480)	(854)
Net cash used in investing activities	(102,201)	(138,535)	(230,525)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from short-term borrowings	13,456	59,870	108,679
Repayment of short-term borrowings	(12,059)	(164,716)	(6,093)
Proceeds from long-term debt	261,161	719,534	158,828
Repayment of long-term debt	(392,775)	(289,202)	(107,591)
Repayment of capital lease obligations	(5,059)	(5,240)	(5,854)
Payment of debt issuance costs	(99)	(1,557)
Issuance of common shares	11,476	5,372	7,013
Purchase of treasury shares	(33,421)	(383,851)	(166,434)
Tax benefit from the exercise of stock options	3,476	3,661	6,385
Dividends paid	(56,436)	(54,849)	(48,391)
Net cash used in financing activities	(210,280)	(110,978)	(53,458)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash	(1,706)	(4,484)	(4,233)
Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	16,971	7,954	(61)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year	50,268	42,314	42,375
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year	$ 67,239	$ 50,268	$ 42,314