Operating Segments and Geographic Area Data - Reportable Segments (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
		Oct. 31, 2017	Jul. 31, 2017	Apr. 30, 2017	Jan. 31, 2017	Oct. 31, 2016	Jul. 31, 2016	Apr. 30, 2016	Jan. 31, 2016	Oct. 31, 2017		Oct. 31, 2016		Oct. 31, 2015
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net external sales		$ 573,938	$ 589,438	$ 496,137	$ 407,470	$ 509,283	$ 489,899	$ 437,592	$ 372,220	$ 2,066,982		$ 1,808,994		$ 1,688,666
Operating profit (loss)										457,702		388,431		317,730
Identifiable assets		3,414,539				2,420,583				3,414,539		2,420,583		2,358,314
Expenditures for long-lived assets										71,558		60,851		62,087
Operating Segments [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net external sales										2,066,982		1,808,994		1,688,666
Depreciation and amortization										90,854		70,304		65,194
Operating profit (loss)										457,702		388,431		317,730
Identifiable assets	[1]	3,424,941				2,435,675				3,424,941		2,435,675		2,370,509
Expenditures for long-lived assets										71,558		60,851		62,087
Operating Segments [Member] | Adhesive Dispensing Systems [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net external sales										916,019		879,573		836,066
Depreciation and amortization										29,118		28,294		28,097
Operating profit (loss)	[2]									253,580		229,143		195,902
Identifiable assets	[1]	794,699				751,153				794,699		751,153		734,145
Expenditures for long-lived assets										35,310		17,407		12,880
Operating Segments [Member] | Advanced Technology Systems [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net external sales										897,623		676,329		593,858
Depreciation and amortization										49,535		29,649		25,430
Operating profit (loss)	[3]									228,062		159,531		120,940
Identifiable assets	[1]	1,718,844				1,080,711				1,718,844		1,080,711		1,021,221
Expenditures for long-lived assets										21,135		18,967		36,182
Operating Segments [Member] | Industrial Coating Systems [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net external sales										253,340		253,092		258,742
Depreciation and amortization										5,559		5,041		4,973
Operating profit (loss)										43,991	[4]	43,511	[4]	41,458
Identifiable assets	[1]	120,458				140,169				120,458		140,169		130,421
Expenditures for long-lived assets										9,108		17,357		5,112
Corporate [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Depreciation and amortization										6,642		7,320		6,694
Operating profit (loss)										(67,931)		(43,754)		(40,570)
Identifiable assets	[1],[5]	$ 790,940				$ 463,642				790,940		463,642		484,722
Expenditures for long-lived assets										$ 6,005		$ 7,120		$ 7,913

[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 $2,618, $7,800 and $7,972 of severance and restructuring costs in 2017, 2016 and 2015, respectively.

[3] Includes $(180), $1,054 and $3,060 of severance and restructuring costs in 2017, 2016 and 2015, respectively.

[4] Includes $1,921 and $379 of severance and restructuring costs in 2016 and 2015, 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.