Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Oct. 31, 2017	Oct. 31, 2016	Oct. 31, 2015
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income	$ 295,802	$ 271,843	$ 211,111
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation	45,947	41,243	37,707
Amortization	44,907	29,061	27,487
Provision for losses on receivables	4,030	1,867	1,014
Deferred income taxes	(472)	(3,597)	2,100
Tax benefit from the exercise of stock options	(7,079)	(3,476)	(3,661)
Non-cash stock compensation	20,168	18,211	15,262
Loss on sale of property, plant and equipment	188	859	376
Other non-cash	2,770	2,973	56
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Receivables	(46,152)	(41,247)	(37,179)
Inventories	(19,667)	1,784	(14,208)
Prepaid expenses	4,737	(8,667)	1,799
Other assets	(3,429)	7,773	1,733
Accounts payable	4,805	7,296	(1,261)
Income taxes payable	7,522	(2,684)	15,616
Accrued liabilities	(5,629)	23,328	5,817
Customer advance payments	5,163	3,631	(1,062)
Other liabilities	2,266	(17,739)	2,830
Other	(6,204)	(1,301)	(3,586)
Net cash provided by operating activities	349,673	331,158	261,951
Cash flows from investing activities:
Additions to property, plant and equipment	(71,558)	(60,851)	(62,087)
Proceeds from sale of property, plant and equipment	4,007	1,300	597
Acquisition of businesses, net of cash acquired	(805,943)	(42,650)	(75,565)
Equity investments	(4,470)		(1,480)
Net cash used in investing activities	(877,964)	(102,201)	(138,535)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from short-term borrowings	6,017	13,456	59,870
Repayment of short-term borrowings	(8,149)	(12,059)	(164,716)
Proceeds from long-term debt	841,536	261,161	719,534
Repayment of long-term debt	(237,183)	(392,775)	(289,202)
Repayment of capital lease obligations	(5,287)	(5,059)	(5,240)
Payment of debt issuance costs	(3,214)	(99)	(1,557)
Issuance of common shares	14,086	11,476	5,372
Purchase of treasury shares	(3,216)	(33,421)	(383,851)
Tax benefit from the exercise of stock options	7,079	3,476	3,661
Dividends paid	(63,840)	(56,436)	(54,849)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	547,829	(210,280)	(110,978)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash	3,606	(1,706)	(4,484)
Increase in cash and cash equivalents	23,144	16,971	7,954
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year	67,239	50,268	42,314
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year	$ 90,383	$ 67,239	$ 50,268