Operating Segments and Geographic Area Data - Reportable Segments (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
		Oct. 31, 2018	Jul. 31, 2018	Apr. 30, 2018	Jan. 31, 2018	Oct. 31, 2017	Jul. 31, 2017	Apr. 30, 2017	Jan. 31, 2017	Oct. 31, 2018	Oct. 31, 2017	Oct. 31, 2016
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net external sales		$ 569,295	$ 581,243	$ 553,706	$ 550,424	$ 573,938	$ 589,438	$ 496,137	$ 407,470	$ 2,254,668	$ 2,066,982	$ 1,808,994
Operating profit (loss)										494,557	457,702	388,431
Identifiable assets		3,421,012				3,414,539				3,421,012	3,414,539	2,420,583
Expenditures for long-lived assets										89,790	71,558	60,851
Operating Segments [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net external sales										2,254,668	2,066,982	1,808,994
Depreciation and amortization										108,407	90,854	70,304
Operating profit (loss)										494,557	457,702	388,431
Identifiable assets	[1]	3,428,922				3,424,941				3,428,922	3,424,941	2,435,675
Expenditures for long-lived assets										89,790	71,558	60,851
Operating Segments [Member] | Adhesive Dispensing Systems [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net external sales										955,192	916,019	879,573
Depreciation and amortization										31,597	29,118	28,294
Operating profit (loss)										259,493	253,580	229,143
Identifiable assets	[1]	829,696				794,699				829,696	794,699	751,153
Expenditures for long-lived assets										46,911	35,310	17,407
Operating Segments [Member] | Advanced Technology Systems [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net external sales										1,039,366	897,623	676,329
Depreciation and amortization										62,594	49,535	29,649
Operating profit (loss)										243,523	228,062	159,531
Identifiable assets	[1]	1,713,404				1,718,844				1,713,404	1,718,844	1,080,711
Expenditures for long-lived assets										16,205	21,135	18,967
Operating Segments [Member] | Industrial Coating Systems [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net external sales										260,110	253,340	253,092
Depreciation and amortization										6,166	5,559	5,041
Operating profit (loss)										50,638	43,991	43,511
Identifiable assets	[1]	122,088				120,458				122,088	120,458	140,169
Expenditures for long-lived assets										8,546	9,108	17,357
Corporate [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Depreciation and amortization										8,050	6,642	7,320
Operating profit (loss)										(59,097)	(67,931)	(43,754)
Identifiable assets	[1],[2]	$ 763,734				$ 790,940				763,734	790,940	463,642
Expenditures for long-lived assets										$ 18,128	$ 6,005	$ 7,120

[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] 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.