Consolidated Statements of Operations (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2012	Aug. 31, 2011	Aug. 31, 2010
Sales	$ 361,363	$ 315,441	$ 254,274
Cost of sales	317,453	281,606	230,820
Gross margin	43,910	33,835	23,454
Operating expenses	28,013	24,618	23,943
Research and development expenses	5,838	4,772	4,371
Income (loss) from operations	10,059	4,445	(4,860)
Interest expense	(8,633)	(9,364)	(7,550)
Other non-operating income (expense), net	(6,186)	115	(1,921)
Loss from continuing operations before income taxes	(4,760)	(4,804)	(14,331)
Income tax expense (benefit)	4,806	313	(4,702)
Loss from continuing operations	(9,566)	(5,117)	(9,629)
Income from discontinued operations, net of tax			16,312
Net income (loss)	$ (9,566)	$ (5,117)	$ 6,683
Weighted average common shares and equivalents outstanding, basic and diluted (in shares)	12,293,749	12,250,914	11,600,885
Earnings (loss) per common share:
Basic and diluted loss per share from continuing operations (in USD per share)	$ (0.78)	$ (0.42)	$ (0.84)
Basic and diluted earnings (loss) per share from discontinued operations (in USD per share)			$ 1.41
Basic and diluted earnings (loss) per share (in USD per share)	$ (0.78)	$ (0.42)	$ 0.57
Dividends declared per common share ( in USD per share)