Fair Value Measurements - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Jul. 31, 2013		Jul. 31, 2012	Jul. 31, 2011
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Loss on write-down of assets held for sale	$ 15,658	[1]	$ 0	$ 0
Goodwill	617,236		676,791	800,343
Impairment charges	190,505		115,688	0
Impairment of Intangible Assets, Indefinite-lived (Excluding Goodwill)	10,568
Property, plant and equipment — net	122,158		130,015
North South Asia Reporting Unit [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Goodwill			163,702
Estimated implied fair value			48,014
WPS Americas [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Goodwill	183,146
Estimated implied fair value	10,866
Workplace Safety [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Indefinite-Lived Trade Names	25,449
IDS APAC [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Goodwill	18,225
Property, plant and equipment — net	4,367
Die Cut [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Goodwill	0
Impairment charges	0		115,688
IDS APAC [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Impairment charges	18,225
Workplace Safety [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Goodwill	100,207
Impairment charges	$ 172,280		$ 0

[1] The $15.7 million loss relates to the write-down of the Asia Die-Cut disposal group to its estimated fair value less costs to sell and was recorded in the three months ending April 30, 2013.