Acquisitions and Divestitures - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	1 Months Ended	3 Months Ended			12 Months Ended
	Jan. 31, 2013	Oct. 31, 2013	Jan. 31, 2013	Oct. 31, 2012	Oct. 31, 2013	Jul. 31, 2013
Business Acquisition Actual Revenue And Pre Tax Income Loss [Line Items]
Proceeds from sale of operations		$ 0		$ 10,178
Loss (gain) on sales of businesses		0		(3,138)
Net sales		305,974		270,866
Net (loss) income, as reported		23,928		27,188
Proceeds from borrowing on notes payable			220,000
Repayment of borrowing on notes payable		24,000		0	205,000
Expected completion of valuation	12
Customer relationships		102,500			102,500
Goodwill, Fair Value Disclosure		169,425			169,425
Finite-Lived Trade Names, Gross		6,800			6,800
Interest Expense		3,721		4,163
Income tax expense (benefit)		8,449		13,077
Amortization of Intangible Assets		5,077		4,147
Business Acquisition, Goodwill, Expected Tax Deductible Amount		57,374			57,374
Business Acquistition Purchase Price Allocation Intangibles Exepcted Tax Deductible		51,672			51,672
Depreciation and amortization		10,878		10,675
Notes payable		26,442			26,442	50,613
Business Combination, Recognized Identifiable Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed, Intangible Assets, Other than Goodwill		109,300			109,300
Finite-lived customer relationships [Member]
Business Acquisition Actual Revenue And Pre Tax Income Loss [Line Items]
Finite-Lived Intangible Asset, Useful Life		10 years
Trademarks [Member]
Business Acquisition Actual Revenue And Pre Tax Income Loss [Line Items]
Finite-Lived Intangible Asset, Useful Life		3 years
Precision Dynamics Corporation [Member]
Business Acquisition Actual Revenue And Pre Tax Income Loss [Line Items]
Interest Expense				323
Income tax expense (benefit)				554
Depreciation and amortization				3,130
Revolving Credit Facility [Member]
Business Acquisition Actual Revenue And Pre Tax Income Loss [Line Items]
Notes payable		15,000			15,000	39,000
USD-denominated credit facility China [Member]
Business Acquisition Actual Revenue And Pre Tax Income Loss [Line Items]
Notes payable		$ 11,442			$ 11,442