CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jan. 31, 2014	Jan. 31, 2013	Jan. 31, 2014	Jan. 31, 2013
Net sales	$ 291,194	$ 272,702	$ 598,724	$ 544,717
Cost of products sold	148,658	130,811	298,341	252,641
Gross margin	142,536	141,891	300,383	292,076
Operating expenses:
Research and development	8,440	8,213	17,027	16,100
Selling, general and administrative	111,426	109,948	224,159	209,010
Restructuring charges	4,324	1,933	11,163	1,933
Total operating expenses	124,190	120,094	252,349	227,043
Operating income	18,346	21,797	48,034	65,033
Other income and (expense):
Investment and other income	255	898	1,017	1,294
Interest expense	(3,676)	(4,406)	(7,397)	(8,569)
Earnings from continuing operations before income taxes	14,925	18,289	41,654	57,758
Income tax expense	4,408	28,960	13,002	42,138
Business Acquisition, Pro Forma Net Income (Loss)	10,517	(7,275)	28,652	19,920
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations	10,517	(10,671)	28,652	15,620
Earnings from discontinued operations, net of income taxes	5,907	1,987	11,701	2,884
Net earnings (loss)	16,424	(8,684)	40,353	18,504
Business Acquisition, Pro Forma Earnings Per Share, Basic		$ (0.14)		$ 0.39
Earnings per share:
Business Acquisition, Pro Forma Earnings Per Share, Diluted		$ (0.14)		$ 0.39
Weighted average common shares outstanding (in thousands):
Basic	52,208	51,177	52,140	51,108
Diluted	52,494	51,177	52,457	51,507
Class A nonvoting common stock [Member]
Other income and (expense):
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations	10,501	(10,731)	28,591	15,501
Business Acquisition, Pro Forma Earnings Per Share, Basic	$ 0.20		$ 0.55
Earnings per share:
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations per basic share	$ 0.20	$ (0.21)	$ 0.55	$ 0.30
Business Acquisition, Pro Forma Earnings Per Share, Diluted	$ 0.20		$ 0.55
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations per diluted share	$ 0.20	$ (0.21)	$ 0.55	$ 0.30
Earnings from discontinued operations per basic share	$ 0.11	$ 0.04	$ 0.22	$ 0.06
Earnings from discontinued operations per diluted share	$ 0.11	$ 0.04	$ 0.22	$ 0.06
Net earnings (loss) per share, basic	$ 0.31	$ (0.17)	$ 0.77	$ 0.36
Net earnings (loss) per share, diluted	$ 0.31	$ (0.17)	$ 0.77	$ 0.36
Dividends	$ 0.195	$ 0.19	$ 0.39	$ 0.38
Class B voting common stock [Member]
Other income and (expense):
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations	$ 10,501	$ (10,731)	$ 27,772	$ 14,700
Earnings per share:
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations per basic share	$ 0.20	$ (0.21)	$ 0.53	$ 0.29
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations per diluted share	$ 0.20	$ (0.21)	$ 0.53	$ 0.29
Earnings from discontinued operations per basic share	$ 0.11	$ 0.04	$ 0.23	$ 0.05
Earnings from discontinued operations per diluted share	$ 0.11	$ 0.04	$ 0.22	$ 0.05
Net earnings (loss) per share, basic	$ 0.31	$ (0.17)	$ 0.76	$ 0.34
Net earnings (loss) per share, diluted	$ 0.31	$ (0.17)	$ 0.75	$ 0.34
Dividends	$ 0.195	$ 0.19	$ 0.373	$ 0.36