CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Jul. 31, 2021	Jul. 31, 2020	Jul. 31, 2019
Operating activities:
Net income	$ 129,659	$ 112,369	$ 131,258
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	25,483	23,437	23,799
Stock-based compensation expense	10,098	8,843	12,092
Deferred income tax (benefit) expense, total company	(8,965)	(764)	7,825
Impairment charges	0	13,821	0
Equity in losses of unconsolidated affiliate	5,754	246	0
Other	(831)	2,611	2,347
Changes in operating assets and liabilities (net of effects of business acquisitions):
Accounts receivable	(12,614)	13,902	3,496
Inventories	7,298	(13,917)	(9,922)
Prepaid expenses and other assets	(4,498)	4,477	368
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	58,283	(26,128)	(11,903)
Income taxes	(4,002)	2,080	2,851
Net cash provided by operating activities	205,665	140,977	162,211
Investing activities:
Purchases of property, plant and equipment	(27,189)	(27,277)	(32,825)
Acquisition of businesses, net of cash acquired	(243,983)	0	0
Other	2,580	(8,842)	(1,638)
Net cash used in investing activities	(268,592)	(36,119)	(34,463)
Financing activities:
Payment of dividends	(45,746)	(45,756)	(44,732)
Proceeds from exercise of stock options	1,765	5,511	25,658
Payments for employee taxes withheld from stock-based awards	(2,783)	(9,065)	(5,651)
Purchase of treasury stock	(3,593)	(64,514)	(3,182)
Proceeds from borrowing on credit facilities	101,957	20,697	13,637
Repayments of Lines of Credit	63,957	21,855	13,568
Principal payments on debt	0	(48,672)	0
Other	33	134	210
Net cash used in financing activities	(12,324)	(163,520)	(27,628)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents	4,943	(2,767)	(2,475)
Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents	(70,308)	(61,429)	97,645
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period	217,643	279,072	181,427
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	147,335	217,643	279,072
Interest Paid, Including Capitalized Interest, Operating and Investing Activities [Abstract]
Interest	373	2,401	2,651
Income Taxes Paid, Net [Abstract]
Income taxes	$ 46,852	$ 29,600	$ 24,335