Segment Information - Segment Information Mining (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Oct. 25, 2013	Oct. 26, 2012	Oct. 28, 2011
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	$ 5,012,697	$ 5,660,889	$ 4,403,906
Operating income (loss)	821,661	1,172,559	920,179
Interest income	8,781	5,831	13,869
Interest expense	(66,285)	(73,259)	(38,180)
Reorganization items	0	0	(35)
Income from continuing operations before income taxes	764,157	1,105,131	895,833
Depreciation and amortization	113,519	152,840	79,110
Capital expenditures	153,418	241,527	110,523
Total assets	5,789,582	6,142,503	5,426,354
Eliminations
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	(173,020)	(184,087)	(132,072)
Operating income (loss)	(45,234)	(40,846)	(31,862)
Interest income	0	0	0
Interest expense	0	0	0
Reorganization items			0
Income from continuing operations before income taxes	(45,234)	(40,846)	(31,862)
Depreciation and amortization	0	0	0
Capital expenditures	0	0	0
Total assets	0	0	0
Underground Mining Machinery
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	2,691,039	3,107,488	2,576,625
Operating income (loss)	367,233	671,797	595,262
Interest income	0	0	0
Interest expense	0	0	0
Reorganization items			0
Income from continuing operations before income taxes	367,233	671,797	595,262
Depreciation and amortization	60,042	90,339	40,537
Capital expenditures	73,286	129,928	50,701
Total assets	3,676,120	3,881,583	2,022,553
Surface Mining Equipment
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	2,494,678	2,737,488	1,959,353
Operating income (loss)	525,314	592,687	422,472
Interest income	0	0	0
Interest expense	0	0	0
Reorganization items			0
Income from continuing operations before income taxes	525,314	592,687	422,472
Depreciation and amortization	50,512	59,887	38,339
Capital expenditures	71,643	109,325	59,022
Total assets	1,917,717	2,158,405	1,936,246
Corporate
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	0	0	0
Operating income (loss)	(25,652)	(51,079)	(65,693)
Interest income	8,781	5,831	13,869
Interest expense	(66,285)	(73,259)	(38,180)
Reorganization items			(35)
Income from continuing operations before income taxes	(83,156)	(118,507)	(90,039)
Depreciation and amortization	2,965	2,614	234
Capital expenditures	8,489	2,274	800
Total assets	$ 195,745	$ 102,515	$ 1,467,555