Restructuring (Details)	12 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2016	Aug. 31, 2015 USD ($)	Aug. 31, 2014 USD ($)	Aug. 31, 2013 USD ($)
Restructuring
Restructuring costs		$ 14,338,000	$ 4,883,000	$ 10,500,000
Restructuring and Related Cost, Accelerated Depreciation		408,000	107,000	1,058,000
Accrual		5,383,000	1,812,000	5,349,000
Restructuring charges paid		(10,207,000)	(8,613,000)
Translation		(560,000)	193,000
EMEA [Member]
Restructuring
Restructuring costs		10,073,000	1,000,000	6,704,000
USCAN [Member]
Restructuring
Restructuring costs		3,229,000	754,000	1,376,000
LATAM [Member]
Restructuring
Restructuring costs		990,000	3,053,000	2,240,000
APAC [Member]
Restructuring
Restructuring costs		46,000	76,000	180,000
Employee Related Costs [Member]
Restructuring
Restructuring costs		12,711,000	2,223,000
Accrual		5,786,000	1,745,000	5,446,000
Restructuring charges paid		(8,670,000)	(5,924,000)
Translation		0	0
Other Restructuring Related Costs [Member]
Restructuring
Restructuring costs		1,627,000	2,660,000
Accrual		461,000	371,000	400,000
Restructuring charges paid		(1,537,000)	(2,689,000)
Translation		0	0
Translation Effect on Restructuring Reserve [Member]
Restructuring
Restructuring costs		0	0
Accrual		(864,000)	(304,000)	$ (497,000)
Restructuring charges paid		0	0
Translation		(560,000)	193,000
Americas Reorganization Plan [Member]
Restructuring
Restructuring and Related Cost, Number of Positions Eliminated				85
Restructuring costs			700,000	$ 1,500,000
Accrual		0
Brazil Consolidation Plan [Member]
Restructuring
Restructuring and Related Cost, Number of Positions Eliminated				55
Restructuring Related Cost Number Of Additional Positions				35
Restructuring costs			3,100,000	$ 1,600,000
Restructuring and Related Cost, Accelerated Depreciation			100,000	$ 700,000
Accrual		0
EMEA Reorganziation Plan [Member]
Restructuring
Restructuring and Related Cost, Number of Positions Eliminated				45
Restructuring costs		200,000	$ 600,000	$ 6,400,000
Accrual		$ 100,000
EMEA Operations and Back-Office Plan [Member]
Restructuring
Restructuring and Related Cost, Number of Positions Eliminated		40
Restructuring costs		$ 5,400,000
Accrual		1,500,000
SSC Plan [Member]
Restructuring
Restructuring and Related Cost, Expected Number of Positions Eliminated	40
Restructuring costs		1,700,000
Accrual		1,700,000
Pretax employee-related restructuring costs, expected costs		400,000
France Asset Footprint Reduction Plan [Member]
Restructuring
Restructuring and Related Cost, Expected Number of Positions Eliminated	20
Restructuring Related Cost Number Of Additional Positions	15
Restructuring costs		700,000
Accrual		700,000
Pretax employee-related restructuring costs, expected costs		$ 500,000
Stryker Plan [Member]
Restructuring
Restructuring and Related Cost, Number of Positions Eliminated		70
Restructuring costs		$ 1,200,000
Accrual		$ 100,000
North American SG&A Reduction Plan [Member]
Restructuring
Restructuring and Related Cost, Number of Positions Eliminated		15
Restructuring costs		$ 700,000
Accrual		$ 0
North American Efficiency Plan [Member]
Restructuring
Restructuring and Related Cost, Number of Positions Eliminated		25
Restructuring costs		$ 1,200,000
Accrual		$ 0
Contagem Plan [Member]
Restructuring
Restructuring and Related Cost, Number of Positions Eliminated		20
Restructuring costs		$ 500,000
Accrual		$ 0