Income Taxes - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2013	Aug. 31, 2012	Aug. 31, 2011
Income Taxes [Line Items]
Partial release of U.S. valuation allowance	$ 104,000,000
Income tax benefit on income from subsidiaries	52,400,000	42,100,000	59,000,000
Per basic share income tax benefit on income from subsidiaries	$ 0.26	$ 0.20	$ 0.28
Material tax incentive expiration year	2020
U.S. tax credits, amount remaining	8,100,000
Foreign investment tax credit	11,500,000
Foreign investment tax credit, expiration year	2017
Net change in the total valuation allowance	(169,100,000)	18,700,000
Deferred tax liability	80,000,000
Undistributed earnings of foreign subsidiaries	2,000,000,000
Unrecognized deferred tax liability on these undistributed earnings description	Determination of the amount of unrecognized deferred tax liability on these undistributed earnings is not practicable.
Accrued interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits included in income tax provision	18,100,000	9,200,000
Recognized (derecognized) tax benefit, accrued interest and penalties	8,900,000	(14,500,000)	5,200,000
Nypro Inc.
Income Taxes [Line Items]
Anticipated repatriation	240,000,000
U.S.
Income Taxes [Line Items]
Net operating loss carry forwards	424,100,000
Tax credit carry forwards	7,400,000
U.S. | 2023
Income Taxes [Line Items]
Tax credit carry forwards	19,500,000
Tax credit carry forwards, expiration year	2023
State and Local Jurisdiction
Income Taxes [Line Items]
Net operating loss carry forwards	36,800,000
Tax credit carry forwards	27,600,000
Tax credit carry forwards, expiration year	2026
Non U.S.
Income Taxes [Line Items]
Net operating loss carry forwards	532,300,000
Maximum
Income Taxes [Line Items]
Net operating loss carry forwards, expiration year	2033
Minimum
Income Taxes [Line Items]
Net operating loss carry forwards, expiration year	2014
Cash payments
Income Taxes [Line Items]
Possible adjustments for transfer pricing, tax holidays, and certain inclusions in taxable income	8,100,000
Audits Settlement or Expiration of Applicable Statutes of Limitations
Income Taxes [Line Items]
Possible adjustments for transfer pricing, tax holidays, and certain inclusions in taxable income	$ 7,300,000