Income Taxes - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2014	Aug. 31, 2013	Aug. 31, 2012
Income Taxes [Line Items]
Income tax benefit on income from subsidiaries	$ 14,600,000	$ 51,500,000	$ 42,500,000
Increase in net income from continuing operations	17,100,000
Per basic share income tax benefit on income from subsidiaries	$ 0.07	$ 0.25	$ 0.21
Material tax incentive expiration year	2020
Immaterial Error Correction	For the fiscal year ended August 31, 2014, the Company recorded out-of-period adjustments that increased net income from continuing operations by approximately $17.1 million, which related to fiscal year 2013 income tax benefit adjustments that were recorded in fiscal year 2014. The Company assessed and concluded that these adjustments are not material to either the consolidated quarterly or annual financial statements for all impacted periods
U.S. tax credits, amount remaining	4,700,000
Foreign investment tax credit	12,900,000
Foreign investment tax credit, expiration year	2017
Tax credit carry forward amount	2,300,000
Net change in the total valuation allowance	19,500,000	166,900,000
Deferred tax liability	81,514,000	80,000,000
Undistributed earnings of foreign subsidiaries	2,300,000,000
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	18,000,000	17,000,000
Recognized (derecognized) tax benefit, accrued interest and penalties	1,000,000	8,900,000	(15,600,000)
Nypro Inc.
Income Taxes [Line Items]
Deferred tax liability	77,800,000
Anticipated repatriation	221,200,000
U.S.
Income Taxes [Line Items]
Net operating loss carry forwards	241,400,000
Tax credit carry forwards	59,200,000
State and Local Jurisdiction
Income Taxes [Line Items]
Net operating loss carry forwards	35,900,000
Tax credit carry forwards	6,800,000
Tax credit carry forwards, expiration year	2026
Non U.S.
Income Taxes [Line Items]
Net operating loss carry forwards	593,400,000
Maximum
Income Taxes [Line Items]
Net operating loss carry forwards, expiration year	2034
Minimum
Income Taxes [Line Items]
Net operating loss carry forwards, expiration year	2015
Two Thousand Twenty Four Expiration Year [Member] | U.S.
Income Taxes [Line Items]
Tax credit carry forwards	52,200,000
Cash payments
Income Taxes [Line Items]
Possible adjustments for transfer pricing and certain inclusions in taxable income	900,000
Audits Settlement or Expiration of Applicable Statutes of Limitations
Income Taxes [Line Items]
Possible adjustments for transfer pricing and certain inclusions in taxable income	$ 1,400,000