Asset Impairment and Restructuring Charges (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended		3 Months Ended		12 Months Ended	3 Months Ended		12 Months Ended				3 Months Ended
	Jul. 31, 2012	Oct. 31, 2012	Oct. 31, 2011	Jul. 31, 2012 Mansfield Blanking Division [Member]	Jul. 31, 2011 Mansfield Blanking Division [Member]	Oct. 31, 2012 Mansfield Blanking Division [Member]	Oct. 31, 2012 Mansfield Blanking Division [Member]	Jul. 31, 2012 Mansfield Blanking Division [Member]	Oct. 31, 2012 Mansfield Blanking Division [Member]	Oct. 31, 2012 Liverpool Stamping Division [Member]	Oct. 31, 2011 Liverpool Stamping Division [Member]	Oct. 31, 2012 Other Assets [Member]	Oct. 31, 2011 Valley City Stamping [Member]	Oct. 31, 2012 Valley City Stamping [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Asset Impairment Charges	$ 392	$ (834)	$ 94					$ 1,552	$ 2,778				$ 324
Assets Held-for-sale, Current								1,400
Recovery of Impairment Charge											230
Restructuring Charges		(30)	352	30	352	(30)
Restructuring and Related Cost, Expected Number of Positions Eliminated					0
Proceeds from sale of assets		4,370	248				1,400		1,551	1,159		68
Property, Plant and Equipment, Net		$ 117,101	$ 121,467											$ 1,900