Income Taxes Deferred Tax Assets and Liabilities (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Oct. 31, 2013	Oct. 31, 2012
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]
Accrued compensation and benefits	$ 1,255	$ 936
Inventory	662	558
State income credits and loss carryforwards	1,266	1,115
Pension obligations and post retirement benefits	8,255	12,365
Foreign net operating loss	1,153	2,033
Tax credits in foreign countries	573	677
Other accruals and reserves	2,806	2,206
Deferred Tax Assets, Goodwill and Intangible Assets	3,304	0
Deferred Tax Assets, Gross	19,274	19,890
Less: Valuation allowance	(4,014)	(4,401)
Total deferred tax assets	15,260	15,489
Fixed assets	(12,828)	(9,690)
Prepaid expenses and other	(572)	(352)
Net deferred tax asset	1,860	5,447
Change in net deferred tax asset attributable to the provision for deferred taxes	(579)	(1,984)
Change in net deferred tax asset attributable to other items	(10)	86
Pension and postretirement benefits	(2,998)	4,199
Total change in net deferred tax asset	$ (3,587)	$ 2,301