Income Taxes Deferred Tax Assets and Liabilities (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Oct. 31, 2017	Oct. 31, 2016	Oct. 31, 2015
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]
Accrued compensation and benefits	$ 1,793	$ 2,091
Inventory	1,721	646
State depreciation adjustments and loss carryforwards	4,213	2,664
Pension obligations and post retirement benefits	7,432	10,229
Foreign net operating loss	8,851	7,466
Other accruals, reserves and tax credits	3,070	3,668
Goodwill and intangible amortization	6,269	7,234
Foreign currency translation	30	75
Interest rate swap	771	1,922
Total deferred tax assets	34,150	35,995
Less: Valuation allowance	(9,401)	(2,782)
Net deferred tax assets	24,749	33,213
Fixed assets	(26,742)	(26,800)
Prepaid expenses and other	(835)	(1,173)
Net deferred tax (liability) asset		5,240
Deferred Tax Liabilities, Net	(2,828)
Change in net deferred tax asset attributable to the provision for deferred taxes	(4,174)	2,704	$ (4,263)
Unrecognized tax benefit adjustments	453	(207)
Pension and post retirement benefits	(3,001)	2,986	(387)
Velocys investment	(250)	58	248
Income tax benefit (provision)	(1,151)	111	$ 861
Other adjustments	55	(27)
Total change in net deferred tax asset	$ (8,068)	$ 5,625