Segment Information - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended	6 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2011	Mar. 31, 2011
Brooks Product Solutions
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Intercompany sales	$ 16.5	$ 33.0
Contract Manufacturing
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Intercompany sales	$ 4.1	$ 7.9

Amount of revenue from transactions with other operating segments of the same entity.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 131

-Paragraph 27

-Subparagraph b

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Name:	us-gaap_RevenuesFromTransactionsWithOtherOperatingSegmentsOfSameEntity
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration