Segment Information (Tables)
 3 Months Ended 6 Months Ended
Feb. 28, 2014
Feb. 28, 2014
SEGMENT INFORMATION [Abstract]    
Schedule of Segment Reporting Information, by Segment [Table Text Block]  
The following table summarizes net sales to unaffiliated customers by segment:
 
Three months ended February 28,
 
Six months ended February 28,
 
2014
 
2013
 
2014
 
2013
 
(In thousands)
EMEA
$
383,024


$
342,198

 
$
775,486

 
$
693,686

Americas
157,099


144,205

 
303,626

 
293,779

APAC
48,385


29,037

 
94,793

 
60,060

Total net sales to unaffiliated customers
$
588,508

 
$
515,440

 
$
1,173,905

 
$
1,047,525

Below the Company presents gross profit by segment:
 
Three months ended February 28,
 
Six months ended February 28,
 
2014
 
2013
 
2014
 
2013
 
(In thousands)
EMEA
$
47,499

 
$
39,930

 
$
99,439

 
$
85,033

Americas
21,226

 
18,735

 
42,659

 
40,161

APAC
6,527

 
4,938

 
13,150

 
10,492

Total segment gross profit
75,252

 
63,603

 
155,248

 
135,686

Inventory step-up
(782
)
 
—

 
(1,199
)
 
(138
)
Accelerated depreciation and restructuring related
(171
)
 
(404
)
 
(642
)
 
(682
)
Total gross profit
$
74,299

 
$
63,199

 
$
153,407

 
$
134,866

Below is a reconciliation of segment operating income to operating income and income from continuing operations before taxes:
 
Three months ended February 28,
 
Six months ended February 28,
 
2014
 
2013
 
2014
 
2013
 
(In thousands)
EMEA
$
17,553

 
$
11,521

 
$
37,972

 
$
27,666

Americas
6,269

 
5,845

 
13,632

 
13,637

APAC
3,176

 
2,405

 
6,542

 
5,494

Total segment operating income
26,998

 
19,771

 
58,146

 
46,797

Corporate
(7,714
)
 
(7,512
)
 
(14,397
)
 
(13,459
)
Costs related to acquisitions
(1,851
)
 
(675
)
 
(2,487
)
 
(987
)
Restructuring and related costs
(2,792
)
 
(1,669
)
 
(6,164
)
 
(3,606
)
Accelerated depreciation
—

 
(404
)
 
(108
)
 
(682
)
Asset impairment
(104
)
 
—

 
(104
)
 
(498
)
Curtailment gain (loss)
—

 
—

 
—

 
(333
)
Inventory step-up
(782
)
 
—

 
(1,199
)
 
(138
)
Operating income
13,755

 
9,511

 
33,687

 
27,094

Interest expense, net
(2,407
)
 
(1,806
)
 
(4,536
)
 
(3,367
)
Foreign currency transaction gains (losses)
(1,466
)
 
40

 
(2,148
)
 
(539
)
Other income (expense), net
193

 
211

 
271

 
347

Income from continuing operations before taxes
$
10,075

 
$
7,956

 
$
27,274

 
$
23,535
Revenue from External Customers by Products and Services [Table Text Block]
Globally, the Company operates in five product families: (1) masterbatch solutions, (2) engineered plastics, (3) distribution services, (4) specialty powders and (5) custom performance colors. The consolidated net sales for these product families are as follows: 
 
Three months ended February 28,
 
2014

2013
 
(In thousands, except for %'s)
Masterbatch solutions
$
188,969

 
32
%
 
$
189,544

 
37
%
Engineered plastics
182,890


31


123,908


24

Distribution services
94,406

 
16

 
94,608

 
18

Specialty powders
79,863


14


69,741


14

Custom performance colors
42,380

 
7

 
37,639

 
7

Total consolidated net sales
$
588,508


100
%

$
515,440


100
%
 
Six months ended February 28,
 
2014
 
2013
 
(In thousands, except for %'s)
Masterbatch solutions
$
381,361

 
33
%
 
$
388,470

 
37
%
Engineered plastics
357,601

 
30

 
258,726

 
25

Distribution services
184,314

 
16

 
182,255

 
17

Specialty powders
166,810

 
14

 
143,564

 
14

Custom performance colors
83,819

 
7

 
74,510

 
7

Total consolidated net sales
$
1,173,905

 
100
%
 
$
1,047,525

 
100
%