Long-Term Debt and Credit Arrangements Long-Term Debt and Credit Arrangements (Details)
Feb. 28, 2014
USD ($)
Aug. 31, 2013
USD ($)
Feb. 28, 2014
2011 Credit Facility Revolver [Member]
USD ($)
Aug. 31, 2013
2011 Credit Facility Revolver [Member]
USD ($)
Feb. 28, 2014
2013 Credit Facility Revolver [Member]
USD ($)
Aug. 31, 2013
2013 Credit Facility Revolver [Member]
USD ($)
Feb. 28, 2014
2013 Credit Facility Term Loan [Member]
USD ($)
Aug. 31, 2013
2013 Credit Facility Term Loan [Member]
USD ($)
Feb. 28, 2014
Outstanding Letters of Credit [Member]
USD ($)
Aug. 31, 2013
Outstanding Letters of Credit [Member]
USD ($)
Feb. 28, 2014
Borrowings [Member]
USD ($)
Aug. 31, 2013
Borrowings [Member]
USD ($)
Feb. 28, 2014
Euro Notes [Member]
USD ($)
Feb. 28, 2014
Euro Notes [Member]
Stated Value [Member]
EUR (€)
Feb. 28, 2014
Euro Notes [Member]
Reported Value Measurement [Member]
USD ($)
Feb. 28, 2014
Euro Notes [Member]
Reported Value Measurement [Member]
EUR (€)
Feb. 28, 2014
Existing Capacity [Member]
2013 Credit Facility Term Loan [Member]
USD ($)
Debt Instrument [Line Items]                                  
Domestic short-term lines of credit, Maximum Borrowing Capacity $ 15,000,000 $ 0                              
Notes payable and other, due within one year 7,096,000 5,042,000                              
Current portion of long-term debt 13,476,000 3,331,000                              
Credit Lines and Notes, Amount Outstanding less Letters of Credit 261,900,000 156,900,000                              
Foreign Short-term Lines of Credit, Maximum Borrowing Capacity 61,627,000 56,178,000                              
Total Capacity from Credit Lines and Notes 572,252,000 356,178,000                              
Line of Credit Facility, Maximum Borrowing Capacity         300,000,000 300,000,000 200,000,000 0                 195,625,000
Line of Credit Facility, Remaining Borrowing Capacity         241,117,000 149,024,000 0 0                  
Domestic short-term lines of credit, Remaining Borrowing Capacity 15,000,000 0                              
Line of Credit Facility, Additional Borrowing Capacity 250,000,000                                
Foreign short-term lines of credit 53,251,000 49,302,000                              
Line of Credit Facility, Amount Outstanding                 1,000,000 1,000,000 253,500,000 150,000,000          
Domestic Uncollateralized Short Term Lines Of Credit, outstanding borrowings 0                                
Euro Senior Notes                           50,300,000 62,600,000 45,300,000  
Long-term Debt, Percentage Bearing Fixed Interest, Percentage Rate                         4.485%        
Long-term debt, early termination fees                         11,000,000        
Short-term debt 20,572,000 8,373,000                              
Revolving credit loan, LIBOR plus applicable spread     0 150,000,000 57,907,000 0                      
Term loan, due 2018             185,625,000 0                  
Euro notes, 4.485%, due 2016 59,099,000 56,626,000                              
Capital leases and other long-term debt 350,000 809,000                              
Long-term debt 302,981,000 207,435,000                              
Total Available Funds from Credit Lines and Notes 309,368,000 198,326,000                              
Line of Credit Facility, Maximum Borrowing Capacity         $ 300,000,000 $ 300,000,000 $ 200,000,000 $ 0                 $ 195,625,000