Summary of Financial Information by Reportable Segment and Product Line (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
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3 Months Ended |
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Nov. 30, 2014
Segment
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Nov. 30, 2013
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Aug. 31, 2014
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Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |
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Number of reportable segments |
3us-gaap_NumberOfReportableSegments
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Net sales |
$ 327,765us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet
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$ 339,556us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet
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Operating profit (Loss) |
38,218us-gaap_OperatingIncomeLoss
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43,647us-gaap_OperatingIncomeLoss
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Assets |
1,787,464us-gaap_Assets
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1,856,879us-gaap_Assets
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Industrial |
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Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |
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Net sales |
102,413us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = atu_IndustrialMember
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98,641us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = atu_IndustrialMember
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Operating profit (Loss) |
26,705us-gaap_OperatingIncomeLoss / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = atu_IndustrialMember
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26,897us-gaap_OperatingIncomeLoss / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = atu_IndustrialMember
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Assets |
293,531us-gaap_Assets / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = atu_IndustrialMember
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307,058us-gaap_Assets / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = atu_IndustrialMember
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Energy |
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Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |
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Net sales |
111,522us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = atu_EnergyMember
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107,925us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = atu_EnergyMember
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Operating profit (Loss) |
12,442us-gaap_OperatingIncomeLoss / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = atu_EnergyMember
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8,923us-gaap_OperatingIncomeLoss / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = atu_EnergyMember
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Assets |
746,982us-gaap_Assets / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = atu_EnergyMember
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788,915us-gaap_Assets / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = atu_EnergyMember
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Engineered Solutions |
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Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |
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Net sales |
113,830us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = atu_EngineeredSolutionsMember
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132,990us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = atu_EngineeredSolutionsMember
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Operating profit (Loss) |
6,278us-gaap_OperatingIncomeLoss / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = atu_EngineeredSolutionsMember
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13,190us-gaap_OperatingIncomeLoss / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = atu_EngineeredSolutionsMember
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Assets |
643,239us-gaap_Assets / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = atu_EngineeredSolutionsMember
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643,323us-gaap_Assets / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = atu_EngineeredSolutionsMember
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Vehicle Systems |
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Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |
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Net sales |
58,468us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = atu_VehicleSystemsMember
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71,649us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = atu_VehicleSystemsMember
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Other |
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Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |
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Net sales |
55,362us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = atu_OtherProductsMember
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61,341us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = atu_OtherProductsMember
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General Corporate |
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Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |
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Operating profit (Loss) |
(7,207)us-gaap_OperatingIncomeLoss / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = atu_GeneralCoporateMember
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(5,363)us-gaap_OperatingIncomeLoss / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = atu_GeneralCoporateMember
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Assets |
$ 103,712us-gaap_Assets / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = atu_GeneralCoporateMember
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$ 117,583us-gaap_Assets / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = atu_GeneralCoporateMember
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