Annual report pursuant to Section 13 and 15(d)

Financial Information from Continuing Operations By Geographic Region (Detail)

v3.5.0.2
Financial Information from Continuing Operations By Geographic Region (Detail) - USD ($)
 12 Months Ended
Aug. 31, 2016
Aug. 31, 2015
Aug. 31, 2014
Geographic Reporting Disclosure [Line Items]      
Assets $ 1,442,538,000 $ 1,636,917,000  
Net sales 1,149,410,000 1,249,254,000 $ 1,399,862,000
Long-Lived Assets 117,179,000 145,062,000  
United States      
Geographic Reporting Disclosure [Line Items]      
Net sales 477,670,000 526,061,000 573,590,000
Long-Lived Assets 32,205,000 41,645,000  
Netherlands      
Geographic Reporting Disclosure [Line Items]      
Net sales 143,517,000 139,432,000 151,549,000
Australia      
Geographic Reporting Disclosure [Line Items]      
Net sales 62,779,000 94,319,000 82,778,000
Long-Lived Assets 15,399,000 15,227,000  
UNITED KINGDOM      
Geographic Reporting Disclosure [Line Items]      
Net sales 115,183,000 113,743,000 162,508,000
Long-Lived Assets 9,914,000 21,704,000  
China      
Geographic Reporting Disclosure [Line Items]      
Long-Lived Assets 16,863,000 18,199,000  
United Arab Emirates      
Geographic Reporting Disclosure [Line Items]      
Net sales 55,906,000 44,211,000 18,101,000
Long-Lived Assets 8,399,000 1,104,000  
All other      
Geographic Reporting Disclosure [Line Items]      
Net sales 294,355,000 331,488,000 411,336,000
Long-Lived Assets 34,399,000 47,183,000  
Energy      
Geographic Reporting Disclosure [Line Items]      
Assets 479,169,000 601,521,000  
Net sales 392,731,000 411,875,000 462,368,000
Industrial      
Geographic Reporting Disclosure [Line Items]      
Assets 308,222,000 293,738,000  
Net sales 359,817,000 402,464,000 413,901,000
Engineered Solutions      
Geographic Reporting Disclosure [Line Items]      
Assets 493,840,000 588,200,000  
Net sales 396,862,000 434,915,000 $ 523,592,000
General Corporate      
Geographic Reporting Disclosure [Line Items]      
Assets $ 161,307,000 $ 153,458,000