Annual report pursuant to Section 13 and 15(d)

Financial Information from Continuing Operations By Geographic Region (Detail)

v3.8.0.1
Financial Information from Continuing Operations By Geographic Region (Detail) - USD ($)
$ in Thousands
 12 Months Ended
Aug. 31, 2017
Aug. 31, 2016
Aug. 31, 2015
Geographic Reporting Disclosure [Line Items]      
Assets $ 1,516,955 $ 1,438,660  
Net sales 1,095,784 1,149,410 $ 1,249,254
Long-Lived Assets 98,334 117,179  
United States      
Geographic Reporting Disclosure [Line Items]      
Net sales 480,801 477,670 526,061
Long-Lived Assets 36,254 32,205  
Netherlands      
Geographic Reporting Disclosure [Line Items]      
Net sales 130,724 143,517 139,432
Long-Lived Assets 9,134 8,027  
Australia      
Geographic Reporting Disclosure [Line Items]      
Net sales 38,924 62,779 94,319
Long-Lived Assets 1,286 15,399  
UNITED KINGDOM      
Geographic Reporting Disclosure [Line Items]      
Net sales 84,106 115,183 113,743
Long-Lived Assets 5,467 9,914  
China      
Geographic Reporting Disclosure [Line Items]      
Long-Lived Assets 16,332 16,863  
United Arab Emirates      
Geographic Reporting Disclosure [Line Items]      
Net sales 39,974 55,906 44,211
Long-Lived Assets 8,451 8,399  
All other      
Geographic Reporting Disclosure [Line Items]      
Net sales 321,255 294,355 331,489
Long-Lived Assets 21,410 34,399  
Energy      
Geographic Reporting Disclosure [Line Items]      
Assets 482,963 479,169  
Net sales 309,594 392,731 411,875
Industrial      
Geographic Reporting Disclosure [Line Items]      
Assets 329,134 308,222  
Net sales 379,755 359,817 402,464
Engineered Solutions      
Geographic Reporting Disclosure [Line Items]      
Assets 531,068 493,840  
Net sales 406,435 396,862 $ 434,915
General Corporate      
Geographic Reporting Disclosure [Line Items]      
Assets $ 173,790 $ 157,429