Summary of Financial Information by Reportable Segment and Product Line (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
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3 Months Ended |
6 Months Ended |
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Feb. 28, 2015
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Feb. 28, 2014
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Feb. 28, 2015
Segment
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Feb. 28, 2014
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Aug. 31, 2014
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Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |
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Number of reportable segments |
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3us-gaap_NumberOfReportableSegments
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Net sales |
$ 301,005us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet
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$ 327,770us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet
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$ 628,770us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet
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$ 667,326us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet
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Operating profit (Loss) |
(56,447)us-gaap_OperatingIncomeLoss
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38,981us-gaap_OperatingIncomeLoss
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(18,229)us-gaap_OperatingIncomeLoss
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82,628us-gaap_OperatingIncomeLoss
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Assets |
1,636,819us-gaap_Assets
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1,636,819us-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 |
96,489us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = atu_IndustrialMember
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93,571us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = atu_IndustrialMember
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198,902us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = atu_IndustrialMember
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192,212us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = atu_IndustrialMember
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Operating profit (Loss) |
23,517us-gaap_OperatingIncomeLoss / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = atu_IndustrialMember
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26,477us-gaap_OperatingIncomeLoss / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = atu_IndustrialMember
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50,221us-gaap_OperatingIncomeLoss / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = atu_IndustrialMember
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53,374us-gaap_OperatingIncomeLoss / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = atu_IndustrialMember
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Assets |
286,529us-gaap_Assets / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = atu_IndustrialMember
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286,529us-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 |
100,211us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = atu_EnergyMember
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106,031us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = atu_EnergyMember
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211,733us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = atu_EnergyMember
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213,956us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = atu_EnergyMember
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Operating profit (Loss) |
(75,673)us-gaap_OperatingIncomeLoss / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = atu_EnergyMember
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9,504us-gaap_OperatingIncomeLoss / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = atu_EnergyMember
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(63,231)us-gaap_OperatingIncomeLoss / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = atu_EnergyMember
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18,427us-gaap_OperatingIncomeLoss / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = atu_EnergyMember
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Assets |
618,346us-gaap_Assets / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = atu_EnergyMember
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618,346us-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 |
104,305us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = atu_EngineeredSolutionsMember
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128,168us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = atu_EngineeredSolutionsMember
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218,135us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = atu_EngineeredSolutionsMember
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261,158us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = atu_EngineeredSolutionsMember
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Operating profit (Loss) |
2,010us-gaap_OperatingIncomeLoss / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = atu_EngineeredSolutionsMember
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9,548us-gaap_OperatingIncomeLoss / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = atu_EngineeredSolutionsMember
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8,288us-gaap_OperatingIncomeLoss / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = atu_EngineeredSolutionsMember
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22,737us-gaap_OperatingIncomeLoss / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = atu_EngineeredSolutionsMember
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Assets |
625,052us-gaap_Assets / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = atu_EngineeredSolutionsMember
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625,052us-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 |
51,981us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = atu_VehicleSystemsMember
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67,278us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = atu_VehicleSystemsMember
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110,449us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = atu_VehicleSystemsMember
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138,927us-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 |
52,324us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = atu_OtherProductsMember
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60,890us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = atu_OtherProductsMember
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107,686us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = atu_OtherProductsMember
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122,231us-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) |
(6,301)us-gaap_OperatingIncomeLoss / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = atu_GeneralCoporateMember
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(6,548)us-gaap_OperatingIncomeLoss / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = atu_GeneralCoporateMember
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(13,507)us-gaap_OperatingIncomeLoss / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = atu_GeneralCoporateMember
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(11,910)us-gaap_OperatingIncomeLoss / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = atu_GeneralCoporateMember
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Assets |
$ 106,892us-gaap_Assets / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = atu_GeneralCoporateMember
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$ 106,892us-gaap_Assets / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = atu_GeneralCoporateMember
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$ 117,583us-gaap_Assets / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = atu_GeneralCoporateMember
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