Annual report pursuant to Section 13 and 15(d)

LONG-TERM DEBT (Details)

v2.4.0.8
LONG-TERM DEBT (Details)
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
12 Months Ended 12 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2013
USD ($)
Sep. 30, 2012
USD ($)
Sep. 30, 2013
Interest Rate Swaps [Member]
Cash Flow Hedging [Member]
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Member]
USD ($)
Sep. 30, 2012
Interest Rate Swaps [Member]
Cash Flow Hedging [Member]
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Member]
USD ($)
Sep. 30, 2013
Interest Rate Swaps [Member]
Cash Flow Hedging [Member]
Interest Expense [Member]
USD ($)
Sep. 30, 2012
Interest Rate Swaps [Member]
Cash Flow Hedging [Member]
Interest Expense [Member]
USD ($)
Sep. 30, 2013
Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member]
Interest Rate Swaps [Member]
USD ($)
Sep. 30, 2012
Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member]
Interest Rate Swaps [Member]
USD ($)
Sep. 30, 2013
Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member]
Interest Rate Swaps [Member]
Current assets: Other Current Assets [Member]
USD ($)
Sep. 30, 2012
Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member]
Interest Rate Swaps [Member]
Current assets: Other Current Assets [Member]
USD ($)
Sep. 30, 2013
Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member]
Interest Rate Swaps [Member]
Long-term assets: Other Assets [Member]
USD ($)
Sep. 30, 2012
Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member]
Interest Rate Swaps [Member]
Long-term assets: Other Assets [Member]
USD ($)
Sep. 30, 2013
Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member]
Interest Rate Swaps [Member]
Current liabilities: Other current liabilities [Member]
USD ($)
Sep. 30, 2012
Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member]
Interest Rate Swaps [Member]
Current liabilities: Other current liabilities [Member]
USD ($)
Sep. 30, 2013
Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member]
Interest Rate Swaps [Member]
Long-term liabilities: Other liabilities [Member]
USD ($)
Sep. 30, 2012
Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member]
Interest Rate Swaps [Member]
Long-term liabilities: Other liabilities [Member]
USD ($)
Sep. 30, 2013
Interest Rate Swap 1 [Member]
USD ($)
Sep. 30, 2013
Interest Rate Swap 2 [Member]
USD ($)
Sep. 30, 2013
Interest Rate Swap 3 [Member]
USD ($)
Sep. 30, 2013
Interest Rate Swap 4 [Member]
USD ($)
Sep. 30, 2013
Interest Rate Swap 5 [Member]
USD ($)
Sep. 30, 2013
Interest Rate Swap 6 [Member]
USD ($)
Sep. 30, 2013
Interest Rate Swap 7 [Member]
USD ($)
Sep. 30, 2013
Interest Rate Swap 8 [Member]
USD ($)
Sep. 30, 2013
Interest Rate Swap 9 [Member]
USD ($)
Sep. 30, 2013
Domestic Revolving Credit Facility [Member]
USD ($)
Sep. 30, 2012
Domestic Revolving Credit Facility [Member]
USD ($)
Sep. 30, 2013
Credit Facility With European Bank [Member]
USD ($)
Sep. 30, 2013
Credit Facility With European Bank [Member]
EUR (€)
Mar. 31, 2013
Credit Facility With European Bank [Member]
USD ($)
Mar. 31, 2013
Credit Facility With European Bank [Member]
EUR (€)
Sep. 30, 2013
Lines of Credit with Italian Banks [Member]
USD ($)
Sep. 30, 2013
Lines of Credit with Italian Banks [Member]
EUR (€)
Sep. 30, 2012
Lines of Credit with Italian Banks [Member]
USD ($)
Sep. 30, 2012
Lines of Credit with Italian Banks [Member]
EUR (€)
Sep. 30, 2013
Matthews International S.p.A [Member]
Sep. 30, 2012
Matthews International S.p.A [Member]
Sep. 30, 2013
Matthews International S.p.A [Member]
Lines of Credit with Italian Banks [Member]
USD ($)
LinesofCredit
Sep. 30, 2013
Matthews International S.p.A [Member]
Lines of Credit with Italian Banks [Member]
EUR (€)
Sep. 30, 2012
Matthews International S.p.A [Member]
Lines of Credit with Italian Banks [Member]
USD ($)
Sep. 30, 2012
Matthews International S.p.A [Member]
Lines of Credit with Italian Banks [Member]
EUR (€)
Sep. 30, 2013
Saueressig [Member]
Credit Facility With European Bank [Member]
USD ($)
Sep. 30, 2013
Saueressig [Member]
Credit Facility With European Bank [Member]
EUR (€)
Sep. 30, 2012
Saueressig [Member]
Credit Facility With European Bank [Member]
USD ($)
Sep. 30, 2012
Saueressig [Member]
Credit Facility With European Bank [Member]
EUR (€)
LONG-TERM DEBT [Abstract]                                                                                          
Revolving credit facilities $ 335,420 $ 281,323                                                                                      
Notes payable to banks 21,530 26,626                                                                                      
Short-term borrowings 7,639 4,322                                                                                      
Capital lease obligations 9,093 7,443                                                                                      
Total debt and capital lease obligations 373,682 319,714                                                                                      
Less current maturities (22,614) (21,566)                                                                                      
Total long-term debt and capital lease obligations, excluding current maturities 351,068 298,148                                                                                      
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]                                                                                          
Maximum amount of borrowings available                                                   500,000 400,000     33,815 25,000             15,379 11,400            
Maturity date                                                   Jul. 31, 2018                                      
Interest rate on borrowings, based on leverage ratio                                                   LIBOR plus a factor ranging from .75% to 1.25% based on the Company's leverage ratio                                      
Annual commitment fee range on unused portion                                                   .15% to .25% (based on the Company's leverage ratio)                                      
Maximum available for issuance of trade and standby letters of credit                                                   30,000                                      
Outstanding borrowings                                                   305,000,000 281,323,000 30,434 22,500     7,639 5,600 4,322 3,400     6,871 5,100 8,080 6,300 2,310 1,700 10,514 8,200
Weighted-average interest rate on outstanding borrowings (in hundredths)                                                   2.81% 2.83% 1.37% 1.37%             3.16% 3.08%         4.04% 4.04% 6.10% 6.10%
Number of lines of credit                                                                           3 3            
Derivative [Line Items]                                                                                          
Effective Date                                 May 2011 October 2011 November 2011 March 2012 June 2012 August 2012 September 2012 September 2012 November 2012                                        
Amount                                 25,000 25,000 25,000 25,000 40,000 35,000 25,000 25,000 25,000                                        
Fixed Interest Rate (in hundredths)                                 1.37% 1.67% 2.13% 2.44% 1.88% 1.74% 3.03% 1.24% 1.33%                                        
Interest Rate Spread (in hundredths)                                 1.25% 1.25% 1.25% 1.25% 1.25% 1.25% 1.25% 1.25% 1.25%                                        
Maturity Date                                 May 2014 October 2015 November 2014 March 2015 June 2022 June 2022 December 2015 March 2017 November 2015                                        
Interest rate cash flow hedges [Abstract]                                                                                          
Unrealized gain (loss) on fair value of interest rate swaps (908) (9,133)                                                                                      
Unrealized gain (loss) on fair value of interest rate swaps, after tax (554) (5,571)                                                                                      
Unrealized gain (loss) expected to be recognized over the next 12 months (1,580)                                                                                        
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]                                                                                          
Assets derivatives                 427 0 3,309 0                                                                  
Liability derivatives                         2,590 2,851 2,054 6,282                                                          
Total derivatives             908 9,133                                                                          
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items]                                                                                          
Amount of loss recognized in income on derivatives         (4,170) (3,418)                                                                              
Amount of gain (loss) recognized in AOCL on derivatives     2,474 (3,288)                                                                                  
Amount of gain or (loss) reclassified from AOCL into Income (effective portion)         $ (2,544) [1] $ (2,085) [1]                                                                              
[1] There is no ineffective portion or amount excluded from effectiveness testing.