Shiloh Industries (SHLO) 10-K 23 Dec 13 2013 FY Annual report Financial data

Document_and_Entity_Informatio

Document and Entity Information Document (USD $)	9 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Jul. 31, 2013	Oct. 31, 2013	Dec. 20, 2013	Apr. 30, 2013
DEI [Abstract]	'	'	'	'
Entity Registrant Name	'	'SHILOH INDUSTRIES INC	'	'
Entity Central Index Key	'	'0000904979	'	'
Current Fiscal Year End Date	'	'--10-31	'	'
Entity Filer Category	'	'Smaller Reporting Company	'	'
Document Type	'	'10-K	'	'
Document Period End Date	31-Oct-13	31-Oct-13	'	'
Document Fiscal Year Focus	'	'2013	'	'
Document Fiscal Period Focus	'	'FY	'	'
Amendment Flag	'	'false	'	'
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding	'	'	17,043,950	'
Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer	'	'No	'	'
Entity Voluntary Filers	'	'No	'	'
Entity Current Reporting Status	'	'Yes	'	'
Entity Public Float	'	'	'	$60,073,948

Consolidated_Balance_Sheets

Consolidated Balance Sheets (USD $)	Oct. 31, 2013	Oct. 31, 2012
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
ASSETS	'	'
Cash and cash equivalents	$398	$174
Accounts receivable, net	116,837	77,556
Related-party accounts receivable	673	536
Income tax receivable	0	1,201
Inventories, net	42,924	44,687
Deferred income taxes	2,829	2,153
Prepaid expenses	3,095	1,532
Other assets	23	0
Total current assets	166,779	127,839
Property, Plant and Equipment, Net	197,874	117,101
Goodwill	6,768	0
Intangible assets, net	17,605	0
Deferred income taxes	0	3,294
Other assets	2,927	868
Total assets	391,953	249,102
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY	'	'
Current debt	882	447
Accounts payable	87,977	63,633
Other accrued expenses	26,416	21,395
Accrued income taxes	1,666	0
Total current liabilities	116,941	85,475
Long-term debt	119,384	21,150
Long-term benefit liabilities	21,287	32,819
Deferred Tax Liabilities, Tax Deferred Income	969	0
Other liabilities	2,223	2,255
Total liabilities	260,804	141,699
Commitments and contingencies	'	'
Stockholders’ equity:	'	'
Preferred stock, $.01 per share; 5,000,000 shares authorized; no shares issued and outstanding at October 31, 2013 and October 31, 2012, respectively	0	0
Common stock, par value $.01 per share; 25,000,000 shares authorized; 17,031,316 and 16,983,012 shares issued and outstanding at October 31, 2012 and October 31, 2011, respectively	170	169
Paid-in capital	66,312	65,120
Retained earnings	90,749	73,425
Accumulated other comprehensive loss: Pension related liability, net	-26,082	-31,311
Total stockholders’ equity	131,149	107,403
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity	$391,953	$249,102

Consolidated_Balance_Sheets_Pa

Consolidated Balance Sheets - Parentheticals (USD $)	Oct. 31, 2013	Oct. 31, 2012
In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified
Allowance for Doubtful Accounts Receivable, Current	$341	$482
Common stock, par value	$0.01	$0.01
Common stock, shares authorized	25,000,000	25,000,000
Common stock, shares issued	17,031,316	16,983,012
Common stock, shares outstanding	17,031,316	16,983,012
Preferred stock, par value	$0.01	$0.01
Preferred stock, shares authorized	5,000,000	5,000,000
Preferred stock, shares issued	0	0
Preferred stock, shares outstanding	0	0

Consolidated_Statements_of_Inc

Consolidated Statements of Income (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	Oct. 31, 2013	Oct. 31, 2012
Revenues	$700,186	$586,074
Cost of sales	628,491	535,339
Gross profit	71,695	50,735
Selling, general and administrative expenses	37,073	27,519
Asset impairment (recovery),net	18	-834
Restructuring charges (recovery)	0	-30
Operating income	34,604	24,080
Interest expense	2,600	1,525
Interest income	32	0
Bargain Purchase Gain	228	0
Other (expense), net	-89	-48
Income before income taxes	32,175	22,507
Provision for income taxes	10,605	8,981
Net income	$21,570	$13,526
Earnings per share:	'	'
Basic earnings per share	$1.27	$0.80
Basic weighted average number of common shares	16,982	16,813
Diluted earnings per share	$1.27	$0.80
Diluted weighted average number of common shares	17,030	16,904

Consolidated_Statement_of_Othe

Consolidated Statement of Other Comprehensive Income Statement (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Oct. 31, 2013	Oct. 31, 2012
Statement of Comprehensive Income [Abstract]	'	'
Net income	$21,570	$13,526
Net gain/ (loss)	5,684	-11,818
Amortization of net actuarial loss	1,441	1,095
Settlement	1,102	0
Income taxes	-2,998	4,199
Total defined benefit pension plans & other post retirement benefits, net of tax	5,229	-6,524
Comprehensive income, net	$26,799	$7,002

Consolidated_Statements_of_Cas

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Oct. 31, 2013	Oct. 31, 2012
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:	'	'
Net income	$21,570	$13,526
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:	'	'
Depreciation and amortization	20,878	'
Depreciation	19,529	18,793
Amortization of deferred financing costs	338	325
Asset impairment (recovery)	18	-834
Recovery of restructuring charge	0	-30
Bargain purchase gain	-228	0
Deferred income taxes	589	1,898
Stock-based compensation expense	738	754
Gain on sale of assets	-1	-65
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:	'	'
Accounts receivable	-28,098	-1,026
Inventories	7,162	-10,711
Prepaids and other assets	110	676
Payables and other liabilities	12,802	1,727
Accrued income taxes	2,935	491
Net cash provided by operating activities	38,813	25,524
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:	'	'
Capital expenditures	-27,441	-17,095
Payments to Acquire Businesses, Net of Cash Acquired	104,470	0
Proceeds from sale of assets	518	4,370
Net cash used in investing activities	-131,393	-12,725
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:	'	'
Payment of dividends	-4,246	-8,422
Proceeds from long-term borrowings	123,250	24,700
Repayments of long-term borrowings	-24,539	-29,250
Payment of deferred financing costs	-1,963	-90
Proceeds from exercise of stock options	302	417
Net cash used in financing activities	92,804	-12,645
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	224	154
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	174	20
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	398	174
Cash paid for interest	2,237	1,237
Cash paid for income taxes	$7,111	$6,306

Consolidated_Statements_of_Sto

Consolidated Statements of Stockholders' Equity (USD $)	Total	Common Stock [Member]	Additional Paid-in Capital [Member]	Retained Earnings [Member]	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Member]
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Stockholders' Equity at Oct. 31, 2011	$107,652	$168	$63,950	$68,321	($24,787)
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]	'	'	'	'	'
Net income	13,526	0	0	13,526	0
Pension liability, net of tax benefit of $4,199 and $2,998	-6,524	0	0	0	-6,524
Comprehensive Income, net	7,002	'	'	'	'
Payment of Dividends	-8,422	0	0	-8,422	0
Exercise of stock options	417	1	416	0	0
Stock-based compensation cost	754	0	754	0	0
Tax benefit on stock options	0	0	0	0	0
Stockholders' Equity at Oct. 31, 2012	107,403	169	65,120	73,425	-31,311
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]	'	'	'	'	'
Net income	21,570	0	0	21,570	0
Pension liability, net of tax benefit of $4,199 and $2,998	5,229	0	0	0	5,229
Comprehensive Income, net	26,799	'	'	'	'
Payment of Dividends	-4,246	0	0	-4,246	0
Exercise of stock options	302	1	301	0	0
Stock-based compensation cost	738	0	738	0	0
Tax benefit on stock options	153	0	153	0	0
Stockholders' Equity at Oct. 31, 2013	$131,149	$170	$66,312	$90,749	($26,082)

Consolidated_Statements_of_Sto1

Consolidated Statements of Stockholders' Equity Statement of Stockholders' Equity - Parentheticals (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Oct. 31, 2013	Oct. 31, 2012
Pension liability, net of tax benefit	$2,998	($4,199)

Basis_of_Presentation

Basis of Presentation	12 Months Ended
	Oct. 31, 2013
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]	'
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies [Text Block]	'
	Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
	General
	Shiloh Industries, Inc. and its subsidiaries (“the Company”) provides lightweighting and noise, vibration and harshness (NVH) solutions to automotive, commercial vehicle and other industrial markets through its imaginative thinking and advanced capabilities. Shiloh delivers these solutions through the design, engineering and manufacturing of first operation precision blanks, engineered welded blanks, complex stampings, modular assemblies, highly engineered aluminum die casting and machined components and its patented ShilohCore™ acoustic laminate metal solution. In addition, Shiloh is a designer and engineer of precision tools and dies, welding and assembly equipment for use in its blanking, welded blank, stamping and die casting operations and for sale to original equipment manufacturers ("OEMs") and, as a Tier II supplier, to Tier I automotive part manufacturers who in turn supply OEMs.
	The Company also builds modular assemblies, which include components used in the structural and powertrain systems of a vehicle. Structural systems include bumper beams, door impact beams, steering column supports, chassis components and structural underbody modules. Powertrain systems consist of deep draw components, such as oil pans, transmission pans and valve covers. Additionally, the Company provides a variety of intermediate steel processing services, such as oiling, leveling, cutting-to-length, multi-blanking, slitting, edge trimming of hot and cold-rolled steel coils and inventory control services for automotive and steel industry customers. The Company has seventeen wholly-owned subsidiaries at locations in Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, Tennessee, Wisconsin and Mexico.
	MTD Holdings Inc (the parent of MTD Products Inc) and the MTD Products Inc Master Employee Benefit Trust, a trust fund established and sponsored by MTD Products are owners of approximately 50% of the Company's outstanding shares of Common Stock, making MTD a related party of the Company.
	Principles of Consolidation
	The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Shiloh Industries, Inc. and all wholly-owned subsidiaries. All significant intercompany transactions have been eliminated.
	Revenue Recognition
	The Company recognizes revenue both for sales from toll processing and sales of products made with Company owned metal when there is evidence of a sales agreement, the delivery of goods has occurred, the sales price is fixed or determinable and collectability of revenue is reasonably assured. The Company records revenues upon shipment of product to customers and transfer of title under standard commercial terms. Price adjustments including those arising from resolution of quality issues, price and quantity discrepancies, surcharges for fuel and/or steel and other commercial issues are recognized in the period when management believes that such amounts become probable, based on management's estimates.
	Allowance for Doubtful Accounts
	The Company evaluates the collectability of accounts receivable based on several factors. In circumstances where the Company is aware of a specific customer’s inability to meet its financial obligations, a specific allowance for doubtful accounts is recorded against amounts due to reduce the net recognized receivable to the amount the Company reasonably believes will be collected. Additionally, a general allowance for doubtful accounts is estimated based on historical experience of write-offs and the current financial condition of customers. The financial condition of the Company’s customers is dependent on, among other things, the general economic environment, which may substantially change, thereby affecting the recoverability of amounts due to the Company from its customers.
	The Company carefully assesses its risk with each of its customers and considers compliance with terms and conditions, aging of the customer accounts, intelligence learned through contact with customer representatives and its net account receivable / account payable position with customers, if applicable, in establishing the allowance.
	Shipping and Handling Costs
	The Company classifies all amounts billed to a customer in a sales transaction related to shipping and handling as revenue and the costs incurred by the Company for shipping and handling are classified as costs of sales.
	Inventories
	Inventories are valued at the lower of cost or market, using the first-in first-out (“FIFO”) method.
	Property, Plant and Equipment
	Property, plant and equipment are stated at cost or at fair market value for plant, property and equipment acquired through acquisitions. Expenditures for maintenance, repairs and renewals are charged to expense as incurred, while major improvements are capitalized. The cost of these improvements is depreciated over their estimated useful lives. Useful lives range from three to twelve years for furniture and fixtures and machinery and equipment, or if the assets are dedicated to a customer program, over the estimated life of that program, ten to twenty years for land improvements and twenty to forty years for buildings and their related improvements. Depreciation is computed using the straight-line method for financial reporting purposes and accelerated methods for income tax purposes. When assets are retired or otherwise disposed, the related cost and accumulated depreciation are removed from the accounts, and any gain or loss on the disposition is included in the earnings for the current period.
	Employee Benefit Plans
	The Company accrues the cost of defined benefit pension plans, in accordance with Statement of Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) Topic 715 “Compensation - Retirement Benefits.” The plans are funded based on the requirements and limitations of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974. The majority of employees of the Company also participate in discretionary profit sharing plans administered by the Company. The Company also provides postretirement benefits to approximately 22 former employees.
	Stock-Based Compensation
	The Company records compensation expense for the fair value of nonvested stock option awards and restricted stock awards over the remaining vesting period. The Company has elected to use the simplified method to calculate the expected term of the stock options outstanding at five to six years and has utilized historical weighted average volatility. The Company determines the volatility and risk-free rate assumptions used in computing the fair value using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model, in consultation with an outside third party. The expected term for the restricted stock award is between one to four years.
	Income Taxes
	The Company utilizes the asset and liability method in accounting for income taxes. Income tax expense includes U.S. and international income taxes minus tax credits and other incentives that will reduce tax expense in the year they are claimed. Deferred taxes are recognized at currently enacted tax rates for temporary differences between the financial accounting and income tax basis of assets and liabilities and operating losses and tax credit carryforwards. Valuation allowances are recorded to reduce net deferred tax assets to the amount that is more likely than not to be realized. The Company assesses both positive and negative evidence when measuring the need for a valuation allowance. Evidence typically assessed includes the operating results for the most recent three-year period and, to a lesser extent because of inherent uncertainty, the expectations of future profitability, available tax planning strategies, the time period over which the temporary differences will reverse and taxable income in prior carryback years if carryback is permitted under the tax law. The calculation of the Company's tax liabilities also involves dealing with uncertainties in the application of complex tax laws and regulations. The Company recognizes liabilities for uncertain income tax positions based on the Company's estimate of whether, and the extent to which, additional taxes will be required. The Company reports interest and penalties related to uncertain income tax positions as income taxes.
	Impairment of Long-Lived and Intangible Assets.
	The Company evaluates the recoverability of long-lived assets and the related estimated remaining lives whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value may not be recoverable. Events or changes in circumstances that could cause an impairment include significant underperformance relative to the historical or projected future operating results, significant changes in the manner of the use of the assets or the strategy for the overall business or significant negative industry or economic trends. The Company records an impairment or change in useful life whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of long-lived assets may not be recoverable or the useful life has changed.
	Goodwill. Goodwill, which represents the excess cost over the fair value of the net assets of businesses acquired, was approximately $6,768 as of October 31, 2013, or 2% of our total assets.
	In accordance with Accounting Standards Codification ("ASC") 350, Intangibles-Goodwill and Other," we assess goodwill for impairment on an annual basis. Such assessment can be done on a qualitative or quantitative basis. To qualitatively assess the liklihood of goodwill being impaired, we consider the following factors at the reporting unit level: the excess of fair value over carrying value as of the last impairment test, the length of time since the last fair value measurement, the carrying value, market and industry metrics, actual performance compared to forecasted performance, and our current outlook on the business. If the qualitative assessment indicated it is more likely than not that goodwill is impaired, we will perform quantitative impairment testing at the reporting unit level.
	To quantitatively test goodwill for impairment, we estimate the fair value of a reporting unit and compare the fair value to the carrying value. If the carrying value exceeds the fair value, then a possible impairment of goodwill may exist and further evaluation is required. Fair values are based on the cash flow projected in the reporting units' strategic plans and long-range planning forecasts, discounted at a risk-adjusted rate of return. Revenue growth rates included in the plans are generally based on industry specific data and known awarded business. The projected profit margins assumptions included in the plans are based in the current cost structure and anticipated productivity improvements. If different assumptions were used in the plans, the related cash flows used in measuring fair value could be different and impairment of goodwill might be required to be recorded.
	Comprehensive Income
	Comprehensive income is defined as net income (loss) and changes in stockholders' equity from non-owner sources which, for the Company in the periods presented, consists of pension related liability adjustments.
	Statement of Cash Flows Information
	Cash and cash equivalents include checking accounts and all highly liquid investments with an original maturity of three months or less.
	Concentration of Risk
	The Company sells products to customers primarily in the automotive and heavy truck industries. Financial instruments, which potentially subject the Company to concentration of credit risk, are primarily accounts receivable. The Company performs on-going credit evaluations of its customers' financial condition. The allowance for non-collection of accounts receivable is based on the expected collectability of all accounts receivable. Losses have historically been within management's expectations. The Company does not have financial instruments with off-balance sheet risk. Refer to Note 14-Business Segment Information for discussion of concentration of revenues.
	As of October 31, 2013, the Company had approximately 2,047 employees. A total of approximately 44 employees at one of the Company's subsidiaries are covered by a collective bargaining agreement that is due to expire in November 2017.
	Fair Value of Financial Instruments
	The carrying amounts of cash and cash equivalents, trade receivables and payables approximate fair value because of the short maturity of those instruments. The carrying value of the Company's debt is considered to approximate the fair value of these instruments based on the borrowing rates currently available to the Company for loans with similar terms and maturities.
	Derivative Financial Instruments
	The Company currently does not engage in derivatives trading, market-making or other speculative activities. The intent of any contracts entered by the Company is to reduce exposure to currency movements affecting foreign currency purchase commitments. The Company's risks related to foreign currency exchange risks have historically not been material. The Company does not expect the effects of these risks to be material in the future based on current operating and economic conditions in the countries and markets in which it operates. These contracts are marked-to-market and the resulting gain or loss is recorded in the consolidated statements of income. As of October 31, 2013 and 2012, there were no foreign currency forward exchange contracts outstanding.
	Guarantees
	The Company has certain indemnification clauses within its credit facility and certain lease agreements that are considered to be guarantees within the scope of FASB ASC Topic 460, “Guarantees”. The Company does not consider these guarantees to be probable and the Company cannot estimate the maximum exposure. Additionally, the Company's exposure to warranty-related obligations is not material.
	Accounting Estimates
	The preparation of consolidated financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. On an ongoing basis, management reviews its estimates based upon current available information. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
	Prior Year Reclassification
	Certain prior year amounts have been reclassified to conform with current year presentation.
	Other New Accounting Standards
	In February 2013, the FASB issued ASU No. 2013-02, Comprehensive Income (Topic 220) - "Reporting of Amounts Reclassified Out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income," effective for annual and interim reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2012. The new accounting rules require all U.S. public companies to report the effect of items reclassified out of accumulated other comprehensive income on the respective line items of net income, net of tax, either on the face of the financial statements where net income is presented or in a tabular format in the notes to the financial statements. Effective February 1, 2013, the Company adopted ASU No. 2013-02. The new accounting rules expand the disclosure of other comprehensive income and had no impact on the Company's results of operations and financial condition.
	The new accounting standard, "Comprehensive Income", became effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2011 which for the Company was be the first quarter ended January 31, 2013. This standard requires that other comprehensive income be presented as either a separate statement, or as an addition to the statement of income and prohibits the presentation of other comprehensive income in the statement of stockholders' equity. As the Company has historically presented other comprehensive income as part of the statement of stockholders' equity, the Company has retroactively restated its financial statements for this change upon adoption of this accounting standard.
	In December 2011, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (the "FASB") issued Accounting Standards Update ("ASU") No. 2011-11, Balance Sheet (Topic 210) - "Disclosures about Offsetting Assets and Liabilities". This ASU requires companies to disclose both gross and net information about instruments and transactions eligible for offset in the statement of financial position as well as instruments and transactions subject to an agreement similar to a master netting arrangement. This guidance is effective retrospectively for interim and annual periods beginning on or after January 1, 2013. The Company has adopted this new guidance and it did not have a material impact on the condensed consolidated financial statements or its related disclosures.

Accounts_Receivable

Accounts Receivable	12 Months Ended
	Oct. 31, 2013
Accounts Receivable [Abstract]	'
Accounts Receivable [Text Block]	'
	—Accounts Receivable
	Accounts receivable are expected to be collected within one year and are net of an allowance for doubtful accounts in the amount of $341 and $482 at October 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively. The Company recognized net bad debt expense (credit) of $98 and $164 during fiscal 2013 and 2012, respectively, in the consolidated statements of income.
	The Company continually monitors its exposure with its customers and additional consideration is given to individual accounts in light of the market conditions in the automotive industry.

Acquisitions

Acquisitions	12 Months Ended
	Oct. 31, 2013
Business Combinations [Abstract]	'
Acquisitions	'
	Acquisitions
	Albany-Chicago Company LLC
	On December 28, 2012, the Company, through a wholly-owned subsidiary, entered into and consummated the transactions contemplated by a Membership Interest Purchase Agreement, dated December 28, 2012 (the "Purchase Agreement"), among the subsidiary and all of the equity owners of Albany-Chicago Company LLC ("Pleasant Prairie"), a producer of aluminum die cast and machined parts for the motor vehicle industry.
	The Company acquired Pleasant Prairie in order to further our investment in light weighting technologies and expand the diversity of our customer base, product offering and geographic footprint. Pleasant Prairie's results of operations are reflected in the Company's consolidated statements of income from the acquisition date.
	The aggregate fair value of consideration transferred in connection with the Purchase Agreement was $56,390, including $56,792 ($56,337 net of cash acquired) in cash on the date of acquisition. Of this amount, $3,000 in cash was placed into escrow, and will serve as security for any indemnification claims made by the Company under the Purchase Agreement. Subsequent to the acquisition date, $381 of working capital adjustments were paid during the second quarter to the seller, a reduction in purchase price of $850 as a result of a settlement agreement on asset valuation for tax purposes occurred during the third quarter, which was taken out of the escrow balance and a working capital adjustment of $67 paid to the seller during the third quarter.
	The acquisition of Pleasant Prairie has been accounted for using the acquisition method in accordance with the FASB Accounting Standards Codification ("ASC") Topic 805, Business Combinations. Assets acquired and liabilities assumed were recorded at their estimated fair values as of the acquisition date. The fair values of identifiable intangible assets were based on valuations using the income approach and estimates provided by management. The excess of the purchase price over the estimated fair values of the tangible assets, identifiable intangible assets and assumed liabilities was recorded as goodwill. The allocation of the purchase price is based upon a valuation of certain assets acquired and liabilities assumed. The purchase price allocation was as follows:
	Cash and cash equivalents	$	455
	Accounts receivable	9,195
	Inventory	2,711
	Prepaid assets and other	1,851
	Property, plant and equipment	26,100
	Intangible assets	16,056
	Other non-current assets	67
	Goodwill	5,492
	Accounts payable and other	(5,537		)
	Net assets acquired	$	56,390
	The Company utilized a third party to assist in the fair value determination of certain components of the purchase price allocation, namely property, plant and equipment and intangible assets.
	The Company believes the amount of goodwill resulting from the purchase price allocation is attributable to the workforce of the acquired business (which is not eligible for separate recognition as an identifiable intangible asset) and the synergies expected after the Company's acquisition of Pleasant Prairie. All of the goodwill was allocated to the Company's Pleasant Prairie subsidiary. The total amount of goodwill expected to be deductible for tax purposes is $14,291 and is estimated to be deductible over approximately 15 years.
	Of the $16,056 of acquired intangible assets, $13,462 was assigned to customers that have a useful life of approximately 13 years, $1,850 was assigned to trade names with an estimated useful life of approximately 15 years, and $744 was assigned to non-competition agreements with an estimated useful life of approximately 2 years. The fair values assigned to identifiable intangible assets acquired has been determined primarily by using the income approach, which discounts expected future cash flows to present value using estimates and assumptions determined by management. The Company utilized a third party to assist in assigning a fair value to acquired intangible assets. The total amount of identifiable intangible assets expected to be deductible for tax purposes is $16,056 and is estimated to be deductible over approximately 15 years.
	The amounts of revenue and net income of Pleasant Prairie included in the Company's consolidated statements of income from the acquisition date to the year ended October 31, 2013 are as follows:
	Pleasant Prairie Results of Operations	From December 28, 2012
		- October 31, 2013
	Revenue	$	57,661
	Net income	$	1,695
	Atlantic Tool & Die - Alabama, Inc.
	On December 13, 2012, the Company, through a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company, acquired certain assets of Atlantic Tool & Die - Alabama, Inc. (“Anniston”), a metal stamping, welding and value added assembly company. The fair value of consideration paid for the acquired assets was $6,347. The Company acquired Anniston in order to expand the diversity of our customer base and the availability of desired assets. The results of operations for Anniston are included in the Company's consolidated financial statements from the date of acquisition.
	The acquisition of Anniston has been accounted for using the acquisition method in accordance with the FASB ASC Topic 805, Business Combinations. Assets acquired and liabilities assumed were recorded at their estimated fair values as of the acquisition date. The allocation of the purchase price is based upon a valuation of certain assets acquired and liabilities assumed.
	The Company utilized a third party to assist the the fair value determination of certain components of the purchase price allocation, namely fixed assets and intangible assets. The Company acquired typical working capital items of inventories and other assets, net of certain employee benefit liabilities assumed, of $1,214, and property, plant and equipment of $5,361, resulting in a bargain purchase gain of $228. The Company was able to realize a gain on the acquisition as a result of the Company's ability to favorably negotiate the settlement of certain assumed liabilities.
	Contech Castings, LLC
	On June 11, 2013, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company entered into an Asset Purchase Agreement (the “ Contech Agreement”), with Contech Castings, LLC (“Contech”) and its subsidiary Contech Casting Real Estate Holdings, LLC (“Contech Real Estate” and together with Contech, “Contech Sellers”). Contech is engaged in the business of die casting and machining motor vehicle parts and further producing engineered high pressure aluminum die cast and machined parts for the motor vehicle industry, and Contech Real Estate owned the real property used by Contech in its business. The acquisition closed on August 2, 2013. Under the terms of the Contech Agreement, the Company acquired the assets of the business located at the purchased facilities and assumed certain specified liabilities from the Contech Sellers for $42,187, after adjustments in working capital, certain assumed liabilities and amounts of capital expenditures. Of this amount, $3,825 in cash was placed into escrow, and will serve as security for any indemnification claims made by the Company under the Contech Agreement.
	The Company acquired Contech's businesses in order to further our investment in light weighting technologies, expand our capabilities in aluminum die casting machining, expand the diversity of our customer base, product offering and geographic footprint. Contech's results of operations are reflected in the Company's consolidated statements of income from the acquisition date.
	The acquisition of Contech has been accounted for using the acquisition method in accordance with the FASB ASC Topic 805, Business Combinations. Assets acquired and liabilities assumed were recorded at their estimated fair values as of the acquisition date. The fair values of identifiable intangible assets were based on valuations using the income approach and estimates provided by management. The excess of the purchase price over the estimated fair values of the tangible assets, identifiable intangible assets and assumed liabilities was recorded as goodwill. The allocation of the purchase price is based upon a valuation of certain assets acquired and liabilities assumed. The preliminary purchase price allocation was as follows:
	Accounts receivable	$	2,126
	Inventory	1,529
	Prepaid assets and other	170
	Property, plant and equipment	39,956
	Intangible assets	2,898
	Goodwill	1,276
	Accounts payable and other	(5,768		)
	Net assets acquired	$	42,187
	The purchase price allocation is provisional, pending completion of the valuation of acquired intangible assets, property, plant and equipment, and inventories. The Company is utilizing a third party to assist in the fair value determination of certain components of the purchase price allocation, namely property, plant and equipment and intangible assets. The final valuation may change the allocation of the purchase price, which could affect the fair values assigned to the assets.
	The Company believes the amount of goodwill resulting from the purchase price allocation is attributable to the workforce of the acquired business (which is not eligible for separate recognition as an identifiable intangible asset) and the synergies expected after the Company's acquisition of Contech. The total amount of goodwill expected to be deductible for tax purposes is $1,276 and is estimated to be deductible over approximately 15 years.
	Of the $2,898 of acquired intangible assets, $25 was assigned to trade names with an estimated useful life of approximately 3 months, $166 was assigned to trademarks with an estimated useful life of approximately 10 years, and $2,707 was assigned to developed technologies with an estimated useful life of 5 years. The Company utilized a third party to assist in assigning a fair value to acquired intangible assets. The total amount of identifiable intangible assets expected to be deductible for tax purposes is $2,898 and is estimated to be deductible over approximately 15 years.
	Pro Forma Consolidated Results (unaudited)
	The following supplemental pro forma information presents the financial results for the year ended October 31, 2013 as if the acquisition of Pleasant Prairie had occurred on November 1, 2012, and for the year ended October 31, 2012 as if the acquisition had occurred on November 1, 2011. The pro forma results do not include any anticipated cost synergies, costs or other effects of the planned integration of Pleasant Prairie. Accordingly, such pro forma amounts are not necessarily indicative of the results that actually would have occurred had the acquisition been completed on the dates indicated, nor are they indicative of the future operating results of the combined company. In addition, the pro forma information includes amortization expense related to intangible assets acquired of approximately $1,404 and $1,164 for the years ended October 31, 2013 and October 31, 2012, respectively. Pro forma information related to the Anniston and Contech acquisitions are not included in the table below as their financial results were not considered to be significant to the Company's operating results for the periods presented.
	Pro forma consolidated results	Years Ended October 31,
	(in thousands, except for per share data):	2013			2012
	Revenue	$	710,436		$	641,717
	Net income	$	21,110		$	14,222
	Basic earnings per share	$	1.24		$	0.85
	Diluted earnings per share	$	1.24		$	0.85

Inventories

Inventories	12 Months Ended
	Oct. 31, 2013
Inventory Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Inventories [Text Block]	'
	Inventories
	Inventories consist of the following:
		October 31,
		2013		2012
	Raw materials	$	16,827	$	17,705
	Work-in-process	7,742		6,236
	Finished goods	9,573		8,513
	Total material	34,142		32,454
	Tooling	8,782		12,233
	Total inventories	$	42,924	$	44,687
	Total cost of inventory is net of reserves to reduce certain inventory from cost to net realizable value. Such reserves aggregated $853 and $55 at October 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively.
	The increase in production inventory of $1,688 is the result of increased sales volumes and acquisitions, net of improvements in our supply chain logistics.
	The reduction in tooling inventories due to collections of cash for customer reimbursed tooling was $3,451. The balance of tooling inventories of $8,782 is related to new program awards that go into production throughout fiscal 2014.

Asset_Impairment_and_Restructu

Asset Impairment and Restructuring Charges	12 Months Ended
	Oct. 31, 2013
Restructuring and Related Activities [Abstract]	'
Asset Impairment and Restructuring Charges	'
	—Asset Impairment and Restructuring Charges
	Impairment charges, net of $18 were recorded during fiscal 2013. Impairment recoveries of $96 were recorded during fiscal 2013 for cash received upon sales of assets from the Company's Mansfield Blanking facility, which was impaired in fiscal 2010. Impairment recoveries of $369 were recorded during fiscal 2013 for cash received upon sales of assets from the Company's Liverpool Stamping facility, which was impaired in fiscal 2009.
	During the fourth quarter of fiscal 2013, the Company recorded an asset impairment charge of $483 to reduce the real property of the Company's Anniston facility to a fair value based on on independent assessment that considered recent sales of similar properties, changes in market conditions and an income based valuation approach.
	Impairment recoveries, net of $834 were recorded during fiscal 2012. Impairment recoveries of $1,551 were recorded during fiscal 2012 for cash received upon sales of assets from the Company's Mansfield Blanking facility, which was impaired in fiscal 2010. Impairment recoveries of $1,159 were recorded during fiscal 2012 for cash received upon sales of assets from the Company's Liverpool Stamping Facility, which was impaired in fiscal 2009. The remaining $68 of recoveries were for cash received upon sales of assets from other assets impaired in prior periods.
	During the third quarter of fiscal 2012, the Company entered into negotiations to sell its Mansfield Blanking facility, which ceased operations in December 2011. As a result, the Company recorded an asset impairment charge of $1,552 to reduce the Mansfield real property to an estimated fair value based on an independent assessment that considered recent sales of similar properties and a submitted offer to acquire the real property. In addition, during the third quarter of fiscal 2012, the Company recorded an impairment charge of $392 to reduce the value of long lived assets to their estimated fair value. The fair value of machinery and equipment, as determined using level 3 inputs, was zero as the items were worn equipment for which the Company had no further use and limited value in the used equipment market. During the fourth quarter of fiscal 2012, the Company sold the real property and building for $1,400 in cash.
	In addition, during the third quarter of fiscal 2012, the Company reduced a restructuring charge by $30 as a result of certain employees not meeting the requirements for obtaining severance payments associated with the restructuring charge of $352 that the Company recorded in the third quarter of fiscal 2011, relating to a negotiated settlement with approximately 90 employees for severance and health insurance related to the previously announced planned closure of the Company's plant in Mansfield, Ohio.

Other_Assets

Other Assets	12 Months Ended
	Oct. 31, 2013
Deferred Costs and Other Assets Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Other Assets [Text Block]	'
	—Other Assets
				October 31,
				2013		2012
	Other assets consist of the following:
		Deferred financing costs, net		$	2,311	$	685
		Other		616		183
			Total	$	2,927	$	868
	Deferred financing costs are amortized over the term of the debt. During fiscal 2013 and 2012, amortization of these costs amounted to $338 and $325, respectively. Accumulated amortization was $2,467 and $2,142 as of October 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively. In October 2013, the Company entered into a new Credit Agreement and capitalized $1,435 of the costs.

Property_Plant_and_Equipment

Property, Plant and Equipment	12 Months Ended
	Oct. 31, 2013
Property, Plant and Equipment [Abstract]	'
Property, Plant and Equipment [Text Block]	'
	Property, Plant and Equipment
	Property, plant and equipment consist of the following:
		October 31,
		2013		2012
	Land and improvements	$	11,050	$	8,408
	Buildings and improvements	109,977		99,855
	Machinery and equipment	411,847		341,568
	Furniture and fixtures	11,568		11,372
	Construction in progress	28,982		13,636
	Total, at cost	573,424		474,839
	Less: Accumulated depreciation	375,550		357,738
	Property, plant and equipment, net	$197,874		$117,101
	Depreciation expense was $19,529 and $18,793 in fiscal 2013 and 2012, respectively.
	During the years ended October 31, 2013 and 2012, interest capitalized as part of property, plant and equipment was $112 and $34, respectively. The Company had unpaid capital expenditures of approximately $1,978 and $802 at October 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively, and such amounts are included in accounts payable at those dates and excluded from capital expenditures in the accompanying consolidated statements of cash flows for the fiscal years 2013 and 2012. The Company has commitments for capital expenditures of $3,871 at October 31, 2013 that will be incurred in 2014.

Financing_Arrangements

Financing Arrangements	12 Months Ended
	Oct. 31, 2013
Debt Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Financing Arrangements	'
	—Financing Arrangements
	Debt consists of the following:
		October 31,
		2013			2012
	Credit Agreement —interest at 1.95% and 2.87% at October 31, 2013 and October 31, 2012, respectively	$	117,400		$	21,150
	Equipment security note	2,461			—
	Insurance broker financing agreement	405			447
	Total debt	120,266			21,597
	Less: Current debt	882			447
	Total long-term debt	$	119,384		$	21,150
	The weighted average interest rate of all debt was 2.06% and 2.82% for fiscal years 2013 and 2012, respectively.
	On April 19, 2011, the Company entered into an amended and restated Credit and Security Agreement (the “Agreement”) with a syndicate of lenders led by The Privatebank and Trust Company, as co-lead arranger, sole book runner and administrative agent and PNC Capital Markets, LLC as co-lead arranger and PNC Bank, National Association, as syndication agent. The Agreement amends and restates in its entirety the Company’s Credit Agreement, dated as of August 1, 2008.
	The Agreement has a five-year term and provides for an $80 million secured revolving line of credit, which may be increased up to $120 million subject to the Company’s pro forma compliance with certain financial covenants, the administrative agent’s approval and the Company obtaining commitments for such increase. The Company is permitted to prepay the borrowings under the revolving credit facility without penalty.
	The Agreement specifies that upon the occurrence of an event or condition deemed to have a material adverse effect on the business or operations of the Company, as determined by the administrative agent of the lending syndicate or the required lenders, defined as 51% of the aggregate commitment under the Agreement, the outstanding borrowings become due and payable at the option of the required lenders. The Company does not anticipate at this time any change in business conditions or operations that could be deemed a material adverse effect by the lenders.
	On January 31, 2012, the Company entered into a First Amendment Agreement (the “First Amendment”) amending the Agreement.
	The First Amendment continues the Company's revolving line of credit up to $80 million through April 2016 with a modification to the calculation of the fixed charge coverage ratio to allow for payment of a special dividend declared on February 1, 2012 and other modifications to allow the Company to participate in certain customer-sponsored financing arrangements allowing for early, discounted payment of Company invoices.
	On December 26, 2012, the Company entered into a Second Amendment Agreement (the "Second Amendment") amending the Agreement. The Second Amendment extends the commitment period to December 25, 2017 and increases the Company's revolving line of credit to $120 million, which may be increased to up to $200 million subject to the Company's pro forma compliance with certain financial covenants, the administrative agent's approval and the Company obtaining commitments for such increase.
	Borrowings under the Agreement, as amended, bear interest, at the Company's option, at the London Interbank Offered Rate ("LIBOR") or the base (or “prime”) rate established from time to time by the administrative agent, in each case plus an applicable margin. The Second Amendment reduces the interest rate margin on LIBOR loans from 2.5% to 1.5% and maintains a 0% rate margin on base rate loans through March 31, 2013. Thereafter, the interest rate margin on LIBOR loans will be 1.5% to 2.5% and on base rate loans will be 0% to 1.0%, depending on the Company's leverage ratio.
	The Second Amendment also amends the maximum leverage and fixed charge coverage ratios. The Second Amendment has increased the permitted leverage ratio from 2.25 to 2.85 and specifies that the leverage ratio shall not exceed 2.85 to 1.00 to the conclusion of the Agreement. Further, the Second Amendment reduces the fixed charge coverage ratio from 2.50 to 2.00 and specifies that the fixed charge coverage ratio shall not be less than 2.00 to 1.00 to the conclusion of the Agreement.
	On June 4, 2013, the Company entered into a Third Amendment Agreement (the "Third Amendment") amending the Agreement. The Third Amendment increases the Company's revolving line of credit to $175 million, which may be increased to up to $255 million subject to the Company's pro forma compliance with certain financial covenants, the administrative agent's approval and the Company obtaining commitments for such increase.
	On October 25, 2013, the Company entered into a Credit Agreement (the “Credit Agreement”) with Bank of America, N.A., as Administrative Agent, Swing Line Lender and L/C Issuer, Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated and J.P. Morgan Securities, LLC as Joint Lead Arrangers and Joint Book Managers, The PrivateBank and Trust Company, Compass Bank and RBS Citizens, N.A., as Co-Documentation Agents, and the other lender parties thereto. The Company's domestic subsidiaries have guaranteed certain of the Company's obligations under the Agreement.
	The Credit Agreement has a five-year term and provides for a $300 million secured revolving line of credit (which may be increased up to an additional $100 million subject to the Company’s compliance with the terms of the Credit Agreement and pro forma compliance with certain financial covenants, notice to the Administrative Agent and the Company obtaining commitments for such increase). Funds borrowed from the Credit Agreement were used to payoff borrowed funds under the Third Amendment.
	Borrowings under the Credit Agreement bear interest, at LIBOR plus the applicable rate as referenced in the Credit Agreement or at the option of the Company the highest of (a) the Federal Funds Rate plus 0.50%, (b) the rate of interest in effect for such day as publicly announced from time to time by Bank of America, N.A. as its prime rate or (c) the Eurocurrency Rate plus 1.00%. In addition to interest charges, the Company will pay in arrears a quarterly commitment fee ranging from 0.20% - 0.35% based on the Company’s daily revolving exposure.
	The Credit Agreement contains customary restrictive and financial covenants, including covenants regarding the Company’s outstanding indebtedness and maximum leverage and interest coverage ratios. The Credit Agreement also contains standard provisions relating to conditions of borrowing. In addition, the Credit Agreement contains customary events of default, including the non-payment of obligations by the Company and the bankruptcy of the Company. If an event of default occurs, all amounts outstanding under the Credit Agreement may be accelerated and become immediately due and payable. The Company was in compliance with the financial covenants as of October 31, 2013.
	After considering letters of credit of $2,441 that the Company has issued, available funds under the Credit Agreement were $180,159 at October 31, 2013.
	Borrowings under the Agreement are collateralized by a first priority security interest in substantially all of the tangible and intangible property of the Company and its domestic subsidiaries and 65% of the stock of foreign subsidiaries.
	In July 2013, the Company entered into a finance agreement with an insurance broker for various insurance policies that bears interest at a fixed rate of 2.15% and requires monthly payments of $68 through April 2014. As of October 31, 2013, $405 remained outstanding under this agreement and was classified as current debt in the Company’s condensed consolidated balance sheets.
	On September 2, 2013, the Company entered into an equipment security note that bears interest at a fixed rate of 2.47% and requires monthly payments of $44 through September 2018. As of October 31, 2013, $2,461 remained outstanding under this agreement and $477 was classified as current debt and $1,984 was classified as long term debt in the Company’s condensed consolidated balance sheets.
	Scheduled repayments under the terms of the Credit Agreement plus repayments of other debt for the next five years are listed below:
						Equipment
	Year		Credit Agreement			Security Note		Other Debt		Total
	2014		$	—		$	477	$	405	$	882
	2015		—			489		—		489
	2016		—			501		—		501
	2017		—			513		—		513
	2018		117,400			481		—		117,881
	Total		$	117,400		$	2,461	$	405	$	120,266

Intangible_Assets_Intangible_A

Intangible Assets Intangible Assets	12 Months Ended
	Oct. 31, 2013
Intangible Assets [Abstract]	'
Intangible Assets [Text Block]	'
	Intangible Assets
	Intangible assets acquired with the acquisitions described in Note 3 consist of the following:
			31-Oct-13
			Useful Life		Cost		Accumulated Amortization			Net
		Trade Name (Albany Chicago)	15 years		$	1,850	$	(103	)	$	1,747
		Non-compete (Albany-Chicago)	2 years		744		(310		)	434
		Customer Relationships (Albany-Chicago)	13 years		13,462		(771		)	12,691
		Trade Name (Contech)	0.25 years		25		(25		)	—
		Trademark (Contech)	10 years		166		(4		)	162
		Developed Technology (Contech)	5 years		2,707		(136		)	2,571
					$	18,954	$	(1,349	)	$	17,605
	Total amortization expense for the year ending October 31, 2013 was $1,349. Amortization expense related to intangible assets for the following fiscal years ending is estimated to be as follows:
	2014		$	2,180
	2015		1,779
	2016		1,717
	2017		1,717
	2018		1,582
	Thereafter		8,630
			$	17,605

Operating_Leases

Operating Leases	12 Months Ended
	Oct. 31, 2013
Operating Leases [Abstract]	'
Operating Leases [Text Block]	'
	Operating Leases
	The Company leases buildings, material handling, manufacturing and office equipment under operating leases with terms that range from three to ten years at inception. The leases do not include step rent provisions, escalation clauses, capital improvement funding or other lease concessions that qualify the leases as a contingent rental. Also, the leases do not include a variable related to a published index. The Company's operating leases are charged to expense over the lease term, on a straight-line basis.
	The longest lease term of the Company's current leases extends to June, 2020. Rent expense under operating leases for fiscal years 2013 and 2012 was $2,203 and $2,634, respectively. Future minimum lease payments under operating leases are as follows at October 31, 2013:
	2014	$1,931
	2015	1,560
	2016	1,158
	2017	1,045
	2018 and thereafter	$2,593

Pension_and_Other_PostRetireme

Pension and Other Post-Retirement Benefit Matters Pension and Other Postretirement Benefits Disclosure	12 Months Ended
	Oct. 31, 2013
Employee Benefit Plans [Abstract]	'
Employee Benefit Plans [Text Block]	'
	Employee Benefit Plans
	The Company maintains pension plans covering its eligible employees. The Company also provides an unfunded postretirement health care benefit plan for approximately 22 retirees and their dependents. The measurement date for the Company's employee benefit plans coincides with its fiscal year end, October 31.
	Obligations and Funded Status
	At October 31
		Pension Benefits								Other Post Retirement Benefits
		2013				2012				2013				2012
	Change in benefit obligation:
	Benefit obligation at beginning of year	$	(88,665	)		$	(75,292	)		$	(940	)		$	(935	)
	Interest cost	(3,260		)		(3,683		)		(34		)		(45		)
	Settlements	2,271				—				—				—
	Actuarial gain (loss)	835				(13,186		)		45				18
	Benefits paid	3,691				3,496				35				22
	Benefit obligation at end of year	(85,128		)		(88,665		)		(894		)		(940		)
	Change in plan assets:
	Fair value of plan assets at beginning of year	53,230				46,218				—				—
	Actual return on plan assets	8,542				4,601				—				—
	Employer contributions	5,146				5,907				35				22
	Settlement	(2,271		)		—				—				—
	Benefits paid	(3,691		)		(3,496		)		(35		)		(22		)
	Fair value of plan assets at end of year	60,956				53,230				—				—
	Funded status, benefit obligations in excess of plan assets	$	(24,172	)		$	(35,435	)		$	(894	)		$	(940	)
	The above amounts are recorded in the liabilities section of the consolidated balance sheets as follows:
		Pension Benefits								Other Post Retirement Benefits
		2013				2012				2013				2012
	Other accrued expenses	$	(3,650	)		$	(3,480	)		$	(99	)		$	(92	)
	Long-term benefit liabilities	(20,522		)		(31,955		)		(795		)		(848		)
	Total	$	(24,172	)		$	(35,435	)		$	(894	)		$	(940	)
	Components of Net Periodic Benefit Cost
			Pension Benefits								Other Post Retirement Benefits
			2013				2012				2013				2012
	Interest cost		$	3,260			$	3,683			$	34			$	45
	Expected return on plan assets		(3,735		)		(3,251		)		—				—
	Settlement		1,102				—				—				—
	Amortization of net actuarial loss		1,392				1,040				48				54
	Net periodic benefit cost		$	2,019			$	1,472			$	82			$	99
	As part of a strategy to remove liability risk and reduce payments to the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation, the Company elected to allow lump sum distributions from the defined benefit pension plans, of which approximately 200 former employees elected and received distributions during fiscal 2013, removing $2,271 in liability from the plan. The FASB requires a special accounting charge for settling pension obligations in this manner. During fiscal year 2013, the Company incurred $1,102 in expense for this settlement charge.
	The Company expects to recognize in the consolidated statement of income the following amounts that will be amortized from accumulated other comprehensive income in fiscal 2014.
		Pension Benefits		Other
				Post Retirement
				Benefits
	Amortization of net actuarial loss	$1,074		$41
	The Company has recognized the following cumulative pre-tax actuarial losses, prior service costs and transition obligations in accumulated other comprehensive income:
		Pension Benefits								Other Post Retirement Benefits
		2013				2012				2013				2012
	Net actuarial loss	$	41,280			$	49,415			$	679			$	772
	Accumulated other comprehensive income	$	41,280			$	49,415			$	679			$	772
	Additional Information
		Pension Benefits								Other Post Retirement Benefits
		2013				2012				2013				2012
	Increase (decrease) in minimum liability included in other comprehensive income	$	8,135			$	(10,796	)		$	93			$	72
	Assumptions
	Weighted-average assumptions used		Pension Benefits						Other Post Retirement Benefits
	to determine benefit obligations at October 31		2013			2012			2013			2012
	Discount rate		4.5	%		3.75	%		4.5	%		3.75	%
			Pension Benefits						Other Post Retirement Benefits
	Weighted-average assumptions used to determine net		2013			2012			2013			2012
	periodic benefit costs for years ended October 31
	Discount rate		3.75	%		5	%		3.75	%		5	%
	Expected long-term return on plan assets		7.5	%		7.5	%		—			—
	These assumptions are used to develop the projected obligation at fiscal year end and to develop net periodic benefit cost for the subsequent fiscal year. Therefore, for fiscal 2013, the assumptions used to determine net periodic benefit costs were established at October 31, 2012, while the assumptions used to determine the benefit obligations were established at October 31, 2013.
	The Company uses the Principal Pension Discount Yield Curve ("Principal Curve") as the basis for determining the discount rate for reporting pension and retiree medical liabilities. The Principal Curve has several advantages to other methods, including: transparency of construction, lower statistical errors, and continuous forward rates for all years. At October 31, 2013 the discount rate from the use of the Principal Curve was 4.50%, an increase of 0.75% from a year ago that resulted in a decrease of the benefit obligation of approximately $4,470.
	The Company determines the annual rate of return on pension assets by first analyzing the composition of its asset portfolio. Historical rates of return are applied to the portfolio. The Company's outside investment advisors and actuaries review the computed rate of return. Industry comparables and other outside guidance are also considered in the annual selection of the expected rates of return on pension assets. The long-term expected rate of return on plan assets takes into account years with exceptional gains and years with exceptional losses.
	Assumed health care trend rates at October 31		2013	2012
Health care cost trend rate assumed for next year		7.00%	8.00%
Rate to which the cost trend rate is assumed to decline (the ultimate trend rate)		6.50%	7.50%
Year that the rate reaches the ultimate trend rate		2015	2014
Assumed healthcare cost trend rates have a significant effect on the amounts reported for the healthcare plan. The Company's trend rate was based on reduced health care claims experienced by a small and declining retiree population. A one-percentage point change in assumed healthcare cost trend rates would have the following effects at October 31, 2013:
	One-Percentage				One-Percentage
	Point Increase				Point Decrease
Effect on total of service and interest cost components	$	5			$	(4	)
Effect on post retirement obligation	$	45			$	(40	)
Plan Assets
The Company has established a targeted asset allocation percentage by asset category and rebalances the assets of each plan when pension contributions are funded. The Company's pension plan weighted-average asset allocations at October 31, 2013 and 2012, by asset category and comparison to the target allocation percentage are as follows:
	Target	Plan Assets at October 31,
	Allocation
	Percentage	2013		2012
Asset Category
Equity securities	0-70%	60%		56%
Debt securities	0-70%	34%		38%
Real estate	0-10%	6%		6%
Total		100%		100%
The Company's investment policy for assets of the plans is to obtain a reasonable long-term return consistent with the level of risk assumed. The Company also seeks to control the cost of funding the plans within prudent levels of risk through the investment of plan assets and the Company seeks to provide diversification of assets in an effort to avoid the risk of large losses and to maximize the return to the plans consistent with market and economic risk.
Fair Value
The plans' investments are reported at fair value. Purchases and sales of securities are recorded on a trade‑date basis. Dividends are recorded on the ex‑dividend date.
Fair value is the price that would be received by the plans for an asset or paid by the plans to transfer a liability (an exit price) in an orderly transaction between market participants on the measurement date in the plans' principal or most advantageous market for the asset or liability. Fair value measurements are determined by maximizing the use of observable inputs and minimizing the use of unobservable inputs when measuring fair value. The hierarchy places the highest priority on unadjusted quoted market prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities (level 1 measurements) and gives the lowest priority to unobservable inputs (level 3 measurements). The three levels of inputs within the fair value hierarchy are defined as follows:
Level 1: Quoted prices (unadjusted) for identical assets or liabilities in active markets that the plans have the ability to access as of the measurement date.
Level 2: Significant other observable inputs other than level 1 prices such as quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities; quoted prices in markets that are not active; or other inputs that are observable or can be corroborated by observable market data.
Level 3: Significant unobservable inputs that reflect the plans' own assumptions about the assumptions that market participants would use in pricing an asset or liability.
In some cases, a valuation technique used to measure fair value may include inputs from multiple levels of the fair value hierarchy. The lowest level of significant input determines the placement of the entire fair value measurement in the hierarchy.
The following descriptions of the valuation methods and assumptions used by the plans to estimate the fair values of investments apply to investments held directly by the plans.
Mutual funds: The fair values of mutual fund investments are determined by obtaining quoted prices on nationally recognized securities exchanges (level 1 inputs).
Pooled separate accounts: The fair values of participation units held in pooled separate accounts are based on their net asset values, as reported by the managers of the pooled separate accounts as supported by the unit prices of actual purchase and sale transactions occurring as of or close to the financial statement date (level 2 inputs). With the exception of the Principal U.S. Property Separate Account, a fund sponsored by Principal Financial Group, investment and actuarial advisors of the Company, each of the pooled separate accounts invests in multiple securities. With the exception of the Principal U.S. Property Separate Account, each pooled separate account provides for daily redemptions by the plans with no advance notice requirements, and has redemption prices that are determined by the fund's net asset value per unit. Due to illiquidity of the underlying assets of the Principal U.S. Property Separate Account, which is an open-end, commingled real estate account and a separate account of Principal Life Insurance Company (Principal), Principal has imposed a withdrawal limitation which delays the payment of withdrawal requests and provides for payment of such requests on a pro rata basis as cash becomes available for distribution, as determined by Principal.
The methods described above may produce a fair value calculation that may not be indicative of net realizable value or reflective of future fair values. Furthermore, while the Company believes its valuation methods are appropriate and consistent with other market participants, the use of different methodologies or assumptions to determine the fair value of certain financial instruments could result in a different fair value measurement at the reporting date.
Investments totaling $60,956 at October 31, 2013 and $53,230 at October 31, 2012 measured at fair value on a recurring basis are summarized below:
				Fair Value Measurements												Fair Value Measurements
				at October 31, 2013 Using												at October 31, 2012 Using
				Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1)				Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)								Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1)		Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)
												Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)								Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)
Investments
	Equity
		Large U.S. Equity		$	9,289			$	12,344			$	—			$	7,805	$	10,027	$	—
		Small/Mid U.S. Equity		5,488				2,437				—				2,632		3,710		—
		International Equity		7,316				—				—				5,347		—		—
	Fixed Income
		Government		—				278				—				—		281		—
		Corporate		13,933				6,270				—				10,775		9,414		—
	Real Estate (Primarily Commercial)			—				3,600				—				—		—		3,239
Total Investments				$	36,026			$	24,929			$	—			$	26,559	$	23,432	$	3,239
The table below presents a reconciliation of all investments measured at fair value on a recurring basis using significant unobservable inputs (level 3) for the years ended October 31, 2013 and 2012, including the reporting classifications for the applicable gains and losses.
		Fair Value Measurements Using Significant Unobservable Inputs
		(Level 3)
		Pooled Separate Account-Real Estate
1-Nov-11			$2,523
Total unrealized gains or losses included in change in net assets available for benefits of
the plans:
Net unrealized appreciation relating to assets held at end of year			716
31-Oct-12			3,239
Total unrealized gains or losses included in change in net assets available for benefits of
the plans:
Transfers out of Level 3			(3,239	)
31-Oct-13			$0
Cash Flows
Contributions
The Company expects to contribute $4,352 to its pension plans in fiscal 2014, compared to $5,146 funded in fiscal 2013.
Estimated Future Benefit Payments
The following benefit payments, which reflect expected future service, as appropriate, are expected to be paid by the plans:
	Pension Benefits						Other Benefits
2014		$	3,650					$	99
2015		3,880						92
2016		3,970						88
2017		4,240						78
2018		4,110						71
2019-2023		24,060						303
Defined Contribution Plans
In addition to the defined benefit plans described above, the Company maintains a number of defined contribution plans. Under the terms of the plans, eligible employees may contribute a selected percentage of their base pay. The Company matches a percentage of the employees' contributions up to a stated percentage, subject to statutory limitations. During fiscal 2007, the Company began automatically enrolling new employees in the defined contribution plan as well as automatically increasing employee contributions by 1% annually, unless the employee opts out of the enrollment or contribution increases. Additionally, the Company increased the match of employee contributions to 100% of the first 3% of employee deferrals, and to contribute an additional 50% of deferrals of 4-5% of employee contributions. The Company recorded an expense related to the matching program of $2,195 during fiscal 2013, compared to an expense of $1,620 during fiscal 2012.

Earnings_Per_Share

Earnings Per Share	12 Months Ended
	Oct. 31, 2013
Equity [Abstract]	'
Earnings Per Share [Text Block]	'
	—Earnings Per Share
	Basic earnings per share is computed by dividing net income available to common stockholders by the weighted average number of shares of Common Stock outstanding during the period. In addition, the shares of Common Stock issuable pursuant to stock options outstanding under the Company's Amended and Restated 1993 Key Employee Stock Incentive Plan are included in the diluted earnings per share calculation to the extent they are dilutive. For the years ended October 31, 2013 and 2012, approximately 225,000 and 337,000 stock awards, respectively, were excluded from the computation of diluted earnings per share because they were anti-dilutive. The following is a reconciliation of the numerator and denominator of the basic and diluted earnings per share computation for net income per share:
		Years Ended October 31,
		2013		2012
		(Amounts in thousands,
		except per share data)
	Net income available to common stockholders	$	21,570	$	13,526
	Basic weighted average shares	16,982		16,813
	Effect of dilutive securities:
	Stock options	48		91
	Diluted weighted average shares	17,030		16,904
	Basic earnings per share	$	1.27	$	0.8
	Diluted earnings per share	$	1.27	$	0.8

Stock_Options_and_Incentive_Co

Stock Options and Incentive Compensation	12 Months Ended
	Oct. 31, 2013
Disclosure of Compensation Related Costs, Share-based Payments [Abstract]	'
Stock Options and Incentive Compensation	'
	—Stock Options and Incentive Compensation
	For the Company, FASB ASC Topic 718 “Compensation – Stock Compensation” affects the stock options that have been granted and requires the Company to expense share-based payment (“SBP”) awards with compensation cost for SBP transactions measured at fair value. The Company has elected to use the simplified method of calculating the expected term of the stock options and historical volatility to compute fair value under the Black-Scholes option-pricing model. The risk-free rate for periods within the contractual life of the option is based on the U.S. zero coupon Treasury yield in effect at the time of grant. Forfeitures have been estimated based upon the Company’s historical experience.
	1993 Key Employee Stock Incentive Plan
	The Company maintains the Amended and Restated 1993 Key Employee Stock Incentive Program (as amended and restated December 12, 2002 and December 10, 2009) (the “Incentive Plan”), which authorizes grants to officers and other key employees of the Company and its subsidiaries of (i) stock options that are intended to qualify as incentive stock options, (ii) nonqualified stock options and (iii) restricted stock awards. An aggregate of 2,700,000 shares of Common Stock, subject to adjustment upon occurrence of certain events to prevent dilution or expansion of the rights of participants that might otherwise result from the occurrence of such events, has been reserved for issuance pursuant to the Incentive Plan. An individual’s award of stock options is limited to 500,000 shares in a five-year period.
	Non-qualified stock options and incentive stock options have been granted to date and all options have been granted at an exercise price at least equal to market price at the date of grant. Options expire over a period not to exceed ten years from the date of grant and vest ratably over a three year period. In December 2011, options to purchase 56,500 shares were awarded to several officers and employees at an exercise price of $8.10 for stock options that are intended to qualify as incentive stock options. No non-qualified stock options have been awarded since December 2011.
	In September 2012, 80,257 shares of restricted stock were granted to the newly appointed chief executive officer as part of his compensation package.
	A summary of option activity under the plans is as follows:
					Number of Shares Under Option			Weighted Average Option Price
		Outstanding at	November 1, 2011		520,185			$8.54
			Granted		56,500			8.1
			Exercised		(158,513	)		$4.01
			Canceled		(56,087	)		$10.96
		Outstanding at	October 31, 2012		362,085			$9.99
			Granted		—			$0.00
			Exercised		(47,804	)		$6.28
			Canceled		(78,147	)		$12.45
		Outstanding at	October 31, 2013		236,134			$9.93
	There were 176,134 options exercisable as of October 31, 2013 with a weighted average exercise price of $9.90. At October 31, 2013 options outstanding had an intrinsic value of $1,534 and options exercisable had an intrinsic value of $1,149. Options that have an exercise price greater than the market price on October 31, 2013 were excluded from the intrinsic value computation. The intrinsic value of options exercised during fiscal 2013 and 2012 was $485 and $1,167, respectively.
	The following table provides additional information regarding options outstanding as of October 31, 2013:
		Exercise Prices		Options Outstanding			Exercise Price of Options Outstanding and Options Exercisable		Options Exercisable	Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Life
		$13.06		15,000			$13.06		15,000	1.99
		$14.74		34,000			$14.74		34,000	3.54
		$2.11		9,000			$2.11		9,000	5.12
		$5.30		53,634			$5.30		53,634	5.78
		$12.04		85,000			$12.04		56,000	7.11
		$8.10		39,500			$8.10		8,500	8.15
		Totals		236,134					176,134
	There were 56,671 options not exercisable as of October 31, 2013 with a weighted average exercise price of $10.12. No options were granted during the year ended October 31, 2013.
	A summary of non-vested options as of and for the year ended October 31, 2013 is as follows:
		Non-vested Options			Number of Shares			Weighted Average Grant-Date Fair Value
		Non-vested at beginning of period			136,500			$10.46
		Granted			—			$0.00
		Vested			(58,828	)		$10.84
		Forfeited			(21,001	)		$10.32
		Non-vested at	31-Oct-13		56,671			$10.12
	For the fiscal years ended October 31, 2013 and 2012, the Company recorded compensation expense related to the stock options currently vesting, effectively reducing pretax income by $456 and $730, respectively. The impact on earnings per share for each of the fiscal years ended October 31, 2013 and 2012 was a reduction of $0.02 per share basic and diluted. The total compensation cost related to nonvested awards not yet recognized as of October 31, 2013 and 2012 is a total of $165 and $620, respectively, which will be recognized over the next three fiscal years. The total compensation cost related to the restricted stock currently vesting is $282 and for the non-vesting restricted stock is $510.
	The fair values of these options were estimated at the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model with the following weighted average assumptions used for grants awarded during fiscal year 2012:
		2012
	Risk-free interest	1.2	%
	Dividend yield	—	%
	Volatility factor—market	88.26	%
	Expected life of options—years	6.00 years
	Based upon the preceding assumptions, the weighted average fair value of stock options granted during fiscal year 2012 was $8.10 per share
		Incentive Bonus Plans
	The Company maintains a Management Incentive Plan ("MIP") to provide the Chief Executive Officer and certain eligible employees ("participants") incentives for superior performance. The MIP is administered by the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors and entitles the participants to be paid a cash bonus based upon varying percentages of their respective salaries, the level of achievement of the corporate goals established by the Compensation Committee and specific individual goals as established by the Chief Executive Officer (for employees other than the CEO). For fiscal years 2013 and 2012, the Compensation Committee established goals for corporate office personnel based on the Company's earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization ("EBITDA") and return on invested capital ("ROIC"). For the remaining participants, 50% of the incentive depends upon meeting the operating targets and metrics of the participant's operating unit and 50% is based upon attaining the corporate goals for the Company's performance. For fiscal 2013, participants in the MIP are entitled to receive an aggregate of $3,293 under the MIP. For fiscal 2012, participants in the MIP received an aggregate bonus of $3,176 under the MIP, which was paid in the first quarter of fiscal 2013.

Income_Taxes

Income Taxes	12 Months Ended
	Oct. 31, 2013
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Income Taxes[Text Block]	'
	Income Taxes
	Income before income taxes consists of the following:
			Years Ended October 31,
			2013				2012
	Domestic		$	30,814			$	23,139
	Foreign		1,361				(632		)
	Total		$	32,175			$	22,507
	The components of the provision for income taxes from continuing operations were as follows:
				Years Ended October 31,
				2013				2012
	Current:
		Federal		$	8,427			$	5,733
		State and local		1,338				1,114
		Foreign		261				150
	Total current			10,026				6,997
	Deferred:
		Federal		427				1,885
		State and local		152				97
		Foreign		—				2
	Total deferred			579				1,984
		Provision		$	10,605			$	8,981
	Temporary differences and carryforwards which give rise to deferred tax assets and liabilities were comprised of the following:
			Years Ended October 31,
			2013				2012
	Deferred tax assets:
		Accrued compensation and benefits	$	1,255			$	936
		Inventory	662				558
		State income credits and loss carryforwards	1,266				1,115
		Pension obligations and post retirement benefits	8,255				12,365
		Foreign net operating loss	1,153				2,033
		Tax credits in foreign countries	573				677
		Other accruals and reserves	2,806				2,206
		Goodwill and intangible amortization	3,304				0
	Total deferred tax assets		19,274				19,890
	Less: Valuation allowance		-4,014				-4,401
	Total deferred tax assets		15,260				15,489
	Deferred tax liabilities:
		Fixed assets	-12,828				-9,690
		Prepaid expenses and other	-572				-352
	Net deferred tax asset		$	1,860			$	5,447
	Change in net deferred tax asset:
		Provision for deferred taxes	$	(579	)		$	(1,984	)
		Other	(10		)		86
	Components of other comprehensive income:
		Pension and post retirement benefits	(2,998		)		4,199
		Total change in net deferred tax asset	$	(3,587	)		$	2,301
	As required by FASB ASC Topic 740, the Company recognizes the financial statement benefit of a tax position only after determining that the relevant tax authority would more likely than not sustain the position. For tax positions meeting the more-likely-than-not threshold, the amount recognized in the financial statements is the largest benefit that has a greater than 50 percent likelihood of being realized upon ultimate settlement with the relevant tax authority.
	Activities and balances of unrecognized tax benefits for 2013 and 2012 are summarized below:
		Years Ended October 31,
		2013				2012
	Balance at beginning of year	$	1,247			$	1,069
	Additions based on tax positions related to the current year	54				126
	Additions for tax positions of prior years	—				89
	Reductions for tax positions of prior years	(61		)		(13		)
	Reductions as result of lapse of applicable statute of limitations	(57		)		(24		)
	Balance at end of year	$	1,183			$	1,247
	The total amount of unrecognized tax benefits that, if recognized, would affect the effective rate was $777 at October 31, 2013 and $820 at October 31, 2012. The Company recognizes interest accrued and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits as part of income tax expense. The Company recognized $21 and $148 of expense in 2013 and 2012 for interest and penalties. The Company had accrued $1,029 at October 31, 2013 and $1,008 at October 31, 2012, for the payment of interest and penalties.
	The Company is subject to income taxes in the U.S. federal jurisdiction, and various state, local and foreign jurisdictions. Tax regulations within each jurisdiction are subject to the interpretation of the related tax laws and regulations and require significant judgment to apply. With few exceptions, the Company is no longer subject to U.S. federal, state and local income tax examinations by tax authorities for the years ending prior to October 31, 2011 and no longer subject to non-U.S. income tax examinations for calendar years ending prior to December 31, 2008. The Company does not anticipate that within the next 12 months the total unrecognized tax benefits will significantly change due to the settlement of examinations and the expiration of statute of limitations.
	In September 2013, the Internal Revenue Service issued final regulations governing the income tax treatment of acquisitions, dispositions, and repairs of tangible property. Taxpayers are required to follow the new regulations in taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 2014. Management is currently assessing the impact of the regulations and does not expect they will have a material impact on the Company's financial statements.
	During October 2007, the Mexican Congress passed the Initiative to Amend the Tax Coordination Law and Income Tax Law. Effective January 1, 2008, a flat tax supplements the regular income tax. In conjunction with this law change, a deferred tax asset for Mexican tax credits in the amount of $1,037 was recorded as of October 31, 2008. While future projections for taxable income and ongoing prudent and feasible tax planning strategies have been considered in assessing the need for the valuation allowance, the Company believes that it is more likely than not that the tax credits will not be realized. Therefore, a valuation allowance in the amount of $1,037 was recorded in fiscal 2008. The comparable amount in fiscal 2013 and 2012 was $572 and $677, respectively.
	A valuation allowance of $4,014 remains as of October 31, 2013 for deferred tax assets whose realization remains uncertain at this time. The comparable amount of the valuation allowance at October 31, 2012 was $4,401. The net decrease in the valuation allowance of $387 relates to an increase of $26 for the future utilization of foreign tax credits in the United States, a decrease of $104 for flat tax credits associated with foreign jurisdictions, a decrease of $424 related to other foreign deferred tax assets and an increase of $115 related to state and local operating loss carryforwards.
	The Company assesses both negative and positive evidence when measuring the need for a valuation allowance. A valuation allowance has been established by the Company due to the uncertainty of realizing certain loss carryforwards and tax credits in Mexico and loss carryforwards in various state and local jurisdictions in the United States. The Company believes the remaining deferred tax assets will be realizable based on future reversals of existing taxable temporary differences that would generate ordinary income in the U.S. and available tax planning strategies that would be implemented to recognize the deferred tax assets. The Company intends to maintain the valuation allowance against certain deferred tax assets until such time that sufficient positive evidence exists to support realization of the deferred tax assets. In the event the Company were to determine that it would be able to realize its deferred tax assets in the future in excess of their net recorded amount, an adjustment to the deferred tax assets would increase income in the period such determination was made. Likewise, should the Company determine that it would not be able to realize all or part of its net deferred tax assets in the future, an adjustment to the deferred tax assets would be charged to income in the period such determination was made.
	A reconciliation of the statutory federal income tax rate to the effective tax rate is as follows:
	Years Ended October 31,
	2013			2012
Federal income tax at statutory rate	35	%		34.9	%
State and local income taxes, net of federal benefit	3.5			3
Valuation allowance change	(1.7	)		0.4
Domestic tax credits	(0.8	)		0.3
Domestic production activities deduction	(2.9	)		(2.7	)
Foreign operations	0.9			1.6
Stock option expense	0.2			0.8
Adjustment of uncertain tax positions	(0.1	)		1
Revisions to prior period estimated income tax calculations	(1.4	)		0.5
Other	0.3			0.1
Effective income tax rate	33	%		39.9	%
At October 31, 2013, the Company had foreign operating loss carryforward benefits of approximately $1,153 with a valuation allowance to the extent of their net deferred tax assets, which will expire between 2017 and 2019. At October 31, 2012, the Company had foreign operating loss carryforward benefits of approximately $2,032 with a valuation allowance to the extent of their net deferred tax assets. The Company has various state and local net operating loss and tax credit carryforward benefits. As of October 31, 2013 and 2012, the Company had state and local net operating loss carryforward benefits of $985 and $870, respectively with a full valuation allowance, which will expire between 2014 and 2033.
The Company paid income taxes, net of refunds, of $7,111 and $6,306 in 2013 and 2012, respectively. U.S. income taxes and foreign withholding taxes are not provided on undistributed earnings of foreign subsidiaries because it is expected such earnings will be permanently reinvested in the operations of such subsidiaries. It is not practical to determine the amount of income tax liability that would result had such earnings been repatriated. As of October 31, 2013, there was $849 of undistributed foreign subsidiary earnings.

Related_Party_Transaction

Related Party Transaction	12 Months Ended
	Oct. 31, 2013
Related Party Transactions [Abstract]	'
Related Party Transactions [Text Block]	'
	—Related Party Transactions
	The Company had sales to MTD Products Inc and its affiliates of $7,645 and $6,590 for fiscal years 2013 and 2012, respectively. At October 31, 2013 and 2012, the Company had receivable balances of $673 and $536, respectively, due from MTD Products Inc and its affiliates, and no amounts were due to MTD Products Inc, at those dates.

Business_Segment_Information

Business Segment Information	12 Months Ended
	Oct. 31, 2013
Segment Reporting [Abstract]	'
Business Segment Information [Text Block]	'
	Business Segment Information
	The Company conducts its business and reports its information as one operating segment-Automotive Products. The Chief Executive Officer of the Company has been identified as the chief operating decision maker because he has final authority over performance assessment and resource allocation decisions. In determining that one operating segment is appropriate, the Company considered the nature of the business activities, the existence of managers responsible for the operating activities and information presented to the Board of Directors for its consideration and advice. Furthermore, the Company is a full service manufacturer of first operation precision blanks, engineered welded blanks, complex stampings, modular assemblies, highly engineered aluminum die casting and machined components and its patented ShilohCore™ acoustic laminate metal solution predominately for the automotive and heavy truck markets. Customers and suppliers are substantially the same among operations, and all processes entail the acquisition of metal and the processing of the metal for use in the automotive industry.
	Revenues from the Company's Mexican subsidiary were $42,418 and $36,647 for fiscal 2013 and 2012, respectively. These revenues represent 6.1% and 6.3% of total revenues for fiscal years 2013 and 2012, respectively. Long-lived assets consist primarily of net property, plant and equipment. Long-lived assets of the Company's foreign subsidiary totaled $16,403 and $14,302 at October 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively. The Company's Mexican subsidiary incurred a foreign currency transaction gain of $141 in fiscal 2013 and a foreign currency loss of $49 in fiscal 2012. The consolidated long-lived assets of the Company totaled $225,174 and $121,263 at 2013 and 2012, respectively.
	In fiscal 2013, General Motors and Chrysler accounted for approximately 20.9% and 15.6%, respectively of the Company's revenues. No other individual customer accounted for more than 10% of the Company's revenues in fiscal 2013. At October 31, 2013 and 2012, General Motors accounted for 20.0% and 18.2% of the Company's accounts receivable, respectively, and Chrysler accounted for 23.4% and 23.2% of the Company's accounts receivable, respectively.
	Revenues derived from the Company's products were as follows:
		Years Ended October 31,
		2013	2012
	Engineered welded blanks	$280,209	$287,604
	Complex stampings and modular assemblies	215,869	157,531
	Blanking	80,412	92,387
	Highly engineered aluminum die casting and machining	71,677	—
	Other/scrap	52,019	48,552
	Total	$700,186	$586,074
	Revenues of geographic regions are attributed to external customers based upon the location of the entity recording the sale.

Quarterly_Results

Quarterly Results	12 Months Ended
	Oct. 31, 2013
Quarterly Financial Information Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Quarterly Results of Operations [Text Block]	'
	Quarterly Results of Operations (Unaudited)
	For the Year Ended October 31, 2013	First	Second	Third	Fourth
		Quarter	Quarter	Quarter	Quarter
	Revenues	$145,383	$182,146	$166,059	$206,598
	Gross profit	11,761	20,387	17,461	22,086
	Operating income	4,131	11,508	8,187	10,778
	Provision for income taxes	1,101	3,686	2,213	3,605
	Net income	$2,583	$7,249	$5,282	$6,456
	Net income per share basic	$0.15	$0.43	$0.31	$0.38
	Net income per share diluted	$0.15	$0.43	$0.31	$0.38
	Weighted average number of shares:
	Basic	16,988	16,998	17,007	16,999
	Diluted	17,040	17,043	17,051	17,052
	For the Year Ended October 31, 2012	First	Second	Third	Fourth
		Quarter	Quarter	Quarter	Quarter
	Revenues	$132,371	$162,831	$142,021	$148,851
	Gross profit	9,662	16,457	12,160	12,456
	Operating income	3,079	9,806	3,933	7,262
	Provision for income taxes	1,262	3,351	1,150	3,218
	Net income	$1,579	$5,905	$2,416	$3,626
	Net income per share basic	$0.09	$0.35	$0.14	$0.22
	Net income per share diluted	$0.09	$0.35	$0.14	$0.21
	Weighted average number of shares:
	Basic	16,765	16,844	16,856	16,857
	Diluted	16,856	16,903	16,927	16,934
	In preparing the Company's financial statements in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America, management has made assumptions and estimates that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting periods. Not considering the asset impairment charge recorded in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2013, the Company refined its estimates and assumptions for several asset and liability accounts. As a result, the Company recorded net favorable adjustments of $307 in the fourth quarter of 2013 and unfavorable adjustments of $80 in the fourth quarter of 2012, both net of tax. For fiscal 2013 and 2012, these adjustments were normal recurring adjustments of accrued estimates and adjustments related to sales discounts, inventory valuation, and contingencies.

Commitments_and_Contingencies

Commitments and Contingencies	12 Months Ended
	Oct. 31, 2013
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Commitments and Contingencies [Text Block]	'
	Commitments and Contingencies
	The Company is a party to several lawsuits and claims arising in the normal course of its business with customers, vendors, employees and other third parties. In the opinion of management, the Company's liability or recovery, if any, under pending litigation and claims would not materially affect its financial condition, results of operations or cash flow.

Acquisitions_Tables

Acquisitions (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Oct. 31, 2013
Business Acquisition [Line Items]	'
Purchase Price Allocation Based On Valuation	'
	Cash and cash equivalents	$	455
	Accounts receivable	9,195
	Inventory	2,711
	Prepaid assets and other	1,851
	Property, plant and equipment	26,100
	Intangible assets	16,056
	Other non-current assets	67
	Goodwill	5,492
	Accounts payable and other	(5,537		)
	Net assets acquired	$	56,390
Preliminary Purchase Price Allocation	'
	Accounts receivable	$	2,126
	Inventory	1,529
	Prepaid assets and other	170
	Property, plant and equipment	39,956
	Intangible assets	2,898
	Goodwill	1,276
	Accounts payable and other	(5,768		)
	Net assets acquired	$	42,187
Pro Forma Consoldiated Information	'
	Pro forma consolidated results	Years Ended October 31,
	(in thousands, except for per share data):	2013			2012
	Revenue	$	710,436		$	641,717
	Net income	$	21,110		$	14,222
	Basic earnings per share	$	1.24		$	0.85
	Diluted earnings per share	$	1.24		$	0.85
Plesant Prairie [Member]	'
Business Acquisition [Line Items]	'
Pro Forma Consoldiated Information	'
	Pleasant Prairie Results of Operations	From December 28, 2012
		- October 31, 2013
	Revenue	$	57,661
	Net income	$	1,695

Inventories_Tables

Inventories (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Oct. 31, 2013
Inventory Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Schedule of Inventory, Current [Table Text Block]	'
	Inventories
	Inventories consist of the following:
		October 31,
		2013		2012
	Raw materials	$	16,827	$	17,705
	Work-in-process	7,742		6,236
	Finished goods	9,573		8,513
	Total material	34,142		32,454
	Tooling	8,782		12,233
	Total inventories	$	42,924	$	44,687

Other_Assets_Other_Assets_Tabl

Other Assets Other Assets (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Oct. 31, 2013
Deferred Costs and Other Assets Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Deferred Costs, Capitalized, Prepaid, and Other Assets Disclosure [Table Text Block]	'
				October 31,
				2013		2012
	Other assets consist of the following:
		Deferred financing costs, net		$	2,311	$	685
		Other		616		183
			Total	$	2,927	$	868

Property_Plant_and_Equipment_T

Property, Plant and Equipment (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Oct. 31, 2013
Property, Plant and Equipment [Abstract]	'
Property, Plant and Equipment [Table Text Block]	'
		October 31,
		2013		2012
	Land and improvements	$	11,050	$	8,408
	Buildings and improvements	109,977		99,855
	Machinery and equipment	411,847		341,568
	Furniture and fixtures	11,568		11,372
	Construction in progress	28,982		13,636
	Total, at cost	573,424		474,839
	Less: Accumulated depreciation	375,550		357,738
	Property, plant and equipment, net	$197,874		$117,101

Financing_Arrangements_Tables

Financing Arrangements (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Oct. 31, 2013
Debt Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Schedule of Debt	'
		October 31,
		2013			2012
	Credit Agreement —interest at 1.95% and 2.87% at October 31, 2013 and October 31, 2012, respectively	$	117,400		$	21,150
	Equipment security note	2,461			—
	Insurance broker financing agreement	405			447
	Total debt	120,266			21,597
	Less: Current debt	882			447
	Total long-term debt	$	119,384		$	21,150
Schedule of Maturities of Debt	'
						Equipment
	Year		Credit Agreement			Security Note		Other Debt		Total
	2014		$	—		$	477	$	405	$	882
	2015		—			489		—		489
	2016		—			501		—		501
	2017		—			513		—		513
	2018		117,400			481		—		117,881
	Total		$	117,400		$	2,461	$	405	$	120,266

Intangible_Assets_Intangible_A1

Intangible Assets Intangible Assets(Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Oct. 31, 2013
Intangible Assets [Abstract]	'
Schedule of Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Table Text Block]	'
			31-Oct-13
			Useful Life		Cost		Accumulated Amortization			Net
		Trade Name (Albany Chicago)	15 years		$	1,850	$	(103	)	$	1,747
		Non-compete (Albany-Chicago)	2 years		744		(310		)	434
		Customer Relationships (Albany-Chicago)	13 years		13,462		(771		)	12,691
		Trade Name (Contech)	0.25 years		25		(25		)	—
		Trademark (Contech)	10 years		166		(4		)	162
		Developed Technology (Contech)	5 years		2,707		(136		)	2,571
					$	18,954	$	(1,349	)	$	17,605
Schedule of Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Future Amortization Expense [Table Text Block]	'
	2014		$	2,180
	2015		1,779
	2016		1,717
	2017		1,717
	2018		1,582
	Thereafter		8,630
			$	17,605

Operating_Leases_Operating_Lea

Operating Leases Operating Leases(Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Oct. 31, 2013
Operating Leases [Abstract]	'
Schedule of Future Minimum Rental Payments for Operating Leases [Table Text Block]	'
	2014	$1,931
	2015	1,560
	2016	1,158
	2017	1,045
	2018 and thereafter	$2,593

Employee_Benefit_Plan_Tables

Employee Benefit Plan (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Oct. 31, 2013
Defined Benefit Pension Plans and Defined Benefit Postretirement Plans Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Obligations and Funded Status	'
		Pension Benefits								Other Post Retirement Benefits
		2013				2012				2013				2012
	Change in benefit obligation:
	Benefit obligation at beginning of year	$	(88,665	)		$	(75,292	)		$	(940	)		$	(935	)
	Interest cost	(3,260		)		(3,683		)		(34		)		(45		)
	Settlements	2,271				—				—				—
	Actuarial gain (loss)	835				(13,186		)		45				18
	Benefits paid	3,691				3,496				35				22
	Benefit obligation at end of year	(85,128		)		(88,665		)		(894		)		(940		)
	Change in plan assets:
	Fair value of plan assets at beginning of year	53,230				46,218				—				—
	Actual return on plan assets	8,542				4,601				—				—
	Employer contributions	5,146				5,907				35				22
	Settlement	(2,271		)		—				—				—
	Benefits paid	(3,691		)		(3,496		)		(35		)		(22		)
	Fair value of plan assets at end of year	60,956				53,230				—				—
	Funded status, benefit obligations in excess of plan assets	$	(24,172	)		$	(35,435	)		$	(894	)		$	(940	)
Amounts Recorded in the Liability Section of the Consolidated Balance Sheet	'
		Pension Benefits								Other Post Retirement Benefits
		2013				2012				2013				2012
	Other accrued expenses	$	(3,650	)		$	(3,480	)		$	(99	)		$	(92	)
	Long-term benefit liabilities	(20,522		)		(31,955		)		(795		)		(848		)
	Total	$	(24,172	)		$	(35,435	)		$	(894	)		$	(940	)
Components of Net Periodic Benefit Cost	'
	Components of Net Periodic Benefit Cost
			Pension Benefits								Other Post Retirement Benefits
			2013				2012				2013				2012
	Interest cost		$	3,260			$	3,683			$	34			$	45
	Expected return on plan assets		(3,735		)		(3,251		)		—				—
	Settlement		1,102				—				—				—
	Amortization of net actuarial loss		1,392				1,040				48				54
	Net periodic benefit cost		$	2,019			$	1,472			$	82			$	99
Amortization of Net Actuarial Loss	'
		Pension Benefits		Other
				Post Retirement
				Benefits
	Amortization of net actuarial loss	$1,074		$41
Net Actuarial Loss in Other Comprehensive Income	'
		Pension Benefits								Other Post Retirement Benefits
		2013				2012				2013				2012
	Net actuarial loss	$	41,280			$	49,415			$	679			$	772
	Accumulated other comprehensive income	$	41,280			$	49,415			$	679			$	772
Minimum Liability Included in Other Comprehensive Income	'
		Pension Benefits								Other Post Retirement Benefits
		2013				2012				2013				2012
	Increase (decrease) in minimum liability included in other comprehensive income	$	8,135			$	(10,796	)		$	93			$	72
Assumptions	'
	Weighted-average assumptions used		Pension Benefits						Other Post Retirement Benefits
	to determine benefit obligations at October 31		2013			2012			2013			2012
	Discount rate		4.5	%		3.75	%		4.5	%		3.75	%
			Pension Benefits						Other Post Retirement Benefits
	Weighted-average assumptions used to determine net		2013			2012			2013			2012
	periodic benefit costs for years ended October 31
	Discount rate		3.75	%		5	%		3.75	%		5	%
	Expected long-term return on plan assets		7.5	%		7.5	%		—			—
Assumed Health Care Cost Trend Rates	'
	Assumed health care trend rates at October 31		2013	2012
	Health care cost trend rate assumed for next year		7.00%	8.00%
	Rate to which the cost trend rate is assumed to decline (the ultimate trend rate)		6.50%	7.50%
	Year that the rate reaches the ultimate trend rate		2015	2014
Effect of One-Percentage-Point Change in Assumed Health Care Cost Trend Rates	'
		One-Percentage				One-Percentage
		Point Increase				Point Decrease
	Effect on total of service and interest cost components	$	5			$	(4	)
	Effect on post retirement obligation	$	45			$	(40	)
Allocation of Plan Assets	'
		Target	Plan Assets at October 31,
		Allocation
		Percentage	2013		2012
	Asset Category
	Equity securities	0-70%	60%		56%
	Debt securities	0-70%	34%		38%
	Real estate	0-10%	6%		6%
	Total		100%		100%
Investments Measured At Fair Value	'
					Fair Value Measurements												Fair Value Measurements
					at October 31, 2013 Using												at October 31, 2012 Using
					Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1)				Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)								Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1)		Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)
													Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)								Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)
	Investments
		Equity
			Large U.S. Equity		$	9,289			$	12,344			$	—			$	7,805	$	10,027	$	—
			Small/Mid U.S. Equity		5,488				2,437				—				2,632		3,710		—
			International Equity		7,316				—				—				5,347		—		—
		Fixed Income
			Government		—				278				—				—		281		—
			Corporate		13,933				6,270				—				10,775		9,414		—
		Real Estate (Primarily Commercial)			—				3,600				—				—		—		3,239
	Total Investments				$	36,026			$	24,929			$	—			$	26,559	$	23,432	$	3,239
Reconciliation Of All Investments Measured at Fair Value	'
			Fair Value Measurements Using Significant Unobservable Inputs
			(Level 3)
			Pooled Separate Account-Real Estate
	1-Nov-11			$2,523
	Total unrealized gains or losses included in change in net assets available for benefits of
	the plans:
	Net unrealized appreciation relating to assets held at end of year			716
	31-Oct-12			3,239
	Total unrealized gains or losses included in change in net assets available for benefits of
	the plans:
	Transfers out of Level 3			(3,239	)
	31-Oct-13			$0
Estimated Future Benefit Payments	'
		Pension Benefits						Other Benefits
	2014		$	3,650					$	99
	2015		3,880						92
	2016		3,970						88
	2017		4,240						78
	2018		4,110						71
	2019-2023		24,060						303

Earnings_Per_Share_Tables

Earnings Per Share (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Oct. 31, 2013
Equity [Abstract]	'
Schedule of Calculation of Numerator and Denominator in Earnings Per Share [Table Text Block]	'
		Years Ended October 31,
		2013		2012
		(Amounts in thousands,
		except per share data)
	Net income available to common stockholders	$	21,570	$	13,526
	Basic weighted average shares	16,982		16,813
	Effect of dilutive securities:
	Stock options	48		91
	Diluted weighted average shares	17,030		16,904
	Basic earnings per share	$	1.27	$	0.8
	Diluted earnings per share	$	1.27	$	0.8

Stock_Options_and_Incentive_Co1

Stock Options and Incentive Compensation (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Oct. 31, 2013
Disclosure of Compensation Related Costs, Share-based Payments [Abstract]	'
Schedule of Share-based Compensation, Stock Options, Activity [Table Text Block]	'
					Number of Shares Under Option			Weighted Average Option Price
		Outstanding at	November 1, 2011		520,185			$8.54
			Granted		56,500			8.1
			Exercised		(158,513	)		$4.01
			Canceled		(56,087	)		$10.96
		Outstanding at	October 31, 2012		362,085			$9.99
			Granted		—			$0.00
			Exercised		(47,804	)		$6.28
			Canceled		(78,147	)		$12.45
		Outstanding at	October 31, 2013		236,134			$9.93
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Vested and Expected to Vest, Outstanding and Exercisable [Table Text Block]	'
		Exercise Prices		Options Outstanding			Exercise Price of Options Outstanding and Options Exercisable		Options Exercisable	Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Life
		$13.06		15,000			$13.06		15,000	1.99
		$14.74		34,000			$14.74		34,000	3.54
		$2.11		9,000			$2.11		9,000	5.12
		$5.30		53,634			$5.30		53,634	5.78
		$12.04		85,000			$12.04		56,000	7.11
		$8.10		39,500			$8.10		8,500	8.15
		Totals		236,134					176,134
Schedule of Share-based Payment Award, Stock Options, Valuation Assumptions [Table Text Block]	'
		2012
	Risk-free interest	1.2	%
	Dividend yield	—	%
	Volatility factor—market	88.26	%
	Expected life of options—years	6.00 years

Income_Taxes_Tables

Income Taxes (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Oct. 31, 2013
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Schedule of Income before Income Tax, Domestic and Foreign [Table Text Block]	'
			Years Ended October 31,
			2013				2012
	Domestic		$	30,814			$	23,139
	Foreign		1,361				(632		)
	Total		$	32,175			$	22,507
Schedule of Components of Income Tax Expense (Benefit) [Table Text Block]	'
				Years Ended October 31,
				2013				2012
	Current:
		Federal		$	8,427			$	5,733
		State and local		1,338				1,114
		Foreign		261				150
	Total current			10,026				6,997
	Deferred:
		Federal		427				1,885
		State and local		152				97
		Foreign		—				2
	Total deferred			579				1,984
		Provision		$	10,605			$	8,981
Schedule of Deferred Tax Assets and Liabilities [Table Text Block]	'
			Years Ended October 31,
			2013				2012
	Deferred tax assets:
		Accrued compensation and benefits	$	1,255			$	936
		Inventory	662				558
		State income credits and loss carryforwards	1,266				1,115
		Pension obligations and post retirement benefits	8,255				12,365
		Foreign net operating loss	1,153				2,033
		Tax credits in foreign countries	573				677
		Other accruals and reserves	2,806				2,206
		Goodwill and intangible amortization	3,304				0
	Total deferred tax assets		19,274				19,890
	Less: Valuation allowance		-4,014				-4,401
	Total deferred tax assets		15,260				15,489
	Deferred tax liabilities:
		Fixed assets	-12,828				-9,690
		Prepaid expenses and other	-572				-352
	Net deferred tax asset		$	1,860			$	5,447
	Change in net deferred tax asset:
		Provision for deferred taxes	$	(579	)		$	(1,984	)
		Other	(10		)		86
	Components of other comprehensive income:
		Pension and post retirement benefits	(2,998		)		4,199
		Total change in net deferred tax asset	$	(3,587	)		$	2,301
Summary of Income Tax Contingencies [Table Text Block]	'
		Years Ended October 31,
		2013				2012
	Balance at beginning of year	$	1,247			$	1,069
	Additions based on tax positions related to the current year	54				126
	Additions for tax positions of prior years	—				89
	Reductions for tax positions of prior years	(61		)		(13		)
	Reductions as result of lapse of applicable statute of limitations	(57		)		(24		)
	Balance at end of year	$	1,183			$	1,247
Schedule of Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation [Table Text Block]	'
		Years Ended October 31,
		2013			2012
	Federal income tax at statutory rate	35	%		34.9	%
	State and local income taxes, net of federal benefit	3.5			3
	Valuation allowance change	(1.7	)		0.4
	Domestic tax credits	(0.8	)		0.3
	Domestic production activities deduction	(2.9	)		(2.7	)
	Foreign operations	0.9			1.6
	Stock option expense	0.2			0.8
	Adjustment of uncertain tax positions	(0.1	)		1
	Revisions to prior period estimated income tax calculations	(1.4	)		0.5
	Other	0.3			0.1
	Effective income tax rate	33	%		39.9	%

Business_Segment_Information_B

Business Segment Information Business Segment Information (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Oct. 31, 2013
Segment Reporting [Abstract]	'
Revenue from External Customers by Products and Services [Table Text Block]	'
		Years Ended October 31,
		2013	2012
	Engineered welded blanks	$280,209	$287,604
	Complex stampings and modular assemblies	215,869	157,531
	Blanking	80,412	92,387
	Highly engineered aluminum die casting and machining	71,677	—
	Other/scrap	52,019	48,552
	Total	$700,186	$586,074

Quarterly_Results_Quarterly_Re

Quarterly Results Quarterly Results(Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Oct. 31, 2013					Oct. 31, 2012
Quarterly Financial Information Disclosure [Abstract]	'					'
Schedule of Quarterly Financial Info Current Yr[Table Text Block]	'					'
	For the Year Ended October 31, 2013	First	Second	Third	Fourth	For the Year Ended October 31, 2012	First	Second	Third	Fourth
		Quarter	Quarter	Quarter	Quarter		Quarter	Quarter	Quarter	Quarter
	Revenues	$145,383	$182,146	$166,059	$206,598	Revenues	$132,371	$162,831	$142,021	$148,851
	Gross profit	11,761	20,387	17,461	22,086	Gross profit	9,662	16,457	12,160	12,456
	Operating income	4,131	11,508	8,187	10,778	Operating income	3,079	9,806	3,933	7,262
	Provision for income taxes	1,101	3,686	2,213	3,605	Provision for income taxes	1,262	3,351	1,150	3,218
	Net income	$2,583	$7,249	$5,282	$6,456	Net income	$1,579	$5,905	$2,416	$3,626
	Net income per share basic	$0.15	$0.43	$0.31	$0.38	Net income per share basic	$0.09	$0.35	$0.14	$0.22
	Net income per share diluted	$0.15	$0.43	$0.31	$0.38	Net income per share diluted	$0.09	$0.35	$0.14	$0.21
	Weighted average number of shares:					Weighted average number of shares:
	Basic	16,988	16,998	17,007	16,999	Basic	16,765	16,844	16,856	16,857
	Diluted	17,040	17,043	17,051	17,052	Diluted	16,856	16,903	16,927	16,934

Basis_of_Presentation_Details

Basis of Presentation (Details)	12 Months Ended
	Oct. 31, 2013
	Subsidiaries
	employees
	employee
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]	'
Number of Subsidiaries	17
Number of employees receiving post-retirement benefits	22
Entity Number of Employees	2,047
Employees under collective-bargaining agreement	44
Furniture & Fixtures, Machinery & Equip, Assets specificall for Customer Programs [Member] | Minimum [Member]	'
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]	'
Property, Plant and Equipment, Estimated Useful Lives	'P3Y
Furniture & Fixtures, Machinery & Equip, Assets specificall for Customer Programs [Member] | Maximum [Member]	'
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]	'
Property, Plant and Equipment, Estimated Useful Lives	'P12Y
Land Improvements [Member] | Minimum [Member]	'
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]	'
Property, Plant and Equipment, Estimated Useful Lives	'P10Y
Land Improvements [Member] | Maximum [Member]	'
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]	'
Property, Plant and Equipment, Estimated Useful Lives	'P20Y
Building and Building Improvements [Member] | Minimum [Member]	'
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]	'
Property, Plant and Equipment, Estimated Useful Lives	'P20Y
Building and Building Improvements [Member] | Maximum [Member]	'
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]	'
Property, Plant and Equipment, Estimated Useful Lives	'P40Y
MTD Holdings Inc. [Member]	'
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]	'
Common Stock, Percentage Owned by Related Party	50.00%

Acquisitions_AlbanyChicago_Det

Acquisitions Albany-Chicago Details of Consideration Transferred (Details) (Plesant Prairie [Member], USD $)	3 Months Ended		7 Months Ended	10 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Jul. 30, 2013	Apr. 15, 2013	Jul. 31, 2013	Oct. 31, 2013	Dec. 28, 2012
Plesant Prairie [Member]	'	'	'	'	'
Business Acquisition [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'
Prepaid assets and other	'	$1,851	'	'	'
Business Combinations, Recognized Identifiable Assets Acquired And Liabilities Assumed, Cash And Cash Equivalents	'	455	'	'	'
Consideration Transferred	'	'	'	56,390	'
Cash Transferred	'	56,390	'	'	56,792
Cash Placed In Escrow	'	'	'	'	3,000
Consideration Transferred Net of Cash Acquired	'	'	'	'	56,337
Working Capital Adjustments	67	381	'	'	'
Reduction In Purchase Price	'	'	-850	'	'
Accounts receivable	'	9,195	'	'	'
Inventory	'	2,711	'	'	'
Property, plant and equipment	'	26,100	'	'	'
Intangible assets	'	16,056	'	'	'
Business Combinations, Recognized Identifiable Assets Acquired And Liabilities Assumed, Other Non-Current Assets	'	67	'	'	'
Goodwill	'	5,492	'	'	'
Accounts payable and other	'	$5,537	'	'	'

Acquisitions_Pleasant_Prairie_

Acquisitions Pleasant Prairie Intangible Assets (Details) (Plesant Prairie [Member], USD $)	3 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Jul. 31, 2013	Apr. 15, 2013	Dec. 28, 2012
Business Acquisition [Line Items]	'	'	'
Useful Life	'15 years	'	'
Intangible Assets Other Than Goodwill Deductible for Tax Purposes	'	'	$16,056
Intangible Assets Other Than Goodwill	'	16,056	'
Goodwill [Member]	'	'	'
Business Acquisition [Line Items]	'	'	'
Goodwill Deductible for Tax Purposes	'	'	14,291
Useful Life	'15 years	'	'
Customer Relationships [Member]	'	'	'
Business Acquisition [Line Items]	'	'	'
Useful Life	'13 years	'	'
Intangible Assets Other Than Goodwill	'	'	13,462
Trade Name, Finite Intangible Asset [Member]	'	'	'
Business Acquisition [Line Items]	'	'	'
Useful Life	'15 years	'	'
Intangible Assets Other Than Goodwill	'	'	1,850
Noncompete Agreements [Member]	'	'	'
Business Acquisition [Line Items]	'	'	'
Useful Life	'2 years	'	'
Intangible Assets Other Than Goodwill	'	'	$744

Acquisitions_Pleasant_Prairie_1

Acquisitions Pleasant Prairie Quarterly Information (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended		10 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Oct. 31, 2013	Jul. 31, 2013	Apr. 30, 2013	Jan. 31, 2013	Oct. 31, 2012	Jul. 31, 2012	Apr. 30, 2012	Jan. 31, 2012	Oct. 31, 2013	Oct. 31, 2012	Oct. 31, 2013
											Plesant Prairie [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Revenues	$206,598	$166,059	$182,146	$145,383	$148,851	$142,021	$162,831	$132,371	$700,186	$586,074	$57,661
Net income	$6,456	$5,282	$7,249	$2,583	$3,626	$2,416	$5,905	$1,579	$21,570	$13,526	$1,695

Atlantic_Tool_Die_Alabama_Deta

Atlantic Tool & Die - Alabama (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Oct. 31, 2013	Oct. 31, 2012	Oct. 31, 2013	Dec. 13, 2012
			Anniston [Member]	Anniston [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Inventories and Other Assets Net of Employee Benefit Liabilities	'	'	'	$1,214
Property, plant and equipment	'	'	'	5,361
Bargain Purchase Gain	$228	$0	$228	'

Acquisitions_Contech_Details

Acquisitions Contech (Details) (Contech [Member], USD $)	Aug. 02, 2013
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Contech [Member]	'
Business Acquisition [Line Items]	'
Consideration Transferred Net of Cash	$42,187
Cash Placed In Escrow	3,825
Accounts receivable	2,126
Inventory	1,529
Prepaid assets and other	170
Property, plant and equipment	39,956
Intangible assets	2,898
Goodwill	1,276
Accounts payable and other	-5,768
Net assets acquired	$42,187

Acquisitions_Intangibles_Conte

Acquisitions Intangibles Contech (Details) (Contech [Member], USD $)	3 Months Ended		3 Months Ended		3 Months Ended		3 Months Ended		3 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Oct. 31, 2013	Aug. 02, 2013	Jul. 31, 2013	Aug. 02, 2013	Oct. 31, 2013	Aug. 02, 2013	Oct. 31, 2013	Aug. 02, 2013	Oct. 31, 2013	Aug. 02, 2013
			Goodwill [Member]	Goodwill [Member]	Trade Name, Finite Intangible Asset [Member]	Trade Name, Finite Intangible Asset [Member]	Trademarks [Member]	Trademarks [Member]	Developed Technology Rights [Member]	Developed Technology Rights [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Goodwill Deductible for Tax Purposes	'	'	'	$1,276	'	'	'	'	'	'
Intangibles Deductible for Tax Purposes	'	2,898	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Intangible assets	'	$2,898	'	'	'	$25	'	$166	'	$2,707
Useful Life	'15 years	'	'15 years	'	'0 years 3 months	'	'10 years	'	'5 years	'

Pleasant_Prairie_Pro_Forma_Res

Pleasant Prairie Pro Forma Results (Details) (Pleasant Prairie [Member], USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	Oct. 31, 2013	Oct. 31, 2012
Pleasant Prairie [Member]	'	'
Business Acquisition [Line Items]	'	'
Amortization of Intangible Assets	$1,404	$1,164
Revenue	710,436	641,717
Net income	$21,110	$14,222
Basic earnings per share	$1.24	$0.85
Diluted earnings per share	$1.24	$0.85

Accounts_Receivable_Details

Accounts Receivable (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Oct. 31, 2013	Oct. 31, 2012
Accounts Receivable [Abstract]	'	'
Allowance for Doubtful Accounts Receivable, Current	$341	$482
Bad debt expense (credit)	$98	($164)

Inventories_Details

Inventories (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Oct. 31, 2013	Oct. 31, 2012
Inventory Disclosure [Abstract]	'	'
Raw materials	$16,827	$17,705
Work in Process	7,742	6,236
Finished Goods	9,573	8,513
Total material	34,142	32,454
Tooling	8,782	12,233
Total inventories	42,924	44,687
Inventory Valuation Reserves	853	55
Production Inventory, Increase (Decrease) During Period	1,688	'
Tooling Inventory, Increase (Decrease) During Period	($3,451)	'

Asset_Impairment_and_Restructu1

Asset Impairment and Restructuring Charges (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Oct. 31, 2013	Jul. 31, 2012	Oct. 31, 2013	Oct. 31, 2012
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Asset Impairment Charges, net	($18,000)	($392,000)	($18,000)	$834,000
Recovery of Impairment Charge, net	'	'	'	-834,000
Fair Value, Measurement with Unobservable Inputs Reconciliation, Recurring Basis, Asset Value	'	0	'	'
Proceeds from Sale of Property, Plant, and Equipment	'	'	518,000	4,370,000
Anniston [Member]	'	'	'	'
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Asset Impairment Charges, net	-483,000	'	'	'
Mansfield Blanking Division [Member]	'	'	'	'
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Asset Impairment Charges, net	'	-1,552,000	'	'
Recovery of Impairment Charge, net	'	'	96,000	1,551,000
Proceeds from Sale of Property, Plant, and Equipment	'	'	'	1,400,000
Liverpool Stamping Division [Member]	'	'	'	'
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Recovery of Impairment Charge, net	'	'	369,000	1,159,000
Other Assets [Member]	'	'	'	'
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Recovery of Impairment Charge, net	'	'	'	$68,000

Asset_Impairment_and_Restructu2

Asset Impairment and Restructuring Charges Restructuring Reserves (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended		3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Oct. 31, 2013	Oct. 31, 2012	Jul. 31, 2012	Oct. 31, 2012
			Mansfield Blanking Division [Member]	Mansfield Blanking Division [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Restructuring Charges	$0	$30,000	($30,000)	'
Restructuring Reserve, Accrual Adjustment	'	'	'	352,000
Restructuring and Related Cost, Expected Number of Positions Eliminated	'	'	'	$90

Other_Assets_Other_AssetsDetai

Other Assets Other Assets(Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Oct. 31, 2013	Oct. 31, 2012
Deferred Costs and Other Assets [Line Items]	'	'
Deferred Financing Costs, Net	$2,311	$685
Other	616	183
Other Assets, Noncurrent	2,927	868
Amortization of deferred financing costs	338	325
Accumulated Amortization, Deferred Finance Costs	2,467	2,142
Interest Costs Capitalized	112	34
Revolving Credit Facility [Member]	'	'
Deferred Costs and Other Assets [Line Items]	'	'
Interest Costs Capitalized	$1,435	'

Property_Plant_and_Equipment_D

Property, Plant and Equipment (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Oct. 31, 2013	Oct. 31, 2012
Property, Plant and Equipment [Abstract]	'	'
Land and improvements	$11,050	$8,408
Buildings and improvements	109,977	99,855
Machinery and equipment	411,847	341,568
Furniture and fixtures	11,568	11,372
Construction in progress	28,982	13,636
Total, at cost	573,424	474,839
Accumulated depreciation	375,550	357,738
Property, Plant and Equipment, Net	197,874	117,101
Depreciation	19,529	18,793
Interest Costs Capitalized	112	34
Capital Expenditures Incurred but Not yet Paid	1,978	802
Capital Expenditures Committed but But Not Yet Paid Until Next Fiscal Year	$3,871	'

Financing_Arrangements_Financi

Financing Arrangements Financing Balances at Period End (Details) (USD $)	Oct. 31, 2013	Oct. 31, 2012
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'
Total debt	$120,266	$21,597
Less: Current debt	882	447
Total long-term debt	119,384	21,150
Insurance Financing Agreement [Member]	'	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'
Short-term Debt	405	447
Revolving Credit Facility [Member]	'	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'
Line of Credit Facility, Interest Rate at Period End	1.95%	2.87%
Long-term Debt	117,400	21,150
Equipment Security Note [Member]	'	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'
Long-term Debt	2,461	0
Total long-term debt	$1,984	'

Financing_Arrangements_Details

Financing Arrangements (Details) (USD $)

0 Months Ended

9 Months Ended

12 Months Ended

3 Months Ended

0 Months Ended

12 Months Ended

9 Months Ended

Feb. 02, 2012

Jul. 31, 2013

Oct. 31, 2013

Oct. 31, 2012

Jun. 04, 2013

Apr. 01, 2013

Mar. 31, 2013

Dec. 26, 2012

Jan. 31, 2012

Apr. 19, 2011

Oct. 31, 2013

Oct. 25, 2013

Oct. 31, 2013

Oct. 31, 2013

Dec. 26, 2013

Dec. 24, 2012

Oct. 31, 2013

Oct. 31, 2013

Oct. 31, 2013

Oct. 31, 2013

Oct. 31, 2013

Oct. 31, 2013

Oct. 31, 2013

Oct. 31, 2013

Oct. 31, 2012

Jul. 31, 2013

Oct. 31, 2013

Oct. 31, 2012

Lender One [Member]

Lender One [Member]

Lender One [Member]

Lender One [Member]

Lender One [Member]

Lender One [Member]

Lender Two [Member]

Lender Two [Member]

Lender Two [Member]

Lender Two [Member]

London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) [Member]

London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) [Member]

London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) [Member]

London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) [Member]

Base Rate [Member]

Base Rate [Member]

Base Rate [Member]

Prime Rate [Member]

Eurodollar [Member]

Equipment Security Note [Member]

Equipment Security Note [Member]

Insurance Financing Agreement [Member]

Insurance Financing Agreement [Member]

Insurance Financing Agreement [Member]

Revolving Credit Facility [Member]

Revolving Credit Facility [Member]

Revolving Credit Facility [Member]

Revolving Credit Facility [Member]

Revolving Credit Facility [Member]

Revolving Credit Facility [Member]

Revolving Credit Facility [Member]

Revolving Credit Facility [Member]

Minimum [Member]

Maximum [Member]

Lender One [Member]

Lender One [Member]

Lender One [Member]

Lender One [Member]

Lender One [Member]

Lender One [Member]

Lender One [Member]

Lender Two [Member]

Lender Two [Member]

Revolving Credit Facility [Member]

Revolving Credit Facility [Member]

Revolving Credit Facility [Member]

Revolving Credit Facility [Member]

Minimum [Member]

Maximum [Member]

Revolving Credit Facility [Member]

Minimum [Member]

Maximum [Member]

Revolving Credit Facility [Member]

Revolving Credit Facility [Member]

Revolving Credit Facility [Member]

Revolving Credit Facility [Member]

Revolving Credit Facility [Member]

Revolving Credit Facility [Member]

Debt Instrument [Line Items]

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Debt Instrument, Interest Rate During Period

'

'

2.06%

2.82%

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Maximum Borrowing Capacity

'

'

'

'

$175,000,000

'

'

$120,000,000

$80,000,000

$80,000,000

'

$300,000,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Line of Credit Increase Maximum

'

'

'

'

255,000,000

'

'

200,000,000

'

120,000,000

'

100,000,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Determination by the Admin Agent of the Lending Syndicate

'

51.00%

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Dividends Payable, Date Declared

1-Feb-12

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Debt Instrument, Basis Spread on Variable Rate

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

1.50%

2.50%

1.50%

2.50%

0.00%

0.00%

1.00%

0.50%

1.00%

'

'

'

'

'

Line of Credit Facility, Covenant, Leverage Ratio, Minimum

'

'

'

'

'

'

2.25

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Debt Instrument, Covenant, Leverage Ratio, Maximum

'

'

'

'

'

2.85

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Debt Instrument, Covenant, Fixed Charge Ratio, Minimum

'

'

'

'

'

2

2.5

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Document Period End Date

'

31-Oct-13

31-Oct-13

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Line of Credit Facility, Commitment Fee Percentage

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

0.20%

0.35%

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Letters of Credit Outstanding, Amount

'

'

2,441,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Line of Credit Facility, Remaining Borrowing Capacity

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

180,159,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Collateral Agreement

'

'

65.00%

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

2.47%

'

'

2.15%

'

Debt Instrument, Periodic Payment

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

44,000

'

68,000

'

'

Short-term Debt

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

405,000

447,000

Equipment security note

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

2,461,000

0

'

'

'

Equipment Security Note, Short-Term Portion

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

477,000

'

'

'

'

Equipment Security Note, Long-term Portion

'

'

($119,384,000)

($21,150,000)

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

($1,984,000)

'

'

'

'

Financing_Arrangements_Maturit

Financing Arrangements Maturities of Debt (Details) (USD $)	Oct. 31, 2013	Oct. 31, 2012
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'
2014 Total	$882	'
2015	489	'
2016	501	'
2017	513	'
2018	117,881	'
Total debt	120,266	21,597
Insurance Financing Agreement [Member]	'	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'
2014 - Short-term Debt	405	'
Short-term Debt	405	447
Revolving Credit Facility [Member]	'	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'
2014 - Long-Term Debt	0	'
2015	0	'
2016	0	'
2017	0	'
2018	117,400	'
Long-term Debt	117,400	21,150
Equipment Security Note [Member]	'	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'
2014 - Long-Term Debt	477	'
2015	489	'
2016	501	'
2017	513	'
2018	481	'
Long-term Debt	$2,461	$0

Intangible_Assets_Intangible_A2

Intangible Assets Intangible Assets(Details) (USD $)

12 Months Ended

3 Months Ended

3 Months Ended

3 Months Ended

3 Months Ended

In Thousands, unless otherwise specified

Oct. 31, 2013

Jul. 31, 2013

Jul. 31, 2013

Oct. 31, 2013

Jul. 31, 2013

Oct. 31, 2013

Jul. 31, 2013

Oct. 31, 2013

Oct. 31, 2013

Oct. 31, 2013

Oct. 31, 2013

Oct. 31, 2013

Plesant Prairie [Member]

Plesant Prairie [Member]

Plesant Prairie [Member]

Plesant Prairie [Member]

Plesant Prairie [Member]

Plesant Prairie [Member]

Plesant Prairie [Member]

Contech [Member]

Contech [Member]

Contech [Member]

Contech [Member]

Trade Name, Finite Intangible Asset [Member]

Trade Name, Finite Intangible Asset [Member]

Noncompete Agreements [Member]

Noncompete Agreements [Member]

Customer Relationships [Member]

Customer Relationships [Member]

Trade Name, Finite Intangible Asset [Member]

Trademarks [Member]

Developed Technology Rights [Member]

Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Useful Life

'

'15 years

'15 years

'

'2 years

'

'13 years

'

'15 years

'0 years 3 months

'10 years

'5 years

Cost

$18,954

'

'

$1,850

'

$744

'

$13,462

'

$25

$166

$2,707

Accumulated Amortization

1,349

'

'

103

'

310

'

771

'

-25

-4

-136

Net

17,605

'

'

1,747

'

434

'

12,691

'

0

162

2,571

Amortization Expense

1,349

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Next Twelve Months

2,180

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Year Two

1,779

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Year Three

1,717

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Year Four

1,717

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Year Five

1,582

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Thereafter

8,630

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Future Amortization

$17,605

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Operating_Leases_Operting_Leas

Operating Leases Operting Leases(Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Oct. 31, 2013	Oct. 31, 2012
Operating Leases [Abstract]	'	'
Operating Leases, Rent Expense, Net	$2,203	$2,634

Operating_Leases_Schedule_of_F

Operating Leases Schedule of Future Minimum Rental (Details) (USD $)	Oct. 31, 2013
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Operating Leases, Future Minimum Payments Due, Fiscal Year Maturity [Abstract]	'
Operating Leases, Future Minimum Payments Due, Next Twelve Months	$1,931
Operating Leases, Future Minimum Payments, Due in Two Years	1,560
Operating Leases, Future Minimum Payments, Due in Three Years	1,158
Operating Leases, Future Minimum Payments, Due in Four Years	1,045
Operating Leases, Future Minimum Payments, Due in Five Years	$2,593

Pension_and_Other_PostRetireme1

Pension and Other Post-Retirement Benefit Matters (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Oct. 31, 2013	Oct. 31, 2012
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]	'	'
Number of employees receiving post-retirement benefits	22	'
Defined Benefit Plan, Change in Benefit Obligation [Roll Forward]	'	'
Benefit obligation at end of year	($4,470)	'
Pension Plans, Defined Benefit [Member]	'	'
Defined Benefit Plan, Change in Benefit Obligation [Roll Forward]	'	'
Benefit obligation at beginning of year	-88,665	-75,292
Interest cost	-3,260	-3,683
Settlement	2,271	0
Actuarial gain (loss)	835	-13,186
Benefits paid	-3,691	-3,496
Benefit obligation at end of year	-85,128	-88,665
Defined Benefit Plan, Change in Fair Value of Plan Assets [Roll Forward]	'	'
Fair value of plan assets at beginning of year	53,230	46,218
Actual return on plan assets	8,542	4,601
Employer contributions	5,146	5,907
Settlement	-2,271	0
Benefits paid	-3,691	-3,496
Fair value of plan assets at end of year	60,956	53,230
Funded status, benefit obligations in excess of plan assets	-24,172	-35,435
Other Postretirement Benefit Plans, Defined Benefit [Member]	'	'
Defined Benefit Plan, Change in Benefit Obligation [Roll Forward]	'	'
Benefit obligation at beginning of year	-940	-935
Interest cost	-34	-45
Settlement	0	0
Actuarial gain (loss)	45	18
Benefits paid	-35	-22
Benefit obligation at end of year	-894	-940
Defined Benefit Plan, Change in Fair Value of Plan Assets [Roll Forward]	'	'
Fair value of plan assets at beginning of year	0	0
Actual return on plan assets	0	0
Employer contributions	35	22
Settlement	0	0
Benefits paid	-35	-22
Fair value of plan assets at end of year	0	0
Funded status, benefit obligations in excess of plan assets	($894)	($940)

Pension_and_Other_PostRetireme2

Pension and Other Post-Retirement Benefit Matters Pension and Post-Retirement Benefits on Balance Sheet (Details) (USD $)	Oct. 31, 2013	Oct. 31, 2012
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]	'	'
Long-term benefit liabilities	$21,287	$32,819
Pension Plans, Defined Benefit [Member]	'	'
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]	'	'
Other accrued expenses	-3,650	-3,480
Long-term benefit liabilities	-20,522	-31,955
Total	-24,172	-35,435
Other Postretirement Benefit Plans, Defined Benefit [Member]	'	'
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]	'	'
Other accrued expenses	-99	-92
Long-term benefit liabilities	-795	-848
Total	($894)	($940)

Pension_and_Other_PostRetireme3

Pension and Other Post-Retirement Benefit Matters Components of Net Benefit Costs (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Oct. 31, 2013	Oct. 31, 2012	Jul. 31, 2013
			employee
Pension Plans, Defined Benefit [Member]	'	'	'
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]	'	'	'
Interest Cost	$3,260	$3,683	'
Expected return on plan assets	-3,735	-3,251	'
Settlement	1,102	0	'
Amortization of net actuarial loss	1,392	1,040	'
Net periodic benefit cost	2,019	1,472	'
Define Benefit Plan, Number of Former Employees Electing Lump Sum Distributions	'	'	200
Settlement, liability	2,271	0	'
Other Postretirement Benefit Plans, Defined Benefit [Member]	'	'	'
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]	'	'	'
Interest Cost	34	45	'
Expected return on plan assets	0	0	'
Settlement	0	0	'
Amortization of net actuarial loss	48	54	'
Net periodic benefit cost	82	99	'
Settlement, liability	$0	$0	'

Pension_and_Other_PostRetireme4

Pension and Other Post-Retirement Benefit Matters Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Oct. 31, 2013	Oct. 31, 2012
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]	'	'
Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Attributable to Parent	$26,799	$7,002
Pension Plans, Defined Benefit [Member]	'	'
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]	'	'
Amortization of net acutarial loss	1,074	'
Pension and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans, Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net Gains (Losses), before Tax	41,280	49,415
Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Attributable to Parent	8,135	-10,796
Other Postretirement Benefit Plans, Defined Benefit [Member]	'	'
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]	'	'
Amortization of net acutarial loss	41	'
Pension and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans, Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net Gains (Losses), before Tax	679	772
Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Attributable to Parent	$93	$72

Pension_and_Other_PostRetireme5

Pension and Other Post-Retirement Benefit Matters Assumptions (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Oct. 31, 2013	Oct. 31, 2012	Oct. 31, 2011
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]	'	'	'
Defined Benefit Plan, Assumptions Used Calculating Benefit Obligation, Discount Rate	4.50%	'	'
Defined Benefit Plan, Benefit Obligation	$4,470	'	'
Defined Benefit Plan, Health Care Cost Trend Rate Assumed for Next Fiscal Year	7.00%	8.00%	'
Defined Benefit Plan, Ultimate Health Care Cost Trend Rate	6.50%	7.50%	'
Defined Benefit Plan, Year that Rate Reaches Ultimate Trend Rate	'2015	'2014	'
Defined Benefit Plan, Effect of One Percentage Point Increase on Service and Interest Cost Components	5	'	'
Defined Benefit Plan, Effect of One Percentage Point Decrease on Service and Interest Cost Components	-4	'	'
Defined Benefit Plan, Effect of One Percentage Point Increase on Accumulated Postretirement Benefit Obligation	45	'	'
Defined Benefit Plan, Effect of One Percentage Point Decrease on Accumulated Postretirement Benefit Obligation	-40	'	'
Pension Plans, Defined Benefit [Member]	'	'	'
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]	'	'	'
Defined Benefit Plan, Assumptions Used Calculating Benefit Obligation, Discount Rate	4.50%	3.75%	'
Defined Benefit Plan, Assumptions Used Calculating Net Periodic Benefit Cost, Discount Rate	3.75%	5.00%	'
Defined Benefit Plan, Assumptions Used Calculating Net Periodic Benefit Cost, Expected Long-term Return on Assets	7.50%	7.50%	'
Defined Benefit Plan, Benefit Obligation	85,128	88,665	75,292
Other Postretirement Benefit Plans, Defined Benefit [Member]	'	'	'
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]	'	'	'
Defined Benefit Plan, Assumptions Used Calculating Benefit Obligation, Discount Rate	4.50%	3.75%	'
Defined Benefit Plan, Assumptions Used Calculating Net Periodic Benefit Cost, Discount Rate	3.75%	5.00%	'
Defined Benefit Plan, Assumptions Used Calculating Net Periodic Benefit Cost, Expected Long-term Return on Assets	0.00%	0.00%	'
Defined Benefit Plan, Benefit Obligation	$894	$940	$935
Change in Assumptions for Pension Plans [Member]	'	'	'
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]	'	'	'
Defined Benefit Plan, Assumptions Used Calculating Benefit Obligation, Increase (Decrease) to Discount Rate	0.75%	'	'

Pension_and_Other_PostRetireme6

Pension and Other Post-Retirement Benefit Matters Plan Assets (Details)	12 Months Ended
	Oct. 31, 2013	Oct. 31, 2012
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]	'	'
Defined Benefit Plan, Actual Plan Asset Allocations	100.00%	100.00%
Equity Securities [Member]	'	'
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]	'	'
Defined Benefit Plan, Target Allocation Percentage	' 0-70%	'
Defined Benefit Plan, Actual Plan Asset Allocations	60.00%	56.00%
Debt Securities [Member]	'	'
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]	'	'
Defined Benefit Plan, Target Allocation Percentage	' 0-70%	'
Defined Benefit Plan, Actual Plan Asset Allocations	34.00%	38.00%
Real Estate [Member]	'	'
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]	'	'
Defined Benefit Plan, Target Allocation Percentage	'0-10%	'
Defined Benefit Plan, Actual Plan Asset Allocations	6.00%	6.00%

Pension_and_Other_PostRetireme7

Pension and Other Post-Retirement Benefit Matters Fair Value (Details) (USD $)	Oct. 31, 2013	Oct. 31, 2012
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Compensation and Retirement Disclosure [Abstract]	'	'
Financial Instruments, Owned, at Fair Value	$60,956	$53,230

Pension_and_Other_PostRetireme8

Pension and Other Post-Retirement Benefit Matters Fair Value of Investments (Details) (USD $)	Oct. 31, 2013	Oct. 31, 2012	Oct. 31, 2011
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'	'
Financial Instruments, Owned, at Fair Value	$60,956	$53,230	'
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 [Member]	'	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'	'
Investments, Fair Value Disclosure	36,026	26,559	'
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member]	'	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'	'
Investments, Fair Value Disclosure	24,929	23,432	'
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member]	'	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'	'
Investments, Fair Value Disclosure	0	3,239	2,523
Equity - Large U.S. Equity [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 [Member]	'	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'	'
Investments, Fair Value Disclosure	9,289	7,805	'
Equity - Large U.S. Equity [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member]	'	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'	'
Investments, Fair Value Disclosure	12,344	10,027	'
Equity - Large U.S. Equity [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member]	'	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'	'
Investments, Fair Value Disclosure	0	0	'
Small/Mid U.S. Equity [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 [Member]	'	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'	'
Investments, Fair Value Disclosure	5,488	2,632	'
Small/Mid U.S. Equity [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member]	'	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'	'
Investments, Fair Value Disclosure	2,437	3,710	'
Small/Mid U.S. Equity [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member]	'	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'	'
Investments, Fair Value Disclosure	0	0	'
Equity - International Equity [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 [Member]	'	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'	'
Investments, Fair Value Disclosure	7,316	5,347	'
Equity - International Equity [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member]	'	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'	'
Investments, Fair Value Disclosure	0	0	'
Equity - International Equity [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member]	'	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'	'
Investments, Fair Value Disclosure	0	0	'
Fixed Income - Government [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 [Member]	'	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'	'
Investments, Fair Value Disclosure	0	0	'
Fixed Income - Government [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member]	'	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'	'
Investments, Fair Value Disclosure	278	281	'
Fixed Income - Government [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member]	'	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'	'
Investments, Fair Value Disclosure	0	0	'
Fixed Income - Corporate [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 [Member]	'	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'	'
Investments, Fair Value Disclosure	13,933	10,775	'
Fixed Income - Corporate [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member]	'	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'	'
Investments, Fair Value Disclosure	6,270	9,414	'
Fixed Income - Corporate [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member]	'	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'	'
Investments, Fair Value Disclosure	0	0	'
Real Estate (Primarily Commercial) [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 [Member]	'	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'	'
Investments, Fair Value Disclosure	0	0	'
Real Estate (Primarily Commercial) [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member]	'	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'	'
Investments, Fair Value Disclosure	3,600	0	'
Real Estate (Primarily Commercial) [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member]	'	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'	'
Investments, Fair Value Disclosure	$0	$3,239	'

Pension_and_Other_PostRetireme9

Pension and Other Post-Retirement Benefit Matters Fair Value Measurements Using Significant Unobservable Inputs (Details) (Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member], USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Oct. 31, 2013	Oct. 31, 2012	Oct. 31, 2011
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member]	'	'	'
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]	'	'	'
Investments, Fair Value Disclosure	$0	$3,239	$2,523
Fair Value, Measurement with Unobservable Inputs Reconciliation, Recurring Basis, Asset, Transfers out of Level 3	-3,239	'	'
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Unrealized Holding Gain (Loss) on Securities Arising During Period, Net of Tax	'	$716	'

Recovered_Sheet1

Pension and Other Post-Retirement Benefit Matters Pension cash flows (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Oct. 31, 2013	Oct. 31, 2012
Compensation and Retirement Disclosure [Abstract]	'	'
Defined Contribution Plan, Cost Recognized	$2,195	$1,620
Pension Plans, Defined Benefit [Member]	'	'
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]	'	'
Defined Benefit Plan, Estimated Future Employer Contributions in Next Fiscal Year, Description	4,352	'
Employer contributions	5,146	5,907
Defined Benefit Plan, Expected Future Benefit Payments, Next Twelve Months	3,650	'
Defined Benefit Plan, Expected Future Benefit Payments, Year Two	3,880	'
Defined Benefit Plan, Expected Future Benefit Payments, Year Three	3,970	'
Defined Benefit Plan, Expected Future Benefit Payments, Year Four	4,240	'
Defined Benefit Plan, Expected Future Benefit Payments, Year Five	4,110	'
Defined Benefit Plans, Expected Future Benefit Payments, Thereafter	24,060	'
Other Postretirement Benefit Plans, Defined Benefit [Member]	'	'
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]	'	'
Employer contributions	35	22
Defined Benefit Plan, Expected Future Benefit Payments, Next Twelve Months	99	'
Defined Benefit Plan, Expected Future Benefit Payments, Year Two	92	'
Defined Benefit Plan, Expected Future Benefit Payments, Year Three	88	'
Defined Benefit Plan, Expected Future Benefit Payments, Year Four	78	'
Defined Benefit Plan, Expected Future Benefit Payments, Year Five	71	'
Defined Benefit Plans, Expected Future Benefit Payments, Thereafter	$303	'

Recovered_Sheet2

Pension and Other Post-Retirement Benefit Matters Defined Contribution Plan (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Oct. 31, 2013	Oct. 31, 2012
Schedule of Defined Contribution Plans Disclosures [Line Items]	'	'
Defined Contribution Plan, Automatic Annual Increase By Employer Unless Employee Opts Out Or Contributions Cease	1.00%	'
Defined Contribution Plan, Employer Matching Contribution, Percent of Match	100.00%	'
Defined Contribution Plan, Employer Matching Contribution, Percent of Employees' Gross Pay	3.00%	'
Defined Contribution Plan, Employer Matching Contribution, Additional Percent of Match	50.00%	'
Defined Contribution Plan, Cost Recognized	$2,195	$1,620
Minimum [Member]	'	'
Schedule of Defined Contribution Plans Disclosures [Line Items]	'	'
Defined Contribution Plan, Employer Matching Contribution, Additional Percent of Employees' Gross Pay	4.00%	'
Maximum [Member]	'	'
Schedule of Defined Contribution Plans Disclosures [Line Items]	'	'
Defined Contribution Plan, Employer Matching Contribution, Additional Percent of Employees' Gross Pay	5.00%	'

Earnings_Per_Share_Reconciliat

Earnings Per Share Reconciliation of Numerator and Denominator of the basic and diluted earnings per share computation (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	Oct. 31, 2013	Jul. 31, 2013	Apr. 30, 2013	Jan. 31, 2013	Oct. 31, 2012	Jul. 31, 2012	Apr. 30, 2012	Jan. 31, 2012	Oct. 31, 2013	Oct. 31, 2012
Equity [Abstract]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share, Amount	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	225,000	337,000
Net income available to common stockholders	$6,456	$5,282	$7,249	$2,583	$3,626	$2,416	$5,905	$1,579	$21,570	$13,526
Basic weighted average number of common shares	16,999,000	17,007,000	16,998,000	16,988,000	16,857,000	16,856,000	16,844,000	16,765,000	16,982,000	16,813,000
Stock options	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	48,000	91,000
Diluted weighted average number of common shares	17,052,000	17,051,000	17,043,000	17,040,000	16,934,000	16,927,000	16,903,000	16,856,000	17,030,000	16,904,000
Basic earnings per share	$0.38	$0.31	$0.43	$0.15	$0.22	$0.14	$0.35	$0.09	$1.27	$0.80
Diluted earnings per share	$0.38	$0.31	$0.43	$0.15	$0.21	$0.14	$0.35	$0.09	$1.27	$0.80

Stock_Options_and_Incentive_Co2

Stock Options and Incentive Compensation Stock Options and Incentive Compensation (Details) (USD $)	9 Months Ended	12 Months Ended		3 Months Ended
	Jul. 31, 2013	Oct. 31, 2013	Oct. 31, 2012	Jan. 31, 2012
				Options Granted December 8, 2011 [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Number of Shares Available for Grant	2,700,000	'	'	'
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Maximum Number of Shares Per Employee	500,000	'	'	'
Granted	'	0	56,500	56,500
Granted	'	$0	$8.10	$8.10

Stock_Options_and_Incentive_Co3

Stock Options and Incentive Compensation Stock Option Activity (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Oct. 31, 2013	Oct. 31, 2012
Disclosure of Compensation Related Costs, Share-based Payments [Abstract]	'	'
Expected Life of Options	'6 years	'
Number of Shares Under Option	'	'
Options outstanding, beginning of period	362,085	520,185
Granted	0	56,500
Exercised	-47,804	-158,513
Canceled	-78,147	-56,087
Options outstanding, end of period	236,134	362,085
Weighted Average Exercise Price	'	'
Weighted average option price, outstanding, beginning of period	$9.99	$8.54
Granted	$0	$8.10
Exercised	$6.28	$4.01
Canceled	$12.45	$10.96
Weighted average option price, outstanding, end of period	$9.93	$9.99

Stock_Options_and_Incentive_Co4

Stock Options and Incentive Compensation Options Outstanding and Exercisable (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	Oct. 31, 2013	Oct. 31, 2012	Oct. 31, 2011
Share-based Compensation, Shares Authorized under Stock Option Plans, Exercise Price Range [Line Items]	'	'	'
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Outstanding, Intrinsic Value	$1,534	'	'
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Exercisable, Intrinsic Value	1,149	'	'
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Exercises in Period, Intrinsic Value	$485	$1,167	'
Exercise Prices	$9.90	'	'
Options Outstanding	236,134	362,085	520,185
Options Exercisable	176,134	'	'
Options Granted October 28, 2005 [Member]	'	'	'
Share-based Compensation, Shares Authorized under Stock Option Plans, Exercise Price Range [Line Items]	'	'	'
Exercise Prices	$13.06	'	'
Options Outstanding	15,000	'	'
Exercise Price of Options Outstanding and Options Exercisable	$13.06	'	'
Options Exercisable	15,000	'	'
Weighted Avg Remaining Contractual LIfe	'1 year 11 months 25 days	'	'
Options Granted February 14, 2007 [Member]	'	'	'
Share-based Compensation, Shares Authorized under Stock Option Plans, Exercise Price Range [Line Items]	'	'	'
Exercise Prices	$14.74	'	'
Options Outstanding	34,000	'	'
Exercise Price of Options Outstanding and Options Exercisable	$14.74	'	'
Options Exercisable	34,000	'	'
Weighted Avg Remaining Contractual LIfe	'3 years 6 months 15 days	'	'
Options Granted December 12, 2008 [Member]	'	'	'
Share-based Compensation, Shares Authorized under Stock Option Plans, Exercise Price Range [Line Items]	'	'	'
Exercise Prices	$2.11	'	'
Options Outstanding	9,000	'	'
Exercise Price of Options Outstanding and Options Exercisable	$2.11	'	'
Options Exercisable	9,000	'	'
Weighted Avg Remaining Contractual LIfe	'5 years 1 month 14 days	'	'
Options Granted August 13, 2009 [Member]	'	'	'
Share-based Compensation, Shares Authorized under Stock Option Plans, Exercise Price Range [Line Items]	'	'	'
Exercise Prices	$5.30	'	'
Options Outstanding	53,634	'	'
Exercise Price of Options Outstanding and Options Exercisable	$5.30	'	'
Options Exercisable	53,634	'	'
Weighted Avg Remaining Contractual LIfe	'5 years 9 months 10 days	'	'
Options Granted December 10, 2010 [Member]	'	'	'
Share-based Compensation, Shares Authorized under Stock Option Plans, Exercise Price Range [Line Items]	'	'	'
Exercise Prices	$12.04	'	'
Options Outstanding	85,000	'	'
Exercise Price of Options Outstanding and Options Exercisable	$12.04	'	'
Options Exercisable	56,000	'	'
Weighted Avg Remaining Contractual LIfe	'7 years 1 month 11 days	'	'
Options Granted December 8, 2011 [Member]	'	'	'
Share-based Compensation, Shares Authorized under Stock Option Plans, Exercise Price Range [Line Items]	'	'	'
Exercise Prices	$8.10	'	'
Options Outstanding	39,500	'	'
Exercise Price of Options Outstanding and Options Exercisable	$8.10	'	'
Options Exercisable	8,500	'	'
Weighted Avg Remaining Contractual LIfe	'8 years 1 month 24 days	'	'

Stock_Options_and_Incentive_Co5

Stock Options and Incentive Compensation Non-Vested Options (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Oct. 31, 2013	Oct. 31, 2012
Number of shares	'	'
Non-vested at beginning of period	136,500	'
Granted	0	'
Vested	-58,828	'
Forfeited	-21,001	'
Non-vested at end of period	56,671	136,500
Weighted Average Grant-Date Fair Value	'	'
Granted	$0	$8.10
Vested	$10.84	'
Forfeited	$10.32	'
Non-vested at end of period	$10.12	$10.46

Stock_Options_and_Incentive_Co6

Stock Options and Incentive Compensation Compensation Expense (Details) (USD $)	9 Months Ended	12 Months Ended		3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	Jul. 31, 2013	Oct. 31, 2013	Oct. 31, 2012	Oct. 31, 2012	Oct. 31, 2013
				Restricted Stock [Member]	Restricted Stock [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'
Stock Issued During Period, Shares, Restricted Stock Award, Net of Forfeitures	'	'	'	80,257	'
Allocated Share-based Compensation Expense	'	$456	$730	'	$282
Decrease in Basic and Diluted Earnings Per Share	$0.02	'	'	'	'
Employee Service Share-based Compensation, Nonvested Awards, Total Compensation Cost Not yet Recognized	'	$165	$620	'	$510

Stock_Options_and_Incentive_Co7

Stock Options and Incentive Compensation Assumptions for Grant Awards (Details)	3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Jan. 31, 2012	Oct. 31, 2013
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]	'	'
Risk-free interest	1.20%	'
Dividend yield	0.00%	'
Volatility factor—market	88.26%	'
Expected Life of Options	'	'6 years

Stock_Options_and_Incentive_Co8

Stock Options and Incentive Compensation Incentive Bonus Plan (Details) (USD $)	9 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Jul. 31, 2013	Oct. 31, 2013	Oct. 31, 2013	Oct. 31, 2012
			Eligible Corporate Employees [Member]	Eligible Corporate Employees [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Document Period End Date	31-Oct-13	31-Oct-13	'	'
Accrued Bonus	'	'	$3,293	$3,176
Accrued Bonus, Criteria Based Upon Achieving Employee Specific Goals	'	50.00%	'	'
Accured Bonus, Criteria Based Upon Achieving Company Goals	'	50.00%	'	'

Income_Taxes_Income_Taxes_Deta

Income Taxes Income Taxes (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Oct. 31, 2013	Jul. 31, 2013	Apr. 30, 2013	Jan. 31, 2013	Oct. 31, 2012	Jul. 31, 2012	Apr. 30, 2012	Jan. 31, 2012	Oct. 31, 2013	Oct. 31, 2012
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Domestic	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	$30,814	$23,139
Foreign	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	1,361	-632
Income before income taxes	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	32,175	22,507
Federal	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	8,427	5,733
State and Local	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	1,338	1,114
Foreign	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	261	150
Total current	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	10,026	6,997
Federal	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	427	1,885
State and Local	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	152	97
Foreign	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	0	2
Change in net deferred tax asset attributable to the provision for deferred taxes	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	-579	-1,984
Components of the total provision for income taxes	$3,605	$2,213	$3,686	$1,101	$3,218	$1,150	$3,351	$1,262	$10,605	$8,981

Income_Taxes_Deferred_Tax_Asse

Income Taxes Deferred Tax Assets and Liabilities (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Oct. 31, 2013	Oct. 31, 2012
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]	'	'
Accrued compensation and benefits	$1,255	$936
Inventory	662	558
State income credits and loss carryforwards	1,266	1,115
Pension obligations and post retirement benefits	8,255	12,365
Foreign net operating loss	1,153	2,033
Tax credits in foreign countries	573	677
Other accruals and reserves	2,806	2,206
Deferred Tax Assets, Goodwill and Intangible Assets	3,304	0
Deferred Tax Assets, Gross	19,274	19,890
Less: Valuation allowance	-4,014	-4,401
Total deferred tax assets	15,260	15,489
Fixed assets	-12,828	-9,690
Prepaid expenses and other	-572	-352
Net deferred tax asset	1,860	5,447
Change in net deferred tax asset attributable to the provision for deferred taxes	-579	-1,984
Change in net deferred tax asset attributable to other items	-10	86
Pension and postretirement benefits	-2,998	4,199
Total change in net deferred tax asset	($3,587)	$2,301

Income_Taxes_Activities_and_ba

Income Taxes Activities and balances of unrecognized tax benefits (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Oct. 31, 2013	Oct. 31, 2012
Reconciliation of Unrecognized Tax Benefits, Excluding Amounts Pertaining to Examined Tax Returns [Roll Forward]	'	'
Balance at beginning of year	$1,247	$1,069
Additions based on tax positions related to the current year	54	126
Additions for tax positions of prior years	0	89
Reductions for tax positions of prior years	-61	-13
Reductions as result of lapse of applicable statute of limitations	-57	-24
Balance at end of year	1,183	1,247
Unrecognized Tax Benefits that Would Impact Effective Tax Rate	777	820
Unrecognized Tax Benefits, Income Tax Penalties and Interest Expense	21	148
Unrecognized Tax Benefits, Income Tax Penalties and Interest Accrued	$1,029	$1,008

Income_Taxes_Tax_Credits_Detai

Income Taxes Tax Credits (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Oct. 31, 2013	Oct. 31, 2008	Oct. 31, 2012
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]	'	'	'
Income Tax Credits and Adjustments	'	$1,037	'
Tax Credit Carryforward, Valuation Allowance	572	1,037	677
Deferred Tax Assets, Valuation Allowance	4,014	'	4,401
Valuation Allowance, Deferred Tax Asset, Change in Amount	-387	'	'
Change in Valuation Allowance related to the future utilization of foreign tax credits	26	'	'
Change in Valuation allowance attributable to flat tax credits associated with foreign jurisdictions	-104	'	'
Change in Valuation Allowance related to Other Foreign Deferred Tax Assets	424	'	'
Change in Valuation Allowance attributable to state and local operating loss carryforwards	$115	'	'

Income_Taxes_Statutory_federal

Income Taxes Statutory federal income tax rate (Details)	12 Months Ended
	Oct. 31, 2013	Oct. 31, 2012
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]	'	'
Federal income tax at statutory rate	35.00%	34.90%
State and local income taxes, net of federal benefit	3.50%	3.00%
Valuation allowance change	-1.70%	0.40%
Domestic tax credits	-0.80%	0.30%
Domestic production activities deduction	-2.90%	-2.70%
Foreign operations	0.90%	1.60%
Stock option expense	0.20%	0.80%
Adjustment of uncertain tax positions	-0.10%	1.00%
Revisions to prior period estimated income tax calculations	-1.40%	0.50%
Other	0.30%	0.10%
Effective income tax rate	33.00%	39.90%

Income_Taxes_Carryforwards_Det

Income Taxes Carryforwards (Details) (USD $)	Oct. 31, 2013	Oct. 31, 2012
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Foreign Tax Authority [Member]	'	'
Operating Loss Carryforwards [Line Items]	'	'
Operating Loss Carryforwards	$1,153	$2,032
State and Local Jurisdiction [Member]	'	'
Operating Loss Carryforwards [Line Items]	'	'
Operating Loss Carryforwards	$985	$870

Income_Taxes_Cash_paid_for_tax

Income Taxes Cash paid for taxes (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Oct. 31, 2013	Oct. 31, 2012
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]	'	'
Income Taxes Paid	$7,111	$6,306
Deferred Tax Liabilities, Undistributed Foreign Earnings	$849	'

Related_Party_Transaction_Rela

Related Party Transaction Related Party Transactions (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Oct. 31, 2013	Oct. 31, 2012
Related Party Transactions [Abstract]	'	'
Related-party revenue	$7,645	$6,590
Related-party accounts receivable	$673	$536

Business_Segment_Information_B1

Business Segment Information Business Segment Information (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Oct. 31, 2013	Jul. 31, 2013	Apr. 30, 2013	Jan. 31, 2013	Oct. 31, 2012	Jul. 31, 2012	Apr. 30, 2012	Jan. 31, 2012	Oct. 31, 2013	Oct. 31, 2012
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Revenues	$206,598	$166,059	$182,146	$145,383	$148,851	$142,021	$162,831	$132,371	$700,186	$586,074
Major Customer, Percentage	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	10.00%	'
Long-Lived Assets	225,174	'	'	'	121,263	'	'	'	225,174	121,263
Foreign Currency Transaction Gain (Loss), before Tax	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	-141	49
Sales [Member] | General Motors [Member]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Major Customer, Percentage	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	20.90%	'
Sales [Member] | Chrysler [Member]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Major Customer, Percentage	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	15.60%
Sales [Member] | MEXICO	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Major Customer, Percentage	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	6.10%	6.30%
Accounts Receivable [Member] | General Motors [Member]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Major Customer, Percentage	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	20.00%	18.20%
Accounts Receivable [Member] | Chrysler [Member]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Major Customer, Percentage	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	23.40%	23.20%
Reportable Geographical Components [Member] | MEXICO	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Revenues	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	42,418	36,647
Long-Lived Assets	$16,403	'	'	'	$14,302	'	'	'	$16,403	$14,302

Business_Segment_Information_R

Business Segment Information Revenue by Product Line (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Oct. 31, 2013	Jul. 31, 2013	Apr. 30, 2013	Jan. 31, 2013	Oct. 31, 2012	Jul. 31, 2012	Apr. 30, 2012	Jan. 31, 2012	Oct. 31, 2013	Oct. 31, 2012
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Revenues	$206,598	$166,059	$182,146	$145,383	$148,851	$142,021	$162,831	$132,371	$700,186	$586,074
Engineered welded blanks [Member]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Revenues	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	280,209	287,604
Complex stampings and modular assemblies [Member]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Revenues	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	215,869	157,531
Blanking [Member]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Revenues	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	80,412	92,387
Highly engineered aluminum die casting and machining	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Revenues	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	71,677	0
Other/scrap [Member]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Revenues	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	$52,019	$48,552

Quarterly_Results_Quarterly_Re1

Quarterly Results Quarterly Results (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	Oct. 31, 2013	Jul. 31, 2013	Apr. 30, 2013	Jan. 31, 2013	Oct. 31, 2012	Jul. 31, 2012	Apr. 30, 2012	Jan. 31, 2012	Oct. 31, 2013	Oct. 31, 2012
Quarterly Financial Information Disclosure [Abstract]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Revenues	$206,598	$166,059	$182,146	$145,383	$148,851	$142,021	$162,831	$132,371	$700,186	$586,074
Gross Profit	22,086	17,461	20,387	11,761	12,456	12,160	16,457	9,662	71,695	50,735
Operating Income	10,778	8,187	11,508	4,131	7,262	3,933	9,806	3,079	34,604	24,080
Provision for income taxes	3,605	2,213	3,686	1,101	3,218	1,150	3,351	1,262	10,605	8,981
Net income	$6,456	$5,282	$7,249	$2,583	$3,626	$2,416	$5,905	$1,579	$21,570	$13,526
Net income per basic share	$0.38	$0.31	$0.43	$0.15	$0.22	$0.14	$0.35	$0.09	$1.27	$0.80
Net income per share diluted share	$0.38	$0.31	$0.43	$0.15	$0.21	$0.14	$0.35	$0.09	$1.27	$0.80
Basic	16,999	17,007	16,998	16,988	16,857	16,856	16,844	16,765	16,982	16,813
Diluted	17,052	17,051	17,043	17,040	16,934	16,927	16,903	16,856	17,030	16,904

Quarterly_Results_Change_is_as

Quarterly Results Change is assumptions and estimates (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Oct. 31, 2013	Oct. 31, 2012
Quarterly Financial Information Disclosure [Abstract]	'	'
current quarter change in assumptions and estimates	($307)	$80