LONG-TERM DEBT (Details) |
12 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Sep. 30, 2011
USD ($)
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Sep. 30, 2010
USD ($)
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Sep. 30, 2011
Matthews International S.p.A [Member]
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Sep. 30, 2010
Matthews International S.p.A [Member]
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Sep. 30, 2011
Matthews International S.p.A [Member]
Lines of Credit with Italian Banks [Member]
USD ($)
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Sep. 30, 2011
Matthews International S.p.A [Member]
Lines of Credit with Italian Banks [Member]
EUR (€)
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Sep. 30, 2010
Matthews International S.p.A [Member]
Lines of Credit with Italian Banks [Member]
USD ($)
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Sep. 30, 2010
Matthews International S.p.A [Member]
Lines of Credit with Italian Banks [Member]
EUR (€)
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Sep. 30, 2011
Matthews International S.p.A [Member]
Notes Payable to Banks [Member]
USD ($)
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Sep. 30, 2011
Matthews International S.p.A [Member]
Notes Payable to Banks [Member]
EUR (€)
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Sep. 30, 2009
Matthews International S.p.A [Member]
Notes Payable to Banks [Member]
USD ($)
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Sep. 30, 2009
Matthews International S.p.A [Member]
Notes Payable to Banks [Member]
EUR (€)
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Sep. 30, 2011
Saueressig [Member]
Notes Payable to Banks [Member]
USD ($)
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Sep. 30, 2011
Saueressig [Member]
Notes Payable to Banks [Member]
EUR (€)
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Sep. 30, 2010
Saueressig [Member]
Notes Payable to Banks [Member]
USD ($)
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Sep. 30, 2010
Saueressig [Member]
Notes Payable to Banks [Member]
EUR (€)
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Sep. 30, 2011
Kroma Pre-Press Preparation Systems Industry & Trade, Inc. [Member]
Notes Payable to Banks [Member]
USD ($)
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Sep. 30, 2011
Kroma Pre-Press Preparation Systems Industry & Trade, Inc. [Member]
Notes Payable to Banks [Member]
TRY
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Sep. 30, 2011
New Domestic Revolving Credit Facility [Member]
USD ($)
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Nov. 30, 2010
Replaced Revolving Credit Facility [Member]
USD ($)
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Sep. 30, 2010
Replaced Revolving Credit Facility [Member]
USD ($)
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Sep. 30, 2010
Credit Facility With European Bank [Member]
USD ($)
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Sep. 30, 2010
Credit Facility With European Bank [Member]
EUR (€)
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Sep. 30, 2011
Credit Facility With European Bank [Member]
USD ($)
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Sep. 30, 2011
Credit Facility With European Bank [Member]
EUR (€)
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Sep. 30, 2011
Interest Rate Swap 1 [Member]
USD ($)
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Sep. 30, 2011
Interest Rate Swap 2 [Member]
USD ($)
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Sep. 30, 2011
Interest Rate Swap 3 [Member]
USD ($)
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Sep. 30, 2011
Interest Rate Swap 4 [Member]
USD ($)
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Sep. 30, 2011
Interest Rate Swap 5 [Member]
USD ($)
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Sep. 30, 2011
Interest Rate Swap 6 [Member]
USD ($)
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Sep. 30, 2011
Interest Rate Swap 7 [Member]
USD ($)
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Sep. 30, 2011
Interest Rate Swap 8 [Member]
USD ($)
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Sep. 30, 2011
Interest Rate Swap 9 [Member]
USD ($)
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Sep. 30, 2011
Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member]
Interest Rate Swaps [Member]
USD ($)
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Sep. 30, 2010
Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member]
Interest Rate Swaps [Member]
USD ($)
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Sep. 30, 2011
Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member]
Interest Rate Swaps [Member]
Long-term liabilities: Other liabilities [Member]
USD ($)
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Sep. 30, 2010
Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member]
Interest Rate Swaps [Member]
Long-term liabilities: Other liabilities [Member]
USD ($)
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Sep. 30, 2011
Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member]
Interest Rate Swaps [Member]
Current liabilities: Other current liabilities [Member]
USD ($)
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Sep. 30, 2010
Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member]
Interest Rate Swaps [Member]
Current liabilities: Other current liabilities [Member]
USD ($)
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Sep. 30, 2011
Interest Rate Swaps [Member]
Cash Flow Hedging [Member]
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Member]
USD ($)
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Sep. 30, 2010
Interest Rate Swaps [Member]
Cash Flow Hedging [Member]
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Member]
USD ($)
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Sep. 30, 2011
Interest Rate Swaps [Member]
Cash Flow Hedging [Member]
Interest Expense [Member]
USD ($)
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Sep. 30, 2010
Interest Rate Swaps [Member]
Cash Flow Hedging [Member]
Interest Expense [Member]
USD ($)
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| LONG-TERM DEBT [Abstract] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Revolving credit facilities | $ 281,593,000 | $ 203,361,000 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Notes payable to banks | 31,193,000 | 27,359,000 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Short-term borrowings | 661,000 | 2,829,000 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Capital lease obligations | 3,737,000 | 3,780,000 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total debt and capital lease obligations | 317,184,000 | 237,329,000 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Less current maturities | (18,014,000) | (12,073,000) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total long-term debt and capital lease obligations, excluding current maturities | 299,170,000 | 225,256,000 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Line of Credit Facility [Line Items] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Number of lines of credit | 3 | 3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Maximum amount of borrowings available | 15,221,000 | 11,400,000 | 300,000,000 | 225,000,000 | 33,468,000 | 25,000,000 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Interest rate on borrowings, based on leverage ratio | LIBOR plus a factor ranging from 1.00% to 1.50% | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Maturity date | December 2015 | September 2012 | September 2012 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Annual commitment fee range on unused portion | .20% to .30% (based on the Company's leverage ratio) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Maximum available for issuance of trade and standby letters of credit | 25,000,000 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Outstanding borrowings | 661,000 | 493,000 | 2,834,000 | 2,100,000 | 250,000,000 | 187,000,000 | 16,400,000 | 12,000,000 | 31,593,000 | 23,600,000 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weighted-average interest rate on outstanding borrowings (in hundredths) | 3.11% | 3.47% | 6.05% | 6.05% | 6.18% | 6.18% | 9.27% | 9.27% | 2.59% | 2.69% | 1.58% | 1.58% | 2.38% | 2.38% | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Derivative [Line Items] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Effective Date | September 2007 | May 2008 | October 2008 | May 2011 | October 2011 | November 2011 | March 2012 | September 2012 | November 2012 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Amount | 25,000,000 | 20,000,000 | 20,000,000 | 25,000,000 | 25,000,000 | 25,000,000 | 25,000,000 | 25,000,000 | 25,000,000 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Fixed Interest Rate (in hundredths) | 4.77% | 3.72% | 3.46% | 1.37% | 1.67% | 2.13% | 2.44% | 3.03% | 1.33% | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Interest Rate Spread (in hundredths) | 1.25% | 1.25% | 1.25% | 1.25% | 1.25% | 1.25% | 1.25% | 1.25% | 1.25% | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Maturity Date | September 2012 | September 2012 | October 2011 | May 2014 | October 2015 | November 2014 | March 2015 | December 2015 | November 2015 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Interest rate cash flow hedges [Abstract] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Unrealized gain (loss) on fair value of interest rate swaps | (7,161,000) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Unrealized gain (loss) on fair value of interest rate swaps, after tax | (4,368,000) | (2,711,000) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Unrealized gain (loss) expected to be recognized over the next 12 months | (1,257,000) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Liability derivatives | 7,161,000 | 4,445,000 | 5,100,000 | 1,822,000 | 2,061,000 | 2,623,000 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Amount of loss recognized in income (loss) on Derivatives | (2,600,000) | (3,669,000) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Amount of loss recognized in AOCL on Derivatives | (3,246,000) | (1,467,000) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Amount of gain or (loss) reclassified from AOCL into Income (effective portion) | (1,586,000) | [1] | (2,238,000) | [1] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Debt Instrument [Line Items] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Outstanding borrowings on bank loans | 11,611,000 | 8,700,000 | 16,543,000 | 12,100,000 | 11,159,000 | 8,300,000 | 10,816,000 | 7,900,000 | 7,184,000 | 13,300,000 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weighted-average interest rate on outstanding borrowings (in hundredths) | 3.11% | 3.47% | 6.05% | 6.05% | 6.18% | 6.18% | 9.27% | 9.27% | 2.59% | 2.69% | 1.58% | 1.58% | 2.38% | 2.38% | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Aggregate maturities of long-term debt, including short-term borrowings and capital leases [Abstract] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2012 | 18,014,000 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2013 | 7,271,000 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2014 | 9,000,000 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2015 | 282,245,000 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2016 | 562,000 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Thereafter | 92,000 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total debt and capital lease obligations | $ 317,184,000 | $ 237,329,000 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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