12. Commitments & Contingent Liabilities (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions		12 Months Ended	51 Months Ended
		Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2016	Jan. 06, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Apr. 10, 2014	Sep. 30, 2012
Purchase Commitment, Excluding Long-term Commitment [Line Items]
Fair Value, Measurement with Unobservable Inputs Reconciliations, Recurring Basis, Liability Value		$ 28.5	$ 28.5
Operating Leases, Future Minimum Payments Due, Fiscal Year Maturity [Abstract]
Operating leases, due next twelve months		42.1	42.1
Operating leases, due in two years		32.1	32.1
Operating leases, due in three years		24.7	24.7
Operating leases, due in four years		20.4	20.4
Operating leases, due thereafter		38.8	38.8
Post-Employment Benefits Liability		68.0	68.0		$ 68.6
Recorded Unconditional Purchase Obligation		142.9	142.9
Recorded Unconditional Purchase Obligation Due in Next Twelve Months		34.3	34.3
Recorded Unconditional Purchase Obligation Due in Second Year		7.3	7.3
Recorded Unconditional Purchase Obligation Due in Third Year		3.1	3.1
Recorded Unconditional Purchase Obligation Due in Fourth Year		2.5	2.5
Recorded Unconditional Purchase Obligation Due in Fifth Year		1.6	1.6
Recorded Unconditional Purchase Obligation Due after Fifth Year		94.1	94.1
Unrecorded Unconditional Purchase Obligation		35.0	35.0
Unrecorded Unconditional Purchase Obligation, Due in Twelve Months		17.5	17.5
Unrecorded Unconditional Purchase Obligation, Due within Two Years		5.0	5.0
Unrecorded Unconditional Purchase Obligation, Due within Three Years		3.5	3.5
Unrecorded Unconditional Purchase Obligation, Due within Four Years		3.5	3.5
Unrecorded Unconditional Purchase Obligation, Due within Five Years		5.5	5.5
Unrecorded Unconditional Purchase Obligation, Due after Five Years		0.0	0.0
Letters of Credit Outstanding Amount		$ 5.4	$ 5.4
Employees Covered By Collective Bargaining Agreements U.S., Percentage		7.00%	7.00%
Analytical Flow Cytometer Platform [Member]
Operating Leases, Future Minimum Payments Due, Fiscal Year Maturity [Abstract]
Fair Value, Measurement with Unobservable Inputs Reconciliation, Recurring Basis, Liability, Gain (Loss) Included in Earnings		$ (2.1)
Business Combination, Contingent Consideration, Liability		25.4	$ 25.4	$ 23.3
GnuBIO [Member]
Operating Leases, Future Minimum Payments Due, Fiscal Year Maturity [Abstract]
Business Combination, Contingent Consideration, Liability		10.0	10.0		10.0	$ 10.7
CellSorter [Member]
Purchase Commitment, Excluding Long-term Commitment [Line Items]
Fair Value, Measurement with Unobservable Inputs Reconciliations, Recurring Basis, Liability Value					9.1
Operating Leases, Future Minimum Payments Due, Fiscal Year Maturity [Abstract]
Fair Value, Measurement with Unobservable Inputs Reconciliation, Recurring Basis, Liability, Settlements		3.5	28.9
Fair Value, Measurement with Unobservable Inputs Reconciliation, Recurring Basis, Liability, Gain (Loss) Included in Earnings		2.5	12.6
Business Combination, Contingent Consideration, Liability		$ 3.1	$ 3.1				$ 44.6
UNITED STATES
Operating Leases, Future Minimum Payments Due, Fiscal Year Maturity [Abstract]
Entity Number of Employees		3,300	3,300
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member]
Operating Leases, Future Minimum Payments Due, Fiscal Year Maturity [Abstract]
Business Combination, Contingent Consideration, Liability	[1]	$ 38.5	$ 38.5		$ 19.1
Sales milestone percentage of annual invoices [Member] | Analytical Flow Cytometer Platform [Member]
Operating Leases, Future Minimum Payments Due, Fiscal Year Maturity [Abstract]
Business Acquisition, Contingent Consideration, Potential Percentage Payout		39.00%	39.00%
Sales milestone percentage of annual invoices low [Member] | Analytical Flow Cytometer Platform [Member]
Operating Leases, Future Minimum Payments Due, Fiscal Year Maturity [Abstract]
Business Acquisition, Contingent Consideration, Potential Percentage Payout		20.00%	20.00%
Sales milestone minimum amount [Member] | Analytical Flow Cytometer Platform [Member]
Operating Leases, Future Minimum Payments Due, Fiscal Year Maturity [Abstract]
Business Combination, Contingent Consideration Arrangements, Range of Outcomes, Value, Low		$ 0.0	$ 0.0

[1] Contingent consideration liabilities are included in the following accounts in the Consolidated Balance Sheets (in millions):   December 31, 2016   December 31, 2015         Other current liabilities $ 14.5
  $ 13.5
Other long-term liabilities 24.0
  5.6
   Total $ 38.5
  $ 19.1