Business Segments - (Details) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2017 USD ($)	Jan. 01, 2017 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2017 USD ($) segment	Jan. 01, 2017 USD ($)
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Number of reportable segments | segment			3
Net sales by segment to unaffiliated customers	$ 658,935	$ 563,697	$ 1,898,849	$ 1,740,348
Net sales by product line	658,935	563,697	1,898,849	1,740,348
Intersegment sales	43,346	34,690	137,253	103,560
Operating earnings by segment	68,440	55,023	202,041	183,964
Restructuring charges	(1,808)	1,153	(4,417)	(5,037)
Intersegment sales	0	(17,000)	0	(17,000)
Inventory adjustment relating to exit activities - EMEA	0	502	0	(2,157)
Reserve power
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales by product line	326,989	271,291	924,404	844,781
Motive power
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales by product line	331,946	292,406	974,445	895,567
Americas
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales by segment to unaffiliated customers	353,237	313,972	1,049,344	968,516
Intersegment sales	7,144	6,319	23,360	19,304
Operating earnings by segment	43,137	45,949	140,827	139,149
Restructuring charges	(961)	0	(1,246)	(892)
Europe
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales by segment to unaffiliated customers	224,931	186,069	621,864	563,765
Intersegment sales	29,989	22,086	97,369	66,186
Operating earnings by segment	23,794	20,435	54,888	57,268
Restructuring charges	(848)	1,153	(3,172)	(3,663)
Intersegment sales	0	(17,000)	0	(17,000)
Inventory adjustment relating to exit activities - EMEA	0	502	0	(2,157)
Asia
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales by segment to unaffiliated customers	80,767	63,656	227,641	208,067
Intersegment sales	6,213	6,285	16,524	18,070
Operating earnings by segment	3,318	3,984	10,744	11,741
Restructuring charges	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0	$ (482)