Debt - Additional Information (Detail) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	1 Months Ended		3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended		1 Months Ended		1 Months Ended		1 Months Ended				1 Months Ended			1 Months Ended			12 Months Ended
	Oct. 31, 2011 USD ($) Contract	Sep. 30, 2011 Contract	Jun. 30, 2011 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2011 USD ($) Office	Dec. 31, 2012 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2011 4.90% Notes and Debentures due May 2014 [Member] USD ($)	Sep. 20, 2011 4.90% Notes and Debentures due May 2014 [Member]	Sep. 30, 2011 6.125% Notes and Debentures due May 2019 [Member] USD ($)	Sep. 20, 2011 6.125% Notes and Debentures due May 2019 [Member]	Oct. 31, 2011 7.40% Notes and Debentures due November 2025 [Member] USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2011 7.40% Notes and Debentures due November 2025 [Member] USD ($)	Oct. 21, 2011 7.40% Notes and Debentures due November 2025 [Member] USD ($)	Sep. 20, 2011 7.40% Notes and Debentures due November 2025 [Member]	Sep. 30, 2011 4.90% Notes and Debentures due May 2014 and 6.125% Notes and Debentures due May 2019 [Member] USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2012 Interest Rate Swap [Member] USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2011 Bornemann [Member] USD ($)	Oct. 31, 2011 ITT 2011 Revolving Credit Agreement [Member]	Oct. 25, 2011 ITT 2011 Revolving Credit Agreement [Member] USD ($)	Oct. 25, 2011 Revolving Credit Facility Due August 2013 [Member] USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2012 Bornemann [Member] EUR (€)
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long term debt interest rate, minimum																				4.20%
Long term debt interest rate, maximum																				5.25%
Assumption of debt during acquisition																				€ 32.7
Amount of assumed debt repaid																				17.0
Assets pledged as collateral																10.9
Number of interest rate swaps outstanding					2
Notional value of interest rate swaps					7.9
Fair value of interest rate swaps															0.2
Previously outstanding credit facility																			1,500
Maturity period of revolving credit facility																	4 years
Extension period of revolving credit facility																	1 year
Revolving credit facility																		500
Maximum face amount outstanding on letters of credit																		100
Minimum amount of reduce commitments																		10
Maximum potential increase in credit facility																		200
Maximum potential credit facility outstanding																		700
Minimum voluntary prepayment Permissible under facility																		50
Interest rate over federal funds effective rate																		0.05%
Period of LIBOR Rate																	1 month
Interest rate over statutory reserve requirement																		1.00%
Minimum leverage ratio under credit facility																	1.00
Maximum leverage ratio under credit facility																	3.00
Minimum interest coverage ratio under credit facility																	1.00
Maximum interest coverage ratio under credit facility																	3.00
Interest rate on senior notes							4.90%		6.125%				7.40%
Redemption price of senior notes						1,098		1,235
Par value of note						$ 1,000		$ 1,000
Loss from extinguishment of long-term debt										106.8	51.4			166.7
Defeasance of principal amount										162.4	87.6
Maximum amount of extinguishment of debt amount in cash tender offer											100.0
Cash deposited in trust to redeem debts												6.0
Aggregated purchase price in trust to redeem debts												263.2
Number of manufacturing and office facilities included in leased property				5
Payment related to capital lease obligation			66.1
Termination of capital lease			4.6
Debt extinguishment				1,251.0
Gain recognition of previously deferred gain on terminated interest rate swap				42.9
Expense Recognition of previously deferred debt issuance costs and unamortized debt discounts				6.1
Number of forward starting interest rate swaps and treasury lock		3
Number of contracts matured	4
Loss on maturity of contracts	$ 3.0