Acquisitions And Divestitures (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended					9 Months Ended	12 Months Ended			1 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014	Sep. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2014	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Sep. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2013
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Intangible asset useful life							15 years 9 months 18 days
Business Combination, Integration Related Costs	$ 2,014	$ 984	$ 2,030	$ 4,391			$ 9,753,000	$ 0	$ 0
Inventory and Backlog Amortization				4,790	4,654	4,800,000
Restructuring charges							29,237,000	0	18,463,000
Goodwill	1,191,305,000				1,249,316,000		1,191,305,000	1,249,316,000	813,792,000	1,249,316,000	1,249,316,000
Acquisition related costs							22,800,000
Gain on divestitures							0	0	19,176,000
Sales of product line sold during period							0	0	25,544,000
Net Sales							2,936,000	2,969,000
Net income attributable to common shareholders							242,000	239,000
Basic earnings per share from continuing operations							$ 4,180	$ 4,170
Diluted earnings per share from continuing operations							$ 4,110	$ 4,110
MEI Conlux Holdings [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Business Combination, Consideration Transferred							804,000,000
Total current assets	172,000						172,000
Sales reported by acquired entity								399,000,000
Property, plant and equipment	46,000						46,000
Other assets	15,000						15,000
Intangible assets	302,000						302,000
Goodwill	428,000						428,000
Total assets acquired	963,000						963,000
Assumed liabilities	120,000						120,000
Net assets acquired	843,000						843,000
Pro-forma information, sales of acquiree since acquisition date										25,000,000
Pro-forma information, gross profit of acquiree since acquisition date										2,000,000
Proceeds Received Related To Adjustment Of Working Capital							6,100,000
2.75% Notes Due 2018 [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Notes issued											250,000,000
Debt instrument interest rate	2.75%						2.75%
4.45% Notes Due 2023 [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Notes issued											300,000,000
Debt instrument interest rate	4.45%						4.45%
Trademarks and Trade Names [Member] | MEI Conlux Holdings [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Intangible assets	7,000						7,000
Acquired intangible assets, weighted average useful life							6 years 8 months 12 days
Customer relationships [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Intangible asset useful life							15 years 6 months
Customer relationships [Member] | MEI Conlux Holdings [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Intangible assets	277,000						277,000
Acquired intangible assets, weighted average useful life							16 years 7 months 6 days
Order or Production Backlog [Member] | MEI Conlux Holdings [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Intangible assets	5,000						5,000
Acquired intangible assets, weighted average useful life							3 months 18 days
Developed Technology Rights [Member] | MEI Conlux Holdings [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Intangible assets	13,000						13,000
Acquired intangible assets, weighted average useful life							5 years 8 months 12 days
Minimum [Member] | Trademarks and Trade Names [Member] | MEI Conlux Holdings [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Intangible asset useful life							5 years
Minimum [Member] | Customer relationships [Member] | MEI Conlux Holdings [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Intangible asset useful life							13 years
Minimum [Member] | Developed Technology Rights [Member] | MEI Conlux Holdings [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Intangible asset useful life							3 years
Maximum [Member] | Trademarks and Trade Names [Member] | MEI Conlux Holdings [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Intangible asset useful life							10 years
Maximum [Member] | Customer relationships [Member] | MEI Conlux Holdings [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Intangible asset useful life							18 years
Maximum [Member] | Developed Technology Rights [Member] | MEI Conlux Holdings [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Intangible asset useful life							6 years
Merchandising Systems [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Goodwill	202,670,000				635,759,000		202,670,000	635,759,000	201,866,000	635,759,000	635,759,000
Sale price of product line							6,800,000
Gain on divestitures							2,000,000
Sales of product line sold during period							15,100,000
Acquisition Related Restructuring [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Restructuring charges							$ 10,300,000