SEGMENT INFORMATION (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2012		Mar. 31, 2011		Dec. 31, 2011
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	$ 501,661		$ 452,931
Operating income	35,559		39,191
Total assets	2,733,725				2,652,837
Flow Control [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	266,791		239,142
Operating income	18,527		18,632
Total assets	1,258,981				1,257,142
Motion Control [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	168,145		160,270
Operating income	12,929		16,286
Total assets	1,031,897				1,034,225
Metal Treatment [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	70,089		54,342
Operating income	9,856		7,565
Total assets	279,688				286,084
Intersegment Elimination [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	(3,364)		(823)
Corporate Elimination [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating income	(5,753)	[1]	(3,292)	[1]
Corporate And Other [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total assets	$ 163,159				$ 75,386

[1] Corporate and eliminations includes pension expense, environmental remediation and administrative expenses, legal, foreign currency transactional gains and losses, and other expenses.