SEGMENT INFORMATION (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014 segment		Mar. 31, 2013		Dec. 31, 2013
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Number of operating segments	3
Net sales	$ 641,412		$ 592,687
Operating income (expense)	59,101		38,026
Identifiable assets	3,458,635				3,458,274
Commercial Industrial [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	266,925		220,966
Operating income (expense)	32,960		20,651
Identifiable assets	1,360,283				1,310,521
Defense [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	202,523		211,745
Operating income (expense)	21,174		16,877
Identifiable assets	1,220,473				1,292,462
Energy [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	173,844		167,742
Operating income (expense)	12,552		10,796
Identifiable assets	813,985				798,028
Intersegment Eliminations [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	(1,880)		(7,766)
Corporate and Eliminations [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating income (expense)	(7,585)	[1]	(10,298)	[1]
Corporate and Other [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Identifiable assets	$ 63,894				$ 57,263

[1] Corporate and eliminations includes pension and other postretirement benefit expense, certain environmental costs related to remediation at legacy sites, foreign currency transactional gains and losses, and certain other expenses.