SEGMENT INFORMATION (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended				9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014		Sep. 30, 2013		Sep. 30, 2014 segment		Sep. 30, 2013		Dec. 31, 2013
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Disposal Group, Including Discontinued Operation, Assets, Current	$ 316,211				$ 316,211				$ 0
Number of operating segments					3
Net sales	559,494		512,409		1,673,954		1,533,416
Operating income (expense)	74,140		65,630		207,062		164,990
Identifiable assets	3,453,823				3,453,823				3,458,274
Interest Expense	9,013		9,701		27,054		27,701
Other income, net	(158)		288		(64)		852
Earnings from continuing operations before income taxes	64,969		56,217		179,944		138,141
Commercial Industrial [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Disposal Group, Including Discontinued Operation, Assets, Current	1,700				1,700
Net sales	273,562		240,490		814,282		700,343
Operating income (expense)	40,096		31,145		106,615		75,524
Identifiable assets	1,351,756				1,351,756				1,310,521
Defense [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Disposal Group, Including Discontinued Operation, Assets, Current	23,500				23,500
Net sales	183,498		176,052		539,782		535,773
Operating income (expense)	26,974		25,521		73,553		71,808
Identifiable assets	1,180,390				1,180,390				1,292,462
Energy [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Disposal Group, Including Discontinued Operation, Assets, Current	291,100				291,100
Net sales	104,018		97,372		325,105		302,398
Operating income (expense)	17,491		15,102		51,294		45,628
Identifiable assets	795,642				795,642				798,028
Corporate and Other [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Identifiable assets	126,035				126,035				57,263
Intersegment Eliminations [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	(1,584)		(1,505)		(5,215)		(5,098)
Corporate and Eliminations [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating income (expense)	$ (10,421)	[1]	$ (6,138)	[1]	$ (24,400)	[1]	$ (27,970)	[1]

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