CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net earnings	$ 113,844	$ 126,389	$ 102,180
Adjustments to reconcile net earnings to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	93,896	88,300	79,946
Gain on fixed asset disposals	(414)	(670)	1,446
Gain on bargain purchase	(910)	0	0
Gain on divestiture	(29,912)	(1,298)	0
Deferred income taxes	(3,871)	3,345	2,828
Share-based compensation	9,428	9,621	13,378
Impairment of assets	4,988	0	0
Change in operating assets and liabilities, net of businesses acquired and divested:
Accounts receivable, net	26,524	(78,850)	(53,979)
Inventories, net	(30,100)	(21,123)	11,401
Progress payments	(7,923)	11,264	6,493
Accounts payable and accrued expenses	(7,290)	15,628	9,925
Deferred revenue	(34,436)	51,724	(20,734)
Income taxes payable	15,211	3,917	(1,122)
Net pension and postretirement liabilities	(1,132)	(4,234)	24,528
Other current and long-term assets and liabilities	4,571	(2,160)	(4,791)
Net cash provided by operating activities	152,474	201,853	171,499
Cash flows from investing activities:
Proceeds from sales and disposals of long-lived assets	2,557	2,497	744
Proceeds from divestiture	52,123	8,100	0
Acquisitions of intangible assets	(1,761)	(22)	(1,608)
Additions to property, plant, and equipment	(82,954)	(84,322)	(52,769)
Acquisition of businesses, net of cash acquired	(460,439)	(178,080)	(42,200)
Additional consideration of prior period acquisitions	(2,524)	0	0
Net cash used for investing activities	(492,998)	(251,827)	(95,833)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Borrowings of debt	576,934	1,302,600	513,100
Principal payments on debt	(296,145)	(1,112,814)	(581,771)
Repurchases of common stock	(25,705)	(8,178)	0
Proceeds from exercise of stock options	15,492	11,746	10,560
Dividends paid	(16,392)	(14,893)	(14,729)
Excess tax benefits from share-based compensation	57	1,343	985
Net cash provided by financing activities	254,241	179,804	(71,855)
Effect of exchange-rate changes on cash	3,919	(3,562)	(702)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	(82,364)	126,268	3,109
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	194,387	68,119	65,010
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	112,023	194,387	68,119
Supplemental disclosure of non-cash investing activities:
Capital Expenditures Incurred but Not yet Paid	1,478	3,600	2,459
IncreaseDecreaseInAssetRetirementObligations	$ 6,904	$ 0	$ 0