Accrued Expenses and Other Liabilities Part 1 (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010		Dec. 31, 2009		Dec. 31, 2008
Accrued Expenses and Other Liabilities [Abstract]
Warranty	$ 38,378	$ 38,885
Unearned/deferred revenue	37,590	52,400
Taxes other than income	27,318	26,443
Accrued interest	30,747	27,679
Accrued volume discounts	17,243	13,774
Accrued commissions (non-employee)	11,069	9,629
Restructuring and exit	5,016	5,282
Legal and environmental	1,920	2,973
Other (none of which are individually significant)	65,101	50,939
Total Other Accrued Expenses	234,382	228,004
Deferred compensation	358,647	255,347
Tax reserves	182,891	196,446
Unearned/deferred revenue	44,259	47,768
Legal and environmental	18,910	19,234
Warranty	4,146	1,147
Restructuring and exit	576	2,337
Other, including net investment hedge	41,175	39,730
Total other liabilities noncurrent	650,604	562,009
Warranty program claims [Abstract]
Beginning Balance	40,032	41,232
Provision for warranties	35,313	37,354
Settlements made	(35,706)	(37,692)
Other adjustments, including acquisitions and currency translation	2,885	(862)
Ending Balance	42,524	40,032		41,232
Amount reclassified from warranty liabilities to current and noncurrent deferred revenue		13,784
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance	7,619	15,406	[1]	28,688	[2]
Provision	5,695	6,160		67,322
Payments	(6,983)	(14,216)		(63,160)
Purchase accounting				(16,074)
Other	(739)	269		(1,370)
Ending Balance	5,592	7,619		15,406	[1]
Acquisition-related restructuring accruals established in purchase accounting				895		27,864
Restructuring Charges	5,695	6,160		67,322
Communication Technologies Segment [Member]
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]
Restructuring Charges	1,684	344		9,431
Energy Segment [Member]
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]
Restructuring Charges	2,668	1,048		7,313
Engineered Systems Segment [Member]
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]
Restructuring Charges	1,193	4,085		21,068
Printing and Identification Segment [Member]
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]
Restructuring Charges	150	683		29,510
Employee Severance [Member]
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance	1,143	8,152	[1]	7,203	[2]
Provision	2,382	2,948		51,558
Payments	(992)	(9,732)		(50,617)
Purchase accounting				0
Other	(70)	(225)		8
Ending Balance	2,463	1,143		8,152	[1]
Facility Closing [Member]
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance	6,476	7,254	[1]	21,485	[2]
Provision	3,313	3,212		15,764
Payments	(5,991)	(4,484)		(12,543)
Purchase accounting				(16,074)
Other	(669)	494		(1,378)
Ending Balance	$ 3,129	$ 6,476		$ 7,254	[1]

[1] Includes $895 for acquisition-related restructuring accruals established in purchase accounting. This balance was settled in 2010.

[2] Includes $27,864 for acquisition-related restructuring accruals established in purchase accounting.