Segment Data (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Sep. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2011	Mar. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Sep. 30, 2010	Jun. 30, 2010	Mar. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2011		Dec. 31, 2010		Dec. 31, 2009
Reconciliation from Segment Totals to Consolidated [Abstract]
Revenue	$ 2,004,486	$ 2,138,606	$ 1,994,970	$ 1,812,078	$ 1,737,436	$ 1,757,253	$ 1,664,447	$ 1,481,055	$ 7,950,140		$ 6,640,191		$ 5,344,331
Reconciliation of Earnings from Continuing Operations from Segments to Consolidated [Abstract]
Earnings from continuing operations, segments									1,348,739		1,141,340		712,875
Net interest expense									(115,596)		(106,422)		(100,472)
Earnings from continuing operations before provision for income taxes and discontinued operations									1,095,164		899,204		494,409
Provision for taxes									248,799		208,453		120,986
Earnings from continuing operations	208,938	223,438	239,198	174,791	184,906	216,331	167,226	122,288	846,365		690,751		373,423
Operating margins (pre-tax) (in hundredths)									17.00%		17.20%		13.30%
Earnings from continuing operations (in hundredths)									13.80%		13.50%		9.30%
Depreciation and amortization [Abstract]
Depreciation and amortization									303,143		241,969		231,363
Capital expenditures [Abstract]
Capital expenditures									271,809		174,845		112,972
Total Assets [Abstract]
Assets from continued operations	9,497,009				7,931,650				9,497,009		7,931,650		7,208,852
Assets from discontinued operations	4,441				627,093				4,441		627,093		673,550
Total assets	9,501,450				8,558,743				9,501,450		8,558,743		7,882,402
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]
Total consolidated revenue	2,004,486	2,138,606	1,994,970	1,812,078	1,737,436	1,757,253	1,664,447	1,481,055	7,950,140		6,640,191		5,344,331
Property, plant and equipment, net	1,000,870				785,624				1,000,870		785,624
Maximum revenue from individual customers									Less than 10%
Number of segments in which company reports its results									4
United States [Member]
Reconciliation from Segment Totals to Consolidated [Abstract]
Revenue									4,037,670		3,439,201		2,877,770
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]
Total consolidated revenue									4,037,670		3,439,201		2,877,770
Property, plant and equipment, net	571,239				494,323				571,239		494,323
Europe [Member]
Reconciliation from Segment Totals to Consolidated [Abstract]
Revenue									1,348,693		1,204,676		1,074,625
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]
Total consolidated revenue									1,348,693		1,204,676		1,074,625
Property, plant and equipment, net	184,688				139,870				184,688		139,870
Other Americas [Member]
Reconciliation from Segment Totals to Consolidated [Abstract]
Revenue									788,844		641,990		439,457
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]
Total consolidated revenue									788,844		641,990		439,457
Property, plant and equipment, net	51,788				44,855				51,788		44,855
Total Asia [Member]
Reconciliation from Segment Totals to Consolidated [Abstract]
Revenue									1,502,173		1,175,484		769,430
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]
Total consolidated revenue									1,502,173		1,175,484		769,430
Property, plant and equipment, net	184,160				105,629				184,160		105,629
Other Geographical Area [Member]
Reconciliation from Segment Totals to Consolidated [Abstract]
Revenue									272,760		178,840		183,049
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]
Total consolidated revenue									272,760		178,840		183,049
Property, plant and equipment, net	8,995				947				8,995		947
Communication Technologies Segment [Member]
Reconciliation from Segment Totals to Consolidated [Abstract]
Revenue									1,360,077		1,076,012		916,031
Reconciliation of Earnings from Continuing Operations from Segments to Consolidated [Abstract]
Earnings from continuing operations, segments									226,382		205,215		142,541
Operating margins (pre-tax) (in hundredths)									16.60%		19.10%		15.60%
Depreciation and amortization [Abstract]
Depreciation and amortization									101,839		72,262		69,393
Capital expenditures [Abstract]
Capital expenditures									111,402		41,222		25,339
Total Assets [Abstract]
Assets from continued operations	2,471,918				1,540,636				2,471,918		1,540,636		1,530,348
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]
Total consolidated revenue									1,360,077		1,076,012		916,031
Energy Segment [Member]
Reconciliation from Segment Totals to Consolidated [Abstract]
Revenue									1,900,749		1,303,507		998,272
Reconciliation of Earnings from Continuing Operations from Segments to Consolidated [Abstract]
Earnings from continuing operations, segments									450,637		316,113		211,962
Operating margins (pre-tax) (in hundredths)									23.70%		24.30%		21.20%
Depreciation and amortization [Abstract]
Depreciation and amortization									77,819		48,842		40,349
Capital expenditures [Abstract]
Capital expenditures									74,953		48,916		31,662
Total Assets [Abstract]
Assets from continued operations	1,699,395				1,010,415				1,699,395		1,010,415		831,829
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]
Total consolidated revenue									1,900,749		1,303,507		998,272
Engineered Systems Segment [Member]
Reconciliation from Segment Totals to Consolidated [Abstract]
Revenue									3,100,735		2,786,442		2,298,581
Reconciliation of Earnings from Continuing Operations from Segments to Consolidated [Abstract]
Earnings from continuing operations, segments									445,186		382,644		280,346
Operating margins (pre-tax) (in hundredths)									14.40%		13.70%		12.10%
Depreciation and amortization [Abstract]
Depreciation and amortization									74,776		72,526		68,992
Capital expenditures [Abstract]
Capital expenditures									58,610		57,476		37,612
Total Assets [Abstract]
Assets from continued operations	2,247,532				2,091,519				2,247,532		2,091,519		2,022,539
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]
Total consolidated revenue									3,100,735		2,786,442		2,298,581
Printing and Identification Segment [Member]
Reconciliation from Segment Totals to Consolidated [Abstract]
Revenue									1,592,964		1,476,830		1,133,499
Reconciliation of Earnings from Continuing Operations from Segments to Consolidated [Abstract]
Earnings from continuing operations, segments									226,534		237,368		78,026
Operating margins (pre-tax) (in hundredths)									14.20%		16.10%		6.90%
Depreciation and amortization [Abstract]
Depreciation and amortization									46,148		46,302		51,532
Capital expenditures [Abstract]
Capital expenditures									19,524		15,623		16,989
Total Assets [Abstract]
Assets from continued operations	1,793,589				1,840,870				1,793,589		1,840,870		1,770,640
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]
Total consolidated revenue									1,592,964		1,476,830		1,133,499
Intersegment Elimination [Member]
Reconciliation from Segment Totals to Consolidated [Abstract]
Revenue									(4,385)		(2,600)		(2,052)
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]
Total consolidated revenue									(4,385)		(2,600)		(2,052)
Corporate [Member]
Reconciliation of Earnings from Continuing Operations from Segments to Consolidated [Abstract]
Earnings from continuing operations, segments									137,979	[1]	135,714	[1]	117,994	[1]
Depreciation and amortization [Abstract]
Depreciation and amortization									2,561		2,037		1,097
Capital expenditures [Abstract]
Capital expenditures									7,320		11,608		1,370
Total Assets [Abstract]
Assets from continued operations	$ 1,284,575				$ 1,448,210				$ 1,284,575		$ 1,448,210		$ 1,053,496

[1] Certain expenses are maintained at the corporate level and not allocated to the segments. These expenses include executive and functional compensation costs, non-service pension costs, non-operating insurance expenses, and various administrative expenses relating to the corporate headquarters.