Segment Data (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2012	Mar. 31, 2011
Reconciliation from Segment Totals to Consolidated [Abstract]
Revenue	$ 2,063,364	$ 1,812,078
Reconciliation of Earnings from Continuing Operations from Segments to Consolidated [Abstract]
Earnings from continuing operations before provision for income taxes and discontinued operations	266,795	228,818
Interest expense, net	30,027	28,318
Provision for income taxes	69,968	54,027
Earnings from continuing operations	196,827	174,791
Communication Technologies Segment [Member]
Reconciliation from Segment Totals to Consolidated [Abstract]
Revenue	357,575	269,582
Reconciliation of Earnings from Continuing Operations from Segments to Consolidated [Abstract]
Earnings from continuing operations before provision for income taxes and discontinued operations	46,556	47,325
Energy Segment [Member]
Reconciliation from Segment Totals to Consolidated [Abstract]
Revenue	531,570	425,424
Reconciliation of Earnings from Continuing Operations from Segments to Consolidated [Abstract]
Earnings from continuing operations before provision for income taxes and discontinued operations	132,115	93,051
Engineered Systems Segment [Member]
Reconciliation from Segment Totals to Consolidated [Abstract]
Revenue	822,124	723,267
Reconciliation of Earnings from Continuing Operations from Segments to Consolidated [Abstract]
Earnings from continuing operations before provision for income taxes and discontinued operations	122,092	98,235
Printing and Identification Segment [Member]
Reconciliation from Segment Totals to Consolidated [Abstract]
Revenue	352,332	394,627
Reconciliation of Earnings from Continuing Operations from Segments to Consolidated [Abstract]
Earnings from continuing operations before provision for income taxes and discontinued operations	32,605	54,637
Intersegment Elimination [Member]
Reconciliation from Segment Totals to Consolidated [Abstract]
Revenue	(237)	(822)
Total segments [Member]
Reconciliation of Earnings from Continuing Operations from Segments to Consolidated [Abstract]
Earnings from continuing operations before provision for income taxes and discontinued operations	333,368	293,248
Corporate expense / other [Member]
Reconciliation of Earnings from Continuing Operations from Segments to Consolidated [Abstract]
Earnings from continuing operations before provision for income taxes and discontinued operations	$ 36,546	$ 36,112