Segment Information (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011
Reconciliation from Segment Totals to Consolidated [Abstract]
Revenue	$ 2,208,699	$ 2,138,606	$ 6,428,571	$ 5,945,654
Reconciliation of Earnings from Continuing Operations from Segments to Consolidated [Abstract]
Earnings from continuing operations before provision for income taxes and discontinued operations	336,007	299,533	896,490	826,314
Interest expense, net	30,388	30,061	90,132	86,536
Provision for income taxes	93,794	76,095	244,548	188,887
Earnings from continuing operations	242,213	223,438	651,942	637,427
Communication Technologies Segment [Member]
Reconciliation from Segment Totals to Consolidated [Abstract]
Revenue	396,470	405,357	1,115,734	963,782
Reconciliation of Earnings from Continuing Operations from Segments to Consolidated [Abstract]
Earnings from continuing operations before provision for income taxes and discontinued operations	63,706	53,433	160,584	155,285
Energy Segment [Member]
Reconciliation from Segment Totals to Consolidated [Abstract]
Revenue	562,263	510,608	1,632,619	1,390,359
Reconciliation of Earnings from Continuing Operations from Segments to Consolidated [Abstract]
Earnings from continuing operations before provision for income taxes and discontinued operations	139,038	125,268	405,089	328,766
Engineered Systems Segment [Member]
Reconciliation from Segment Totals to Consolidated [Abstract]
Revenue	892,121	823,141	2,600,368	2,369,588
Reconciliation of Earnings from Continuing Operations from Segments to Consolidated [Abstract]
Earnings from continuing operations before provision for income taxes and discontinued operations	144,245	125,529	400,145	352,334
Printing and Identification Segment [Member]
Reconciliation from Segment Totals to Consolidated [Abstract]
Revenue	358,086	400,515	1,080,591	1,224,639
Reconciliation of Earnings from Continuing Operations from Segments to Consolidated [Abstract]
Earnings from continuing operations before provision for income taxes and discontinued operations	51,407	59,447	125,686	182,051
Intersegment Elimination [Member]
Reconciliation from Segment Totals to Consolidated [Abstract]
Revenue	(241)	(1,015)	(741)	(2,714)
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	398,396	363,677	1,091,504	1,018,436
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	$ 32,001	$ 34,083	$ 104,882	$ 105,586