Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets - Goodwill (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill, Gross			$ 2,895,023
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Balance	3,506,975	2,824,463
Goodwill, Impaired, Accumulated Impairment Loss			(70,560)
Acquisitions	602,098	734,264
Purchase price adjustments	(6,998)
Foreign currency translation	12,575	(51,752)
Balance	4,114,650	3,506,975
Goodwill impairment loss, before tax	63,819
Goodwill impairment loss, net of tax	51,854
Communication Technologies Segment [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill, Gross			806,983
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Balance	1,204,582	806,983
Goodwill, Impaired, Accumulated Impairment Loss			0
Acquisitions	0	443,088
Purchase price adjustments	(6,998)
Foreign currency translation	6,711	(45,489)
Balance	1,204,295	1,204,582
Energy Segment [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill, Gross			367,459
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Balance	622,335	367,459
Goodwill, Impaired, Accumulated Impairment Loss			0
Acquisitions	135,906	257,128
Purchase price adjustments	0
Foreign currency translation	2,396	(2,252)
Balance	760,637	622,335
Engineered Systems Segment [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill, Gross			974,972
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Balance	935,420	904,412
Goodwill, Impaired, Accumulated Impairment Loss			(70,560)
Acquisitions	466,192	34,048
Purchase price adjustments	0
Foreign currency translation	1,769	(3,040)
Balance	1,403,381	935,420
Printing and Identification Segment [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill, Gross			745,609
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Balance	744,638	745,609
Goodwill, Impaired, Accumulated Impairment Loss			0
Acquisitions	0	0
Purchase price adjustments	0
Foreign currency translation	1,699	(971)
Balance	$ 746,337	$ 744,638