Acquisitions (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2012
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Number of businesses acquired				4
Net cash consideration	$ 69,017		$ 69,017
Total goodwill and intangible assets acquired	50,186		50,186
Business Acquisition, Purchase Price Allocation [Abstract]
Current assets, net of cash acquired	21,127		21,127
Property, plant and equipment	5,609		5,609
Goodwill	19,144		19,144
Intangible assets	31,042		31,042
Other non-current assets	802		802
Current liabilities	(6,185)		(6,185)
Non-current liabilities	(2,522)		(2,522)
Net assets acquired	69,017		69,017
Business Acquisition, Pro Forma Information [Abstract]
Revenue of acquiree since acquisition date			7,466
Amount of nonrecurring expense, excluded from current period net earnings in pro forma financials, related to the fair value adjustments to acquisition-date inventory			725
Acquisition related costs (after tax)			810
Revenue from continuing operations [Abstract]
As reported	2,228,763	2,038,289	4,268,336	3,992,903
Pro forma	2,233,259	2,147,736	4,284,331	4,265,224
Net earnings from continuing operations [Abstract]
As reported	294,352	205,156	491,341	391,565
Pro forma	295,973	216,338	493,521	413,624
Basic earnings per share from continuing operations [Abstract]
As reported (in dollars per share)	$ 1.72	$ 1.12	$ 2.85	$ 2.13
Pro forma (in dollars per share)	$ 1.73	$ 1.18	$ 2.86	$ 2.25
Diluted earnings per share from continuing operations [Abstract]
As reported (in dollars per share)	$ 1.70	$ 1.10	$ 2.82	$ 2.10
Pro forma (in dollars per share)	$ 1.71	$ 1.16	$ 2.83	$ 2.22
Tax Deductible Goodwill [Member]
Business Acquisition, Purchase Price Allocation [Abstract]
Goodwill	12,859		12,859
Non Deductible Goodwill [Member]
Business Acquisition, Purchase Price Allocation [Abstract]
Goodwill	6,285		6,285
Customer Relationships [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Acquired finite-lived intangible asset, amount	24,455		24,455
Acquired finite-lived intangible assets, weighted average useful life			10 years
Trademarks [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Acquired finite-lived intangible asset, amount	1,216		1,216
Acquired finite-lived intangible assets, weighted average useful life			10 years
Patents [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Acquired finite-lived intangible asset, amount	4,140		4,140
Acquired finite-lived intangible assets, weighted average useful life			10 years
Other Intangible Assets [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Acquired finite-lived intangible asset, amount	$ 1,231		$ 1,231
Acquired finite-lived intangible assets, weighted average useful life			2 years