Segment Information (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013 segments	Sep. 30, 2012
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Number of reportable segments			4
Planned spin off costs incurred to date	$ 10,637		$ 13,959
Reconciliation from Segment Totals to Consolidated [Abstract]
Revenue	2,252,349	2,097,605	6,520,685	6,090,508
Reconciliation of Earnings from Continuing Operations from Segments to Consolidated [Abstract]
Earnings from continuing operations before provision for income taxes and discontinued operations	363,159	324,091	947,336	865,300
Interest expense, net	30,237	30,399	90,761	90,145
Provision for income taxes	99,507	90,761	192,343	240,405
Earnings from continuing operations	263,652	233,330	754,993	624,895
Communication Technologies Segment [Member]
Reconciliation from Segment Totals to Consolidated [Abstract]
Revenue	413,608	396,470	1,187,875	1,115,734
Reconciliation of Earnings from Continuing Operations from Segments to Consolidated [Abstract]
Earnings from continuing operations before provision for income taxes and discontinued operations	76,076	63,706	172,073	160,584
Energy Segment [Member]
Reconciliation from Segment Totals to Consolidated [Abstract]
Revenue	577,350	562,263	1,712,019	1,632,619
Reconciliation of Earnings from Continuing Operations from Segments to Consolidated [Abstract]
Earnings from continuing operations before provision for income taxes and discontinued operations	145,494	139,038	417,965	405,089
Engineered Systems Segment [Member]
Reconciliation from Segment Totals to Consolidated [Abstract]
Revenue	1,004,955	892,121	2,876,783	2,600,368
Reconciliation of Earnings from Continuing Operations from Segments to Consolidated [Abstract]
Earnings from continuing operations before provision for income taxes and discontinued operations	172,223	144,245	454,841	400,145
Printing and Identification Segment [Member]
Reconciliation from Segment Totals to Consolidated [Abstract]
Revenue	256,571	246,945	745,094	742,390
Reconciliation of Earnings from Continuing Operations from Segments to Consolidated [Abstract]
Earnings from continuing operations before provision for income taxes and discontinued operations	42,881	39,502	108,600	94,509
Intersegment Elimination [Member]
Reconciliation from Segment Totals to Consolidated [Abstract]
Revenue	(135)	(194)	(1,086)	(603)
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	436,674	386,491	1,153,479	1,060,327
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	43,278	32,001	115,382	104,882
Supplemental Employee Retirement Plans, Defined Benefit [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Settlement and curtailment loss (gain)	$ (4,411)	$ 0	$ (4,411)	$ 0

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Amount of net gain (loss) recognized in net periodic benefit cost due to settlements and curtailments. Curtailments result from an event that significantly reduces the expected years of future service of present employees or eliminates for a significant number of employees the accrual of defined benefits for some or all of their future services. Settlements result from an irrevocable action that relieves the employer (or the plan) of primary responsibility for a benefit obligation and eliminates significant risks related to the obligation and the assets used to effect the settlement. Examples of transactions that constitute a settlement include, but are not limited to, lump-sum cash payments to plan participants in exchange for their rights to receive specified benefits and purchasing nonparticipating annuity contracts to cover vested benefits.

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Amount of current income tax expense (benefit) and deferred income tax expense (benefit) pertaining to continuing operations.

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Amount of interest revenue (income derived from investments in debt securities and on cash and cash equivalents) net of interest expense (cost of borrowed funds accounted for as interest).

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Total revenue from sale of goods and services rendered during the reporting period, in the normal course of business, reduced by sales returns and allowances, and sales discounts.

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