Restucturing Activities (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Restructuring charges, actual	$ 25,909,000	$ 19,404,000	$ 5,583,000
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]
Severance and other restructuring reserve, beginning balance	7,761,000	5,148,000	6,435,000
Provision	25,909,000	19,404,000	5,583,000
Payments	(23,999,000)	(16,923,000)	(6,184,000)
Other, including foreign currency	731,000	132,000	(686,000)
Severance and other restructuring reserve, ending balance	10,402,000	7,761,000	5,148,000
Cost of Sales [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Restructuring charges, actual	12,098,000	3,935,000	2,243,000
Selling and Administrative Expenses [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Restructuring charges, actual	13,811,000	15,469,000	3,340,000
Energy Segment [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Restructuring charges, actual	(712,000)	668,000	2,668,000
Engineered Systems Segment [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Restructuring charges, actual	6,598,000	7,458,000	1,193,000
Printing and Identification Segment [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Restructuring charges, actual	3,772,000	5,753,000	38,000
Communication Technologies Segment [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Restructuring charges, actual	16,251,000	5,525,000	1,684,000
Employee Severance [Member]
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]
Severance and other restructuring reserve, beginning balance	5,160,000	2,019,000	987,000
Provision	18,918,000	14,458,000	1,413,000
Payments	(16,554,000)	(11,376,000)	(313,000)
Other, including foreign currency	394,000	59,000	(68,000)
Severance and other restructuring reserve, ending balance	7,918,000	5,160,000	2,019,000
Facility Closing [Member]
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]
Severance and other restructuring reserve, beginning balance	2,601,000	3,129,000	5,448,000
Provision	6,991,000	4,946,000	4,170,000
Payments	(7,445,000)	(5,547,000)	(5,871,000)
Other, including foreign currency	337,000	73,000	(618,000)
Severance and other restructuring reserve, ending balance	2,484,000	2,601,000	3,129,000
Minimum [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Restructuring charges, expected	5,000,000
Maximum [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Restructuring charges, expected	$ 15,000,000