Acquisitions (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2013
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Goodwill - tax deductible	$ 10,755		$ 10,755
Goodwill - non-deductible	72,407		72,407
Number of businesses acquired			3
Net cash consideration			143,087
Total goodwill and intangible assets acquired	143,462		143,462
Revenue of acquiree since acquisition date	20,800		36,400
Earnings of acquiree since acquisition date	2,400		2,600
Business Combination, Recognized Identifiable Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed, Net [Abstract]
Current assets, net of cash acquired	30,281		30,281
Property, plant and equipment	1,550		1,550
Goodwill	83,162		83,162
Intangible assets	60,300		60,300
Current liabilities	(18,048)		(18,048)
Non-current liabilities	(14,158)		(14,158)
Net assets acquired	143,087		143,087
Business Acquisition, Pro Forma Information [Abstract]
Amount of nonrecurring expense, excluded from current period net earnings in pro forma financials, related to the fair value adjustments to acquisition-date inventory	161		1,109
Acquisition related costs (after tax)	421		1,557
Revenue from continuing operations [Abstract]
As reported	2,047,738	1,932,411	3,932,385	3,696,388
Pro forma	2,050,410	1,993,941	3,942,186	3,825,825
Net earnings from continuing operations [Abstract]
As reported	217,443	258,058	393,767	425,271
Pro forma	218,407	259,875	397,402	425,209
Basic earnings per share from continuing operations [Abstract]
As reported (in dollars per share)	$ 1.31	$ 1.51	$ 2.34	$ 2.47
Pro forma (in dollars per share)	$ 1.31	$ 1.52	$ 2.36	$ 2.47
Diluted earnings per share from continuing operations [Abstract]
As reported (in dollars per share)	$ 1.29	$ 1.49	$ 2.31	$ 2.44
Pro forma (in dollars per share)	$ 1.29	$ 1.50	$ 2.33	$ 2.44
Customer Relationships [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Acquired finite-lived intangible asset, amount			38,697
Acquired finite-lived intangible assets, weighted average useful life			10 years
Trademarks [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Acquired finite-lived intangible asset, amount			8,462
Acquired finite-lived intangible assets, weighted average useful life			14 years
Patents [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Acquired finite-lived intangible asset, amount			2,767
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			$ 10,374
Acquired finite-lived intangible assets, weighted average useful life			7 years