Acquisitions (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Goodwill - tax deductible	$ 12,042		$ 12,042
Goodwill - non-deductible	193,614		193,614
Number of businesses acquired			6
Net cash consideration			365,550
Total goodwill and intangible assets acquired	372,341		372,341
Revenue of acquiree since acquisition date	43,500		79,900
Earnings of acquiree since acquisition date	4,200		3,100
Business Combination, Recognized Identifiable Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed, Net [Abstract]
Current assets, net of cash acquired	72,619		72,619
Property, plant and equipment	6,610		6,610
Goodwill	205,656		205,656
Intangible assets	166,685		166,685
Current liabilities	(34,103)		(34,103)
Non-current liabilities	(51,917)		(51,917)
Net assets acquired	365,550		365,550
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	2,527		3,723
Acquisition related costs (after tax)	874		2,432
Revenue from continuing operations [Abstract]
As reported	2,092,467	1,940,211	6,024,852	5,636,599
Pro forma	2,103,041	2,017,881	6,093,575	5,887,229
Net earnings from continuing operations [Abstract]
As reported	232,825	226,235	626,592	651,506
Pro forma	237,010	230,382	638,159	654,180
Basic earnings per share from continuing operations [Abstract]
As reported (in dollars per share)	$ 1.40	$ 1.33	$ 3.74	$ 3.79
Pro forma (in dollars per share)	$ 1.43	$ 1.35	$ 3.81	$ 3.81
Diluted earnings per share from continuing operations [Abstract]
As reported (in dollars per share)	$ 1.38	$ 1.31	$ 3.69	$ 3.75
Pro forma (in dollars per share)	$ 1.41	$ 1.33	$ 3.76	$ 3.76
Customer Relationships [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Acquired finite-lived intangible asset, amount			134,116
Acquired finite-lived intangible assets, weighted average useful life			13 years
Trademarks [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Acquired finite-lived intangible asset, amount			14,087
Acquired finite-lived intangible assets, weighted average useful life			12 years
Patents [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Acquired finite-lived intangible asset, amount			3,267
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			$ 15,215
Acquired finite-lived intangible assets, weighted average useful life			7 years