Segment Information (Segment Results) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 29, 2012	Jul. 01, 2011	Jun. 29, 2012 Business_Segments	Jul. 01, 2011
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Number of segments reported (Business Segments)			5
Sales	$ 4,553,459	$ 3,635,871	$ 8,869,679	$ 6,928,069
Operating Profit	811,274	609,957	1,546,142	1,194,810
Test & Measurement
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Sales	856,400	848,200	1,702,800	1,678,700
Operating Profit	184,200	190,200	375,800	362,400
Environmental
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Sales	763,900	730,600	1,458,500	1,398,600
Operating Profit	165,100	158,400	294,200	287,300
Life Sciences & Diagnostics
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Sales	1,583,400	704,800	3,129,300	1,331,400
Operating Profit	207,900	34,500	413,800	124,900
Dental
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Sales	498,800	504,700	963,500	968,200
Operating Profit	71,600	55,000	130,500	104,500
Industrial Technologies
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Sales	851,000	847,600	1,615,600	1,551,200
Operating Profit	190,300	184,400	348,100	340,200
Equity Method Earnings Of Apex Joint Venture
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Sales	0	0	0	0
Operating Profit	18,000	14,500	32,400	28,900
Other
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Sales	0	0	0	0
Operating Profit	$ (25,800)	$ (27,000)	$ (48,700)	$ (53,400)