Segment Information (Segment Results) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 28, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 28, 2012 Business_Segments	Sep. 30, 2011
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Number of segments reported (Business Segments)			5
Sales	$ 4,415,543	$ 4,445,787	$ 13,285,222	$ 11,373,856
Operating Profit	755,809	643,155	2,301,951	1,837,965
Test & Measurement
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Sales	814,536	856,715	2,517,296	2,535,455
Operating Profit	163,624	205,204	539,408	567,655
Environmental
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Sales	754,457	734,630	2,212,914	2,133,238
Operating Profit	162,381	158,535	456,618	445,774
Life Sciences & Diagnostics
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Sales	1,518,121	1,567,432	4,647,431	2,898,828
Operating Profit	185,658	52,024	599,425	177,003
Dental
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Sales	488,857	492,545	1,452,371	1,460,738
Operating Profit	75,994	71,446	206,458	175,954
Industrial Technologies
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Sales	839,572	794,465	2,455,210	2,345,597
Operating Profit	183,420	174,184	531,573	514,452
Equity Method Earnings Of Apex Joint Venture
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating Profit	18,536	15,991	50,911	44,926
Other
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating Profit	$ (33,804)	$ (34,229)	$ (82,442)	$ (87,799)