Cash and Cash Equivalents, at Carrying Value CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT END OF PERIOD CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT BEGINNING OF PERIOD Cash and Cash Equivalents, at Carrying Value Cash and cash equivalents Cash and cash equivalents Allowance for doubtful accounts Assets, Current TOTAL CURRENT ASSETS TOTAL CURRENT ASSETS Other Assets, Noncurrent Other long-term asset Total other assets Other assets Property, Plant and Equipment, Net Property, plant and equipment, less allowance for depreciation (2009 - $660,205; 2008 - $628,532) Property, plant and equipment, less allowance for depreciation (2009 - $660,205; 2008 - $628,532) Property, plant and equipment, less allowance for depreciation (2009 - $660,205; 2008 - $628,532) Total net long-lived assets Property, plant and equipment, less allowance for depreciation (2011 - $748,258; 2010 - $729,187) Property, plant and equipment, less allowance for depreciation (2009 - $0; 2008 - $628,532) Assets TOTAL ASSETS Liabilities, Current TOTAL CURRENT LIABILITIES TOTAL CURRENT LIABILITIES Other Liabilities, Noncurrent Total other long-term liabilities Other long-term liabilities Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest Noncontrolling interests in subsidiaries Noncontrolling interests in subsidiaries Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Ending Balance Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Beginning Balance Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax Accumulated other comprehensive loss Accumulated other comprehensive loss Retained earnings Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Parent Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Parent, Ending Balance Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Parent, Beginning Balance TOTAL PARENT EQUITY TOTAL PARENT EQUITY Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity TOTAL LIABILITIES AND EQUITY Sales Revenue, Goods, Net Total net sales Total net sales Net sales Cost of goods sold Gross Profit Gross profit Gross profit Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization, Nonproduction Depreciation and amortization Depreciation and amortization Selling, General and Administrative Expense Selling, General and Administrative Expense Selling, administrative & other expenses Selling, administrative, and other expenses Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations before Equity Method Investments, Income Taxes, Extraordinary Items, Cumulative Effects of Changes in Accounting Principles, Noncontrolling Interest Income before income taxes generated outside united states Income before income taxes Income before income taxes Current Income Tax Expense (Benefit) Income taxes Current Income Tax Expense (Benefit) Income taxes Income taxes Basic net income per common share Diluted net income per common share Weighted average common shares outstanding Weighted average common shares outstanding - assuming dilution Share-based Compensation Share-based compensation Share-based Compensation Share-based compensation Share-based compensation Excess Tax Benefit from Share-based Compensation, Operating Activities Excess tax benefits from share-based compensation Excess tax expense (benefits) from share-based compensation Increase (Decrease) in Operating Capital Changes in operating assets and liabilities Increase (Decrease) in Operating Capital Changes in operating assets and liabilities Changes in operating assets and liabilities Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Operating Activities NET CASH PROVIDED BY OPERATING ACTIVITIES NET CASH PROVIDED BY OPERATING ACTIVITIES Payments to Acquire Property, Plant, and Equipment Purchases of property, plant and equipment Purchases of property, plant and equipment Payments to Acquire Property, Plant, and Equipment Total capital expenditures Purchases of property, plant and equipment Payments to Acquire Businesses, Net of Cash Acquired Acquisitions and other Acquisitions and other Payments to Acquire Businesses, Net of Cash Acquired Acquisitions and other Acquisitions and other Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Investing Activities NET CASH USED IN INVESTING ACTIVITIES NET CASH USED IN INVESTING ACTIVITIES Stock options exercised Excess Tax Benefit from Share-based Compensation, Financing Activities Excess tax (expense) Excess tax benefits from share-based compensation Dividends paid Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Financing Activities NET CASH USED IN FINANCING ACTIVITIES NET CASH USED IN FINANCING ACTIVITIES Effect of Exchange Rate on Cash and Cash Equivalents EFFECT OF EXCHANGE RATE CHANGES ON CASH EFFECT OF EXCHANGE RATE CHANGES ON CASH Cash and Cash Equivalents, Period Increase (Decrease) NET INCREASE (DECREASE) IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS NET DECREASE IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS Dilutive effect of stock options and non-vested restricted stock awards Weighted Average Number Diluted Shares Outstanding Adjustment Dilutive effect of stock options and non-vested restricted stock awards Preferred stock, par value Common stock, par value Common Stock, Value, Issued Common Stock, Value, Issued, Ending Balance Common Stock, Value, Issued, Beginning Balance Common Stock, Value, Issued, Total Common stock, par value - $1 per share Authorized - 450,000,000 shares Issued - 2011 - 157,543,213; 2010 - 157,636,261 Common stock, shares authorized Common stock, shares issued Preferred stock, shares authorized Preferred Stock, Value, Issued Preferred Stock, Value, Issued, Ending Balance Preferred Stock, Value, Issued, Beginning Balance Preferred Stock, Value, Issued, Total Preferred stock, par value - $1 per share Authorized - 10,000,000 shares - None issued Preferred stock, shares issued Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable, Net, Current Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable, Net, Current Trade accounts receivable, less allowance for doubtful accounts (2009 - $18,364; 2008 - $18,586) Trade accounts receivable, less allowance for doubtful accounts (2011 - $18,949; 2010 - $15,599) Total operating expenses Deferred Tax Assets, Net, Noncurrent Deferred Tax Assets, Net, Noncurrent, Total Deferred tax assets Assets, Current [Abstract] CURRENT ASSETS Assets [Abstract] Assets: ASSETS Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity [Abstract] LIABILITIES AND EQUITY Liabilities, Current [Abstract] CURRENT LIABILITIES Stockholders' Equity, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest [Abstract] EQUITY: Operating Expenses [Abstract] Operating expenses: Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Operating Activities [Abstract] OPERATING ACTIVITIES: Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Investing Activities [Abstract] INVESTING ACTIVITIES: Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Financing Activities [Abstract] FINANCING ACTIVITIES: Document and Entity Information [Abstract] Document and Company Information [Abstract] Document And Company Information [Abstract] Document And Company Information [Abstract] Trade accounts payable Accrued Income Taxes, Current Accrued Income Taxes, Current Income taxes payable Income taxes payable Pension and other post-retirement benefit liabilities Pension and Other Postretirement Defined Benefit Plans, Liabilities, Noncurrent Pension and other post-retirement liabilities Pension and Other Postretirement Defined Benefit Plans, Liabilities, Noncurrent Retirement and other post-retirement benefit liabilities Stockholders' Equity, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest Ending Balance Beginning Balance TOTAL EQUITY Net income Net income Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization Depreciation and amortization Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization Total depreciation and amortization Depreciation and amortization Payments for Repurchase of Common Stock Purchase of stock Purchase of stock Payments for Repurchase of Common Stock Purchase of stock Purchase of stock Retained earnings Retained Earnings (Accumulated Deficit), Beginning Balance Retained Earnings (Accumulated Deficit), Ending Balance Retained Earnings (Accumulated Deficit) Cost of goods sold Cost of Goods Sold Basic net income per common share Earnings Per Share, Basic Diluted net income per common share Earnings Per Share, Diluted Dividends paid Payments of Dividends Prepaid expenses and other current assets Prepaid expenses and other current assets Prepaid expenses and other current assets Prepaid expenses and other current assets. Entity Registrant Name Entity Central Index Key Document Type Document Period End Date Amendment Flag Current Fiscal Year End Date Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer Entity Voluntary Filers Entity Current Reporting Status Entity Filer Category Entity Public Float Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding Accounts Payable, Current Retained Earnings (Accumulated Deficit) Allowance for Doubtful Accounts Receivable, Current Preferred Stock, Par or Stated Value Per Share Preferred Stock, Shares Authorized Preferred Stock, Shares Issued Common Stock, Par or Stated Value Per Share Common Stock, Shares Authorized Common Stock, Shares, Issued Cost of Goods Sold Operating Expenses Net Income (Loss), Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest Earnings Per Share, Basic Earnings Per Share, Diluted Weighted Average Number of Shares Outstanding, Basic Weighted Average Number of Shares Outstanding, Diluted Proceeds from Stock Options Exercised Payments of Dividends Total operating expenses Weighted average common shares outstanding - assuming dilution Dividends paid Inventory, Net Inventory, Net, Total Merchandise inventories, net - at lower of cost or market Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets [Abstract] Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income [Abstract] Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows [Abstract] Goodwill and intangible assets, less accumulated amortization Ending Balance Beginning Balance Goodwill and intangible assets Goodwill and other intangible assets, less accumulated amortization Goodwill and intangible assets, less accumulated amortization. Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities: Adjustments to Reconcile Net Income (Loss) to Cash Provided by (Used in) Operating Activities [Abstract] Net income Industrial [Member] Industrial Industrial. Automotive [Member] Automotive Automotive. Office products [Member] Document Fiscal Year Focus Document Fiscal Period Focus Electrical Electronic Materials Member Electrical/electronic materials [Member] Electrical Electronic Materials Member. Dividends Payable, Current Dividends payable Statement, Business Segments [Axis] Segment, Business [Domain] Employee Service Share-based Compensation, Unrecognized Compensation Costs on Nonvested Awards Total compensation cost related to nonvested awards, unrecognized Employee Service Share-based Compensation, Unrecognized Compensation Costs on Nonvested Awards, Weighted Average Period of Recognition Weighted-average period to recognize compensation cost Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Outstanding, Intrinsic Value Aggregate intrinsic value for option, outstanding, SARs and RSUs Allocated Share-based Compensation Expense Allocated Share-based Compensation Expense, Total Share-based compensation Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Vested and Expected to Vest, Outstanding, Aggregate Intrinsic Value Aggregate intrinsic value for option, vested, SARs and RSUs Employee Benefit Plans (Tables) [Abstract] Employee Benefit Plans Tables Abstract. Employee Benefit Plans (Details) [Abstract] Employee Benefit Plans Details Abstract. Pension and Other Postretirement Benefits Disclosure [Text Block] Employee Benefit Plans Employee Benefit Plans [Abstract] Defined Benefit Plan, Service Cost Service cost Defined Benefit Plan, Interest Cost Interest cost Pension Benefits [Member] Other Postretirement Benefits [Member] Schedule of Defined Benefit Plans Disclosures [Text Block] Components of Net Periodic Benefit Cost Defined Benefit Plans Disclosures, Defined Benefit Plans [Axis] Defined Benefit Plans [Domain] Defined Benefit Plan, Net Periodic Benefit Cost [Abstract] Components of Net Periodic Benefit Cost Defined Benefit Plan, Net Periodic Benefit Cost Net periodic benefit cost Defined Benefit Plan, Amortization of Gains (Losses) Amortization of actuarial loss Amortization of actuarial loss Defined Benefit Plan, Amortization of Prior Service Cost (Credit) Amortization of prior service credit Defined Benefit Plan, Expected Return on Plan Assets Expected return on plan assets Expected return on plan assets Schedule of Defined Benefit Plans Disclosures [Table] Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items] Segment Information (Tables) [Abstract] Segment Information Tables Abstract. Segment Data (Details) [Abstract] Segment Data Details Abstract. Sales Revenue, Net [Abstract] Net sales: Operating Income (Loss) [Abstract] Operating profit: Segment data information Abstract Segment Information Segment data information abstract. Segment Reporting, Segment Operating Profit (Loss) Total operating profit Total operating profit Segment Reporting Information, Interest Income (Expense), Net Segment Reporting Information, Interest Income (Expense), Net, Total Interest expense, net Segment Reporting Information, Other Noninterest Expense Other, net Other expense Other expense Schedule of Segment Reporting Information, by Segment [Table] Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] Other Revenue Member Other [Member] Other Revenue Member. Guarantees (Details) [Abstract] Guarantees. Guarantees Textuals Abstract Guarantees. Guarantees (Textuals) [Abstract] Guarantor Obligations, Current Carrying Value Total borrowings of the independents and affiliates Acquisitions (Details) [Abstract] Acquisitions. Acquisitions (Textuals) [Abstract] Acquisitions. Acquisitions (Textuals) [Abstract] Common Stock, Dividends, Per Share, Declared Dividends declared per common share Cash dividend declared, per share Share-Based Compensation [Abstract] Basis of Presentation [Abstract] Disclosure of Compensation Related Costs, Share-based Payments [Text Block] Share-Based Compensation Guarantees [Abstract] Guarantees. Schedule of Guarantor Obligations [Text Block] Guarantees Acquisitions [Abstract] Acquisitions. Business Combination Disclosure [Text Block] Acquisitions Schedule of Segment Reporting Information, by Segment [Text Block] Segment information Schedule of Business Acquisitions, by Acquisition [Table] Business Acquisition [Line Items] Guarantor Obligations, Term Guaranteed obligations minimum and maximum periods of maturity, in years Goodwill and other intangible assets acquired Goodwill and other intangible assets acquired. Goodwill and other intangible assets acquired Companies Acquired Companies Acquired Companies Acquired. Share Based Compensation Textuals Abstract Share-Based Compensation (Textuals) [Abstract] Share Based Compensation. Senior Notes, Current Current portion of debt Senior Notes, Noncurrent Long-term debt Other Liabilities, Current Other current liabilities Other current liabilities Accumulated Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization, Property, Plant, and Equipment Allowance for depreciation Adjustments, Noncash Items, to Reconcile Net Income (Loss) to Cash Provided by (Used in) Operating Activities, Other Other Other Fair Value of Financial Instruments [Abstract] Fair Value Of Financial Instruments. Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements Disclosure [Text Block] Basis of Presentation Comprehensive Income Note [Text Block] Comprehensive Income Fair Value Disclosures [Text Block] Fair Value of Financial Instruments Comprehensive Income [Abstract] Comprehensive Income (Details) [Abstract] Comprehensive Income. Comprehensive Income Comprehensive Income, Net of Tax, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest [Abstract] Comprehensive Income Other Comprehensive Income, Foreign Currency Transaction and Translation Adjustment, Net of Tax [Abstract] Other comprehensive income: Other Comprehensive Income, Defined Benefit Plans Adjustment, Net of Tax [Abstract] Pension and other post-retirement benefit adjustments: Other Comprehensive Income, Reclassification of Defined Benefit Plan's Net (Gain) Loss Recognized in Net Periodic Benefit Cost, Net of Tax Recognition of actuarial loss, net of tax Recognition of actuarial loss, net of tax Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax Total other comprehensive income Comprehensive Income, Net of Tax, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest Comprehensive income Comprehensive income Comprehensive Income (Textual) [Abstract] Comprehensive Income. Comprehensive Income Comprehensive Income (Tables) [Abstract] Comprehensive Income. Comprehensive Income Fair Value Of Financial Instruments (Textuals) [Abstract] Fair Value Of Financial Instruments (Textuals) [Abstract] Fair Value of Financial Instruments. Debt Instrument, Fair Value Fair value of fixed rate debt Company granted, Units Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Equity Instruments Other than Options, Grants in Period Additional Share Based Compensation Textuals Abstract Additional Share Based Compensation Textuals. Additional Share Based Compensation (Textuals) [Abstract] Restricted Stock Unit [Member] Restricted Stock Unit Member. Stock Appreciation Right [Member] Stock appreciation right. Schedule of Share-based Compensation Arrangements by Share-based Payment Award [Table] Schedule of Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Award Type and Plan Name [Axis] Share-based Compensation Arrangements by Share-based Payment Award, Award Type and Plan Name [Domain] Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items] Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Vested and Expected to Vest, Outstanding, Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Term Weighted-average remaining contractual life of the options and SARs outstanding Disclosure Of Comprehensive Income [Text Block] Comprehensive Income Segment Information [Abstract] Segment Information Abstract. Segment Reporting Disclosure [Text Block] Segment Information Business Acquisition, Cost of Acquired Entity, Cash Paid Cost of acquired companies Share Based Payment Award Granted Minimum Vesting Period Range Share based payment award granted minimum vesting period range Share based payment award granted minimum vesting period range. Share Based Payment Award Granted Maximum Vesting Period Range Share based payment award granted maximum vesting period range Share based payment award granted maximum vesting period range. Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Award Vesting Period Share-based payment awards, minimum period Other Comprehensive Income, Foreign Currency Transaction and Translation Gain (Loss) Arising During Period, Net of Tax Foreign currency translation Other Comprehensive Income, Amortization of Defined Benefit Plan Net Prior Service Cost Recognized in Net Periodic Pension Cost, Net of Tax Recognition of prior service credit, net of tax Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Award Vesting Period, Maximum Share-based payment awards, maximum period The maximum vesting term over which an employee's right to exercise an award is no longer contingent on satisfaction of either a service condition, market condition or a performance condition. Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share, Amount Common stock outstanding not included in computation of diluted earnings per share Fair Value Of Financial Instruments (Details) [Abstract] Fair Value Of Financial Instruments Details Abstract. Share-Based Compensation (Details) [Abstract] Share-Based Compensation Details Abstract.