SEGMENT INFORMATION (Tables)

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2013

Segment Reporting [Abstract]

Schedule of financial information for the reportable segments

Financial information for the reportable segments follows:

	North America Welding		Europe Welding		Asia Pacific Welding		South America Welding		The Harris Products Group		Corporate / Eliminations			Consolidated
Three Months Ended June 30, 2013
Net sales	$	419,069	$	108,661	$	69,239	$	44,503	$	85,960	$	—		$	727,432
Inter-segment sales	35,529		4,330		4,374		51		2,674		(46,958		)	—
Total	$	454,598	$	112,991	$	73,613	$	44,554	$	88,634	$	(46,958	)	$	727,432
EBIT, as adjusted	$	82,777	$	9,532	$	653	$	11,065	$	7,343	$	(1,538	)	$	109,832
Special items charge	266		75		510		2,538		—		—			3,389
EBIT	$	82,511	$	9,457	$	143	$	8,527	$	7,343	$	(1,538	)	$	106,443
Interest income														890
Interest expense														(799		)
Income before income taxes														$	106,534
Three Months Ended June 30, 2012
Net sales	$	416,223	$	114,437	$	85,433	$	37,169	$	90,783	$	—		$	744,045
Inter-segment sales	39,658		4,466		5,076		11		2,353		(51,564		)	—
Total	$	455,881	$	118,903	$	90,509	$	37,180	$	93,136	$	(51,564	)	$	744,045
EBIT, as adjusted	$	76,556	$	10,991	$	4,014	$	2,980	$	9,041	$	(2,509	)	$	101,073
Special items charge	77		592		589		1,381		—		—			2,639
EBIT	$	76,479	$	10,399	$	3,425	$	1,599	$	9,041	$	(2,509	)	$	98,434
Interest income														849
Interest expense														(1,126		)
Income before income taxes														$	98,157
Six Months Ended June 30, 2013
Net sales	$	838,623	$	219,152	$	139,278	$	80,877	$	168,075	$	—		$	1,446,005
Inter-segment sales	64,514		8,609		8,758		71		4,898		(86,850		)	—
Total	$	903,137	$	227,761	$	148,036	$	80,948	$	172,973	$	(86,850	)	$	1,446,005
EBIT, as adjusted	$	159,437	$	20,233	$	2,946	$	16,177	$	14,494	$	(2,141	)	$	211,146
Special items charge	1,126		69		707		12,198		—		—			14,100
EBIT	$	158,311	$	20,164	$	2,239	$	3,979	$	14,494	$	(2,141	)	$	197,046
Interest income														1,916
Interest expense														(1,749		)
Income before income taxes														$	197,213
Total assets	$	1,000,724	$	446,142	$	339,657	$	124,841	$	187,475	$	(38,722	)	$	2,060,117
Six months ended June 30, 2012
Net sales	$	797,552	$	240,240	$	177,996	$	77,007	$	178,372	$	—		$	1,471,167
Inter-segment sales	73,200		8,917		8,893		11		4,736		(95,757		)	—
Total	$	870,752	$	249,157	$	186,889	$	77,018	$	183,108	$	(95,757	)	$	1,471,167
EBIT, as adjusted	$	146,075	$	23,802	$	6,587	$	5,885	$	16,194	$	(4,262	)	$	194,281
Special items charge	77		592		589		1,381		—		—			2,639
EBIT	$	145,998	$	23,210	$	5,998	$	4,504	$	16,194	$	(4,262	)	$	191,642
Interest income														1,732
Interest expense														(2,298		)
Income before income taxes														$	191,076
Total assets	$	897,248	$	453,089	$	365,494	$	124,093	$	200,676	$	(18,612	)	$	2,021,988