SEGMENT INFORMATION (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 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
For the Year Ended    December 31, 2013
Net sales	$	1,652,769	$	429,548	$	266,282		$	195,895	$	308,177	$	—		$	2,852,671
Inter-segment sales	127,254		19,911		14,906			233		9,605		(171,909		)	$	—
Total	$	1,780,023	$	449,459	$	281,188		$	196,128	$	317,782	$	(171,909	)	$	2,852,671
EBIT, as adjusted	$	318,507	$	36,247	$	1,815		$	57,306	$	27,826	$	(4,350	)	$	437,351
Special items charge (gain)	1,052		2,045		6,071			12,198		—		—			$	21,366
EBIT	$	317,455	$	34,202	$	(4,256	)	$	45,108	$	27,826	$	(4,350	)	$	415,985
Interest income															3,320
Interest expense															(2,864		)
Income before income taxes															$	416,441
Total assets	$	1,048,412	$	403,094	$	325,656		$	169,027	$	162,496	$	43,182		$	2,151,867
Equity investments in affiliates	—		23,315		—			3,303		—		—			$	26,618
Capital expenditures	41,181		10,305		2,073			20,840		3,931		(2,315		)	$	76,015
Depreciation and amortization	39,086		10,933		13,559			1,893		3,636		(224		)	$	68,883
For the Year Ended    December 31, 2012
Net sales	$	1,580,818	$	452,227	$	324,482		$	161,483	$	334,357	$	—		$	2,853,367
Inter-segment sales	131,062		16,048		14,829			38		8,549		(170,526		)	$	—
Total	$	1,711,880	$	468,275	$	339,311		$	161,521	$	342,906	$	(170,526	)	$	2,853,367
EBIT, as adjusted	$	293,070	$	37,299	$	7,247		$	18,301	$	29,477	$	(4,886	)	$	380,508
Special items charge (gain)	827		3,534		4,993			1,381		—		—			$	10,735
EBIT	$	292,243	$	33,765	$	2,254		$	16,920	$	29,477	$	(4,886	)	$	369,773
Interest income															3,988
Interest expense															(4,191		)
Income before income taxes															$	369,570
Total assets	$	980,093	$	451,654	$	350,189		$	134,650	$	195,881	$	(22,604	)	$	2,089,863
Equity investments in affiliates	—		21,798		—			2,808		—		—			$	24,606
Capital expenditures	36,834		5,372		8,833			899		831		(54		)	$	52,715
Depreciation and amortization	33,479		11,008		15,102			1,878		3,934		(67		)	$	65,334
For the Year Ended    December 31, 2011
Net sales	$	1,309,499	$	508,692	$	376,276		$	156,684	$	343,458	$	—		$	2,694,609
Inter-segment sales	136,314		17,422		15,614			494		8,496		(178,340		)	$	—
Total	$	1,445,813	$	526,114	$	391,890		$	157,178	$	351,954	$	(178,340	)	$	2,694,609
EBIT, as adjusted	$	227,924	$	36,171	$	2,629		$	12,895	$	25,151	$	426		$	305,196
Special items charge (gain)	—		392		(110		)	—		—		—			$	282
EBIT	$	227,924	$	35,779	$	2,739		$	12,895	$	25,151	$	426		$	304,914
Interest income															3,121
Interest expense															(6,704		)
Income before income taxes															$	301,331
Total assets	$	771,315	$	436,327	$	380,282		$	110,781	$	181,916	$	96,155		$	1,976,776
Equity investments in affiliates	—		20,500		—			4,118		—		—			$	24,618
Capital expenditures	31,826		8,566		21,498			2,314		1,792		(183		)	$	65,813
Depreciation and amortization	29,237		11,736		14,663			2,033		4,714		(332		)	$	62,051

Schedule of geographical split of the Company's net sales, based on the location of the customers, and property plant equipment

The geographic split of the Company's Net sales, based on the location of the customer, and property, plant and equipment were as follows:

	Year Ended December 31,
	2013		2012		2011
Net sales:
United States	$	1,350,309	$	1,283,066	$	1,092,838
China	219,490		229,996		286,121
Other foreign countries	1,282,872		1,340,305		1,315,650
Total	$	2,852,671	$	2,853,367	$	2,694,609

	December 31,
	2013			2012			2011
Property, plant and equipment, net:
United States	$	162,357		$	170,831		$	149,637
China	83,416			92,744			96,374
Other foreign countries	238,685			223,050			224,801
Eliminations	(453		)	(389		)	(361		)
Total	$	484,005		$	486,236		$	470,451