SEGMENT INFORMATION (Tables)

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2014

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 March 31, 2014
Net sales	$	401,906		$	105,406		$	61,286		$	43,993		$	72,471	$	—		$	685,062
Inter-segment sales	32,943			5,860			4,449			29			2,118		(45,399		)	—
Total	$	434,849		$	111,266		$	65,735		$	44,022		$	74,589	$	(45,399	)	$	685,062
EBIT, as adjusted	$	71,364		$	9,292		$	(640	)	$	11,765		$	6,058	$	2,891		$	100,730
Special items (gain) charge	(47		)	39			(9		)	17,665			—		—			17,648
EBIT	$	71,411		$	9,253		$	(631	)	$	(5,900	)	$	6,058	$	2,891		$	83,082
Interest income																		914
Interest expense																		(1,570		)
Income before income taxes																		$	82,426
Total assets	$	1,107,182		$	404,451		$	320,776		$	141,079		$	170,856	$	(30,368	)	$	2,113,976
Three months ended March 31, 2013
Net sales	$	419,554		$	110,491		$	70,039		$	36,374		$	82,115	$	—		$	718,573
Inter-segment sales	28,985			4,279			4,384			20			2,224		(39,892		)	—
Total	$	448,539		$	114,770		$	74,423		$	36,394		$	84,339	$	(39,892	)	$	718,573
EBIT, as adjusted	$	76,660		$	10,701		$	2,293		$	5,112		$	7,151	$	(603	)	$	101,314
Special items (gain) charge	860			(6		)	197			9,660			—		—			10,711
EBIT	$	75,800		$	10,707		$	2,096		$	(4,548	)	$	7,151	$	(603	)	$	90,603
Interest income																		1,026
Interest expense																		(950		)
Income before income taxes																		$	90,679
Total assets	$	1,014,910		$	434,484		$	364,673		$	121,024		$	196,434	$	(27,998	)	$	2,103,527