SEGMENT INFORMATION (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2015

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, 2015
Net sales	$	1,610,357		$	336,824	$	186,615		$	138,014		$	263,981	$	—		$	2,535,791
Inter-segment sales	100,770			15,922		10,510			174			9,312		(136,688		)	$	—
Total	$	1,711,127		$	352,746	$	197,125		$	138,188		$	273,293	$	(136,688	)	$	2,535,791
EBIT, as adjusted	$	306,746		$	31,317	$	7,392		$	5,569		$	27,882	$	(99	)	$	378,807
Special items charge (gain)	155,757			1,507		5,432			27,214			—		—			$	189,910
EBIT	$	150,989		$	29,810	$	1,960		$	(21,645	)	$	27,882	$	(99	)	$	188,897
Interest income																	2,714
Interest expense																	(21,824		)
Income before income taxes																	$	169,787
Total assets	$	1,101,056		$	298,825	$	239,382		$	82,575		$	143,905	$	(81,572	)	$	1,784,171
Equity investments in affiliates	—			23,450		—			3,791			—		—			$	27,241
Capital expenditures	31,578			6,508		5,480			4,214			2,727		—			$	50,507
Depreciation and amortization	44,344			8,296		7,026			1,765			2,596		(20		)	$	64,007
For the Year Ended    December 31, 2014
Net sales	$	1,700,924		$	425,775	$	243,800		$	148,595		$	294,230	$	—		$	2,813,324
Inter-segment sales	124,732			19,586		14,820			144			8,210		(167,492		)	$	—
Total	$	1,825,656		$	445,361	$	258,620		$	148,739		$	302,440	$	(167,492	)	$	2,813,324
EBIT, as adjusted	$	335,465		$	48,822	$	1,321		$	15,953		$	28,563	$	4,216		$	434,340
Special items charge (gain)	(68		)	904		28,635			21,715			—		—			$	51,186
EBIT	$	335,533		$	47,918	$	(27,314	)	$	(5,762	)	$	28,563	$	4,216		$	383,154
Interest income																	3,093
Interest expense																	(10,434		)
Income before income taxes																	$	375,813
Total assets	$	1,111,065		$	359,337	$	284,573		$	138,114		$	147,990	$	(101,864	)	$	1,939,215
Equity investments in affiliates	—			23,902		—			3,579			—		—			$	27,481
Capital expenditures	51,691			5,619		3,959			10,896			825		—			$	72,990
Depreciation and amortization	43,659			10,823		9,799			2,085			3,512		(271		)	$	69,607
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

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,
	2015		2014		2013
Net sales:
United States	$	1,387,882	$	1,417,750	$	1,350,309
China	137,101		190,035		219,490
Other foreign countries	1,010,808		1,205,539		1,282,872
Total	$	2,535,791	$	2,813,324	$	2,852,671

	December 31,
	2015			2014			2013
Property, plant and equipment, net:
United States	$	173,974		$	171,746		$	162,357
China	53,673			57,783			83,416
Other foreign countries	184,045			209,640			238,685
Eliminations	(369		)	(423		)	(453		)
Total	$	411,323		$	438,746		$	484,005