SEGMENT INFORMATION (Financial Information of Reportable Segments) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015	Sep. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2015	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Sep. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2014	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Financial information for the reportable segments
Net sales	$ 567,985	$ 645,166	$ 664,740	$ 657,900	$ 683,954	$ 715,777	$ 728,531	$ 685,062	$ 2,535,791	$ 2,813,324	$ 2,852,671
Revenue from Related Parties									0	0	0
Segment, including Inter-segment, sales									2,535,791	2,813,324	2,852,671
EBIT, as adjusted									378,807	434,340	437,351
Special items charge (Gain)									189,910	51,186	21,366
EBIT									188,897	383,154	415,985
Interest income									2,714	3,093	3,320
Interest expense									(21,824)	(10,434)	(2,864)
Income before income taxes	71,172	(88,526)	$ 94,434	$ 92,707	100,736	$ 77,785	$ 114,866	$ 82,426	169,787	375,813	416,441
Total assets	1,784,171				1,939,215				1,784,171	1,939,215	2,151,867
Equity investments in affiliates	27,241				27,481				27,241	27,481	26,618
Capital expenditures									50,507	72,990	76,015
Depreciation and amortization									64,007	69,607	68,883
North America Welding
Financial information for the reportable segments
Net sales									1,610,357	1,700,924	1,652,769
Revenue from Related Parties									100,770	124,732	127,254
Segment, including Inter-segment, sales									1,711,127	1,825,656	1,780,023
EBIT, as adjusted									306,746	335,465	318,507
Special items charge (Gain)									155,757	(68)	1,052
EBIT									150,989	335,533	317,455
Total assets	1,101,056				1,111,065				1,101,056	1,111,065	1,048,412
Equity investments in affiliates	0				0				0	0	0
Capital expenditures									31,578	51,691	41,181
Depreciation and amortization									44,344	43,659	39,086
Europe Welding
Financial information for the reportable segments
Net sales									336,824	425,775	429,548
Revenue from Related Parties									15,922	19,586	19,911
Segment, including Inter-segment, sales									352,746	445,361	449,459
EBIT, as adjusted									31,317	48,822	36,247
Special items charge (Gain)									1,507	904	2,045
EBIT									29,810	47,918	34,202
Total assets	298,825				359,337				298,825	359,337	403,094
Equity investments in affiliates	23,450				23,902				23,450	23,902	23,315
Capital expenditures									6,508	5,619	10,305
Depreciation and amortization									8,296	10,823	10,933
Asia Pacific Welding
Financial information for the reportable segments
Net sales									186,615	243,800	266,282
Revenue from Related Parties									10,510	14,820	14,906
Segment, including Inter-segment, sales									197,125	258,620	281,188
EBIT, as adjusted									7,392	1,321	1,815
Special items charge (Gain)									5,432	28,635	6,071
EBIT									1,960	(27,314)	(4,256)
Total assets	239,382				284,573				239,382	284,573	325,656
Equity investments in affiliates	0				0				0	0	0
Capital expenditures									5,480	3,959	2,073
Depreciation and amortization									7,026	9,799	13,559
South America Welding
Financial information for the reportable segments
Net sales									138,014	148,595	195,895
Revenue from Related Parties									174	144	233
Segment, including Inter-segment, sales									138,188	148,739	196,128
EBIT, as adjusted									5,569	15,953	57,306
Special items charge (Gain)		$ 26,506							27,214	21,715	12,198
EBIT									(21,645)	(5,762)	45,108
Total assets	82,575				138,114				82,575	138,114	169,027
Equity investments in affiliates	3,791				3,579				3,791	3,579	3,303
Capital expenditures									4,214	10,896	20,840
Depreciation and amortization									1,765	2,085	1,893
The Harris Products Group
Financial information for the reportable segments
Net sales									263,981	294,230	308,177
Revenue from Related Parties									9,312	8,210	9,605
Segment, including Inter-segment, sales									273,293	302,440	317,782
EBIT, as adjusted									27,882	28,563	27,826
Special items charge (Gain)									0	0	0
EBIT									27,882	28,563	27,826
Total assets	143,905				147,990				143,905	147,990	162,496
Equity investments in affiliates	0				0				0	0	0
Capital expenditures									2,727	825	3,931
Depreciation and amortization									2,596	3,512	3,636
Corporate / Eliminations
Financial information for the reportable segments
Net sales									0	0	0
Revenue from Related Parties									(136,688)	(167,492)	(171,909)
Segment, including Inter-segment, sales									(136,688)	(167,492)	(171,909)
EBIT, as adjusted									(99)	4,216	(4,350)
Special items charge (Gain)									0	0	0
EBIT									(99)	4,216	(4,350)
Total assets	(81,572)				(101,864)				(81,572)	(101,864)	43,182
Equity investments in affiliates	$ 0				$ 0				0	0	0
Capital expenditures									0	0	(2,315)
Depreciation and amortization									$ (20)	$ (271)	$ (224)