SEGMENT INFORMATION (Financial Information of Reportable Segments) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2023	Sep. 30, 2022	Sep. 30, 2023	Sep. 30, 2022
Financial information for the reportable segments
Net sales (Note 2)	$ 1,033,214	$ 935,240	$ 3,133,122	$ 2,830,277
Adjusted EBIT	184,168	156,776	546,769	487,242
Special items charge (gain)	11,926	11,079	21,224	9,306
EBIT	172,242	145,697	525,545	477,936
Interest income	1,852	376	3,520	980
Interest expense	(12,661)	(8,586)	(39,228)	(21,847)
Income before income taxes	161,433	137,487	489,837	457,069
Rationalization and asset impairment charges	7,074	8,364	10,618	9,405
Rationalization and asset impairment net gains			(1,128)	(7,776)
Inter-segment
Financial information for the reportable segments
Net sales (Note 2)	36,070	47,989	120,047	126,859
Corporate/Eliminations
Financial information for the reportable segments
Net sales (Note 2)	(36,070)	(47,989)	(120,047)	(126,859)
Adjusted EBIT	(2,952)	(1,685)	(14,538)	(10,470)
Special items charge (gain)	0	3,068	0	3,068
EBIT	(2,952)	(4,753)	(14,538)	(13,538)
Acquisition Costs		3,068		3,086
Americas Welding
Financial information for the reportable segments
Net sales (Note 2)	665,228	585,628	2,000,839	1,715,342
Americas Welding | Operating Segments
Financial information for the reportable segments
Net sales (Note 2)	694,103	620,981	2,092,882	1,807,882
Adjusted EBIT	136,476	118,804	408,800	348,439
Special items charge (gain)	4,056	(353)	9,798	(3,627)
EBIT	132,420	119,157	399,002	352,066
Defined benefit plan, net periodic benefit cost (credit), gain (loss) due to curtailment				3,735
Business combination, inventory step up	3,648	353	9,390	1,106
Rationalization and asset impairment net gains				998
Americas Welding | Inter-segment
Financial information for the reportable segments
Net sales (Note 2)	28,875	35,353	92,043	92,540
International Welding
Financial information for the reportable segments
Net sales (Note 2)	242,010	216,497	747,829	711,167
International Welding | Operating Segments
Financial information for the reportable segments
Net sales (Note 2)	246,906	226,491	767,770	736,916
Adjusted EBIT	30,239	25,225	93,609	97,321
Special items charge (gain)	7,870	8,364	11,426	9,865
EBIT	22,369	16,861	82,183	87,456
Rationalization and asset impairment charges	6,666	8,364	10,210	10,403
Business combination, inventory step up	1,204		2,862
Gain (loss) on disposition of assets			1,646
International Welding | Inter-segment
Financial information for the reportable segments
Net sales (Note 2)	4,896	9,994	19,941	25,749
The Harris Products Group
Financial information for the reportable segments
Net sales (Note 2)	125,976	133,115	384,454	403,768
The Harris Products Group | Operating Segments
Financial information for the reportable segments
Net sales (Note 2)	128,275	135,757	392,517	412,338
Adjusted EBIT	20,405	14,432	58,898	51,952
Special items charge (gain)	0	0	0	0
EBIT	20,405	14,432	58,898	51,952
The Harris Products Group | Inter-segment
Financial information for the reportable segments
Net sales (Note 2)	2,299	$ 2,642	8,063	$ 8,570
Americas Welding and International Welding | Operating Segments
Financial information for the reportable segments
Rationalization and asset impairment charges	$ 408		$ 408