SEGMENT INFORMATION (Financial Information of Reportable Segments) (Details) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2024 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2023 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2024 USD ($) segment	Sep. 30, 2023 USD ($)
Financial information for the reportable segments
Number of operating segments (segments) | segment			3
Net sales (Note 2)	$ 983,759	$ 1,033,214	$ 2,986,639	$ 3,133,122
Adjusted EBIT	172,078	184,168	526,773	546,769
Special items charge	28,162	11,926	68,263	21,224
EBIT	143,916	172,242	458,510	525,545
Interest income	2,108	1,852	7,301	3,520
Interest expense	(14,082)	(12,661)	(38,715)	(39,228)
Income before income taxes	131,942	161,433	427,096	489,837
Rationalization and asset impairment charges (Note 6)	20,227	7,074	51,322	10,618
Pension settlement net charges			3,966	0
Acquisition Costs	610		4,551
Inter-segment
Financial information for the reportable segments
Net sales (Note 2)	(41,371)	(36,070)	(132,772)	(120,047)
Corporate/Eliminations
Financial information for the reportable segments
Net sales (Note 2)	(41,371)	(36,070)	(132,772)	(120,047)
Adjusted EBIT	4,503	(2,952)	(11,840)	(14,538)
Special items charge	610	0	4,656	0
EBIT	3,893	(2,952)	(16,496)	(14,538)
Acquisition Costs	610		4,551
Americas Welding
Financial information for the reportable segments
Net sales (Note 2)	637,026	665,228	1,910,061	2,000,839
Rationalization and asset impairment charges (Note 6)	16,282	408	16,521	408
Pension settlement net charges	3,966		3,966
Business combination, inventory step up	3,109	3,648	3,224	9,390
Americas Welding | Operating Segments
Financial information for the reportable segments
Net sales (Note 2)	667,871	694,103	2,008,685	2,092,882
Adjusted EBIT	125,515	136,476	398,265	408,800
Special items charge	23,357	4,056	23,711	9,798
EBIT	102,158	132,420	374,554	399,002
Americas Welding | Inter-segment
Financial information for the reportable segments
Net sales (Note 2)	30,845	28,875	98,624	92,043
International Welding
Financial information for the reportable segments
Net sales (Note 2)	216,224	242,010	690,743	747,829
Rationalization and asset impairment charges (Note 6)	2,676	6,666	32,030	10,210
Business combination, inventory step up	250	1,204	250	2,862
Gain (loss) on disposition of assets			(4,950)	1,646
International Welding | Operating Segments
Financial information for the reportable segments
Net sales (Note 2)	223,595	246,906	715,371	767,770
Adjusted EBIT	20,101	30,239	73,587	93,609
Special items charge	2,926	7,870	37,230	11,426
EBIT	17,175	22,369	36,357	82,183
International Welding | Inter-segment
Financial information for the reportable segments
Net sales (Note 2)	7,371	4,896	24,628	19,941
The Harris Products Group
Financial information for the reportable segments
Net sales (Note 2)	130,509	125,976	385,835	384,454
Rationalization and asset impairment charges (Note 6)	1,269		2,666
The Harris Products Group | Operating Segments
Financial information for the reportable segments
Net sales (Note 2)	133,664	128,275	395,355	392,517
Adjusted EBIT	21,959	20,405	66,761	58,898
Special items charge	1,269	0	2,666	0
EBIT	20,690	20,405	64,095	58,898
The Harris Products Group | Inter-segment
Financial information for the reportable segments
Net sales (Note 2)	$ 3,155	$ 2,299	$ 9,520	$ 8,063