SEGMENT INFORMATION (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2010	Jun. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2010	Dec. 31, 2010
SEGMENT INFORMATION
Number of operating segments			5
Financial information for the reportable segments
Net sales	$ 699,293	$ 515,584	$ 1,298,472	$ 986,542
Total	699,293	515,584	1,298,472	986,542
EBIT, as adjusted	82,385	51,284	144,329	87,694
Special items charge (gain)	(75)	(1,310)	282	(520)
EBIT	82,460	52,594	144,047	88,214
Interest income	661	544	1,269	1,179
Interest expense	(1,627)	(1,566)	(3,285)	(3,080)
Income before income taxes	81,494	51,572	142,031	86,313
Total assets	2,001,066	1,731,408	2,001,066	1,731,408	1,783,788
Special items
Special items, net charges for rationalization actions	(75)	(3,629)	282	(2,828)
North America Welding
Financial information for the reportable segments
Net sales	321,656	253,809	602,413	485,144
Inter-segment sales	37,222	28,182	72,349	53,090
Total	358,878	281,991	674,762	538,234
EBIT, as adjusted	58,120	40,301	104,756	71,297
EBIT	58,120	40,301	104,756	71,297
Total assets	1,019,926	878,731	1,019,926	878,731
Europe Welding
Financial information for the reportable segments
Net sales	139,248	85,205	253,456	169,881
Inter-segment sales	6,302	2,987	10,137	6,545
Total	145,550	88,192	263,593	176,426
EBIT, as adjusted	11,073	7,959	16,985	9,057
Special items charge (gain)	34	1,169	392	1,709
EBIT	11,039	6,790	16,593	7,348
Total assets	513,141	344,325	513,141	344,325
Special items
Special items, net charges for rationalization actions	34	1,169	188	1,709
Special items, gain (loss) on the sale of assets at a rationalized operation			(204)
Asia Pacific Welding
Financial information for the reportable segments
Net sales	102,721	82,363	190,281	154,308
Inter-segment sales	3,397	2,585	6,610	5,086
Total	106,118	84,948	196,891	159,394
EBIT, as adjusted	1,256	1,557	1,382	2,539
Special items charge (gain)	(109)	(4,382)	(110)	(4,121)
EBIT	1,365	5,939	1,492	6,660
Total assets	369,181	327,821	369,181	327,821
Special items
Special items, net charges for rationalization actions	94	(45)	93	216
Special items, gain (loss) on the sale of assets at a rationalized operation	203	4,337	203	4,337
South America Welding
Financial information for the reportable segments
Net sales	37,769	28,196	71,842	50,944
Inter-segment sales	120	208	120	402
Total	37,889	28,404	71,962	51,346
EBIT, as adjusted	3,527	1,001	5,575	2,336
Special items charge (gain)		2,319		2,308
EBIT	3,527	(1,318)	5,575	28
Total assets	119,387	83,161	119,387	83,161
Special items
Special items, charge for the impact resulting from the change in functional currency to the U.S. dollar and devaluation of the Venezuelan currency		2,319		2,308
The Harris Products Group
Financial information for the reportable segments
Net sales	97,899	66,011	180,480	126,265
Inter-segment sales	2,017	1,628	4,250	3,359
Total	99,916	67,639	184,730	129,624
EBIT, as adjusted	9,197	2,518	15,740	5,259
Special items charge (gain)		(416)		(416)
EBIT	9,197	2,934	15,740	5,675
Total assets	306,447	256,958	306,447	256,958
Special items
Special items, gain (loss) on the sale of assets at a rationalized operation		416		416
Corporate / Eliminations
Financial information for the reportable segments
Inter-segment sales	(49,058)	(35,590)	(93,466)	(68,482)
Total	(49,058)	(35,590)	(93,466)	(68,482)
EBIT, as adjusted	(788)	(2,052)	(109)	(2,794)
EBIT	(788)	(2,052)	(109)	(2,794)
Total assets	$ (327,016)	$ (159,588)	$ (327,016)	$ (159,588)