SEGMENT INFORMATION (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2010	Sep. 30, 2011 year day segment	Sep. 30, 2010	Dec. 31, 2010
SEGMENT INFORMATION
Number of operating segments			5
Financial information for the reportable segments
Net sales	$ 701,624	$ 519,338	$ 2,000,096	$ 1,505,880
Total	701,624	519,338	2,000,096	1,505,880
EBIT, as adjusted	76,458	50,972	220,787	138,666
Special items charge (gain)		1,084	282	564
EBIT	76,458	49,888	220,505	138,102
Interest income	1,167	602	2,436	1,781
Interest expense	(1,752)	(1,671)	(5,037)	(4,751)
Income before income taxes	75,873	48,819	217,904	135,132
Total assets	1,962,877	1,798,692	1,962,877	1,798,692	1,783,788
Special items
Special items, net charges for rationalization actions		269	282	(2,559)
North America Welding
Financial information for the reportable segments
Net sales	345,182	255,636	947,594	740,780
Inter-segment sales	33,070	28,291	105,419	81,381
Total	378,252	283,927	1,053,013	822,161
EBIT, as adjusted	53,436	43,187	158,192	114,484
EBIT	53,436	43,187	158,192	114,484
Total assets	1,105,952	913,608	1,105,952	913,608
Europe Welding
Financial information for the reportable segments
Net sales	128,294	85,892	381,750	255,773
Inter-segment sales	3,238	3,242	13,375	9,787
Total	131,532	89,134	395,125	265,560
EBIT, as adjusted	10,282	5,664	27,267	14,721
Special items charge (gain)		370	392	2,079
EBIT	10,282	5,294	26,875	12,642
Total assets	461,574	389,893	461,574	389,893
Special items
Special items, net charges for rationalization actions		370	188	2,079
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	97,790	79,657	288,072	233,965
Inter-segment sales	4,111	4,224	10,721	9,310
Total	101,901	83,881	298,793	243,275
EBIT, as adjusted	1,899	(1,488)	3,281	1,051
Special items charge (gain)		(101)	(110)	(4,222)
EBIT	1,899	(1,387)	3,391	5,273
Total assets	372,017	330,163	372,017	330,163
Special items
Special items, net charges for rationalization actions			93	333
Special items, gain (loss) on the sale of assets at a rationalized operation		101	203	4,555
South America Welding
Financial information for the reportable segments
Net sales	44,169	34,065	116,011	85,009
Inter-segment sales	254	662	374	1,064
Total	44,423	34,727	116,385	86,073
EBIT, as adjusted	4,025	3,170	9,600	5,506
Special items charge (gain)		815		3,123
EBIT	4,025	2,355	9,600	2,383
Total assets	115,638	96,847	115,638	96,847
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		815		3,123
The Harris Products Group
Financial information for the reportable segments
Net sales	86,189	64,088	266,669	190,353
Inter-segment sales	2,485	1,518	6,735	4,877
Total	88,674	65,606	273,404	195,230
EBIT, as adjusted	5,010	4,119	20,750	9,378
Special items charge (gain)				(416)
EBIT	5,010	4,119	20,750	9,794
Total assets	280,579	269,208	280,579	269,208
Special items
Special items, gain (loss) on the sale of assets at a rationalized operation				416
Corporate / Eliminations
Financial information for the reportable segments
Inter-segment sales	(43,158)	(37,937)	(136,624)	(106,419)
Total	(43,158)	(37,937)	(136,624)	(106,419)
EBIT, as adjusted	1,806	(3,680)	1,697	(6,474)
EBIT	1,806	(3,680)	1,697	(6,474)
Total assets	$ (372,883)	$ (201,027)	$ (372,883)	$ (201,027)

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