ACQUISITIONS	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2012
Business Combinations [Abstract]
ACQUISITIONS	ACQUISITIONS On December 31, 2012, the Company completed the acquisition of the privately-held automated systems and tooling manufacturer, Tennessee Rand, Inc. ("Tenn Rand"). Tenn Rand, based in Chattanooga, Tennessee, is a leader in the design and manufacture of tooling and robotic systems for welding applications. The acquisition added tool design, system building and machining capabilities that will enable the Company to further expand its welding automation business. Annual sales for Tenn Rand in 2012 were approximately $35,000. On November 13, 2012, the Company completed the acquisition of the Kaliburn, Burny and Cleveland Motion Control businesses (collectively, "Kaliburn") from ITT Corporation. Kaliburn, headquartered in Ladson, South Carolina, is a designer and manufacturer of shape cutting solutions, producer of shape cutting control systems and manufacturer of web tension transducers and engineered machine systems. The acquisitions added to the Company's cutting business portfolio. Annual sales for Kaliburn at the date of acquisition were approximately $36,000. On May 17, 2012, the Company completed the acquisition of Wayne Trail Technologies, Inc. (“Wayne Trail”). Wayne Trail, based in Ft. Loramie, Ohio, is a manufacturer of automated systems and tooling, serving a wide range of applications in the metal processing market. The acquisition added to the Company’s welding and automated solutions portfolio. Annual sales for Wayne Trail at the date of acquisition were approximately $50,000. On March 6, 2012, the Company completed the acquisition of Weartech International, Inc. (“Weartech”). Weartech, based in Anaheim, California, is a producer of cobalt-based hard facing and wear-resistant welding consumables. The acquisition added to the Company’s consumables portfolio. Sales for Weartech during 2011 were approximately $40,000. The Company acquired Tenn Rand, Kaliburn, Wayne Trail and Weartech for approximately $143,504 in cash, net of cash acquired, and assumed debt. The fair value of net assets acquired was $75,764, resulting in goodwill of $67,740. Some of the purchase price allocations are preliminary and subject to final opening balance sheet adjustments. On July 29, 2011, the Company acquired substantially all of the assets of Techalloy Company, Inc. and certain assets of its parent company, Central Wire Industries Ltd. (collectively, "Techalloy"). Techalloy, based in Baltimore, Maryland, was a privately-held manufacturer of nickel alloy and stainless steel welding consumables. The acquisition added to the Company's consumables portfolio. Annual sales for Techalloy at the date of acquisition were approximately $70,000. On July 29, 2011, the Company acquired substantially all of the assets of Applied Robotics, Inc. (d/b/a Torchmate) ("Torchmate"). Torchmate, based in Reno, Nevada, provides a wide selection of computer numeric controlled plasma cutter and oxy-fuel cutting systems. The acquisition added to the Company's plasma and oxy-fuel cutting product offering. Annual sales for Torchmate at the date of acquisition were approximately $13,000. On March 11, 2011, the Company completed the acquisition of OOO Severstal-metiz: welding consumables ("Severstal"). Severstal is a leading manufacturer of welding consumables in Russia and was a subsidiary of OAO Severstal, one of the world's leading vertically integrated steel and mining companies. This acquisition expanded the Company's capacity and distribution channels in Russia and the Commonwealth of Independent States ("CIS"). Sales for Severstal during 2010 were approximately $40,000. On January 31, 2011, the Company acquired substantially all of the assets of SSCO Manufacturing, Inc. (d/b/a Arc Products) ("Arc Products"). Arc Products was a privately-held manufacturer of orbital welding systems and welding automation components based in Southern California. Orbital welding systems are designed to automatically weld pipe and tube in difficult to access locations and for mission-critical applications requiring high weld integrity and sophisticated quality monitoring capabilities. The acquisition will complement the Company's ability to serve global customers in the nuclear, power generation and process industries worldwide. Sales for Arc Products during 2010 were not significant. The Company acquired Techalloy, Torchmate, Severstal and Arc Products for approximately $65,321 in cash and assumed debt and a contingent consideration liability fair valued at $3,806. The contingent consideration is based upon estimated sales at the related acquisition for the five-year period ending December 31, 2015 and will be paid in 2016 based on actual sales during the five-year period. The fair value of net assets acquired was $46,837, resulting in goodwill of $22,290. On October 29, 2010, the Company acquired all of the outstanding stock of Mezhgosmetiz-Mtsensk OAO ("MGM"), a privately-held welding wire manufacturer based in the Orel region of Russia, for approximately $28,500 in cash and assumed debt. This acquisition represented the Company's first manufacturing operation in Russia as well as established distribution channels to serve the growing Russian and CIS welding markets. Annual sales for MGM at the date of acquisition were approximately $30,000. Pro forma information related to these acquisitions has not been presented because the impact on the Company's Consolidated Statements of Income is not material. Acquired companies are included in the Company's consolidated financial statements as of the date of acquisition.

ACQUISITIONS

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2012

On December 31, 2012, the Company completed the acquisition of the privately-held automated systems and tooling manufacturer, Tennessee Rand, Inc. ("Tenn Rand"). Tenn Rand, based in Chattanooga, Tennessee, is a leader in the design and manufacture of tooling and robotic systems for welding applications. The acquisition added tool design, system building and machining capabilities that will enable the Company to further expand its welding automation business. Annual sales for Tenn Rand in 2012 were approximately $35,000.

On November 13, 2012, the Company completed the acquisition of the Kaliburn, Burny and Cleveland Motion Control businesses (collectively, "Kaliburn") from ITT Corporation. Kaliburn, headquartered in Ladson, South Carolina, is a designer and manufacturer of shape cutting solutions, producer of shape cutting control systems and manufacturer of web tension transducers and engineered machine systems. The acquisitions added to the Company's cutting business portfolio. Annual sales for Kaliburn at the date of acquisition were approximately $36,000.

On May 17, 2012, the Company completed the acquisition of Wayne Trail Technologies, Inc. (“Wayne Trail”). Wayne Trail, based in Ft. Loramie, Ohio, is a manufacturer of automated systems and tooling, serving a wide range of applications in the metal processing market. The acquisition added to the Company’s welding and automated solutions portfolio. Annual sales for Wayne Trail at the date of acquisition were approximately $50,000.

On March 6, 2012, the Company completed the acquisition of Weartech International, Inc. (“Weartech”). Weartech, based in Anaheim, California, is a producer of cobalt-based hard facing and wear-resistant welding consumables. The acquisition added to the Company’s consumables portfolio. Sales for Weartech during 2011 were approximately $40,000.

The Company acquired Tenn Rand, Kaliburn, Wayne Trail and Weartech for approximately $143,504 in cash, net of cash acquired, and assumed debt. The fair value of net assets acquired was $75,764, resulting in goodwill of $67,740. Some of the purchase price allocations are preliminary and subject to final opening balance sheet adjustments.

On July 29, 2011, the Company acquired substantially all of the assets of Techalloy Company, Inc. and certain assets of its parent company, Central Wire Industries Ltd. (collectively, "Techalloy"). Techalloy, based in Baltimore, Maryland, was a privately-held manufacturer of nickel alloy and stainless steel welding consumables. The acquisition added to the Company's consumables portfolio. Annual sales for Techalloy at the date of acquisition were approximately $70,000.

On July 29, 2011, the Company acquired substantially all of the assets of Applied Robotics, Inc. (d/b/a Torchmate) ("Torchmate"). Torchmate, based in Reno, Nevada, provides a wide selection of computer numeric controlled plasma cutter and oxy-fuel cutting systems. The acquisition added to the Company's plasma and oxy-fuel cutting product offering. Annual sales for Torchmate at the date of acquisition were approximately $13,000.

On March 11, 2011, the Company completed the acquisition of OOO Severstal-metiz: welding consumables ("Severstal"). Severstal is a leading manufacturer of welding consumables in Russia and was a subsidiary of OAO Severstal, one of the world's leading vertically integrated steel and mining companies. This acquisition expanded the Company's capacity and distribution channels in Russia and the Commonwealth of Independent States ("CIS"). Sales for Severstal during 2010 were approximately $40,000.

On January 31, 2011, the Company acquired substantially all of the assets of SSCO Manufacturing, Inc. (d/b/a Arc Products) ("Arc Products"). Arc Products was a privately-held manufacturer of orbital welding systems and welding automation components based in Southern California. Orbital welding systems are designed to automatically weld pipe and tube in difficult to access locations and for mission-critical applications requiring high weld integrity and sophisticated quality monitoring capabilities. The acquisition will complement the Company's ability to serve global customers in the nuclear, power generation and process industries worldwide. Sales for Arc Products during 2010 were not significant.

The Company acquired Techalloy, Torchmate, Severstal and Arc Products for approximately $65,321 in cash and assumed debt and a contingent consideration liability fair valued at $3,806. The contingent consideration is based upon estimated sales at the related acquisition for the five-year period ending December 31, 2015 and will be paid in 2016 based on actual sales during the five-year period. The fair value of net assets acquired was $46,837, resulting in goodwill of $22,290.

On October 29, 2010, the Company acquired all of the outstanding stock of Mezhgosmetiz-Mtsensk OAO ("MGM"), a privately-held welding wire manufacturer based in the Orel region of Russia, for approximately $28,500 in cash and assumed debt. This acquisition represented the Company's first manufacturing operation in Russia as well as established distribution channels to serve the growing Russian and CIS welding markets. Annual sales for MGM at the date of acquisition were approximately $30,000.

Pro forma information related to these acquisitions has not been presented because the impact on the Company's Consolidated Statements of Income is not material. Acquired companies are included in the Company's consolidated financial statements as of the date of acquisition.