SEGMENT INFORMATION (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2012

Segment Reporting [Abstract]

Schedule of financial information for the reportable segments

Financial information for the reportable segments follows:

	North America Welding		Europe Welding		Asia Pacific Welding			South America Welding		The Harris Products Group		Corporate / Eliminations			Consolidated
For the Year Ended    December 31, 2012
Net sales	$	1,580,818	$	452,227	$	324,482		$	161,483	$	334,357	$	—		$	2,853,367
Inter-segment sales	131,062		16,048		14,829			38		8,549		(170,526		)	$	—
Total	$	1,711,880	$	468,275	$	339,311		$	161,521	$	342,906	$	(170,526	)	$	2,853,367
EBIT, as adjusted	$	293,070	$	37,299	$	7,247		$	18,301	$	29,477	$	(4,886	)	$	380,508
Special items charge (gain)	827		3,534		4,993			1,381		—		—			$	10,735
EBIT	$	292,243	$	33,765	$	2,254		$	16,920	$	29,477	$	(4,886	)	$	369,773
Interest income															3,988
Interest expense															(4,191		)
Income before income taxes															$	369,570
Total assets	$	980,093	$	451,654	$	350,189		$	134,650	$	195,881	$	(22,604	)	$	2,089,863
Equity investments in affiliates	—		21,798		—			2,808		—		—			$	24,606
Capital expenditures	36,834		5,372		8,833			899		831		(54		)	$	52,715
Depreciation and amortization	33,479		11,008		15,102			1,878		3,934		(67		)	$	65,334
For the Year Ended    December 31, 2011
Net sales	$	1,309,499	$	508,692	$	376,276		$	156,684	$	343,458	$	—		$	2,694,609
Inter-segment sales	136,314		17,422		15,614			494		8,496		(178,340		)	$	—
Total	$	1,445,813	$	526,114	$	391,890		$	157,178	$	351,954	$	(178,340	)	$	2,694,609
EBIT, as adjusted	$	227,924	$	36,171	$	2,629		$	12,895	$	25,151	$	426		$	305,196
Special items charge (gain)	—		392		(110		)	—		—		—			$	282
EBIT	$	227,924	$	35,779	$	2,739		$	12,895	$	25,151	$	426		$	304,914
Interest income															3,121
Interest expense															(6,704		)
Income before income taxes															$	301,331
Total assets	$	771,315	$	436,327	$	380,282		$	110,781	$	181,916	$	96,155		$	1,976,776
Equity investments in affiliates	—		20,500		—			4,118		—		—			$	24,618
Capital expenditures	31,826		8,566		21,498			2,314		1,792		(183		)	$	65,813
Depreciation and amortization	29,237		11,736		14,663			2,033		4,714		(332		)	$	62,051
For the Year Ended    December 31, 2010
Net sales	$	1,013,193	$	359,925	$	324,092		$	117,419	$	255,543	$	—		$	2,070,172
Inter-segment sales	108,849		13,330		12,546			1,216		6,641		(142,582		)	$	—
Total	$	1,122,042	$	373,255	$	336,638		$	118,635	$	262,184	$	(142,582	)	$	2,070,172
EBIT, as adjusted	$	162,192	$	17,023	$	1,752		$	7,554	$	12,311	$	(6,675	)	$	194,157
Special items charge (gain)	—		2,486		(3,741		)	3,123		871		—			$	2,739
EBIT	$	162,192	$	14,537	$	5,493		$	4,431	$	11,440	$	(6,675	)	$	191,418
Interest income															2,381
Interest expense															(6,691		)
Income before income taxes															$	187,108
Total assets	$	611,725	$	413,789	$	350,975		$	94,836	$	193,474	$	118,989		$	1,783,788
Equity investments in affiliates	—		19,194		—			3,715		—		—			$	22,909
Capital expenditures	25,746		10,373		22,973			3,573		884		(2,984		)	$	60,565
Depreciation and amortization	27,652		9,527		13,542			1,564		5,012		60			$	57,357

Schedule of geographical split of the Company's net sales, based on the location of the customers, and property plant equipment

The geographic split of the Company's net sales, based on the location of the customer, and property, plant and equipment were as follows:

	Year Ended December 31,
	2012		2011		2010
Net sales:
United States	$	1,283,066	$	1,092,838	$	825,371
China	229,996		286,121		250,981
Other foreign countries	1,340,305		1,315,650		993,820
Total	$	2,853,367	$	2,694,609	$	2,070,172

	December 31,
	2012			2011			2010
Property, plant and equipment, net:
United States	$	170,831		$	149,637		$	149,185
China	92,744			96,374			87,722
Other foreign countries	223,050			224,801			242,084
Eliminations	(389		)	(361		)	(425		)
Total	$	486,236		$	470,451		$	478,566