SEGMENT INFORMATION (Textual) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended			12 Months Ended						3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended			3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2012 segment	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2012 Europe Welding	Dec. 31, 2011 Europe Welding	Dec. 31, 2010 Europe Welding	Jun. 30, 2011 Asia Pacific Welding	Dec. 31, 2012 Asia Pacific Welding	Dec. 31, 2011 Asia Pacific Welding	Dec. 31, 2010 Asia Pacific Welding	Jun. 30, 2012 South America Welding	Dec. 31, 2012 South America Welding	Dec. 31, 2010 South America Welding	Dec. 31, 2010 The Harris Products Group	Dec. 31, 2012 North America Welding	Dec. 31, 2012 United States	Dec. 31, 2011 United States	Dec. 31, 2010 United States	Dec. 31, 2012 Revenues Customer concentration risk Maximum	Dec. 31, 2011 Revenues Customer concentration risk Maximum	Dec. 31, 2010 Revenues Customer concentration risk Maximum
Financial information for the reportable segments
Number of operating segments (segments)				5
Percentage of total inventories valued using the LIFO method (as a percent)	34.00%			34.00%	31.00%	30.00%
Special items
Special items, net charges for rationalization actions	$ 5,037	$ 3,059	$ 1,258	$ 9,354	$ 282	$ (384)	$ 3,637	$ 188	$ 1,990	$ (75)	$ 3,151	$ 93	$ 427	$ 1,381				$ 827
Special items, gain (loss) on the sale of assets at a rationalized operation				103			103	(204)				203	4,555
Asset Impairment Charges				1,842					496		1,842		387
Special items, increased employee severance obligation requirements															1,381
Special items, charge for the impact resulting from the change in functional currency to the U.S. dollar and devaluation of the Venezuelan currency																3,123
Special items, net charge related to environmental costs associated with the sale of property at a rationalized operation																	871
Export sales excluding intercompany sales																			$ 268,331	$ 242,380	$ 197,057
Percentage of concentration of credit risk not met other than separately disclosed																						10.00%	10.00%	10.00%