Reportable Business Segments and International Operations (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Sep. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2011	Mar. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Sep. 30, 2010	Jun. 30, 2010	Mar. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2011 Segment	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009
Reportable Business Segments and International Operations
Number of reportable business segments									2
Segment reporting information
Net sales - external	$ 948,709	$ 1,032,754	$ 1,017,738	$ 940,585	$ 949,886	$ 948,463	$ 884,798	$ 770,954	$ 3,939,786	$ 3,554,101	$ 2,820,065
Depreciation and amortization									119,439	102,846	98,524
Segment operating income									716,752	663,688	446,527
Segment assets	4,445,225				4,015,857				4,445,225	4,015,857	4,015,857
Total
Segment reporting information
Net sales - external									3,939,786	3,554,101	2,820,065
Net sales - intersegment									28,763	22,724	15,199
Depreciation and amortization									110,198	97,134	91,741
Segment operating income									822,136	761,418	544,523
Segment assets	2,437,412				2,337,599				2,437,412	2,337,599	1,700,875
Additions to property, plant and equipment									100,029	109,432	62,852
Interconnect Products and Assemblies
Segment reporting information
Net sales - external									3,666,042	3,293,119	2,566,578
Net sales - intersegment									5,645	3,002	3,158
Depreciation and amortization									107,021	93,641	88,027
Segment operating income									787,323	725,946	505,772
Segment assets	2,333,249				2,253,638				2,333,249	2,253,638	1,623,556
Additions to property, plant and equipment									97,459	106,267	61,001
Cable Products
Segment reporting information
Net sales - external									273,744	260,982	253,487
Net sales - intersegment									23,118	19,722	12,041
Depreciation and amortization									3,177	3,493	3,714
Segment operating income									34,813	35,472	38,751
Segment assets	104,163				83,961				104,163	83,961	77,319
Additions to property, plant and equipment									$ 2,570	$ 3,165	$ 1,851