Income Taxes (Details 2) (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2012 item	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Differences between the U.S. statutory federal tax rate and the Company's effective income tax rate
U.S. statutory federal tax rate (as a percent)		35.00%	35.00%	35.00%
State and local taxes (as a percent)		0.60%	0.40%	0.80%
Foreign earnings and dividends taxed at different rates (as a percent)		(7.90%)	(8.20%)	(11.50%)
Valuation allowance (as a percent)		(0.20%)	(0.20%)	(1.00%)
Tax impact of the delay in American Taxpayer Relief Act (as a percent)		1.50%
Other (as a percent)		(0.80%)	(0.80%)	1.00%
Effective tax rate (as a percent)		28.20%	26.20%	24.30%
Tax cost primarily related to delay of research and development credits and certain domestic taxes on foreign income that are part of tax provisions within American Taxpayer Relief Act	$ 11,300	$ 11,300
Net income per diluted common share resulting from the delay in the reinstatement of certain federal income tax provisions for the year 2012	$ 0.07	$ 0.07
Reductions in tax expense for tax reserve adjustments relating to the completion of the audit			4,493	20,700
Effective tax rate before adjustments (as a percent)		26.70%	26.80%	27.40%
Deferred tax assets relating to:
Accrued liabilities and reserves	21,841	21,841	16,363
Operating loss and tax credit carry forwards	17,967	17,967	18,270
Pensions, net	56,584	56,584	48,105
Inventory reserves	18,615	18,615	17,173
Employee benefits	30,298	30,298	29,760
Deferred tax assets, excluding the valuation allowance	145,305	145,305	129,671
Deferred tax liabilities relating to:
Goodwill	90,506	90,506	74,013
Depreciation	6,982	6,982	7,086
Contingent consideration	6,591	6,591	6,591
Deferred Tax Liabilities	104,079	104,079	87,690
Liability for unrecognized tax benefits, including penalties and interest, which if recognized would impact the effective tax rate	16,171	16,171	21,886
Reconciliation of the gross amounts of unrecognized tax benefits excluding interest and penalties
Unrecognized tax benefits at the beginning of the period		20,215	22,560	35,528
Gross increases and gross decreases for tax positions in prior periods		11,268	(64)	2,036
Gross increases - current period tax position		1,483	2,278	2,968
Settlements		(3,127)	(451)	(11,880)
Lapse of statute of limitations		(3,458)	(4,108)	(6,092)
Unrecognized tax benefits at the end of the period	26,381	26,381	20,215	22,560
Estimated interest and penalties included in provision for income taxes		315	566	4,566
Tax-related interest and penalties liability for unrecognized tax benefits	2,812	2,812	3,131	2,591
Minimum number of tax jurisdictions		60
Unrecognized tax benefits, anticipated adjustment for changing facts and circumstances, over the next twelve month period	$ 5,600	$ 5,600