Reportable Business Segments and International Operations (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2013	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2012	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2013 item	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Reportable Business Segments and International Operations
Number of reportable business segments									2
Segment reporting information
Net sales	$ 1,245,735	$ 1,153,062	$ 1,136,067	$ 1,079,805	$ 1,145,978	$ 1,103,376	$ 1,061,107	$ 981,604	$ 4,614,669	$ 4,292,065	$ 3,939,786
Depreciation and amortization									136,482	121,779	119,439
Segment operating income	241,360	224,483	224,013	206,957	221,220	215,670	206,176	185,279	896,813	828,345	751,678
Segment assets (excluding goodwill)	3,813,350				3,005,122				3,813,350	3,005,122	2,437,412
Additions to property, plant and equipment									156,740	128,880	100,029
Interconnect Products and Assemblies
Segment reporting information
Depreciation and amortization									123,378	107,466	107,021
Segment operating income									931,003	858,066	787,323
Segment assets (excluding goodwill)	3,648,027				2,870,280				3,648,027	2,870,280	2,333,249
Additions to property, plant and equipment									154,773	125,527	97,459
Cable Products and Solutions
Segment reporting information
Depreciation and amortization									2,936	2,419	3,177
Segment operating income									46,354	41,139	34,813
Segment assets (excluding goodwill)	165,323				134,842				165,323	134,842	104,163
Additions to property, plant and equipment									1,967	3,353	2,570
External
Segment reporting information
Net sales									4,614,669	4,292,065	3,939,786
Segment operating income									977,357	899,205	822,136
External | Interconnect Products and Assemblies
Segment reporting information
Net sales									4,268,980	3,987,286	3,666,042
External | Cable Products and Solutions
Segment reporting information
Net sales									345,689	304,779	273,744
Inter-Segment
Segment reporting information
Net sales									24,911	24,485	28,763
Inter-Segment | Interconnect Products and Assemblies
Segment reporting information
Net sales									5,460	4,928	5,645
Inter-Segment | Cable Products and Solutions
Segment reporting information
Net sales									$ 19,451	$ 19,557	$ 23,118