Consolidated Statements of Operations (USD $) In Millions, except Share data in Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009
Revenues	$ 4,551.4	$ 4,113.9	$ 4,175.1
Costs and expenses:
Cost of products sold	3,273.6	2,879.6	2,911.0
Selling, general and administrative	915.0	860.7	819.7
Intangible amortization	23.3	20.7	14.3
Impairment of goodwill and other intangible assets	28.3	1.7	6.1
Special charges, net	25.3	30.7	49.5
Operating income	285.9	320.5	374.5
Other expense, net	(53.7)	(19.8)	(21.5)
Interest expense	(97.0)	(86.9)	(91.9)
Interest income	5.6	5.3	7.4
Loss on early extinguishment of interest rate protection agreements and term loan		(25.6)
Equity earnings in joint ventures	28.4	30.2	29.4
Income from continuing operations before income taxes	169.2	223.7	297.9
Income tax provision	(14.3)	(45.7)	(73.7)
Income from continuing operations	154.9	178.0	224.2
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax	30.4	13.1	(181.6)
Gain (loss) on disposition of discontinued operations, net of tax	0.3	11.7	(26.4)
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax	30.7	24.8	(208.0)
Net income	185.6	202.8	16.2
Less: Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests	5.0	(2.8)	(15.5)
Net income attributable to SPX Corporation common shareholders	180.6	205.6	31.7
Amounts attributable to SPX Corporation common shareholders:
Income from continuing operations, net of tax	149.9	180.8	222.4
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax	30.7	24.8	(190.7)
Net income	$ 180.6	$ 205.6	$ 31.7
Basic income per share of common stock:
Income from continuing operations attributable to SPX Corporation common shareholders (in dollars per share)	$ 2.97	$ 3.64	$ 4.50
Income (loss) from discontinued operations attributable to SPX Corporation common shareholders (in dollars per share)	$ 0.61	$ 0.50	$ (3.86)
Net income per share attributable to SPX Corporation common shareholders (in dollars per share)	$ 3.58	$ 4.14	$ 0.64
Weighted-average number of common shares outstanding - basic (in shares)	50,499	49,718	49,363
Diluted income per share of common stock:
Income from continuing operations attributable to SPX Corporation common shareholders (in dollars per share)	$ 2.94	$ 3.59	$ 4.47
Income (loss) from discontinued operations attributable to SPX Corporation common shareholders (in dollars per share)	$ 0.60	$ 0.49	$ (3.83)
Net income per share attributable to SPX Corporation common shareholders (in dollars per share)	$ 3.54	$ 4.08	$ 0.64
Weighted-average number of common shares outstanding - diluted (in shares)	50,946	50,347	49,797