Information on Reportable Segments and Other Operating Segments (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Oct. 01, 2011	Jul. 02, 2011	Apr. 02, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Oct. 02, 2010	Jul. 03, 2010	Apr. 03, 2010	Dec. 31, 2011 business segment	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009
Business segment
Number of remaining reportable segments									2
Number of businesses which are no longer reported within the former Test and Measurement Reportable Segment									2
Revenues:
Revenues	$ 1,263.7	$ 1,166.0	$ 1,136.8	$ 984.9	$ 1,115.9	$ 1,094.7	$ 989.9	$ 913.4	$ 4,551.4	$ 4,113.9	$ 4,175.1
Income:
Total income for reportable and other operating segments									520.0	533.4	580.9
Corporate and other expenses
Corporate expense									105.9	98.4	87.1
Pension and postretirement expense									35.4	52.2	37.2
Stock-based compensation expense									39.2	29.9	26.5
Special Charges, Net									25.3	30.7	49.5
Impairment of goodwill and other intangible assets									28.3	1.7	6.1
Operating income									285.9	320.5	374.5
Capital expenditures:
Capital expenditures									147.2	71.0	86.4
Depreciation and amortization:
Depreciation and amortization									87.8	81.9	75.3
Identifiable assets:
Identifiable assets	7,391.8				5,993.3				7,391.8	5,993.3	5,725.0
Tangible Long-Lived Assets:
Total tangible long-lived assets	1,466.5				1,210.7				1,466.5	1,210.7	989.1
United States
Revenues:
Revenues									2,237.7	2,024.1	2,102.3
Germany
Revenues:
Revenues									387.6	413.4	587.6
China
Revenues:
Revenues									277.5	362.9	272.3
South Africa
Revenues:
Revenues									281.4	241.5	138.1
United Kingdom
Revenues:
Revenues									239.7	219.1	229.5
Other foreign countries
Revenues:
Revenues									1,127.5	852.9	845.3
EGS Electrical Group, LLC and subsidiaries ("EGS")
Business segment
Percentage of interest held in joint venture	44.50%								44.50%
Depreciation and amortization:
Depreciation and amortization									10.3	9.6	8.8
Continuing operations
Tangible Long-Lived Assets:
Total tangible long-lived assets	1,359.1				1,094.0				1,359.1	1,094.0	892.6
Continuing operations | United States
Tangible Long-Lived Assets:
Total tangible long-lived assets	1,075.1				854.8				1,075.1	854.8	687.9
Continuing operations | Other foreign countries
Tangible Long-Lived Assets:
Total tangible long-lived assets	284.0				239.2				284.0	239.2	204.7
Discontinued operations
Identifiable assets:
Identifiable assets	720.1				686.3				720.1	686.3	657.2
Tangible Long-Lived Assets:
Total tangible long-lived assets	107.4				116.7				107.4	116.7	96.5
Flow Technology reportable segment
Revenues:
Revenues									2,042.0	1,662.2	1,634.1
Income:
Total income for reportable and other operating segments									268.4	215.6	210.9
Corporate and other expenses
Special Charges, Net									10.5	11.7	24.7
Capital expenditures:
Capital expenditures									59.6	23.2	17.6
Depreciation and amortization:
Depreciation and amortization									41.1	36.5	34.0
Identifiable assets:
Identifiable assets	3,359.9				2,098.0				3,359.9	2,098.0	1,988.3
Thermal Equipment and Services reportable segment
Business segment
Percentage of interest in South African subsidiary held by noncontrolling interest shareholder	25.10%								25.10%
Revenues:
Revenues									1,644.2	1,602.1	1,595.5
Income:
Total income for reportable and other operating segments									141.9	193.7	171.8
Corporate and other expenses
Special Charges, Net									2.9	16.2	13.9
Capital expenditures:
Capital expenditures									12.4	13.1	22.0
Depreciation and amortization:
Depreciation and amortization									24.0	24.2	21.0
Identifiable assets:
Identifiable assets	1,825.2				1,809.1				1,825.2	1,809.1	1,789.5
Industrial Products and Services
Revenues:
Revenues									865.2	849.6	945.5
Income:
Total income for reportable and other operating segments									109.7	124.1	198.2
Corporate and other expenses
Special Charges, Net									4.3	0.5	3.9
Capital expenditures:
Capital expenditures									60.1	14.4	11.8
Depreciation and amortization:
Depreciation and amortization									15.7	15.4	14.7
Identifiable assets:
Identifiable assets	781.1				670.7				781.1	670.7	714.0
General corporate
Capital expenditures:
Capital expenditures									15.1	20.3	35.0
Depreciation and amortization:
Depreciation and amortization									7.0	5.8	5.6
Identifiable assets:
Identifiable assets	$ 705.5				$ 729.2				$ 705.5	$ 729.2	$ 576.0
Minimum
Business segment
Number of countries in which entity operates	35								35
Maximum | Revenue | Revenue by Customer
Business segment
Threshold percentage of revenue accounted for by a single customer	10.00%								10.00%