Fair Value (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended			3 Months Ended		12 Months Ended															12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009	Dec. 31, 2011 SPX Heat Transfer Inc.	Jul. 02, 2011 SPX Heat Transfer Inc.	Dec. 31, 2011 SPX Heat Transfer Inc.	Dec. 31, 2009 Service Solutions	Dec. 31, 2011 Industrial Products and Services	Dec. 31, 2009 Industrial Products and Services	Dec. 31, 2011 Thermal Equipment and Services reportable segment	Dec. 31, 2010 Thermal Equipment and Services reportable segment	Dec. 31, 2009 Thermal Equipment and Services reportable segment	Dec. 31, 2011 Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1) Current assets	Dec. 31, 2010 Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1) Current assets	Dec. 31, 2011 Significant Observable Inputs (Level 2) Current assets	Dec. 31, 2010 Significant Observable Inputs (Level 2) Current assets	Dec. 31, 2011 Significant Observable Inputs (Level 2) Current liabilities - FX forward contracts and FX embedded derivatives	Dec. 31, 2010 Significant Observable Inputs (Level 2) Current liabilities - FX forward contracts and FX embedded derivatives	Dec. 31, 2011 Significant Observable Inputs (Level 2) Long-term liabilities - FX embedded derivatives	Dec. 31, 2010 Significant Observable Inputs (Level 2) Long-term liabilities - FX embedded derivatives	Dec. 31, 2009 Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)	Dec. 31, 2011 Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) Current assets	Dec. 31, 2010 Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) Current assets
Assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis
Certain investments in equity securities that are not readily marketable, fair value																						$ 7.8	$ 8.5
Fair value of derivative liability																	1.9	6.1	14.8	33.2
Goodwill, Impairment Loss	20.8			3.6	17.2	20.8	187.7			20.8
Indefinite-lived intangible assets impairment loss					7.5							6.1
Fair value of FX embedded derivatives, FX forward contracts and commodity contracts															1.2	4.1
Fair value of investment in equity securities and available-for-sale securities													5.2	12.8
Fair value of assets after impairment, held by a business			8.9
Impairment charges to write off the net book value of assets in connection with the closing of a facility	6.5
Reconciliation of investment in equity securities measured at fair value using significant unobservable inputs
Balance at beginning of year	8.5
Purchases		9.8
Losses included in income from discontinued operations	(0.7)	(1.3)
Balance at end of year	7.8	8.5
Fair value of assets and liabilities
Special charges relating to asset impairments	8.2	6.8	9.3		24.7			1.7	0.1		4.0	5.5
Impairment charges							1.0	0.8		7.5	1.7										188.7
Fair value of asset		4.7			22.6
Fair value of debt instruments	2,099.1
Carrying value of debt instruments	2,001.1
Pre-tax impairment charges recorded to Gain (loss) on disposition of discontinued operations, net of tax			$ 20.8