Consolidated Statements of Operations (USD $) In Millions, except Share data in Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Consolidated Statements of Operations
Revenues	$ 5,100.2	$ 4,536.9	$ 4,098.8
Costs and expenses:
Cost of products sold	3,725.2	3,262.2	2,867.2
Selling, general and administrative	1,020.9	911.3	858.2
Intangible amortization	35.1	23.3	20.7
Impairment of goodwill and other long-term assets	285.9	28.3	1.7
Special charges, net	24.1	25.3	30.7
Operating income	9.0	286.5	320.3
Other income (expense), net	14.0	(53.6)	(19.7)
Interest expense	(114.4)	(97.0)	(86.9)
Interest income	6.3	5.6	5.3
Loss on early extinguishment of interest rate protection agreements and term loan			(25.6)
Equity earnings in joint ventures	38.6	28.4	30.2
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes	(46.5)	169.9	223.6
Income tax provision	(31.9)	(14.3)	(45.6)
Income (loss) from continuing operations	(78.4)	155.6	178.0
Income from discontinued operations, net of tax	27.0	29.7	13.1
Gain on disposition of discontinued operations, net of tax	313.4	0.3	11.7
Income from discontinued operations, net of tax	340.4	30.0	24.8
Net income	262.0	185.6	202.8
Less: Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests	2.8	5.0	(2.8)
Net income attributable to SPX Corporation common shareholders	259.2	180.6	205.6
Amounts attributable to SPX Corporation common shareholders:
Income (loss) from continuing operations, net of tax	(81.2)	150.6	180.8
Income from discontinued operations, net of tax	340.4	30.0	24.8
Net income	$ 259.2	$ 180.6	$ 205.6
Basic income (loss) per share of common stock:
Income (loss) from continuing operations attributable to SPX Corporation common shareholders (in dollars per share)	$ (1.62)	$ 2.98	$ 3.64
Income from discontinued operations attributable to SPX Corporation common shareholders (in dollars per share)	$ 6.80	$ 0.60	$ 0.50
Net income per share attributable to SPX Corporation common shareholders (in dollars per share)	$ 5.18	$ 3.58	$ 4.14
Weighted-average number of common shares outstanding - basic (in shares)	50,031	50,499	49,718
Diluted income (loss) per share of common stock:
Income (loss) from continuing operations attributable to SPX Corporation common shareholders (in dollars per share)	$ (1.62)	$ 2.96	$ 3.59
Income from discontinued operations attributable to SPX Corporation common shareholders (in dollars per share)	$ 6.80	$ 0.58	$ 0.49
Net income per share attributable to SPX Corporation common shareholders (in dollars per share)	$ 5.18	$ 3.54	$ 4.08
Weighted-average number of common shares outstanding - diluted (in shares)	50,031	50,946	50,347