Acquisitions, Discontinued Operations and Formation of Shanghai Electric JV (Details 2) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended					3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended	3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012 USD ($)	Sep. 29, 2012 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2012 USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2012 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2011 USD ($)	Oct. 01, 2011 USD ($)	Jul. 02, 2011 USD ($)	Apr. 02, 2011 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2012 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2011 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2010 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2011 January 2012 CNY	Dec. 31, 2012 December 2012 CNY	Mar. 31, 2012 Shanghai Electric JV USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2011 Shanghai Electric JV CNY	Dec. 31, 2012 SPX Service Solutions ("Service Solutions") USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2012 SPX Service Solutions ("Service Solutions") USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2010 Cooling Spain Packaging business ("Cooling Spain") USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2010 Cooling Spain Packaging business ("Cooling Spain") EUR (€)	Dec. 31, 2010 P.S.D., Inc. ("PSD") USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2012 Other businesses sold prior to the earliest date presented in the financial statements USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2011 Other businesses sold prior to the earliest date presented in the financial statements USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2010 Other businesses sold prior to the earliest date presented in the financial statements USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2012 Tianyu USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2012 Tianyu CNY	Dec. 31, 2012 Weil McLain Shandong USD ($)
Sale of discontinued operations
Gain (loss) on disposition of discontinued operations, net of tax									$ 313.4	$ 0.3	$ 11.7					$ 313.4	$ 313.4	$ (1.9)		$ 3.6				$ (1.8)		$ 2.2
Impairment charges									3.4	8.2	6.8
Interest acquired in joint venture (as a percent)															45.00%
Dispositions, consideration received												51.5	25.8
Dispositions, consideration to be received															96.7
Net gain associated with deconsolidation				20.5					20.5					20.5
Cash transferred with the business in sale of discontinued operation																		2.3						1.1		3.1
Cash consideration received upon sale of discontinued operation																	1,134.9		1.0	3.0					1.0	2.7
Adjustment to gain (loss) on sale of discontinued operations, net of tax																					(0.4)	0.4	2.7
Recognition of income tax benefits to discontinuing operations											7.3
Income from discontinued operations and related income taxes
Income from discontinued operations									600.0	46.8	19.9
Income tax (expense) benefit									(259.6)	(16.8)	4.9
Income from discontinued operations, net of tax	320.0	6.1	9.7	4.6	5.0	11.5	9.5	4.0	340.4	30.0	24.8
Results of operations for businesses reported as discontinued operations
Revenues									825.0	925.0	793.9
Pre-tax income									44.4	49.8	20.6
Assets:
Accounts receivable, net					195.1					195.1
Inventories					132.4					132.4
Other current assets					10.4					10.4
Property, plant and equipment, net					49.2					49.2
Goodwill and intangibles, net					285.8					285.8
Other assets					58.7					58.7
Assets of discontinued operations					731.6					731.6
Liabilities:
Accounts payable					111.9					111.9
Accrued expenses					114.1					114.1
Income taxes payable					1.5					1.5
Deferred and other income taxes					6.6					6.6
Other liabilities					7.6					7.6
Liabilities of discontinued operations					$ 241.7					$ 241.7