Information on Reportable Segments and Other Operating Segments (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 29, 2012	Jun. 30, 2012	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Oct. 01, 2011	Jul. 02, 2011	Apr. 02, 2011	Dec. 31, 2012 item	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Business segment
Estimated sales revenue percentage generated from emerging market									30.00%
Number of reportable segments									2
Revenues:
Revenues	$ 1,435.7	$ 1,242.7	$ 1,258.1	$ 1,163.7	$ 1,258.1	$ 1,162.7	$ 1,134.2	$ 981.9	$ 5,100.2	$ 4,536.9	$ 4,098.8
Income:
Total income for reportable and other operating segments									505.9	520.6	533.2
Corporate and other expenses
Corporate expense									108.8	105.9	98.4
Pension and postretirement expense									38.7	35.4	52.2
Stock-based compensation expense									39.4	39.2	29.9
Special charges, net									24.1	25.3	30.7
Impairment of goodwill and other long-term assets									285.9	28.3	1.7
Operating income									9.0	286.5	320.3
Capital expenditures:
Capital expenditures									84.3	147.0	70.9
Depreciation and amortization:
Depreciation and amortization									111.8	87.7	81.9
Identifiable assets:
Identifiable assets	7,130.1				7,391.8				7,130.1	7,391.8	5,993.3
Tangible Long-Lived Assets:
Total tangible long-lived assets	1,478.7				1,466.5				1,478.7	1,466.5	1,210.7
United States
Revenues:
Revenues									2,436.4	2,237.7	2,024.1
Germany
Revenues:
Revenues									358.5	387.6	413.4
China
Revenues:
Revenues									232.3	263.0	347.8
South Africa
Revenues:
Revenues									322.4	281.4	241.5
United Kingdom
Revenues:
Revenues									545.2	239.7	219.1
Other foreign countries
Revenues:
Revenues									1,205.4	1,127.5	852.9
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									10.4	10.3	9.6
Continuing operations
Tangible Long-Lived Assets:
Total tangible long-lived assets	1,478.7				1,358.6				1,478.7	1,358.6	1,093.4
Continuing operations | United States
Tangible Long-Lived Assets:
Total tangible long-lived assets	1,168.5				1,075.1				1,168.5	1,075.1	854.8
Continuing operations | Other foreign countries
Tangible Long-Lived Assets:
Total tangible long-lived assets	310.2				283.5				310.2	283.5	238.6
Discontinued operations
Identifiable assets:
Identifiable assets					731.6					731.6	697.6
Tangible Long-Lived Assets:
Total tangible long-lived assets					107.9					107.9	117.3
Flow Technology reportable segment
Revenues:
Revenues									2,682.2	2,042.0	1,662.2
Income:
Total income for reportable and other operating segments									285.1	268.4	215.6
Corporate and other expenses
Special charges, net									18.9	10.5	11.7
Capital expenditures:
Capital expenditures									25.6	59.6	23.2
Depreciation and amortization:
Depreciation and amortization									63.8	41.1	36.5
Identifiable assets:
Identifiable assets	3,611.2				3,359.9				3,611.2	3,359.9	2,098.0
Thermal Equipment and Services reportable segment
Revenues:
Revenues									1,490.9	1,636.4	1,593.2
Income:
Total income for reportable and other operating segments									106.7	142.5	194.2
Corporate and other expenses
Special charges, net									7.6	2.9	16.2
Capital expenditures:
Capital expenditures									10.9	12.2	13.0
Depreciation and amortization:
Depreciation and amortization									22.0	24.0	24.2
Identifiable assets:
Identifiable assets	1,445.4				1,820.5				1,445.4	1,820.5	1,804.1
Industrial Products and Services
Revenues:
Revenues									927.1	858.5	843.4
Income:
Total income for reportable and other operating segments									114.1	109.7	123.4
Corporate and other expenses
Special charges, net									1.0	4.3	0.5
Capital expenditures:
Capital expenditures									21.9	60.1	14.4
Depreciation and amortization:
Depreciation and amortization									19.9	15.6	15.4
Identifiable assets:
Identifiable assets	794.4				774.3				794.4	774.3	664.4
General corporate
Capital expenditures:
Capital expenditures									25.9	15.1	20.3
Depreciation and amortization:
Depreciation and amortization									6.1	7.0	5.8
Identifiable assets:
Identifiable assets	$ 1,279.1				$ 705.5				$ 1,279.1	$ 705.5	$ 729.2
Minimum
Business segment
Number of countries in which entity operates	35								35
Number of countries in which entity sells its products and services									150
Maximum | Revenue | Revenue by Customer
Business segment
Threshold percentage of revenue accounted for by a single customer	10.00%								10.00%