Segment and Geographic Area Information, Sales by Country of Origin (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014	Sep. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2014	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2013	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Schedule of Entity Wide Information About Geographic Areas [Line Items]
Net sales	$ 946,145,000	$ 884,122,000	$ 885,175,000	$ 834,052,000	$ 889,173,000	$ 827,810,000	$ 784,010,000	$ 737,135,000	$ 3,549,494,000	$ 3,238,128,000	$ 2,993,489,000
Long Lived Assets	165,636,000				171,423,000				165,636,000	171,423,000	160,717,000
Export sales [Abstract]
Export sales from the United States									477,000,000	479,000,000	459,000,000
Geographic Areas, Revenues from External Customers [Abstract]
Minimum percent of total sales generated in Canada									5.00%
Sales to Customers Outside the US									1,281,881,000	1,252,772,000	1,214,410,000
Sales [Member]
Schedule of Entity Wide Information About Geographic Areas [Line Items]
Sales to unaffiliated customers									3,549,494,000	3,238,128,000	2,993,489,000
Sales between geographic areas									0	0	0
Net sales									3,549,494,000	3,238,128,000	2,993,489,000
United States [Member]
Schedule of Entity Wide Information About Geographic Areas [Line Items]
Long Lived Assets	134,855,000				135,157,000				134,855,000	135,157,000	125,015,000
United States [Member] | Sales [Member]
Schedule of Entity Wide Information About Geographic Areas [Line Items]
Sales to unaffiliated customers									2,661,470,000	2,400,592,000	2,174,443,000
Sales between geographic areas									159,049,000	141,529,000	140,864,000
Net sales									2,820,519,000	2,542,121,000	2,315,307,000
Canada [Member]
Export sales [Abstract]
Export sales from the United States (in hundredths)									16.00%
Geographic Areas, Revenues from External Customers [Abstract]
Sales to Customers Outside the US									209,237,000	215,077,000	202,550,000
Non-U.S. [Member]
Schedule of Entity Wide Information About Geographic Areas [Line Items]
Long Lived Assets	30,781,000				36,266,000				30,781,000	36,266,000	35,702,000
Non-U.S. [Member] | Sales [Member]
Schedule of Entity Wide Information About Geographic Areas [Line Items]
Sales to unaffiliated customers									888,024,000	837,536,000	819,046,000
Sales between geographic areas									119,175,000	121,431,000	111,813,000
Net sales									1,007,199,000	958,967,000	930,859,000
Europe [Member]
Export sales [Abstract]
Export sales from the United States (in hundredths)									18.00%
Geographic Areas, Revenues from External Customers [Abstract]
Sales to Customers Outside the US									518,893,000	493,670,000	478,032,000
Eliminations [Member]
Schedule of Entity Wide Information About Geographic Areas [Line Items]
Long Lived Assets	0				0				0	0	0
Eliminations [Member] | Sales [Member]
Schedule of Entity Wide Information About Geographic Areas [Line Items]
Sales to unaffiliated customers									0	0	0
Sales between geographic areas									(278,224,000)	(262,960,000)	(252,677,000)
Net sales									(278,224,000)	(262,960,000)	(252,677,000)
Asia [Member]
Export sales [Abstract]
Export sales from the United States (in hundredths)									36.00%
Geographic Areas, Revenues from External Customers [Abstract]
Sales to Customers Outside the US									320,326,000	314,621,000	315,217,000
Middle East [Member]
Export sales [Abstract]
Export sales from the United States (in hundredths)									13.00%
Geographic Areas, Revenues from External Customers [Abstract]
Sales to Customers Outside the US									91,050,000	90,011,000	86,450,000
Rest of the World [Member]
Geographic Areas, Revenues from External Customers [Abstract]
Sales to Customers Outside the US									142,375,000	139,393,000	132,161,000
South Pacific [Member]
Export sales [Abstract]
Export sales from the United States (in hundredths)									5.00%
South America [Member]
Export sales [Abstract]
Export sales from the United States (in hundredths)									6.00%
Other Geographical Area [Member]
Export sales [Abstract]
Export sales from the United States (in hundredths)									6.00%
Industrial Technology [Member]
Schedule of Entity Wide Information About Geographic Areas [Line Items]
Net sales									827,145,000	779,564,000	795,240,000
Geographic Areas, Revenues from External Customers [Abstract]
Sales to Customers Outside the US									320,017,000	314,208,000	311,190,000
Industrial Technology [Member] | Canada [Member]
Geographic Areas, Revenues from External Customers [Abstract]
Sales to Customers Outside the US									106,598,000	109,361,000	94,035,000
Industrial Technology [Member] | Europe [Member]
Geographic Areas, Revenues from External Customers [Abstract]
Sales to Customers Outside the US									121,909,000	108,644,000	104,105,000
Industrial Technology [Member] | Asia [Member]
Geographic Areas, Revenues from External Customers [Abstract]
Sales to Customers Outside the US									61,552,000	65,622,000	75,113,000
Industrial Technology [Member] | Middle East [Member]
Geographic Areas, Revenues from External Customers [Abstract]
Sales to Customers Outside the US									3,824,000	3,865,000	3,846,000
Industrial Technology [Member] | Rest of the World [Member]
Geographic Areas, Revenues from External Customers [Abstract]
Sales to Customers Outside the US									26,134,000	26,716,000	34,091,000
Energy Systems And Controls [Member]
Schedule of Entity Wide Information About Geographic Areas [Line Items]
Net sales									691,813,000	651,920,000	646,116,000
Geographic Areas, Revenues from External Customers [Abstract]
Sales to Customers Outside the US									453,920,000	440,401,000	426,334,000
Energy Systems And Controls [Member] | Canada [Member]
Geographic Areas, Revenues from External Customers [Abstract]
Sales to Customers Outside the US									31,831,000	34,260,000	39,836,000
Energy Systems And Controls [Member] | Europe [Member]
Geographic Areas, Revenues from External Customers [Abstract]
Sales to Customers Outside the US									157,391,000	153,807,000	148,360,000
Energy Systems And Controls [Member] | Asia [Member]
Geographic Areas, Revenues from External Customers [Abstract]
Sales to Customers Outside the US									143,524,000	136,934,000	121,997,000
Energy Systems And Controls [Member] | Middle East [Member]
Geographic Areas, Revenues from External Customers [Abstract]
Sales to Customers Outside the US									42,988,000	32,444,000	47,866,000
Energy Systems And Controls [Member] | Rest of the World [Member]
Geographic Areas, Revenues from External Customers [Abstract]
Sales to Customers Outside the US									78,186,000	82,956,000	68,275,000
Medical and Scientific Imaging [Member]
Schedule of Entity Wide Information About Geographic Areas [Line Items]
Net sales									1,080,309,000	902,281,000	703,835,000
Geographic Areas, Revenues from External Customers [Abstract]
Sales to Customers Outside the US									356,674,000	325,044,000	319,138,000
Medical and Scientific Imaging [Member] | Canada [Member]
Geographic Areas, Revenues from External Customers [Abstract]
Sales to Customers Outside the US									24,997,000	25,502,000	21,308,000
Medical and Scientific Imaging [Member] | Europe [Member]
Geographic Areas, Revenues from External Customers [Abstract]
Sales to Customers Outside the US									185,263,000	168,394,000	161,075,000
Medical and Scientific Imaging [Member] | Asia [Member]
Geographic Areas, Revenues from External Customers [Abstract]
Sales to Customers Outside the US									107,695,000	103,931,000	111,642,000
Medical and Scientific Imaging [Member] | Middle East [Member]
Geographic Areas, Revenues from External Customers [Abstract]
Sales to Customers Outside the US									9,997,000	9,361,000	4,613,000
Medical and Scientific Imaging [Member] | Rest of the World [Member]
Geographic Areas, Revenues from External Customers [Abstract]
Sales to Customers Outside the US									28,722,000	17,856,000	20,500,000
RF Technology [Member]
Schedule of Entity Wide Information About Geographic Areas [Line Items]
Net sales									950,227,000	904,363,000	848,298,000
Geographic Areas, Revenues from External Customers [Abstract]
Sales to Customers Outside the US									151,270,000	173,119,000	157,746,000
RF Technology [Member] | Canada [Member]
Geographic Areas, Revenues from External Customers [Abstract]
Sales to Customers Outside the US									45,811,000	45,954,000	47,371,000
RF Technology [Member] | Europe [Member]
Geographic Areas, Revenues from External Customers [Abstract]
Sales to Customers Outside the US									54,330,000	62,825,000	64,492,000
RF Technology [Member] | Asia [Member]
Geographic Areas, Revenues from External Customers [Abstract]
Sales to Customers Outside the US									7,555,000	8,134,000	6,465,000
RF Technology [Member] | Middle East [Member]
Geographic Areas, Revenues from External Customers [Abstract]
Sales to Customers Outside the US									34,241,000	44,341,000	30,125,000
RF Technology [Member] | Rest of the World [Member]
Geographic Areas, Revenues from External Customers [Abstract]
Sales to Customers Outside the US									9,333,000	11,865,000	9,293,000
Corporate [Member]
Schedule of Entity Wide Information About Geographic Areas [Line Items]
Net sales									$ 0	$ 0	$ 0