Income Taxes (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Oct. 01, 2011	Jul. 02, 2011	Apr. 02, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Oct. 02, 2010	Jul. 04, 2010	Apr. 03, 2010	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009	Dec. 31, 2008
Income (loss) from continuing operations before taxes and noncontrolling interests [Abstract]
Domestic									$ 2,143	$ 32,493	$ (54,041)
Foreign									328,973	373,040	14,326
Income (loss) before taxes									331,116	405,533	(39,715)
Current income tax expense:
Federal									10,968	9,823	817
State and local									(801)	2,434	505
Foreign									66,844	59,459	28,435
Total current income tax expense									77,011	71,716	29,757
Deferred income tax expense:
Federal									6,188	(949)	(6,332)
State and local									(2,286)	2,108	286
Foreign	6,538	0	0	(10,024)	59,484	0	0	0	10,206	(27,635)	(6,911)
Total deferred income tax expense									14,108	(26,476)	(12,957)
Total income tax expense									91,119	45,240	16,800
Deferred tax assets:
Pension and other retiree obligations	48,810				44,054				48,810	44,054
Inventories	10,711				11,346				10,711	11,346
Net operating loss carryforwards	106,621				158,264				106,621	158,264
Tax credit carryforwards	11,225				11,871				11,225	11,871
Other accruals and reserves	40,494				53,369				40,494	53,369
Total gross deferred tax assets	217,861				278,904				217,861	278,904
Less valuation allowance	(102,863)				(145,201)				(102,863)	(145,201)
Deferred tax assets, net	114,998				133,703				114,998	133,703
Deferred tax liabilities:
Tax over book depreciation	(16,208)				(20,425)				(16,208)	(20,425)
Earnings not permanently reinvested	(25,960)				(39,074)				(25,960)	(39,074)
Convertible debentures	(105,830)				(64,440)				(105,830)	(64,440)
Other - net	(2,515)				(2,572)				(2,515)	(2,572)
Total gross deferred tax liabilities	(150,513)				(126,511)				(150,513)	(126,511)
Net deferred tax assets	(35,515)				7,192				(35,515)	7,192
Reconciliation of income tax expense at federal statutory rate to actual income tax provision [Abstract]
Tax at statutory rate									115,891	141,937	(13,900)
State income taxes, net of U.S. federal tax benefit									(2,005)	2,952	513
Effect of foreign operations									(52,609)	(69,034)	14,731
Unrecognized tax benefits									4,869	(1,823)	1,395
Tax benefit of operating loss carryforwards									(1,588)	(8,799)	(2,158)
Foreign income taxable in the U.S.									22,822	31,294	976
Tax on foreign dividends paid to U.S.									15,453	1,417	0
U.S. foreign tax credits									(12,322)	0	0
Effect of statutory rate changes on deferred tax assets									9,040	1,128	1,995
Settlement agreement gain									0	0	(9,868)
Non-deductible expenses related to VPG spin-off									0	1,945	1,265
Executive employment agreement charge									173	222	20,238
Other									(3,051)	1,901	898
Total income tax expense									91,119	45,240	16,800
Net operating loss carryforwards [Abstract]
Tax benefit recognized through a reduction of acquisition-date valuation allowances recorded as a reduction of tax expense									4,299	567	980
Income tax uncertainties [Abstract]
Additional expected repatriation									72,110			112,500
Net income taxes paid (refunded)									126,918	23,322	(4,714)
Company accrued interest and penalties related to the unrecognized tax benefits	5,764				2,962				5,764	2,962
Company recognized interest and penalties.									3,795	1,081	1,139
Unrecognized tax benefits [Roll Forward]
Balance at beginning of year				54,285				54,463	54,285	54,463	47,778
Addition based on tax positions related to the current year									2,459	1,916	2,491
Addition based on tax positions related to prior years									10,918	3,090	4,684
Currency translation adjustments									(922)	451	417
Reduction based on tax positions related to prior years									(3,293)	(670)	0
Reduction for settlements									(9,604)	(3,289)	(737)
Reduction for lapses of statute of limitation									(35)	(1,676)	(170)
Balance at end of year	53,808				54,285				53,808	54,285	54,463	47,778
Investments in Foreign Subsidiaries and Foreign Corporate Joint Ventures that are Essentially Permanent in Duration [Member]
Income tax uncertainties [Abstract]
Foreign earnings without provision for US Tax	2,493,797								2,493,797
Federal Alternative Minimum Tax [Member]
Available tax credit carryforwards [Abstract]
Expires									No expiration
Tax Credit Carryforward	4,696								4,696
California Research Credit [Member]
Available tax credit carryforwards [Abstract]
Expires									No expiration
Tax Credit Carryforward	6,834								6,834
U.S. Foreign Tax Credit [Member]
Available tax credit carryforwards [Abstract]
Expires									2020
Tax Credit Carryforward	1,198								1,198
AUSTRIA [Member]
Net operating loss carryforwards [Abstract]
Net operating loss carryforward	7,876								7,876
Expiration date									No expiration
BELGIUM [Member]
Net operating loss carryforwards [Abstract]
Net operating loss carryforward	184,610								184,610
Expiration date									No expiration
BRAZIL [Member]
Net operating loss carryforwards [Abstract]
Net operating loss carryforward	19,674								19,674
Expiration date									No expiration
Germany [Member]
Net operating loss carryforwards [Abstract]
Net operating loss carryforward	46,098								46,098
Expiration date									No expiration
Israel [Member]
Net operating loss carryforwards [Abstract]
Net operating loss carryforward	128,425								128,425
Expiration date									No expiration
NETHERLANDS [Member]
Net operating loss carryforwards [Abstract]
Net operating loss carryforward	42,791								42,791
Expiration date									2012 - 2019
Tax benefit recognized through a reduction of acquisition-date valuation allowances recorded as a reduction of tax expense									16,495
BCcomponents acquisition [Member] | BELGIUM [Member]
Net operating loss carryforwards [Abstract]
Net operating loss carryforward	69,144								69,144
Valuation allowances									23,502	44,790
U.S. Deferred Tax Asset [Member]
Reconciliation of income tax expense at federal statutory rate to actual income tax provision [Abstract]
Change in valuation allowance on deferred tax asset									0	(36,229)	0
Israeli Deferred Tax Asset [Member]
Reconciliation of income tax expense at federal statutory rate to actual income tax provision [Abstract]
Change in valuation allowance on deferred tax asset									$ (5,554)	$ (21,671)	$ 715