Consolidated Statements of Operations (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009
Net sales
Product Sales	$ 1,824,310	$ 1,524,083	$ 1,304,713
Service Sales	485,018	444,095	424,140
Total Net Sales	2,309,328	1,968,178	1,728,853
Cost of sales
Products Cost of Sales	796,874	662,314	583,998
Service Cost of Sales	294,180	268,668	255,518
Gross profit	1,218,274	1,037,196	889,337
Research and development	116,139	97,028	89,685
Selling, general and administrative	703,632	588,726	505,177
Amortization	17,808	14,842	11,844
Interest Expense	23,226	20,057	25,117
Restructuring Charges	5,912	4,866	31,368
Other Charges (Income), Net	2,380	4,164	1,384
Earnings Before Taxes	349,177	307,513	224,762
Provision for taxes	79,684	75,365	52,169
Net earnings	$ 269,493	$ 232,148	$ 172,593
Basic earnings per common share:
Net earnings	$ 8.45	$ 6.98	$ 5.12
Weighted average number of common shares	31,897,779	33,280,463	33,716,353
Diluted earnings per common share:
Net earnings	$ 8.21	$ 6.80	$ 5.03
Weighted average number of common and common equivalent shares	32,839,365	34,140,097	34,290,771