Segment Reporting (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011	Dec. 31, 2011
Operations of the Company's operating segments
Net Sales to External Customers	$ 578,553	$ 601,114	$ 1,684,236	$ 1,660,968
Net Sales to Other Segments	0	0	0	0
Total net sales	578,553	601,114	1,684,236	1,660,968
Segment Profit	109,240	98,517	291,091	266,827
Goodwill	451,016	452,158	451,016	452,158	447,743
U.S. Operations [Member]
Operations of the Company's operating segments
Net Sales to External Customers	176,874	173,449	511,354	488,678
Net Sales to Other Segments	19,465	20,160	54,203	58,260
Total net sales	196,339	193,609	565,557	546,938
Segment profit	36,627	33,139	95,987	86,303
Goodwill	307,857	307,631	307,857	307,631
Swiss Operations [Member]
Operations of the Company's operating segments
Net Sales to External Customers	28,199	38,945	88,224	102,769
Net Sales to Other Segments	99,316	109,015	290,585	301,766
Total net sales	127,515	147,960	378,809	404,535
Segment profit	34,355	29,687	89,809	80,745
Goodwill	23,107	23,988	23,107	23,988
Western European Operations [Member]
Operations of the Company's operating segments
Net Sales to External Customers	149,785	173,367	459,074	493,646
Net Sales to Other Segments	25,828	27,693	74,513	79,370
Total net sales	175,613	201,060	533,587	573,016
Segment profit	22,045	26,273	62,288	65,349
Goodwill	104,337	104,823	104,337	104,823
Chinese Operations [Member]
Operations of the Company's operating segments
Net Sales to External Customers	113,323	105,053	313,096	275,611
Net Sales to Other Segments	35,552	26,866	91,487	91,636
Total net sales	148,875	131,919	404,583	367,247
Segment profit	33,067	27,065	89,316	82,197
Goodwill	713	707	713	707
Other Operations [Member]
Operations of the Company's operating segments
Net Sales to External Customers	110,372	110,300	312,488	300,264
Net Sales to Other Segments	1,500	1,981	4,494	4,316
Total net sales	111,872	112,281	316,982	304,580
Segment profit	12,211	15,058	31,041	35,165
Goodwill	15,002	15,009	15,002	15,009
Intersegment Elimination [Member]
Operations of the Company's operating segments
Net Sales to External Customers	0	0	0	0
Net Sales to Other Segments	(181,661)	(185,715)	(515,282)	(535,348)
Total net sales	(181,661)	(185,715)	(515,282)	(535,348)
Segment profit	(29,065)	(32,705)	(77,350)	(82,932)
Goodwill	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0