Industry Segments (Details1) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2013 segment	Apr. 01, 2012
Revenue from External Customer [Line Items]
Number of reportable segments	4
Summary of the segments sales by product line
Net sales	$ 569.4	$ 494.0
Aerospace and Defense Electronics [Member]
Revenue from External Customer [Line Items]
Number of product lines	1
Summary of the segments sales by product line
Net sales	174.6	164.8
Instrumentation [Member]
Revenue from External Customer [Line Items]
Number of product lines	3
Summary of the segments sales by product line
Net sales	221.2	160.6
Engineered Systems [Member]
Revenue from External Customer [Line Items]
Number of product lines	3
Summary of the segments sales by product line
Net sales	71.2	74.4
Digital Imaging [Member]
Revenue from External Customer [Line Items]
Number of product lines	1
Summary of the segments sales by product line
Net sales	102.4	94.2
Environmental Instrumentation [Member] | Instrumentation [Member]
Summary of the segments sales by product line
Net sales	62.2	64.6
Marine Instrumentation [Member] | Instrumentation [Member]
Summary of the segments sales by product line
Net sales	115.6	96.0
Test and Measurement Instrumentation [Member] | Instrumentation [Member]
Summary of the segments sales by product line
Net sales	43.4	0
Engineered products and services [Member] | Engineered Systems [Member]
Summary of the segments sales by product line
Net sales	58.6	57.2
Turbine Engines [Member] | Engineered Systems [Member]
Summary of the segments sales by product line
Net sales	6.0	6.9
Energy Systems [Member] | Engineered Systems [Member]
Summary of the segments sales by product line
Net sales	$ 6.6	$ 10.3