Business Segments (Product Lines) (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended																12 Months Ended
	Dec. 28, 2014		Sep. 28, 2014		Jun. 29, 2014		Mar. 30, 2014		Dec. 29, 2013		Sep. 29, 2013		Jun. 30, 2013		Mar. 31, 2013		Dec. 28, 2014	Dec. 29, 2013	Dec. 30, 2012
Summary of the segments sales by product line
Sales	$ 622.3	[1]	$ 601.1	[1]	$ 597.1	[1]	$ 573.5	[1]	$ 596.6	[2]	$ 571.6	[2]	$ 601.0	[2]	$ 569.4	[2]	$ 2,394.0	$ 2,338.6	$ 2,127.3
Instrumentation
Summary of the segments sales by product line
Sales																	1,115.5	1,022.8	804.7
Engineered Systems
Summary of the segments sales by product line
Sales																	271.9	275.9	301.4
Environmental Instrumentation | Instrumentation
Summary of the segments sales by product line
Sales																	268.4	248.6	250.2
Marine Instrumentation | Instrumentation
Summary of the segments sales by product line
Sales																	654.8	580.4	473.7
Test and Measurement Instrumentation | Instrumentation
Summary of the segments sales by product line
Sales																	192.3	193.8	80.8
Engineered Products and Services | Engineered Systems
Summary of the segments sales by product line
Sales																	211.4	217.5	241.3
Turbine Engines | Engineered Systems
Summary of the segments sales by product line
Sales																	26.5	26.0	24.6
Energy Systems | Engineered Systems
Summary of the segments sales by product line
Sales																	$ 34.0	$ 32.4	$ 35.5

[1] Fiscal year 2014 was a P364D-week year, each quarter contained P91D weeks.

[2] Fiscal year 2013 was a P364D-week year, each quarter contained P91D weeks.