Industry Segments (Details1) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Apr. 01, 2012	Apr. 03, 2011
Summary of the segments sales by product line
Total net sales	$ 494.0	$ 468.1
Instrumentation [Member]
Summary of the segments sales by product line
Total net sales	160.6	157.9
Engineered Systems [Member]
Summary of the segments sales by product line
Total net sales	74.4	77.1
Environmental Instrumentation [Member] | Instrumentation [Member]
Summary of the segments sales by product line
Total net sales	64.6	58.7
Marine Instrumentation [Member] | Instrumentation [Member]
Summary of the segments sales by product line
Total net sales	96.0	99.2
Engineered products and services [Member] | Engineered Systems [Member]
Summary of the segments sales by product line
Total net sales	57.2	65.7
Turbine Engines [Member] | Engineered Systems [Member]
Summary of the segments sales by product line
Total net sales	6.9	4.4
Energy Systems [Member] | Engineered Systems [Member]
Summary of the segments sales by product line
Total net sales	$ 10.3	$ 7.0