Industry Segments (Details1) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012	Oct. 02, 2011	Sep. 30, 2012 segment	Oct. 02, 2011
Revenue from External Customer [Line Items]
Number of reportable segments			4
Summary of the segments sales by product line
Total net sales	$ 547.4	$ 496.4	$ 1,559.9	$ 1,467.4
Aerospace and Defense Electronics [Member]
Revenue from External Customer [Line Items]
Number of product lines	1		1
Summary of the segments sales by product line
Total net sales	164.2	171.2	497.8	507.7
Instrumentation [Member]
Revenue from External Customer [Line Items]
Number of product lines	3		3
Summary of the segments sales by product line
Total net sales	193.8	157.1	516.8	467.7
Engineered Systems [Member]
Revenue from External Customer [Line Items]
Number of product lines	3		3
Summary of the segments sales by product line
Total net sales	81.3	73.1	232.1	234.6
Digital Imaging [Member]
Revenue from External Customer [Line Items]
Number of product lines	1		1
Summary of the segments sales by product line
Total net sales	108.1	95.0	313.2	257.4
Environmental Instrumentation [Member] | Instrumentation [Member]
Summary of the segments sales by product line
Total net sales	57.5	61.9	187.8	183.2
Marine Instrumentation [Member] | Instrumentation [Member]
Summary of the segments sales by product line
Total net sales	102.1	95.2	294.8	284.5
Test and Measurement Instrumentation [Member] | Instrumentation [Member]
Summary of the segments sales by product line
Total net sales	34.2	0	34.2	0
Engineered products and services [Member] | Engineered Systems [Member]
Summary of the segments sales by product line
Total net sales	67.6	58.9	185.5	190.9
Turbine Engines [Member] | Engineered Systems [Member]
Summary of the segments sales by product line
Total net sales	6.3	6.6	19.2	18.5
Energy Systems [Member] | Engineered Systems [Member]
Summary of the segments sales by product line
Total net sales	$ 7.4	$ 7.6	$ 27.4	$ 25.2