Business Segment Information (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2013 division segment	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2012
Business Segment Information
Number of operating segments	4
Number of divisions	4
Revenue:
Total revenue	$ 393.4	$ 405.6
Operating Income (Loss):
Total operating income	12.2	34.4
Assets:
Total assets	1,811.9		1,856.4
Scientific Instruments
Revenue:
Total revenue	366.3	378.1
Operating Income (Loss):
Total operating income	10.6	35.1
Assets:
Total assets	1,749.3		1,786.2
Energy and Supercon Technologies
Revenue:
Total revenue	31.2	30.0
Operating Income (Loss):
Total operating income	0.9	(0.3)
Assets:
Total assets	132.5		134.4
Corporate, eliminations and other
Revenue:
Product and service revenue between reportable segments	(4.1)	(2.5)
Operating Income (Loss):
Total operating income	0.7	(0.4)
Assets:
Total assets	$ (69.9)		$ (64.2)