General	6 Months Ended
Jun. 27, 2014
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements Disclosure [Text Block]	General Colfax Corporation (the “Company” or “Colfax”) is a diversified global industrial manufacturing and engineering company that provides gas- and fluid-handling and fabrication technology products and services to customers around the world under the Howden, ESAB and Colfax Fluid Handling brand names. The Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements included in this quarterly report have been prepared by the Company in accordance with the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) and accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) for interim financial statements. The Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet as of December 31, 2013 is derived from the Company’s audited financial statements. During the three months ended June 27, 2014, adjustments were made retrospectively to provisional amounts recorded as of December 31, 2013, primarily due to the Company’s valuation of specific items related to acquisitions that occurred in the three months ended December 31, 2013. See Note 3, “Acquisitions” for additional information regarding these adjustments. Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with GAAP have been omitted in accordance with the SEC’s rules and regulations for interim financial statements. The Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements included herein should be read in conjunction with the audited financial statements and related footnotes included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2013 (the “2013 Form 10-K”), filed with the SEC on February 12, 2014. The Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements reflect, in the opinion of management, all adjustments, which consist solely of normal recurring adjustments, necessary to present fairly the Company’s financial position and results of operations as of and for the periods indicated. Significant intercompany transactions and accounts are eliminated in consolidation. The Company makes certain estimates and assumptions in preparing its Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements in accordance with GAAP. These estimates and assumptions affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses for the periods presented. Actual results may differ from those estimates. In February 2014, the Venezuelan government introduced an additional auction-based foreign exchange system (“SICAD II”) which began operating on March 24, 2014. As there are multiple legal mechanisms in Venezuela to exchange currency, the Company has determined the SICAD II to be the most appropriate rate with which to remeasure the Company’s Venezuelan operations. The adoption of the SICAD II resulted in an 87% devaluation relative to the U.S. dollar from the previously used official rate of 6.3 bolivar fuerte to the U.S. dollar. As of June 27, 2014 and for the three and six months ended June 27, 2014, the Company's Venezuelan operations represented less than 1% of the Company's Total assets and Net sales. The bolivar-denominated monetary net asset position, primarily related to cash and cash equivalents, was $0.8 million in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet as of June 27, 2014. The change in exchange rates resulted in a foreign currency transaction loss of $6.3 million recognized in Selling, general and administrative expense in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations for the three and six months ended June 27, 2014. The results of operations for the three and six months ended June 27, 2014 are not necessarily indicative of the results of operations that may be achieved for the full year. Quarterly results are affected by seasonal variations in the Company’s business. As our gas- and fluid-handling customers seek to fully utilize capital spending budgets before the end of the year, historically our shipments have peaked during the fourth quarter. Also, all of our European operations typically experience a slowdown during the July and August holiday season. General economic conditions may, however, impact future seasonal variations.

General

Colfax Corporation (the “Company” or “Colfax”) is a diversified global industrial manufacturing and engineering company that provides gas- and fluid-handling and fabrication technology products and services to customers around the world under the Howden, ESAB and Colfax Fluid Handling brand names.

The Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements included in this quarterly report have been prepared by the Company in accordance with the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) and accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) for interim financial statements.

The Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet as of December 31, 2013 is derived from the Company’s audited financial statements. During the three months ended June 27, 2014, adjustments were made retrospectively to provisional amounts recorded as of December 31, 2013, primarily due to the Company’s valuation of specific items related to acquisitions that occurred in the three months ended December 31, 2013. See Note 3, “Acquisitions” for additional information regarding these adjustments. Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with GAAP have been omitted in accordance with the SEC’s rules and regulations for interim financial statements. The Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements included herein should be read in conjunction with the audited financial statements and related footnotes included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2013 (the “2013 Form 10-K”), filed with the SEC on February 12, 2014.

The Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements reflect, in the opinion of management, all adjustments, which consist solely of normal recurring adjustments, necessary to present fairly the Company’s financial position and results of operations as of and for the periods indicated. Significant intercompany transactions and accounts are eliminated in consolidation.

The Company makes certain estimates and assumptions in preparing its Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements in accordance with GAAP. These estimates and assumptions affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses for the periods presented. Actual results may differ from those estimates.

In February 2014, the Venezuelan government introduced an additional auction-based foreign exchange system (“SICAD II”) which began operating on March 24, 2014. As there are multiple legal mechanisms in Venezuela to exchange currency, the Company has determined the SICAD II to be the most appropriate rate with which to remeasure the Company’s Venezuelan operations. The adoption of the SICAD II resulted in an 87% devaluation relative to the U.S. dollar from the previously used official rate of 6.3 bolivar fuerte to the U.S. dollar. As of June 27, 2014 and for the three and six months ended June 27, 2014, the Company's Venezuelan operations represented less than 1% of the Company's Total assets and Net sales. The bolivar-denominated monetary net asset position, primarily related to cash and cash equivalents, was $0.8 million in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet as of June 27, 2014. The change in exchange rates resulted in a foreign currency transaction loss of $6.3 million recognized in Selling, general and administrative expense in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations for the three and six months ended June 27, 2014.

The results of operations for the three and six months ended June 27, 2014 are not necessarily indicative of the results of operations that may be achieved for the full year. Quarterly results are affected by seasonal variations in the Company’s business. As our gas- and fluid-handling customers seek to fully utilize capital spending budgets before the end of the year, historically our shipments have peaked during the fourth quarter. Also, all of our European operations typically experience a slowdown during the July and August holiday season. General economic conditions may, however, impact future seasonal variations.