General (Text Block)	9 Months Ended
Sep. 28, 2018
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 leading diversified industrial technology company that provides air and gas handling and fabrication technology products and services to customers around the world under the Howden and ESAB brands. On December 11, 2017, the Company completed the sale of its Fluid Handling business (“Fluid Handling”) to CIRCOR International, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“CIRCOR” or “the Buyer”), pursuant to a definitive purchase agreement (the Purchase Agreement) signed on September 24, 2017. Accordingly, the accompanying Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements for all periods presented reflect the Fluid Handling business as a discontinued operation. See Note 3, Discontinued Operations, for further information. 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, 2017 is derived from the Company’s audited financial statements. 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, 2017 (the “2017 Form 10-K”), filed with the SEC on February 16, 2018. 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. Intercompany transactions and accounts are eliminated in consolidation. Certain prior period amounts have been reclassified to conform to current year presentations. 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. The results of operations for the three and nine months ended September 28, 2018 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 air and gas handling customers seek to fully utilize capital spending budgets before the end of the year, usually our shipments peak during the fourth quarter. Also, our European operations typically experience a slowdown during the July, August and December holiday seasons. General economic conditions may, however, impact future seasonal variations.

General

Colfax Corporation (the “Company” or “Colfax”) is a leading diversified industrial technology company that provides air and gas handling and fabrication technology products and services to customers around the world under the Howden and ESAB brands.

On December 11, 2017, the Company completed the sale of its Fluid Handling business (“Fluid Handling”) to CIRCOR International, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“CIRCOR” or “the Buyer”), pursuant to a definitive purchase agreement (the Purchase Agreement) signed on September 24, 2017. Accordingly, the accompanying Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements for all periods presented reflect the Fluid Handling business as a discontinued operation. See Note 3, Discontinued Operations, for further information.

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, 2017 is derived from the Company’s audited financial statements. 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, 2017 (the “2017 Form 10-K”), filed with the SEC on February 16, 2018.

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. Intercompany transactions and accounts are eliminated in consolidation. Certain prior period amounts have been reclassified to conform to current year presentations.

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.

The results of operations for the three and nine months ended September 28, 2018 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 air and gas handling customers seek to fully utilize capital spending budgets before the end of the year, usually our shipments peak during the fourth quarter. Also, our European operations typically experience a slowdown during the July, August and December holiday seasons. General economic conditions may, however, impact future seasonal variations.