CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Statement of Cash Flows [Abstract]
Net earnings	$ 145,461	$ 113,338	$ 137,981
Adjustments to reconcile net earnings to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	100,810	118,931	121,497
Loss on sale of businesses	16,991	29,184	0
(Gain) loss on fixed asset disposals	(945)	632	77
Deferred income taxes	63,535	(27,241)	5,928
Share-based compensation	9,473	8,500	7,349
Impairment of assets	0	3,202	887
Impairment of assets held for sale	40,813	41,369	0
Change in operating assets and liabilities, net of businesses acquired and divested:
Accounts receivable, net	(77,106)	12,845	6,599
Inventories, net	(4,039)	(19,375)	(25,499)
Progress payments	3,680	(6,971)	(6,131)
Accounts payable and accrued expenses	(447)	16,147	8,567
Deferred revenue	4,839	24,471	(7,281)
Income taxes	(7,436)	38,946	(16,811)
Net pension and postretirement liabilities	(139,610)	(26,431)	(1,630)
Other current and long-term assets and liabilities	6,460	4,219	6,294
Net cash provided by operating activities	162,479	331,766	237,827
Cash flows from investing activities:
Proceeds from sales and disposals of long-lived assets	2,277	594	1,348
Proceeds from divestiture	31,344	152,965	0
Proceeds from insurance	0	2,357	0
Additions to property, plant, and equipment	(35,512)	(67,115)	(72,242)
Acquisition of businesses, net of cash acquired	(13,228)	(34,364)	(236,135)
Additional consideration of prior period acquisitions	(457)	(989)	(6,663)
Net cash provided by (used for) investing activities	(15,576)	53,448	(313,692)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Borrowings under revolving credit facility	70,324	364,557	983,109
Borrowings of debt	0	0	500,000
Payment of revolving credit facility	(70,134)	(414,770)	(1,229,148)
Principal payments on debt	(8,400)	(80)	(125,033)
Repurchases of common stock	(294,130)	(65,220)	0
Proceeds from share-based compensation	28,706	38,182	27,450
Dividends paid	(24,122)	(25,013)	(18,377)
Proceeds from (Payments for) Other Financing Activities	(581)	296	0
Excess tax benefits from share-based compensation	9,119	9,610	2,137
Net cash provided by financing activities	(289,218)	(92,438)	140,138
Effect of exchange-rate changes on cash	(19,104)	(17,954)	(1,002)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	(161,419)	274,822	63,271
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	450,116	175,294	112,023
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	288,697	450,116	175,294
Supplemental disclosure of non-cash investing activities:
Capital Expenditures Incurred but Not yet Paid	2,108	2,891	4,546
Property and equipment under build to suit transaction	$ 0	$ 14,735	$ 6,225