CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (UNAUDITED) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016	Mar. 31, 2015
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net earnings	$ 32,819	$ 15,991
Adjustments to reconcile net earnings to net cash used by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	24,487	25,708
Gain on sale of businesses		(1,252)
Gain on fixed asset disposals	(7)	(503)
Deferred income taxes	11,939	491
Share-based compensation	2,723	2,620
Impairment of assets held for sale		40,813
Change in operating assets and liabilities, net of businesses acquired and divested:
Accounts receivable, net	86,973	(9,993)
Inventories, net	(17,766)	(10,178)
Progress payments	(1,463)	(117)
Accounts payable and accrued expenses	(80,996)	(59,046)
Deferred revenue	1,505	(26,038)
Income taxes payable	(10,519)	(15,574)
Net pension and postretirement liabilities	2,444	(141,585)
Other Operating Activities, Cash Flow Statement	20,405
Other current and long-term assets and liabilities	(2,284)	7,572
Net cash provided by (used for) operating activities	70,260	(171,091)
Cash flows from investing activities:
Proceeds from sales and disposals of long lived assets	203	837
Proceeds from divestitures		4,010
Additions to property, plant, and equipment	(8,825)	(9,096)
Acquisition of businesses, net of cash acquired		(13,228)
Additional consideration of prior period acquisitions		(436)
Net cash used for investing activities	(8,622)	(17,913)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Borrowings under revolving credit facility	2,391	1,296
Repayments of Lines of Credit	(2,737)	(1,400)
Repurchases of common stock	(29,608)	(46,985)
Proceeds from share-based compensation	7,910	7,616
Proceeds from (Payments for) Other Financing Activities	(154)	140
Excess tax benefits from share-based compensation	4,528	3,291
Net cash used for financing activities	(17,670)	(36,042)
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]
Effect of exchange-rate changes on cash	4,598	(9,476)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	48,566	(234,522)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	288,697	450,116
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	337,263	215,594
Supplemental disclosure of non-cash activities:
Capital expenditures incurred but not yet paid	$ 580	$ 502