Acquisitions (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Number of businesses acquired				6
Net cash consideration			$ 118,990
Total goodwill and intangible assets acquired	102,321		102,321
Business Combination, Recognized Identifiable Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed, Net [Abstract]
Current assets, net of cash acquired	30,191		30,191
Property, plant and equipment	8,555		8,555
Goodwill	48,879		48,879
Intangible assets	53,442		53,442
Other non-current assets	1,082		1,082
Current liabilities	(11,532)		(11,532)
Non-current liabilities	(11,627)		(11,627)
Net assets acquired	118,990		118,990
Business Acquisition, Pro Forma Information [Abstract]
Revenue of acquiree since acquisition date	15,461		23,123
Amount of nonrecurring expense, excluded from current period net earnings in pro forma financials, related to the fair value adjustments to acquisition-date inventory	1,194		1,902
Acquisition related costs (after tax)	349		1,159
Revenue from continuing operations [Abstract]
As reported	2,252,349	2,097,605	6,520,685	6,090,508
Pro forma	2,257,473	2,208,107	6,556,075	6,485,833
Net earnings from continuing operations [Abstract]
As reported	263,652	233,330	754,993	624,895
Pro forma	266,169	242,135	762,069	654,576
Basic earnings per share from continuing operations [Abstract]
As reported (in dollars per share)	$ 1.55	$ 1.28	$ 4.40	$ 3.41
Pro forma (in dollars per share)	$ 1.56	$ 1.33	$ 4.44	$ 3.58
Diluted earnings per share from continuing operations [Abstract]
As reported (in dollars per share)	$ 1.53	$ 1.27	$ 4.34	$ 3.37
Pro forma (in dollars per share)	$ 1.54	$ 1.32	$ 4.38	$ 3.53
Tax Deductible Goodwill [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Business Acquisition, Goodwill, Expected Tax Deductible Amount	18,135		18,135
Non Deductible Goodwill [Member]
Business Combination, Recognized Identifiable Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed, Net [Abstract]
Goodwill	30,744		30,744
Customer Relationships [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Acquired finite-lived intangible asset, amount			41,555
Acquired finite-lived intangible assets, weighted average useful life			11 years
Trademarks [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Acquired finite-lived intangible asset, amount			2,896
Acquired finite-lived intangible assets, weighted average useful life			11 years
Patents [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Acquired finite-lived intangible asset, amount			7,760
Acquired finite-lived intangible assets, weighted average useful life			11 years
Other Intangible Assets [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Acquired finite-lived intangible asset, amount			$ 1,231
Acquired finite-lived intangible assets, weighted average useful life			2 years