Segment Data (Sales By Major Product Group) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Sep. 30, 2011	Jul. 01, 2011	Apr. 01, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Oct. 01, 2010	Jul. 02, 2010	Apr. 02, 2010	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009
Sales	$ 4,716,600	$ 4,445,800	$ 3,635,900	$ 3,292,200	$ 3,433,000	$ 3,026,900	$ 3,149,500	$ 2,940,600	$ 16,090,540	$ 12,550,033	$ 10,516,681
Analytical And Physical Instrumentation [Member]
Sales									5,920,900	5,206,000	4,364,900
Medical & Dental Products [Member]
Sales									6,653,500	4,122,900	3,141,900
Motion And Industrial Automation Controls [Member]
Sales									1,677,100	1,517,700	1,107,100
Mechanics And Related Hand Tools [Member]
Sales									305,200	590,900	843,800
Product Identification [Member]
Sales									1,162,100	818,400	780,200
Defense [Member]
Sales									162,000	136,600	126,300
All Other [Member]
Sales									209,700	157,500	152,500
Total Sales by Major Product Group [Member]
Sales									$ 16,090,500	$ 12,550,000	$ 10,516,700