INCOME TAXES (Summary of operating loss carryforwards) (Details) $ in Millions	Dec. 31, 2017 USD ($)
Summary of Operating Loss Carryforwards [Abstract]
Deferred tax assets, operating loss carryforwards, foreign	$ 7.0
Deferred tax assets, operating loss carryforwards, state and local	7.2
Deferred tax assets, operating loss carryforwards, subject to expiration, years 2017-2019	1.1
Deferred tax assets, operating loss carryforwards, subject to expiration, years 2020-2024	3.0
Deferred tax assets, operating loss carryforwards, subject to expiration, years 2025-2029	2.2
Deferred tax assets, operating loss carryforwards, subject to expiration, years 2030-2034	2.6
Deferred Tax Assets, Operating Loss Carryforward, Subject to Expiration, Years 2035-2039	0.2
Deferred tax assets, operating loss carryforwards, subject to expiration, unlimited	5.1
Deferred tax assets, operating loss carryforwards	$ 14.2

Deferred Tax Assets, Operating Loss Carryforwards, Subject to Expiration, Period Five

No definition available.

Name:	fele_DeferredTaxAssetsOperatingLossCarryforwardsSubjecttoExpirationPeriodFive
Namespace Prefix:	fele_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Deferred Tax Assets, Operating Loss Carryforwards, Subject to Expiration, Period Four

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	fele_DeferredTaxAssetsOperatingLossCarryforwardsSubjecttoExpirationPeriodFour
Namespace Prefix:	fele_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Deferred Tax Assets, Operating Loss Carryforwards, Subject to Expiration, Period One

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	fele_DeferredTaxAssetsOperatingLossCarryforwardsSubjecttoExpirationPeriodOne
Namespace Prefix:	fele_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Deferred Tax Assets, Operating Loss Carryforwards, Subject to Expiration, Period Three

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	fele_DeferredTaxAssetsOperatingLossCarryforwardsSubjecttoExpirationPeriodThree
Namespace Prefix:	fele_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Deferred Tax Assets, Operating Loss Carryforwards, Subject to Expiration, Period Two

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	fele_DeferredTaxAssetsOperatingLossCarryforwardsSubjecttoExpirationPeriodTwo
Namespace Prefix:	fele_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Summary of Operating Loss Carryforwards [Abstract]

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	fele_SummaryofOperatingLossCarryforwardsAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	fele_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount before allocation of valuation allowances of deferred tax asset attributable to deductible operating loss carryforwards.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 740
-SubTopic 10
-Section 25
-Paragraph 20
-Subparagraph (b)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=96869850&loc=d3e28680-109314

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 740
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 6
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=84230637&loc=d3e32621-109319

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 740
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 8
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=84230637&loc=d3e32632-109319

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsOperatingLossCarryforwards
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount before allocation of valuation allowances of deferred tax asset attributable to deductible foreign operating loss carryforwards.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 740
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 6
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=84230637&loc=d3e32621-109319

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 740
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 8
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=84230637&loc=d3e32632-109319

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 740
-SubTopic 10
-Section 25
-Paragraph 20
-Subparagraph (b)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=96869850&loc=d3e28680-109314

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsOperatingLossCarryforwardsForeign
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount before allocation of valuation allowances of deferred tax asset attributable to deductible operating loss carryforwards that are not subject to expiration dates.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsOperatingLossCarryforwardsNotSubjectToExpiration
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount before allocation of valuation allowances of deferred tax asset attributable to deductible state and local operating loss carryforwards.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 740
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 8
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=84230637&loc=d3e32632-109319

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 740
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 6
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=84230637&loc=d3e32621-109319

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 740
-SubTopic 10
-Section 25
-Paragraph 20
-Subparagraph (b)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=96869850&loc=d3e28680-109314

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsOperatingLossCarryforwardsStateAndLocal
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant