Acquisitions (Details) (USD $)				1 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009	Jun. 30, 2009 Balkamp, Inc [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Industrial [Member] Companies	Dec. 31, 2011 Electrical/electronic materials [Member] Companies	Dec. 31, 2010 Industrial and Electrical Groups [Member] Companies	Dec. 31, 2009 Industrial and Automotive Groups [Member] Companies
Acquisitions (Textual) [Abstract]
Acquisition of remaining noncontrolling interest				$ 63,165,000
Companies acquired					3	1	4	8
Cost of acquired companies	115,600,000	90,645,000	71,038,000
Goodwill and other intangible assets acquired	$ 78,210,000	$ 40,247,000	$ 12,199,000