Segment Data (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009	Dec. 31, 2008	Dec. 31, 2007
Net sales:
Total net sales	$ 12,458,877	$ 11,207,589	$ 10,057,512	$ 11,015,263	$ 10,843,195
Operating profit:
Total operating profit	980,221	839,381	701,656	860,856	882,158
Interest expense, net	(24,608)	(26,598)	(27,112)	(29,847)	(21,056)
Corporate expense	(56,971)	(45,451)	(24,913)	(55,119)	(38,300)
Intangible asset amortization	(6,774)	(4,737)	(3,644)	(2,861)	(1,118)
Other expense	(1,062)	(812)	(1,822)	(4,561)	(4,939)
Income before income taxes	890,806	761,783	644,165	768,468	816,745
Assets
Goodwill and other intangible assets, less accumulated amortization	279,775	209,548	171,532	158,825	82,453
Total Assets	5,879,591	5,465,044	5,004,689	4,786,350	4,774,069
Automotive [Member]
Net sales:
Total net sales	6,061,424	5,608,101	5,225,389	5,321,536	5,311,873
Operating profit:
Total operating profit	467,806	421,109	387,945	385,356	413,180
Assets
Total Assets	2,895,748	2,854,461	2,825,693	2,799,901	2,785,619
Industrial [Member]
Net sales:
Total net sales	4,173,574	3,521,863	2,885,782	3,514,661	3,350,954
Operating profit:
Total operating profit	337,628	255,616	162,353	294,652	281,762
Assets
Total Assets	1,100,024	955,241	865,431	1,025,292	969,666
Office products [Member]
Net sales:
Total net sales	1,689,368	1,641,963	1,639,018	1,732,514	1,765,055
Operating profit:
Total operating profit	134,124	131,746	126,104	144,127	156,781
Assets
Total Assets	700,720	694,166	619,612	638,854	659,838
Electrical/electronic materials [Member]
Net sales:
Total net sales	557,537	449,770	345,808	465,889	436,318
Operating profit:
Total operating profit	40,663	30,910	25,254	36,721	30,435
Assets
Total Assets	129,933	113,757	76,716	95,655	101,419
Other [Member]
Net sales:
Total net sales	(23,026)	(14,108)	(38,485)	(19,337)	(21,005)
Corporate [Member]
Assets
Total Assets	$ 773,391	$ 637,871	$ 445,705	$ 67,823	$ 175,074