Segment Data - Summary of Segment Data (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total net sales	$ 15,280,044	$ 15,341,647	$ 14,077,843	$ 13,013,868	$ 12,458,877
Total operating profit	1,279,349	1,269,040	1,132,288	1,078,148	980,221
Intangible asset amortization	(34,878)	(36,867)	(28,987)
Income before income taxes	1,123,681	1,117,739	1,044,304	1,018,932	890,806
Total assets	8,144,771	8,246,238	7,680,297	6,807,061	6,202,774
Total depreciation and amortization	141,675	148,313	133,957	98,383	88,936
Intangible asset amortization	34,878	36,867	28,987
Net property, plant and equipment	648,217	670,102	670,061	566,365	500,204
Total capital expenditures	109,544	107,681	124,063
United States [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total net sales	12,843,078	12,565,329	11,594,713	11,299,291	10,791,303
Net property, plant and equipment	495,073	495,452	503,882	466,473	411,193
Canada [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total net sales	1,395,695	1,583,075	1,560,799	1,616,921	1,571,733
Net property, plant and equipment	79,023	98,939	99,135	93,496	84,210
Australasia [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total net sales	992,064	1,133,620	839,353
Net property, plant and equipment	65,289	65,707	60,614
Mexico [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total net sales	119,349	127,806	131,787	127,754	118,867
Net property, plant and equipment	8,832	10,004	6,430	6,396	4,801
Other Segment [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total net sales	(70,142)	(68,183)	(48,809)	(30,098)	(23,026)
Operating Segments [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total capital expenditures	109,544	107,681	124,063	101,987	103,469
Operating Segments [Member] | Automotive [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total net sales	8,015,098	8,096,877	7,489,186	6,320,882	6,061,424
Total operating profit	729,152	700,386	641,492	540,678	467,806
Total assets	4,293,290	4,275,298	4,009,244	3,411,252	3,218,931
Total depreciation and amortization	70,112	77,645	76,238	60,630	60,252
Total capital expenditures	77,504	78,537	97,735	67,482	61,795
Operating Segments [Member] | Industrial [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total net sales	4,646,689	4,771,080	4,429,976	4,453,574	4,173,574
Total operating profit	339,180	370,043	320,720	352,119	337,628
Total assets	1,143,952	1,224,735	1,162,697	1,130,877	1,100,024
Total depreciation and amortization	9,960	9,906	8,751	8,307	7,495
Total capital expenditures	13,998	12,442	8,808	13,015	9,851
Operating Segments [Member] | Office Products [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total net sales	1,937,629	1,802,754	1,638,618	1,686,690	1,689,368
Total operating profit	140,866	133,727	122,492	134,441	134,124
Total assets	831,546	835,592	708,944	731,564	700,720
Total depreciation and amortization	10,922	10,728	10,166	10,837	9,999
Total capital expenditures	12,323	11,135	9,297	16,013	22,036
Operating Segments [Member] | Electrical/Electronic Materials [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total net sales	750,770	739,119	568,872	582,820	557,537
Total operating profit	70,151	64,884	47,584	50,910	40,663
Total assets	191,866	196,400	156,780	137,237	129,933
Total depreciation and amortization	2,933	2,658	1,904	1,733	1,554
Total capital expenditures	2,824	3,003	1,730	1,029	1,762
Other [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total net sales	(70,142)	(68,183)	(48,809)	(30,098)	(23,026)
Interest expense, net	(20,354)	(24,192)	(24,330)	(19,619)	(24,608)
Corporate expense	(100,436)	(90,242)	(34,667)	(26,606)	(58,033)
Intangible asset amortization	(34,878)	(36,867)	(28,987)	(12,991)	(6,774)
Goodwill and other intangible assets	1,361,794	1,386,590	1,289,356	497,839	279,775
Intangible asset amortization	34,878	36,867	28,987	12,991	6,774
Corporate, Non-Segment [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total assets	322,323	327,623	353,276	898,292	773,391
Total depreciation and amortization	12,870	10,509	7,911	3,885	2,862
Total capital expenditures	$ 2,895	$ 2,564	$ 6,493	$ 4,448	$ 8,025