Segment and Geographic Information (Reconciliation of Income From Segments to Consolidation) (Details) $ in Thousands		12 Months Ended
		Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($) segment	Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2013 USD ($)
Segment Reporting, Reconciling Item for Operating Profit (Loss) from Segment to Consolidated [Line Items]
Number of operating segments | segment		2
Net sales	[1]	$ 1,775,125	$ 1,794,962	$ 1,653,921
Operating income		104,519	110,507	103,346	[2]
Net gain (loss) on sale of assets		328	(233)	(142)
Interest expense, net		13,144	13,382	12,294
Other expense (income), net		3,386	623	398
Earnings before income taxes from continuing operations		87,989	96,502	90,654
Income tax expense		27,551	30,722	31,588
Earnings from continuing operations		60,438	65,780	59,066
Goodwill, impairment loss		0	0	2,071
Segment Reconciliation [Abstract]
Total assets		1,441,205	1,201,205	1,140,631
Capital expenditures		29,932	28,283	40,852
Depreciation and amortization		37,729	36,209	31,555
Distribution [Member]
Segment Reporting, Reconciling Item for Operating Profit (Loss) from Segment to Consolidated [Line Items]
Goodwill, impairment loss		0	0
Aerospace [Member]
Segment Reporting, Reconciling Item for Operating Profit (Loss) from Segment to Consolidated [Line Items]
Goodwill, impairment loss		0	0
U.S. Government [Member] | Aerospace [Member]
Segment Reporting, Reconciling Item for Operating Profit (Loss) from Segment to Consolidated [Line Items]
Net sales		211,400	271,700	262,900
Operating Segments [Member] | Distribution [Member]
Segment Reporting, Reconciling Item for Operating Profit (Loss) from Segment to Consolidated [Line Items]
Net sales		1,177,539	1,161,992	1,039,954
Operating income		49,441	56,765	46,206
Segment Reconciliation [Abstract]
Total assets	[3]	558,630	547,350	480,117
Capital expenditures		10,685	12,205	12,034
Depreciation and amortization		16,368	14,461	11,236
Operating Segments [Member] | Aerospace [Member]
Segment Reporting, Reconciling Item for Operating Profit (Loss) from Segment to Consolidated [Line Items]
Net sales	[4]	597,586	632,970	613,967
Operating income	[2]	110,328	108,697	102,573
Segment Reconciliation [Abstract]
Total assets	[3]	738,426	531,868	557,831
Capital expenditures		13,378	12,044	21,193
Depreciation and amortization		16,275	16,039	15,041
Segment Reconciling Items [Member]
Segment Reporting, Reconciling Item for Operating Profit (Loss) from Segment to Consolidated [Line Items]
Net gain (loss) on sale of assets		328	(233)	(142)
Corporate [Member]
Segment Reporting, Reconciling Item for Operating Profit (Loss) from Segment to Consolidated [Line Items]
Corporate expense		(55,578)	(54,722)	(45,291)
Segment Reconciliation [Abstract]
Total assets	[3],[5]	144,149	121,987	102,683
Capital expenditures		5,869	4,034	7,625
Depreciation and amortization		$ 5,086	$ 5,709	$ 5,278

[1] Service revenue was not material for the years ended December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013.

[2] Operating income for 2013 includes a $2.1 million non-cash non-tax deductible goodwill impairment charge.

[3] Identifiable assets are year-end assets at their respective net carrying values segregated as to segment and corporate use.

[4] Net sales by the Aerospace segment under contracts with U.S. Government agencies (including sales to foreign governments through foreign military sales contracts with U.S. Government agencies) totaled $211.4 million, $271.7 million and $262.9 million in 2015, 2014 and 2013, respectively, and represent direct and indirect sales to the U.S. Government and related agencies.

[5] For the periods presented, the corporate identifiable assets are principally comprised of cash, short-term and long-term deferred income tax assets, capitalized debt issuance costs, cash surrender value of life insurance policies and fixed assets.