RATIONALIZATION AND ASSET IMPAIRMENTS (Textual) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended			9 Months Ended	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended			12 Months Ended	9 Months Ended		12 Months Ended	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended			12 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013 Employee Severance	Sep. 30, 2013 North America Welding	Sep. 30, 2012 North America Welding	Sep. 30, 2013 North America Welding	Sep. 30, 2012 North America Welding	Dec. 31, 2012 North America Welding	Dec. 31, 2012 North America Welding Employee Severance employee	Sep. 30, 2013 Europe Welding 2013 Plan [Member] employee	Sep. 30, 2013 Europe Welding	Dec. 31, 2012 Europe Welding employee	Sep. 30, 2013 Asia Pacific Welding	Sep. 30, 2012 Asia Pacific Welding	Sep. 30, 2013 Asia Pacific Welding	Sep. 30, 2012 Asia Pacific Welding	Dec. 31, 2012 Asia Pacific Welding	Dec. 31, 2012 Asia Pacific Welding Employee Severance employee	Sep. 30, 2013 Minimum [Member] Europe Welding 2013 Plan [Member] Employee Severance	Sep. 30, 2013 Maximum Europe Welding 2013 Plan [Member] Employee Severance
Rationalization and Asset Impairments
Rationalization and asset impairment charges	$ 6,302	$ 3,059	$ 8,204	$ 4,317
Employee severance and other related costs						3,479
Asset Impairment Charges			4,881														397	206	397
Special items, gain (loss) on the sale of assets at a rationalized operation			156															154
Number of employees affected due to rationalization activities												72	56		285						268
Restructuring Charges Net																49		756
Special items net charges	6,302	3,059	20,402	5,698			(17)	477	1,109	554			1,518	146		4,724	708	5,431	1,297
Charged to expense			3,479						1,109								311	704	900
Restructuring reserve	3,908		3,908		3,057		614		614		0		1,518	1,315		461		461		1,044
Restructuring and Related Cost, Expected Cost																						600	1,500
Other Asset Impairment Charges																$ 4,675		$ 4,675