SEGMENT INFORMATION (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2014

Segment Reporting [Abstract]

Schedule of financial information for the reportable segments

Financial information for the reportable segments follows:

	North America Welding			Europe Welding		Asia Pacific Welding			South America Welding			The Harris Products Group		Corporate / Eliminations			Consolidated
For the Year Ended    December 31, 2014
Net sales	$	1,700,924		$	425,775	$	243,800		$	148,595		$	294,230	$	—		$	2,813,324
Inter-segment sales	124,732			19,586		14,820			144			8,210		(167,492		)	$	—
Total	$	1,825,656		$	445,361	$	258,620		$	148,739		$	302,440	$	(167,492	)	$	2,813,324
EBIT, as adjusted	$	335,465		$	48,822	$	1,321		$	15,953		$	28,563	$	4,216		$	434,340
Special items charge (gain)	(68		)	904		28,635			21,715			—		—			$	51,186
EBIT	$	335,533		$	47,918	$	(27,314	)	$	(5,762	)	$	28,563	$	4,216		$	383,154
Interest income																	3,093
Interest expense																	(10,434		)
Income before income taxes																	$	375,813
Total assets	$	1,111,065		$	359,337	$	284,573		$	138,114		$	147,990	$	(101,864	)	$	1,939,215
Equity investments in affiliates	—			23,902		—			3,579			—		—			$	27,481
Capital expenditures	51,691			5,619		3,959			10,896			825		—			$	72,990
Depreciation and amortization	43,659			10,823		9,799			2,085			3,512		(271		)	$	69,607
For the Year Ended    December 31, 2013
Net sales	$	1,652,769		$	429,548	$	266,282		$	195,895		$	308,177	$	—		$	2,852,671
Inter-segment sales	127,254			19,911		14,906			233			9,605		(171,909		)	$	—
Total	$	1,780,023		$	449,459	$	281,188		$	196,128		$	317,782	$	(171,909	)	$	2,852,671
EBIT, as adjusted	$	318,507		$	36,247	$	1,815		$	57,306		$	27,826	$	(4,350	)	$	437,351
Special items charge (gain)	1,052			2,045		6,071			12,198			—		—			$	21,366
EBIT	$	317,455		$	34,202	$	(4,256	)	$	45,108		$	27,826	$	(4,350	)	$	415,985
Interest income																	3,320
Interest expense																	(2,864		)
Income before income taxes																	$	416,441
Total assets	$	1,048,412		$	403,094	$	325,656		$	169,027		$	162,496	$	43,182		$	2,151,867
Equity investments in affiliates	—			23,315		—			3,303			—		—			$	26,618
Capital expenditures	41,181			10,305		2,073			20,840			3,931		(2,315		)	$	76,015
Depreciation and amortization	39,086			10,933		13,559			1,893			3,636		(224		)	$	68,883
For the Year Ended    December 31, 2012
Net sales	$	1,580,818		$	452,227	$	324,482		$	161,483		$	334,357	$	—		$	2,853,367
Inter-segment sales	131,062			16,048		14,829			38			8,549		(170,526		)	$	—
Total	$	1,711,880		$	468,275	$	339,311		$	161,521		$	342,906	$	(170,526	)	$	2,853,367
EBIT, as adjusted	$	293,070		$	37,299	$	7,247		$	18,301		$	29,477	$	(4,886	)	$	380,508
Special items charge (gain)	827			3,534		4,993			1,381			—		—			$	10,735
EBIT	$	292,243		$	33,765	$	2,254		$	16,920		$	29,477	$	(4,886	)	$	369,773
Interest income																	3,988
Interest expense																	(4,191		)
Income before income taxes																	$	369,570
Total assets	$	980,093		$	451,654	$	350,189		$	134,650		$	195,881	$	(22,604	)	$	2,089,863
Equity investments in affiliates	—			21,798		—			2,808			—		—			$	24,606
Capital expenditures	36,834			5,372		8,833			899			831		(54		)	$	52,715
Depreciation and amortization	33,479			11,008		15,102			1,878			3,934		(67		)	$	65,334

Schedule of geographical split of the Company's net sales, based on the location of the customers, and property plant equipment

The geographic split of the Company's Net sales, based on the location of the customer, and property, plant and equipment were as follows:

	Year Ended December 31,
	2014		2013		2012
Net sales:
United States	$	1,417,750	$	1,350,309	$	1,283,066
China	190,035		219,490		229,996
Other foreign countries	1,205,539		1,282,872		1,340,305
Total	$	2,813,324	$	2,852,671	$	2,853,367

	December 31,
	2014			2013			2012
Property, plant and equipment, net:
United States	$	171,746		$	162,357		$	170,831
China	56,247			83,416			92,744
Other foreign countries	209,640			238,685			223,050
Eliminations	(424		)	(453		)	(389		)
Total	$	437,209		$	484,005		$	486,236