SEGMENT INFORMATION (Financial Information of Reportable Segments) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014	Sep. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2014	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2013	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Financial information for the reportable segments
Net sales	$ 683,954	$ 715,777	$ 728,531	$ 685,062	$ 714,791	$ 691,875	$ 727,432	$ 718,573	$ 2,813,324	$ 2,852,671	$ 2,853,367
Revenue from Related Parties									0	0	0
Segment, including Inter-segment, sales									2,813,324	2,852,671	2,853,367
EBIT, as adjusted									434,340	437,351	380,508
Special items charge (Gain)									51,186	21,366	10,735
EBIT									383,154	415,985	369,773
Interest income									3,093	3,320	3,988
Interest expense									(10,434)	(2,864)	(4,191)
Income before income taxes	100,736	77,785	114,866	82,426	121,388	97,840	106,534	90,679	375,813	416,441	369,570
Total assets	1,939,215				2,151,867				1,939,215	2,151,867	2,089,863
Equity investments in affiliates	27,481				26,618				27,481	26,618	24,606
Capital expenditures									72,990	76,015	52,715
Depreciation and amortization									69,607	68,883	65,334
North America Welding
Financial information for the reportable segments
Net sales									1,700,924	1,652,769	1,580,818
Revenue from Related Parties									124,732	127,254	131,062
Segment, including Inter-segment, sales									1,825,656	1,780,023	1,711,880
EBIT, as adjusted									335,465	318,507	293,070
Special items charge (Gain)									(68)	1,052	827
EBIT									335,533	317,455	292,243
Total assets	1,111,065				1,048,412				1,111,065	1,048,412	980,093
Equity investments in affiliates	0				0				0	0	0
Capital expenditures									51,691	41,181	36,834
Depreciation and amortization									43,659	39,086	33,479
Europe Welding
Financial information for the reportable segments
Net sales									425,775	429,548	452,227
Revenue from Related Parties									19,586	19,911	16,048
Segment, including Inter-segment, sales									445,361	449,459	468,275
EBIT, as adjusted									48,822	36,247	37,299
Special items charge (Gain)									904	2,045	3,534
EBIT									47,918	34,202	33,765
Total assets	359,337				403,094				359,337	403,094	451,654
Equity investments in affiliates	23,902				23,315				23,902	23,315	21,798
Capital expenditures									5,619	10,305	5,372
Depreciation and amortization									10,823	10,933	11,008
Asia Pacific Welding
Financial information for the reportable segments
Net sales									243,800	266,282	324,482
Revenue from Related Parties									14,820	14,906	14,829
Segment, including Inter-segment, sales									258,620	281,188	339,311
EBIT, as adjusted									1,321	1,815	7,247
Special items charge (Gain)									28,635	6,071	4,993
EBIT									(27,314)	(4,256)	2,254
Total assets	284,573				325,656				284,573	325,656	350,189
Equity investments in affiliates	0				0				0	0	0
Capital expenditures									3,959	2,073	8,833
Depreciation and amortization									9,799	13,559	15,102
South America Welding
Financial information for the reportable segments
Net sales									148,595	195,895	161,483
Revenue from Related Parties									144	233	38
Segment, including Inter-segment, sales									148,739	196,128	161,521
EBIT, as adjusted									15,953	57,306	18,301
Special items charge (Gain)							2,538	9,660	21,715	12,198	1,381
EBIT									(5,762)	45,108	16,920
Total assets	138,114				169,027				138,114	169,027	134,650
Equity investments in affiliates	3,579				3,303				3,579	3,303	2,808
Capital expenditures									10,896	20,840	899
Depreciation and amortization									2,085	1,893	1,878
The Harris Products Group
Financial information for the reportable segments
Net sales									294,230	308,177	334,357
Revenue from Related Parties									8,210	9,605	8,549
Segment, including Inter-segment, sales									302,440	317,782	342,906
EBIT, as adjusted									28,563	27,826	29,477
Special items charge (Gain)									0	0	0
EBIT									28,563	27,826	29,477
Total assets	147,990				162,496				147,990	162,496	195,881
Equity investments in affiliates	0				0				0	0	0
Capital expenditures									825	3,931	831
Depreciation and amortization									3,512	3,636	3,934
Corporate / Eliminations
Financial information for the reportable segments
Net sales									0	0	0
Revenue from Related Parties									(167,492)	(171,909)	(170,526)
Segment, including Inter-segment, sales									(167,492)	(171,909)	(170,526)
EBIT, as adjusted									4,216	(4,350)	(4,886)
Special items charge (Gain)									0	0	0
EBIT									4,216	(4,350)	(4,886)
Total assets	(101,864)				43,182				(101,864)	43,182	(22,604)
Equity investments in affiliates	0				0				0	0	0
Capital expenditures									0	(2,315)	(54)
Depreciation and amortization									$ (271)	$ (224)	$ (67)