SEGMENT INFORMATION (Tables)

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2015

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
Three Months Ended March 31, 2015
Net sales	$	412,988		$	88,416	$	49,250		$	37,430		$	69,816	$	—		$	657,900
Inter-segment sales	26,129			3,593		3,270			—			2,011		(35,003		)	—
Total	$	439,117		$	92,009	$	52,520		$	37,430		$	71,827	$	(35,003	)	$	657,900
EBIT, as adjusted	$	71,184		$	8,748	$	3,128		$	3,150		$	7,549	$	199		$	93,958
Special items charge (gain)	—			—		—			—			—		—			—
EBIT	$	71,184		$	8,748	$	3,128		$	3,150		$	7,549	$	199		$	93,958
Interest income																	593
Interest expense																	(1,844		)
Income before income taxes																	$	92,707
Total assets	$	1,137,981		$	346,628	$	271,207		$	136,021		$	147,121	$	(117,450	)	$	1,921,508
Three Months Ended March 31, 2014
Net sales	$	401,906		$	105,406	$	61,286		$	43,993		$	72,471	$	—		$	685,062
Inter-segment sales	32,943			5,860		4,449			29			2,118		(45,399		)	—
Total	$	434,849		$	111,266	$	65,735		$	44,022		$	74,589	$	(45,399	)	$	685,062
EBIT, as adjusted	$	71,364		$	9,292	$	(640	)	$	11,765		$	6,058	$	2,891		$	100,730
Special items charge (gain)	(47		)	39		(9		)	17,665			—		—			17,648
EBIT	$	71,411		$	9,253	$	(631	)	$	(5,900	)	$	6,058	$	2,891		$	83,082
Interest income																	914
Interest expense																	(1,570		)
Income before income taxes																	$	82,426
Total assets	$	1,107,182		$	404,451	$	320,776		$	141,079		$	170,856	$	(30,368	)	$	2,113,976