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INCOME TAXES (Details) (USD $)
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
 3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2015
Mar. 31, 2014
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]    
Income taxes $ 24,389us-gaap_IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit $ 26,002us-gaap_IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit
Pre-tax income 92,707us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesExtraordinaryItemsNoncontrollingInterest 82,426us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesExtraordinaryItemsNoncontrollingInterest
Effective income tax rate (as a percent) 26.30%us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateContinuingOperations 31.50%us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateContinuingOperations
Unrecognized tax benefits 16,373us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefits  
Unrecognized tax benefits that, if recognized, would be reflected as a component of income tax expense 8,414us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsThatWouldImpactEffectiveTaxRate  
Reasonably possible reduction in prior years' unrecognized tax benefits during the next twelve months (3,726)us-gaap_SignificantChangeInUnrecognizedTaxBenefitsIsReasonablyPossibleAmountOfUnrecordedBenefit  
Income Tax Examination, Liability (Refund) Adjustment from Settlement with Taxing Authority (24,976)us-gaap_IncomeTaxExaminationLiabilityRefundAdjustmentFromSettlementWithTaxingAuthority  
Interest Received On Income Tax Examination Refund From Settlement With Taxing Authority $ 1,596leco_InterestReceivedOnIncomeTaxExaminationRefundFromSettlementWithTaxingAuthority