SEGMENT INFORMATION (Financial Information of Reportable Segments) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2021	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019
Financial information for the reportable segments
Net sales (Note 2)	$ 3,234,180	$ 2,655,400	$ 3,003,272
Revenue from Related Parties	0	0	0
Segment, including Inter-segment, sales	3,234,180	2,655,400	3,003,272
Adjusted EBIT	491,268	340,406	400,753
Special items charge (Gain)	144,056	54,393	8,845
EBIT	347,212	286,013	391,908
Interest income	1,567	1,986	2,527
Interest expense	(23,781)	(23,959)	(25,942)
Income before income taxes	324,998	264,040	368,493
Assets	2,592,307	2,314,453	2,371,213
Equity investments in affiliates	5,181	4,682	4,274
Capital expenditures	62,531	59,201	69,615
Depreciation and amortization	81,146	80,492	81,487
Rationalization and asset impairment charges (gains)	9,827	45,468	15,188
Defined Benefit Plan, Net Periodic Benefit Cost (Credit), Gain (Loss) Due to Settlement and Curtailment	126,056
Business Combination, Step Acquisition, Equity Interest in Acquiree, Remeasurement Gain (Loss), Net	0	0	7,601
Corporate/Eliminations
Financial information for the reportable segments
Revenue from Related Parties	(175,077)	(134,906)	(148,520)
Segment, including Inter-segment, sales	(175,077)	(134,906)	(148,520)
Adjusted EBIT	(12,403)	(5,455)	(10,948)
Special items charge (Gain)	1,923	0	1,804
EBIT	(14,326)	(5,455)	(12,752)
Assets	(197,515)	(142,306)	(154,543)
Equity investments in affiliates	0	0	0
Capital expenditures	0	0	0
Depreciation and amortization	(157)	(93)	(462)
Acquisition Transaction and Integration Costs	1,923		1,804
Americas Welding [Member]
Financial information for the reportable segments
Rationalization and asset impairment charges (gains)		26,870	1,716
Defined Benefit Plan, Net Periodic Benefit Cost (Credit), Gain (Loss) Due to Settlement and Curtailment	123,091	8,119
Business Combination, Inventory Step Up			1,399
Americas Welding [Member] | Operating Segments
Financial information for the reportable segments
Net sales (Note 2)	1,824,481	1,509,870	1,815,746
Revenue from Related Parties	140,650	109,378	123,342
Segment, including Inter-segment, sales	1,965,131	1,619,248	1,939,088
Adjusted EBIT	329,016	245,728	315,719
Special items charge (Gain)	123,114	34,989	3,115
EBIT	205,902	210,739	312,604
Assets	1,521,083	1,423,393	1,490,395
Equity investments in affiliates	5,181	4,682	4,274
Capital expenditures	37,717	30,811	39,106
Depreciation and amortization	49,510	51,744	55,300
International Welding [Member]
Financial information for the reportable segments
Rationalization and asset impairment charges (gains)	9,804	18,598	11,702
Defined Benefit Plan, Net Periodic Benefit Cost (Credit), Gain (Loss) Due to Settlement and Curtailment	446
Business Combination, Inventory Step Up	4,984	806	1,609
Gain (Loss) on Disposition of Assets			3,554
Business Combination, Step Acquisition, Equity Interest in Acquiree, Remeasurement Gain (Loss), Net			7,601
International Welding [Member] | Operating Segments
Financial information for the reportable segments
Net sales (Note 2)	948,125	786,809	854,376
Revenue from Related Parties	26,331	18,494	17,691
Segment, including Inter-segment, sales	974,456	805,303	872,067
Adjusted EBIT	106,208	44,979	50,281
Special items charge (Gain)	15,234	19,404	2,156
EBIT	90,974	25,575	48,125
Assets	938,061	807,407	831,759
Equity investments in affiliates	0	0	0
Capital expenditures	16,916	21,819	23,126
Depreciation and amortization	24,998	23,859	22,013
The Harris Products Group
Financial information for the reportable segments
Rationalization and asset impairment charges (gains)			1,770
Defined Benefit Plan, Net Periodic Benefit Cost (Credit), Gain (Loss) Due to Settlement and Curtailment	2,965
Business Combination, Inventory Step Up	820
The Harris Products Group | Operating Segments
Financial information for the reportable segments
Net sales (Note 2)	461,574	358,721	333,150
Revenue from Related Parties	8,096	7,034	7,487
Segment, including Inter-segment, sales	469,670	365,755	340,637
Adjusted EBIT	68,447	55,154	45,701
Special items charge (Gain)	3,785	0	1,770
EBIT	64,662	55,154	43,931
Assets	330,678	225,959	203,602
Equity investments in affiliates	0	0	0
Capital expenditures	7,898	6,571	7,383
Depreciation and amortization	$ 6,795	$ 4,982	$ 4,636