Retirement benefits - Retirement Cost (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2015
U.S. Plans
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Service cost	$ 0.0	$ 0.0	$ 0.0	$ 0.0
Interest cost on projected benefit obligation	9.3	9.0	18.5	18.0
Return on assets – expected	(13.6)	(13.6)	(27.3)	(27.3)
Amortization of losses	6.2	7.7	12.3	15.5
Amortization of prior service cost	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0
Settlement loss	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0
Net periodic pension cost	1.9	3.1	3.5	6.2
U.S. Plans | Continuing operations
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Net periodic pension cost	1.9	3.1	3.5	6.2
U.S. Plans | Discontinued operations
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Amortization of prior service cost	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0
Non-U.S. Plans
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Service cost	2.7	2.6	5.5	5.5
Interest cost on projected benefit obligation	3.1	3.0	6.5	6.2
Return on assets – expected	(2.5)	(2.4)	(4.8)	(4.8)
Amortization of losses	1.2	1.2	2.4	2.5
Amortization of prior service cost	0.2	0.2	0.2	0.2
Settlement loss	0.6	1.1	1.4	3.4
Net periodic pension cost	5.3	5.7	11.2	13.0
Non-U.S. Plans | Continuing operations
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Net periodic pension cost	5.3	5.7	11.2	11.9
Non-U.S. Plans | Discontinued operations
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Net periodic pension cost	0.0	0.0	0.0	1.1
Pension Plan
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Service cost	2.7	2.6	5.5	5.5
Interest cost on projected benefit obligation	12.4	12.0	25.0	24.2
Return on assets – expected	(16.1)	(16.0)	(32.1)	(32.1)
Amortization of losses	7.4	8.9	14.7	18.0
Amortization of prior service cost	0.2	0.2	0.2	0.2
Settlement loss	0.6	1.1	1.4	3.4
Net periodic pension cost	7.2	8.8	14.7	19.2
Pension Plan | Continuing operations
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Net periodic pension cost	7.2	8.8	14.7	18.1
Pension Plan | Discontinued operations
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Net periodic pension cost	0.0	0.0	0.0	1.1
UMWA Plans
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Service cost	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0
Interest cost on projected benefit obligation	4.8	4.2	9.4	8.7
Return on assets – expected	(4.3)	(5.1)	(8.7)	(10.3)
Amortization of losses	4.5	3.7	8.8	8.0
Amortization of prior service cost	(1.2)	(1.1)	(2.3)	(2.3)
Net periodic pension cost	3.8	1.7	7.2	4.1
Black Lung and Other Plans
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Service cost	0.0	0.1	0.0	0.1
Interest cost on projected benefit obligation	0.7	0.7	1.3	1.4
Return on assets – expected	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0
Amortization of losses	0.7	0.8	1.2	1.5
Amortization of prior service cost	0.4	0.4	0.9	0.9
Net periodic pension cost	1.8	2.0	3.4	3.9
Other Postretirement Benefit Plan
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Service cost	0.0	0.1	0.0	0.1
Interest cost on projected benefit obligation	5.5	4.9	10.7	10.1
Return on assets – expected	(4.3)	(5.1)	(8.7)	(10.3)
Amortization of losses	5.2	4.5	10.0	9.5
Amortization of prior service cost	(0.8)	(0.7)	(1.4)	(1.4)
Net periodic pension cost	$ 5.6	$ 3.7	$ 10.6	$ 8.0