Retirement benefits - Retirement Cost (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2017	Mar. 31, 2016
Pension Plan
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Service cost	$ 2.9	$ 2.8
Interest cost on projected benefit obligation	13.6	12.6
Return on assets – expected	(15.7)	(16.0)
Amortization of losses	7.6	7.3
Amortization of prior service cost	0.2	0.0
Settlement loss	0.3	0.8
Net periodic pension cost	8.9	7.5
U.S. Plans
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Service cost	0.0	0.0
Interest cost on projected benefit obligation	8.8	9.2
Return on assets – expected	(13.3)	(13.7)
Amortization of losses	6.3	6.1
Amortization of prior service cost	0.0	0.0
Settlement loss	0.0	0.0
Net periodic pension cost	1.8	1.6
Non-U.S. Plans
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Service cost	2.9	2.8
Interest cost on projected benefit obligation	4.8	3.4
Return on assets – expected	(2.4)	(2.3)
Amortization of losses	1.3	1.2
Amortization of prior service cost	0.2	0.0
Settlement loss	0.3	0.8
Net periodic pension cost	7.1	5.9
Other Postretirement Benefit Plan
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Interest cost on projected benefit obligation	5.1	5.2
Return on assets – expected	(4.2)	(4.4)
Amortization of losses	5.3	4.8
Amortization of prior service cost	(0.6)	(0.6)
Net periodic pension cost	5.6	5.0
UMWA Plans
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Interest cost on projected benefit obligation	4.4	4.6
Return on assets – expected	(4.2)	(4.4)
Amortization of losses	4.4	4.3
Amortization of prior service cost	(1.1)	(1.1)
Net periodic pension cost	3.5	3.4
Black Lung and Other Plans
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Interest cost on projected benefit obligation	0.7	0.6
Return on assets – expected	0.0	0.0
Amortization of losses	0.9	0.5
Amortization of prior service cost	0.5	0.5
Net periodic pension cost	$ 2.1	$ 1.6