Business Segments and Geographic Information Schedule of Information on Company's Business Segments (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014	Sep. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2014	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2013	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2014		Dec. 31, 2013		Dec. 31, 2012
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total segment sales									$ 2,147,767		$ 2,024,130		$ 1,954,258
Total net sales	523,899	533,179	546,693	543,996	520,620	490,617	518,445	494,448	2,147,767		2,024,130		1,954,258
Total operating income	94,454	110,847	112,088	113,835	103,873	97,369	99,559	94,712	431,224	[1]	395,513	[1]	128,218	[1]
Interest expense									41,895		42,206		42,250
Other (income) expense - net									(3,111)		178		(236)
Income before taxes									392,440		353,129		86,204
Total assets	2,908,070				2,887,577				2,908,070		2,887,577		2,785,390
Total depreciation and amortization									76,907	[2]	79,334	[2]	78,312	[2]
Total capital expenditures									47,997		31,536		35,520
Intersegment Eliminations
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total net sales									(6,591)		(7,383)		(11,318)
Corporate Office
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total operating income									(69,155)	[1]	(55,180)	[1]	(51,717)	[1]
Total assets	269,836				264,540				269,836		264,540		170,493
Total depreciation and amortization									1,393	[2]	1,353	[2]	1,587	[2]
Total capital expenditures									3,860		2,635		2,191
Fluid & Metering Technologies
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total segment sales									899,588		871,814		833,288
Total operating income									216,886	[1],[3]	211,256	[1],[3]	146,650	[1],[3]
Total assets	1,026,238				1,025,352				1,026,238		1,025,352		1,023,143
Total depreciation and amortization									26,453	[2]	27,633	[2]	29,637	[2]
Total capital expenditures									18,215		11,581		13,535
Fluid & Metering Technologies | External Customers
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total segment sales									898,530		870,720		829,320
Fluid & Metering Technologies | Intersegment Eliminations
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total segment sales									1,058		1,094		3,968
Health & Science Technologies
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total segment sales									752,021		714,650		695,235
Total operating income									152,999	[1],[3]	136,707	[1],[3]	(62,835)	[1],[3]
Total assets	1,101,155				1,113,546				1,101,155		1,113,546		1,102,868
Total depreciation and amortization									42,478	[2]	43,496	[2]	39,981	[2]
Total capital expenditures									19,161		12,280		13,140
Health & Science Technologies | External Customers
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total segment sales									747,186		708,940		689,574
Health & Science Technologies | Intersegment Eliminations
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total segment sales									4,835		5,710		5,661
Fire & Safety/Diversified Products
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total segment sales									502,749		445,049		437,053
Total operating income									130,494	[1]	102,730	[1]	96,120	[1]
Total assets	510,841				484,139				510,841		484,139		488,886
Total depreciation and amortization									6,583	[2]	6,852	[2]	7,107	[2]
Total capital expenditures									6,761		5,040		6,654
Fire & Safety/Diversified Products | External Customers
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total segment sales									502,051		444,470		435,364
Fire & Safety/Diversified Products | Intersegment Eliminations
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total segment sales									$ 698		$ 579		$ 1,689

[1] Segment operating income (loss) excludes net unallocated corporate operating expenses.

[2] Excludes amortization of debt issuance expenses.

[3] Segment operating income (loss) includes asset impairment charges in 2012 of $27.7 million within the Fluid & Metering Technologies segment and $170.8 million within the Health & Science Technologies segment.