Business Segments (Schedule of Information on Company's Business Segments) (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2014
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	$ 503,791	$ 533,179	$ 1,520,870	$ 1,623,868
Operating income	121,813	110,847	333,479	336,770
Interest expense	10,229	10,461	31,410	31,323
Other (income) expense - net	(693)	(944)	(1,589)	(1,651)
Income before income taxes	112,277	101,330	303,658	307,098
Total assets	2,870,362		2,870,362		$ 2,908,070
Gain on sale of business	18,070	0	18,070	0
Intersegment elimination
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	(212)	(1,244)	(2,762)	(5,529)
Corporate office and other
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating income	3,996	(17,513)	(30,254)	(51,619)
Total assets	143,009		143,009		269,836
Fluid & Metering Technologies
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Segment sales	212,101	223,258	645,642	672,719
Operating income	46,910	54,791	154,665	166,821
Total assets	1,154,614		1,154,614		1,026,238
Fluid & Metering Technologies | External customers
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Segment sales	211,971	223,018	644,886	671,891
Fluid & Metering Technologies | Intersegment elimination
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Segment sales	130	240	756	828
Health & Science Technologies
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Segment sales	184,893	190,852	552,418	562,899
Operating income	38,371	42,214	117,888	114,580
Total assets	1,119,185		1,119,185		1,101,155
Health & Science Technologies | External customers
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Segment sales	184,816	189,975	550,612	558,716
Health & Science Technologies | Intersegment elimination
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Segment sales	77	877	1,806	4,183
Fire & Safety/Diversified Products
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Segment sales	107,009	120,313	325,572	393,779
Operating income	32,536	31,355	91,180	106,988
Total assets	453,554		453,554		$ 510,841
Fire & Safety/Diversified Products | External customers
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Segment sales	107,004	120,186	325,372	393,261
Fire & Safety/Diversified Products | Intersegment elimination
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Segment sales	$ 5	$ 127	$ 200	$ 518