Business Segments and Geographic Information Schedule of Information on Company's Business Segments (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015	Sep. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2015	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Sep. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2014	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total segment sales									$ 2,020,668	$ 2,147,767	$ 2,024,130
Total net sales	$ 499,798	$ 503,791	$ 514,881	$ 502,198	$ 523,899	$ 533,179	$ 546,693	$ 543,996	2,020,668	2,147,767	2,024,130
Total operating income	98,259	$ 121,813	$ 109,909	$ 101,757	94,454	$ 110,847	$ 112,088	$ 113,835	431,738	431,224	395,513
Interest expense									41,636	41,895	42,206
Other (income) expense - net									(2,243)	(3,111)	178
Income before income taxes									392,345	392,440	353,129
Total assets	2,805,443				2,903,463				2,805,443	2,903,463	2,881,118
Total depreciation and amortization									78,120	76,907	79,334
Total capital expenditures									43,776	47,997	31,536
Gain on sale of business									18,070	0	0
Intersegment Eliminations
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total net sales									(3,035)	(6,591)	(7,383)
Corporate Office
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total operating income									(46,461)	(69,155)	(55,180)
Total assets	123,008				265,229				123,008	265,229	258,081
Total depreciation and amortization									1,580	1,393	1,353
Total capital expenditures									2,022	3,860	2,635
Fluid & Metering Technologies
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total segment sales									860,792	899,588	871,814
Total operating income									204,506	216,886	211,256
Total assets	1,125,266				1,026,238				1,125,266	1,026,238	1,025,352
Total depreciation and amortization									27,662	26,453	27,633
Total capital expenditures									22,846	18,215	11,581
Fluid & Metering Technologies | External Customers
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total segment sales									859,945	898,530	870,720
Fluid & Metering Technologies | Intersegment Eliminations
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total segment sales									847	1,058	1,094
Health & Science Technologies
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total segment sales									738,996	752,021	714,650
Total operating income									157,948	152,999	136,707
Total assets	1,108,302				1,101,155				1,108,302	1,101,155	1,113,546
Total depreciation and amortization									42,827	42,478	43,496
Total capital expenditures									13,104	19,161	12,280
Health & Science Technologies | External Customers
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total segment sales									737,011	747,186	708,940
Health & Science Technologies | Intersegment Eliminations
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total segment sales									1,985	4,835	5,710
Fire & Safety/Diversified Products
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total segment sales									423,915	502,749	445,049
Total operating income									115,745	130,494	102,730
Total assets	$ 448,867				$ 510,841				448,867	510,841	484,139
Total depreciation and amortization									6,051	6,583	6,852
Total capital expenditures									5,804	6,761	5,040
Fire & Safety/Diversified Products | External Customers
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total segment sales									423,712	502,051	444,470
Fire & Safety/Diversified Products | Intersegment Eliminations
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total segment sales									$ 203	$ 698	$ 579