Business Segments (Schedule of Information on Company's Business Segments) (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015	Dec. 31, 2015
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	$ 530,356	$ 503,791	$ 1,582,624	$ 1,520,870
Operating income	108,857	121,813	324,390	333,479
Interest expense	11,913	10,229	33,607	31,410
Other (income) expense - net	(2,364)	(693)	(4,982)	(1,589)
Income before income taxes	99,308	112,277	295,765	303,658
Loss (gain) on sale of businesses	2,067	(18,070)	2,067	(18,070)
Total assets	3,262,464		3,262,464		$ 2,805,443
Intersegment elimination
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	(310)	(212)	(835)	(2,762)
Corporate office income (expense) and other
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating income	(16,136)	3,996	(47,213)	(30,254)
Total assets	113,789		113,789		123,008
Fluid & Metering Technologies
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	208,164	211,971	641,508	644,886
Operating income	55,600	46,910	160,866	154,665
Fluid & Metering Technologies | Intersegment elimination
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	171	130	480	756
Fluid & Metering Technologies | Operating Segments
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	208,335	212,101	641,988	645,642
Total assets	1,084,118		1,084,118		1,125,266
Health & Science Technologies
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	183,453	184,816	556,157	550,612
Operating income	37,204	38,371	119,028	117,888
Health & Science Technologies | Intersegment elimination
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	111	77	318	1,806
Health & Science Technologies | Operating Segments
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	183,564	184,893	556,475	552,418
Total assets	1,323,130		1,323,130		1,108,302
Fire & Safety/Diversified Products
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	138,739	107,004	384,959	325,372
Operating income	32,189	32,536	91,709	91,180
Fire & Safety/Diversified Products | Intersegment elimination
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	28	5	37	200
Fire & Safety/Diversified Products | Operating Segments
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	138,767	$ 107,009	384,996	$ 325,572
Total assets	$ 741,427		$ 741,427		$ 448,867