Business Segments and Geographic Information - Schedule of Information on Company's Business Segments (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Sep. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2016	Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Sep. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2015	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total net sales	$ 530,419	$ 530,356	$ 549,696	$ 502,572	$ 499,798	$ 503,791	$ 514,881	$ 502,198	$ 2,113,043	$ 2,020,668	$ 2,147,767
Total operating income	81,411	$ 108,857	$ 112,976	$ 102,557	98,259	$ 121,813	$ 109,909	$ 101,757	405,801	431,738	431,224
Interest expense									45,616	41,636	41,895
Other (income) expense - net									(8,327)	(2,243)	(3,111)
Income before income taxes									368,512	392,345	392,440
Total assets	3,154,944				2,805,443				3,154,944	2,805,443	2,903,463
Total depreciation and amortization									86,892	78,120	76,907
Total capital expenditures									38,242	43,776	47,997
Loss (gain) on sale of business									(22,298)	18,070	0
Intersegment Eliminations
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total net sales									(876)	(3,035)	(6,591)
Corporate Office
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total operating income									(84,051)	(46,461)	(69,155)
Total assets	117,503				123,008				117,503	123,008	265,229
Total depreciation and amortization									1,180	1,580	1,393
Total capital expenditures									243	2,022	3,860
Fluid & Metering Technologies
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total net sales									849,101	860,792	899,588
Total operating income									214,242	204,506	216,886
Total assets	1,065,670				1,125,266				1,065,670	1,125,266	1,026,238
Total depreciation and amortization									28,458	27,662	26,453
Total capital expenditures									16,389	22,846	18,215
Fluid & Metering Technologies | External Customers
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total net sales									848,708	859,945	898,530
Fluid & Metering Technologies | Intersegment Eliminations
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total net sales									393	847	1,058
Health & Science Technologies
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total net sales									744,809	738,996	752,021
Total operating income									153,722	157,948	152,999
Total assets	1,266,036				1,108,302				1,266,036	1,108,302	1,101,155
Total depreciation and amortization									45,298	42,827	42,478
Total capital expenditures									15,665	13,104	19,161
Health & Science Technologies | External Customers
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total net sales									744,380	737,011	747,186
Health & Science Technologies | Intersegment Eliminations
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total net sales									429	1,985	4,835
Fire & Safety/Diversified Products
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total net sales									520,009	423,915	502,749
Total operating income									121,888	115,745	130,494
Total assets	$ 705,735				$ 448,867				705,735	448,867	510,841
Total depreciation and amortization									11,956	6,051	6,583
Total capital expenditures									5,945	5,804	6,761
Fire & Safety/Diversified Products | External Customers
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total net sales									519,955	423,712	502,051
Fire & Safety/Diversified Products | Intersegment Eliminations
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total net sales									$ 54	$ 203	$ 698