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, 2017	Sep. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2017	Mar. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Sep. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2016	Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total net sales	$ 585,904	$ 574,490	$ 573,366	$ 553,552	$ 530,419	$ 530,356	$ 549,696	$ 502,572	$ 2,287,312	$ 2,113,043	$ 2,020,668
Total operating income	135,248	$ 126,504	$ 125,133	$ 115,671	85,521	$ 109,708	$ 113,823	$ 103,345	502,556	412,397	436,990
Interest expense									44,889	45,616	41,636
Other (income) expense - net									2,394	(1,731)	3,009
Income before income taxes									455,273	368,512	392,345
Total assets	3,399,628				3,154,944				3,399,628	3,154,944	2,805,443
Total depreciation and amortization									84,216	86,892	78,120
Total capital expenditures									43,858	38,242	43,776
Gain (loss) on sale of business									9,273	(22,298)	18,070
Intersegment Eliminations
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total net sales									(1,309)	(876)	(3,035)
Corporate Office
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total operating income									(65,069)	(82,399)	(45,139)
Total assets	230,160				117,503				230,160	117,503	123,008
Total depreciation and amortization									801	1,180	1,580
Total capital expenditures									2,937	243	2,022
Fluid & Metering Technologies
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total net sales									880,957	849,101	860,792
Total operating income									241,030	217,500	206,419
Total assets	1,101,580				1,065,670				1,101,580	1,065,670	1,125,266
Total depreciation and amortization									23,587	28,458	27,662
Total capital expenditures									18,218	16,389	22,846
Fluid & Metering Technologies | External Customers
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total net sales									880,648	848,708	859,945
Fluid & Metering Technologies | Intersegment Eliminations
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total net sales									309	393	847
Health & Science Technologies
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total net sales									820,131	744,809	738,996
Total operating income									179,567	153,691	158,364
Total assets	1,323,373				1,266,036				1,323,373	1,266,036	1,108,302
Total depreciation and amortization									45,287	45,298	42,827
Total capital expenditures									16,340	15,665	13,104
Health & Science Technologies | External Customers
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total net sales									819,719	744,380	737,011
Health & Science Technologies | Intersegment Eliminations
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total net sales									412	429	1,985
Fire & Safety/Diversified Products
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total net sales									587,533	520,009	423,915
Total operating income									147,028	123,605	117,346
Total assets	$ 744,515				$ 705,735				744,515	705,735	448,867
Total depreciation and amortization									14,541	11,956	6,051
Total capital expenditures									6,363	5,945	5,804
Fire & Safety/Diversified Products | External Customers
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total net sales									586,945	519,955	423,712
Fire & Safety/Diversified Products | Intersegment Eliminations
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total net sales									$ 588	$ 54	$ 203