Business Segments - Schedule of Information on Company's Business Segments (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2018	Mar. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2017
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	$ 612,324	$ 553,552
Operating income	136,683	115,671
Interest expense	11,000	11,552
Other (income) expense - net	(4,449)	(308)
Income before income taxes	130,132	104,427
Total assets	3,485,459		$ 3,399,628
Intersegment elimination
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	(257)	(344)
Corporate office
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating income	(20,843)	(17,006)
Total assets	236,166		230,160
Fluid & Metering Technologies
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	232,261	216,655
Operating income	66,166	57,813
Fluid & Metering Technologies | Intersegment elimination
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	(72)	(115)
Fluid & Metering Technologies | Operating Segments
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	232,333	216,770
Total assets	1,138,501		1,101,580
Health & Science Technologies
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	220,967	199,575
Operating income	51,806	42,238
Health & Science Technologies | Intersegment elimination
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	(108)	(104)
Health & Science Technologies | Operating Segments
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	221,075	199,679
Total assets	1,339,090		1,323,373
Fire & Safety/Diversified Products
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	159,096	137,322
Operating income	39,554	32,626
Fire & Safety/Diversified Products | Intersegment elimination
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	(77)	(125)
Fire & Safety/Diversified Products | Operating Segments
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	159,173	$ 137,447
Total assets	$ 771,702		$ 744,515