Revenue Revenue - Revenue by Reporting Unit (Details) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2018 USD ($)
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total net sales	$ 612,324
Intersegment elimination
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total net sales	(257)
Fluid & Metering Technologies
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total net sales	232,261
Fluid & Metering Technologies | Operating Segments
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total net sales	232,261
Fluid & Metering Technologies | Intersegment elimination
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total net sales	(72)
Fluid & Metering Technologies | Energy | Operating Segments
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total net sales	38,759
Fluid & Metering Technologies | Valves | Operating Segments
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total net sales	26,029
Fluid & Metering Technologies | Water | Operating Segments
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total net sales	58,840
Fluid & Metering Technologies | Pumps | Operating Segments
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total net sales	80,666
Fluid & Metering Technologies | Agriculture | Operating Segments
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total net sales	28,039
Health & Science Technologies
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total net sales	220,967
Health & Science Technologies | Operating Segments
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total net sales	220,967
Health & Science Technologies | Intersegment elimination
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total net sales	(108)
Health & Science Technologies | Scientific Fluidics & Optics | Operating Segments
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total net sales	99,507
Health & Science Technologies | Sealing Solutions | Operating Segments
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total net sales	53,702
Health & Science Technologies | Gast | Operating Segments
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total net sales	28,512
Health & Science Technologies | Micropump | Operating Segments
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total net sales	9,298
Health & Science Technologies | Material Processing Technologies | Operating Segments
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total net sales	30,056
Fire & Safety/Diversified Products
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total net sales	159,096
Fire & Safety/Diversified Products | Operating Segments
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total net sales	159,096
Fire & Safety/Diversified Products | Intersegment elimination
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total net sales	(77)
Fire & Safety/Diversified Products | Fire & Safety | Operating Segments
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total net sales	96,212
Fire & Safety/Diversified Products | Band-It | Operating Segments
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total net sales	27,474
Fire & Safety/Diversified Products | Dispensing | Operating Segments
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total net sales	$ 35,487