Revenue Revenue - Revenue by Reporting Unit (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2018
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total net sales	$ 634,360	$ 1,246,684
Intersegment elimination
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total net sales	(143)	(400)
Fluid & Metering Technologies
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total net sales	242,755	475,016
Fluid & Metering Technologies | Operating Segments
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total net sales	242,755	475,016
Fluid & Metering Technologies | Intersegment elimination
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total net sales	(45)	(117)
Fluid & Metering Technologies | Energy | Operating Segments
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total net sales	40,779	79,538
Fluid & Metering Technologies | Valves | Operating Segments
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total net sales	28,830	54,859
Fluid & Metering Technologies | Water | Operating Segments
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total net sales	65,171	124,011
Fluid & Metering Technologies | Pumps | Operating Segments
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total net sales	82,735	163,401
Fluid & Metering Technologies | Agriculture | Operating Segments
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total net sales	25,285	53,324
Health & Science Technologies
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total net sales	227,367	448,334
Health & Science Technologies | Operating Segments
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total net sales	227,367	448,334
Health & Science Technologies | Intersegment elimination
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total net sales	(36)	(144)
Health & Science Technologies | Scientific Fluidics & Optics | Operating Segments
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total net sales	104,106	203,613
Health & Science Technologies | Sealing Solutions | Operating Segments
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total net sales	51,634	105,336
Health & Science Technologies | Gast | Operating Segments
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total net sales	30,903	59,415
Health & Science Technologies | Micropump | Operating Segments
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total net sales	9,800	19,098
Health & Science Technologies | Material Processing Technologies | Operating Segments
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total net sales	30,960	61,016
Fire & Safety/Diversified Products
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total net sales	164,238	323,334
Fire & Safety/Diversified Products | Operating Segments
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total net sales	164,238	323,334
Fire & Safety/Diversified Products | Intersegment elimination
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total net sales	(62)	(139)
Fire & Safety/Diversified Products | Fire & Safety | Operating Segments
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total net sales	99,940	196,152
Fire & Safety/Diversified Products | Band-It | Operating Segments
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total net sales	26,981	54,455
Fire & Safety/Diversified Products | Dispensing | Operating Segments
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total net sales	$ 37,379	$ 72,866