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Business Segments - Schedule of Information on Company's Business Segments (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017	Dec. 31, 2017
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	$ 622,888	$ 574,490	$ 1,869,572	$ 1,701,408
Operating income	145,133	126,504	429,647	367,308
Interest expense	10,958	11,064	33,098	33,920
Other (income) expense - net	934	1,653	(3,565)	1,717
Income before income taxes	133,241	113,787	400,114	331,671
Total assets	3,554,807		3,554,807		$ 3,399,628
Intersegment elimination
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	(583)	(189)	(983)	(741)
Corporate office
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating income	(18,492)	(17,756)	(61,183)	(53,149)
Total assets	291,190		291,190		230,160
Fluid & Metering Technologies
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	239,119	220,897	714,135	658,675
Operating income	69,755	61,988	207,149	179,830
Fluid & Metering Technologies \| Intersegment elimination
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	94	56	211	230
Fluid & Metering Technologies \| Operating Segments
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	239,213	220,953	714,346	658,905
Total assets	1,141,116		1,141,116		1,101,580
Health & Science Technologies
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	222,351	207,018	670,685	610,890
Operating income	49,144	46,073	153,519	134,605
Health & Science Technologies \| Intersegment elimination
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	75	109	219	325
Health & Science Technologies \| Operating Segments
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	222,426	207,127	670,904	611,215
Total assets	1,352,886		1,352,886		1,323,373
Fire & Safety/Diversified Products
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	161,418	146,575	484,752	431,843
Operating income	44,726	36,199	130,162	106,022
Fire & Safety/Diversified Products \| Intersegment elimination
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	414	24	553	186
Fire & Safety/Diversified Products \| Operating Segments
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	161,832	$ 146,599	485,305	$ 432,029
Total assets	$ 769,615		$ 769,615		$ 744,515