Revenue Revenue - Revenue by Reporting Unit (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2018
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total net sales	$ 622,888	$ 1,869,572
Intersegment elimination
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total net sales	(583)	(983)
Fluid & Metering Technologies
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total net sales	239,119	714,135
Fluid & Metering Technologies | Operating Segments
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total net sales	239,119	714,135
Fluid & Metering Technologies | Intersegment elimination
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total net sales	(94)	(211)
Fluid & Metering Technologies | Energy | Operating Segments
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total net sales	42,403	121,941
Fluid & Metering Technologies | Valves | Operating Segments
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total net sales	30,972	85,831
Fluid & Metering Technologies | Water | Operating Segments
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total net sales	63,989	188,000
Fluid & Metering Technologies | Pumps | Operating Segments
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total net sales	81,605	245,006
Fluid & Metering Technologies | Agriculture | Operating Segments
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total net sales	20,244	73,568
Health & Science Technologies
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total net sales	222,351	670,685
Health & Science Technologies | Operating Segments
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total net sales	222,351	670,685
Health & Science Technologies | Intersegment elimination
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total net sales	(75)	(219)
Health & Science Technologies | Scientific Fluidics & Optics | Operating Segments
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total net sales	106,917	310,530
Health & Science Technologies | Sealing Solutions | Operating Segments
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total net sales	48,787	154,123
Health & Science Technologies | Gast | Operating Segments
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total net sales	33,574	92,989
Health & Science Technologies | Micropump | Operating Segments
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total net sales	8,801	27,899
Health & Science Technologies | Material Processing Technologies | Operating Segments
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total net sales	24,347	85,363
Fire & Safety/Diversified Products
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total net sales	161,418	484,752
Fire & Safety/Diversified Products | Operating Segments
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total net sales	161,418	484,752
Fire & Safety/Diversified Products | Intersegment elimination
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total net sales	(414)	(553)
Fire & Safety/Diversified Products | Fire & Safety | Operating Segments
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total net sales	102,589	298,741
Fire & Safety/Diversified Products | Band-It | Operating Segments
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total net sales	25,437	79,892
Fire & Safety/Diversified Products | Dispensing | Operating Segments
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total net sales	$ 33,806	$ 106,672