Business Segments and Geographic Information - Schedule of Information on Company's Business Segments (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018	Sep. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2018	Mar. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Sep. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2017	Mar. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total net sales	$ 614,094	$ 622,888	$ 634,360	$ 612,324	$ 585,904	$ 574,490	$ 573,366	$ 553,552	$ 2,483,666	$ 2,287,312	$ 2,113,043
Total operating income	139,441	$ 145,133	$ 147,831	$ 136,683	135,248	$ 126,504	$ 125,133	$ 115,671	569,088	502,556	412,397
Interest expense									44,134	44,889	45,616
Other (income) expense - net									(3,985)	2,394	(1,731)
Income before income taxes									528,939	455,273	368,512
Total assets	3,473,857				3,399,628				3,473,857	3,399,628	3,154,944
Total depreciation and amortization									77,544	84,216	86,892
Gain (loss) on sale of business									0	9,273	(22,298)
Total capital expenditures									56,089	43,858	38,242
Intersegment elimination
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total net sales									(1,333)	(1,309)	(876)
Corporate Office
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total operating income									(80,252)	(65,069)	(82,399)
Total assets	230,637				230,160				230,637	230,160	117,503
Total depreciation and amortization									742	801	1,180
Total capital expenditures									191	2,937	243
Fluid & Metering Technologies
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total net sales									951,552	880,957	849,101
Total operating income									275,060	241,030	217,500
Total assets	1,107,777				1,101,580				1,107,777	1,101,580	1,065,670
Total depreciation and amortization									22,370	23,587	28,458
Total capital expenditures									19,541	18,218	16,389
Fluid & Metering Technologies | External Customers
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total net sales									951,275	880,648	848,708
Fluid & Metering Technologies | Intersegment elimination
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total net sales									277	309	393
Health & Science Technologies
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total net sales									896,419	820,131	744,809
Total operating income									205,679	179,567	153,691
Total assets	1,329,368				1,323,373				1,329,368	1,323,373	1,266,036
Total depreciation and amortization									39,939	45,287	45,298
Total capital expenditures									26,039	16,340	15,665
Health & Science Technologies | External Customers
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total net sales									895,970	819,719	744,380
Health & Science Technologies | Intersegment elimination
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total net sales									449	412	429
Fire & Safety/ Diversified Products
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total net sales									637,028	587,533	520,009
Total operating income									168,601	147,028	123,605
Total assets	$ 806,075				$ 744,515				806,075	744,515	705,735
Total depreciation and amortization									14,493	14,541	11,956
Total capital expenditures									10,318	6,363	5,945
Fire & Safety/ Diversified Products | External Customers
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total net sales									636,421	586,945	519,955
Fire & Safety/ Diversified Products | Intersegment elimination
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total net sales									$ 607	$ 588	$ 54