Business Segments - Schedule of Information on Company's Business Segments (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2019	Mar. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2018
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	$ 622,231	$ 612,324
Operating income	147,782	136,683
Interest expense	10,921	11,000
Other (income) expense - net	(140)	(4,449)
Income before income taxes	137,001	130,132
Total assets	3,551,460		$ 3,473,857
Intersegment elimination
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	(1,740)	(257)
Corporate office
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating income	(18,566)	(20,843)
Total assets	218,692		230,637
Fluid & Metering Technologies
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	242,336	232,261
Operating income	71,866	66,166
Fluid & Metering Technologies | Intersegment elimination
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	186	72
Fluid & Metering Technologies | Operating Segments
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	242,522	232,333
Total assets	1,140,025		1,107,777
Health & Science Technologies
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	224,688	220,967
Operating income	54,154	51,806
Health & Science Technologies | Intersegment elimination
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	602	108
Health & Science Technologies | Operating Segments
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	225,290	221,075
Total assets	1,372,517		1,329,368
Fire & Safety/Diversified Products
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	155,207	159,096
Operating income	40,328	39,554
Fire & Safety/Diversified Products | Intersegment elimination
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	952	77
Fire & Safety/Diversified Products | Operating Segments
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	156,159	$ 159,173
Total assets	$ 820,226		$ 806,075