Revenue - Revenue by Reporting Unit (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2019	Mar. 31, 2018
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total net sales	$ 622,231	$ 612,324
Intersegment elimination
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total net sales	(1,740)	(257)
Fluid & Metering Technologies
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total net sales	242,336	232,261
Fluid & Metering Technologies | Operating Segments
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total net sales	242,336	232,261
Fluid & Metering Technologies | Intersegment elimination
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total net sales	(186)	(72)
Fluid & Metering Technologies | Energy | Operating Segments
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total net sales	39,398	38,759
Fluid & Metering Technologies | Valves | Operating Segments
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total net sales	29,382	26,029
Fluid & Metering Technologies | Water | Operating Segments
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total net sales	61,132	58,840
Fluid & Metering Technologies | Pumps | Operating Segments
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total net sales	88,260	80,666
Fluid & Metering Technologies | Agriculture | Operating Segments
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total net sales	24,350	28,039
Health & Science Technologies
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total net sales	224,688	220,967
Health & Science Technologies | Operating Segments
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total net sales	224,688	220,967
Health & Science Technologies | Intersegment elimination
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total net sales	(602)	(108)
Health & Science Technologies | Scientific Fluidics & Optics | Operating Segments
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total net sales	107,308	99,507
Health & Science Technologies | Sealing Solutions | Operating Segments
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total net sales	50,506	53,702
Health & Science Technologies | Gast | Operating Segments
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total net sales	33,909	28,512
Health & Science Technologies | Micropump | Operating Segments
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total net sales	8,755	9,298
Health & Science Technologies | Material Processing Technologies | Operating Segments
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total net sales	24,812	30,056
Fire & Safety/Diversified Products
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total net sales	155,207	159,096
Fire & Safety/Diversified Products | Operating Segments
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total net sales	155,207	159,096
Fire & Safety/Diversified Products | Intersegment elimination
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total net sales	(952)	(77)
Fire & Safety/Diversified Products | Fire & Safety | Operating Segments
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total net sales	99,448	96,212
Fire & Safety/Diversified Products | BAND-IT | Operating Segments
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total net sales	27,912	27,474
Fire & Safety/Diversified Products | Dispensing | Operating Segments
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total net sales	$ 28,799	$ 35,487