Business Segments - Schedule of Information on Company's Business Segments (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2018	Dec. 31, 2018
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	$ 642,099	$ 634,360	$ 1,264,330	$ 1,246,684
Operating income	155,283	147,831	303,065	284,514
Interest expense	11,011	11,140	21,932	22,140
Other (income) expense - net	(378)	(50)	(518)	(4,499)
Income before income taxes	144,650	136,741	281,651	266,873
Total assets	3,640,215		3,640,215		$ 3,473,857
Intersegment elimination
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	(386)	(143)	(2,126)	(400)
Corporate office
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating income	(19,240)	(21,848)	(37,806)	(42,691)
Total assets	316,072		316,072		230,637
Fluid & Metering Technologies
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	246,111	242,755	488,447	475,016
Operating income	74,146	71,228	146,012	137,394
Fluid & Metering Technologies | Intersegment elimination
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	78	45	264	117
Fluid & Metering Technologies | Operating Segments
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	246,189	242,800	488,711	475,133
Total assets	1,128,514		1,128,514		1,107,777
Health & Science Technologies
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	232,172	227,367	456,860	448,334
Operating income	56,763	52,569	110,917	104,375
Health & Science Technologies | Intersegment elimination
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	81	36	683	144
Health & Science Technologies | Operating Segments
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	232,253	227,403	457,543	448,478
Total assets	1,375,385		1,375,385		1,329,368
Fire & Safety/Diversified Products
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	163,816	164,238	319,023	323,334
Operating income	43,614	45,882	83,942	85,436
Fire & Safety/Diversified Products | Intersegment elimination
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	227	62	1,179	139
Fire & Safety/Diversified Products | Operating Segments
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	164,043	$ 164,300	320,202	$ 323,473
Total assets	$ 820,244		$ 820,244		$ 806,075