Revenue - Revenue by Reporting Unit (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2018
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total net sales	$ 642,099	$ 634,360	$ 1,264,330	$ 1,246,684
Intersegment elimination
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total net sales	(386)	(143)	(2,126)	(400)
Fluid & Metering Technologies
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total net sales	246,111	242,755	488,447	475,016
Fluid & Metering Technologies | Operating Segments
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total net sales	246,111	242,755	488,447	475,016
Fluid & Metering Technologies | Intersegment elimination
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total net sales	(78)	(45)	(264)	(117)
Fluid & Metering Technologies | Energy | Operating Segments
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total net sales	40,608	40,779	80,006	79,538
Fluid & Metering Technologies | Valves | Operating Segments
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total net sales	29,809	28,830	59,191	54,859
Fluid & Metering Technologies | Water | Operating Segments
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total net sales	65,148	65,171	126,280	124,011
Fluid & Metering Technologies | Pumps | Operating Segments
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total net sales	87,125	82,735	175,385	163,401
Fluid & Metering Technologies | Agriculture | Operating Segments
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total net sales	23,499	25,285	47,849	53,324
Health & Science Technologies
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total net sales	232,172	227,367	456,860	448,334
Health & Science Technologies | Operating Segments
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total net sales	232,172	227,367	456,860	448,334
Health & Science Technologies | Intersegment elimination
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total net sales	(81)	(36)	(683)	(144)
Health & Science Technologies | Scientific Fluidics & Optics | Operating Segments
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total net sales	109,554	104,106	216,862	203,613
Health & Science Technologies | Sealing Solutions | Operating Segments
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total net sales	46,431	51,634	96,937	105,336
Health & Science Technologies | Gast | Operating Segments
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total net sales	37,399	30,903	71,308	59,415
Health & Science Technologies | Micropump | Operating Segments
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total net sales	8,271	9,800	17,026	19,098
Health & Science Technologies | Material Processing Technologies | Operating Segments
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total net sales	30,598	30,960	55,410	61,016
Fire & Safety/Diversified Products
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total net sales	163,816	164,238	319,023	323,334
Fire & Safety/Diversified Products | Operating Segments
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total net sales	163,816	164,238	319,023	323,334
Fire & Safety/Diversified Products | Intersegment elimination
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total net sales	(227)	(62)	(1,179)	(139)
Fire & Safety/Diversified Products | Fire & Safety | Operating Segments
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total net sales	103,257	99,940	202,705	196,152
Fire & Safety/Diversified Products | BAND-IT | Operating Segments
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total net sales	27,758	26,981	55,670	54,455
Fire & Safety/Diversified Products | Dispensing | Operating Segments
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total net sales	$ 33,028	$ 37,379	$ 61,827	$ 72,866