Revenue - Revenue by Reporting Unit (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2018
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total net sales	$ 624,246	$ 622,888	$ 1,888,576	$ 1,869,572
Intersegment elimination
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total net sales	(768)	(583)	(2,894)	(983)
Fluid & Metering Technologies
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total net sales	240,758	239,119	729,205	714,135
Fluid & Metering Technologies | Operating Segments
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total net sales	240,758	239,119	729,205	714,135
Fluid & Metering Technologies | Intersegment elimination
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total net sales	(103)	(94)	(367)	(211)
Fluid & Metering Technologies | Energy | Operating Segments
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total net sales	42,876	42,403	122,882	121,941
Fluid & Metering Technologies | Valves | Operating Segments
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total net sales	30,764	30,972	89,955	85,831
Fluid & Metering Technologies | Water | Operating Segments
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total net sales	62,611	63,989	188,891	188,000
Fluid & Metering Technologies | Pumps | Operating Segments
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total net sales	84,936	81,605	260,321	245,006
Fluid & Metering Technologies | Agriculture | Operating Segments
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total net sales	19,674	20,244	67,523	73,568
Health & Science Technologies
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total net sales	228,988	222,351	685,848	670,685
Health & Science Technologies | Operating Segments
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total net sales	228,988	222,351	685,848	670,685
Health & Science Technologies | Intersegment elimination
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total net sales	(622)	(75)	(1,305)	(219)
Health & Science Technologies | Scientific Fluidics & Optics | Operating Segments
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total net sales	108,869	106,917	325,731	310,530
Health & Science Technologies | Sealing Solutions | Operating Segments
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total net sales	51,389	48,787	148,326	154,123
Health & Science Technologies | Gast | Operating Segments
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total net sales	32,699	33,574	104,007	92,989
Health & Science Technologies | Micropump | Operating Segments
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total net sales	8,273	8,801	25,299	27,899
Health & Science Technologies | Material Processing Technologies | Operating Segments
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total net sales	28,380	24,347	83,790	85,363
Fire & Safety/Diversified Products
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total net sales	154,500	161,418	473,523	484,752
Fire & Safety/Diversified Products | Operating Segments
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total net sales	154,500	161,418	473,523	484,752
Fire & Safety/Diversified Products | Intersegment elimination
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total net sales	(43)	(414)	(1,222)	(553)
Fire & Safety/Diversified Products | Fire & Safety | Operating Segments
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total net sales	100,389	102,589	303,094	298,741
Fire & Safety/Diversified Products | BAND-IT | Operating Segments
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total net sales	26,087	25,437	81,757	79,892
Fire & Safety/Diversified Products | Dispensing | Operating Segments
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total net sales	$ 28,067	$ 33,806	$ 89,894	$ 106,672