Revenue - Revenue by Reporting Unit (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total net sales	$ 2,351,646	$ 2,494,573	$ 2,483,666
Intersegment elimination
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total net sales	(3,471)	(3,671)	(1,333)
FMT | Operating Segments
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total net sales	895,474	956,523	951,275
FMT | Intersegment elimination
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total net sales	(830)	(505)	(277)
FMT | Energy | Operating Segments
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total net sales	199,980	164,825	163,996
FMT | Valves | Operating Segments
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total net sales	107,833	118,333	113,136
FMT | Water | Operating Segments
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total net sales	236,080	250,589	251,020
FMT | Pumps | Operating Segments
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total net sales	265,281	331,098	324,222
FMT | Agriculture | Operating Segments
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total net sales	87,130	92,183	99,178
HST | Operating Segments
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total net sales	893,353	912,623	895,970
HST | Intersegment elimination
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total net sales	(2,609)	(1,823)	(449)
HST | Scientific Fluidics & Optics | Operating Segments
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total net sales	415,827	434,623	417,859
HST | Sealing Solutions | Operating Segments
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total net sales	207,623	200,495	200,316
HST | Gast | Operating Segments
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total net sales	122,875	133,471	126,787
HST | Micropump | Operating Segments
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total net sales	29,637	32,216	36,827
HST | Material Processing Technologies | Operating Segments
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total net sales	120,000	113,641	114,630
FSDP | Operating Segments
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total net sales	562,819	625,427	636,421
FSDP | Intersegment elimination
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total net sales	(32)	(1,343)	(607)
FSDP | Fire & Safety | Operating Segments
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total net sales	376,320	403,949	396,926
FSDP | BAND-IT | Operating Segments
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total net sales	88,065	106,624	105,785
FSDP | Dispensing | Operating Segments
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total net sales	$ 98,466	$ 116,197	$ 134,317