Acquisitions (Narrative) (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended	6 Months Ended					0 Months Ended		0 Months Ended		0 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2011 Other intangible assets [Member]	Jun. 30, 2011 Trade Names [Member]	Jan. 20, 2011 Minimum [Member]	Jan. 20, 2011 Maximum [Member]	Jan. 20, 2011 Advanced Thin Films, LLC [Member]	Jun. 30, 2011 Advanced Thin Films, LLC [Member]	Mar. 11, 2011 Microfluidics International Corporation [Member]	Jun. 30, 2011 Microfluidics International Corporation [Member]	Jun. 10, 2011 CVI Melles Griot [Member]	Jun. 30, 2011 CVI Melles Griot [Member]
Annual revenues of acquired entity							$ 9,000,000		$ 16,000,000		$ 185,000,000
Aggregate purchase price							34,500,000		18,500,000		397,100,000
Purchase price paid in cash							31,800,000				395,700,000
Contingent consideration					0	3,000,000	2,700,000
Assumption of debt											1,400,000
Cash payment financed with borrowings under Company's revolving credit facility											365,000,000
Goodwill recognized in acquisition	220,565,000	220,565,000						16,687,000		4,420,000		199,458,000
Intangible assets	135,426,000	135,426,000	88,400,000	47,000,000				11,435,000		9,717,000		114,274,000
Goodwill deductible for tax purpose							16,700,000				116,600,000
Goodwill not deductible for tax purposes									4,400,000
Acquired intangible assets amortization life, minimum		2
Acquired intangible assets amortization life, maximum		15
Acquisition related transaction costs	5,300,000	5,300,000
Pre-tax acquistionfair value inventory charges and adjustments	3,000,000	16,400,000
Pre-tax acquisition-related costs	$ 6,400,000	$ 11,200,000