Business Segments (Schedule Of Information On The Company's Business Segments) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2010	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2010
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total net sales	$ 476,881	$ 373,731	$ 1,357,768	$ 1,107,855
Total operating income	71,305	62,439	228,655	183,112
Interest expense	7,763	4,162	20,937	11,195
Other expense-net	(441)	(1,101)	(1,001)	(608)
Income before income taxes	63,101	57,176	206,717	171,309
Fluid & Metering Technologies [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
External customers	201,821	169,574	602,109	505,128
Intersegment sales	123	196	359	553
Total net sales	201,944	169,770	602,468	505,681
Total operating income	39,519	29,941	120,044	90,391
Health & Science Technologies [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
External customers	176,501	110,856	453,534	307,493
Intersegment sales	263	574	984	3,459
Total net sales	176,764	111,430	454,518	310,952
Total operating income	20,651	23,274	79,830	64,186
Dispensing Equipment [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
External customers	25,092	26,352	93,079	100,992
Intersegment sales	51	128	368	177
Total net sales	25,143	26,480	93,447	101,169
Total operating income	946	2,711	16,962	19,062
Fire & Safety/Diversified Products [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
External customers	73,467	66,949	209,046	194,242
Intersegment sales	125	44	321	143
Total net sales	73,592	66,993	209,367	194,385
Total operating income	18,317	17,045	50,308	44,032
Intersegment Elimination [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total net sales	(562)	(942)	(2,032)	(4,332)
Corporate Office And Other [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total operating income	$ (8,128)	$ (10,532)	$ (38,489)	$ (34,559)