Business Segments And Geographic Information (Schedule Of Information On The Company's Business Segments) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	1 Months Ended		3 Months Ended										12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011		Dec. 31, 2011		Sep. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2011	Mar. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010		Sep. 30, 2010	Jun. 30, 2010	Mar. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2011		Dec. 31, 2010		Dec. 31, 2009
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
External customers													$ 1,838,451		$ 1,513,073		$ 1,329,661
Total net sales			480,683		476,881	453,798	427,089	405,218		373,731	378,526	355,598	1,838,451		1,513,073		1,329,661
Total operating income			76,001		71,305	79,629	77,721	66,004		62,439	62,780	57,893	304,656	[1]	249,116	[1]	184,854	[1]
Interest expense	37,900												29,332		16,150		17,178
Other income (expense) - net													(1,443)		(1,092)		1,151
Income before income taxes													273,881		231,874		168,827
Total assets	2,836,107		2,836,107					2,381,695					2,836,107		2,381,695		2,098,157
Total depreciation and amortization													72,386	[2]	58,108	[2]	56,346	[2]
Total capital expenditures													34,548		32,769		25,525
Fluid & Metering Technologies [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
External customers													816,409		704,179		620,670
Intersegment sales													466		712		866
Total net sales													816,875		704,891		621,536
Total operating income													159,984	[1]	127,192	[1]	97,867	[1]
Total assets	1,048,682		1,048,682					1,040,601					1,048,682		1,040,601		1,011,392
Total depreciation and amortization													32,258	[2]	31,762	[2]	31,540	[2]
Total capital expenditures													12,481		17,206		12,785
Health & Science Technologies [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
External customers													620,659		418,535		318,908
Intersegment sales													1,653		3,717		4,993
Total net sales													622,312		422,252		323,901
Total operating income													110,871	[1]	87,084	[1]	54,134	[1]
Total assets	1,201,994		1,201,994					718,884					1,201,994		718,884		598,786
Total depreciation and amortization													30,165	[2]	17,384	[2]	15,337	[2]
Total capital expenditures													13,000		7,618		6,447
Dispensing Equipment [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
External customers													116,857		125,127		127,279
Intersegment sales													553		193
Total net sales													117,410		125,320		127,279
Total operating income													15,409	[1]	19,490	[1]	15,147	[1]
Total assets	149,813		149,813					205,540					149,813		205,540		164,979
Total depreciation and amortization													3,181	[2]	3,753	[2]	3,124	[2]
Total capital expenditures													1,179		1,129		864
Fire & Safety And Diversified Products [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
External customers													284,526		265,232		262,804
Intersegment sales													489		269		5
Total net sales													285,015		265,501		262,809
Total operating income													70,492	[1]	62,844	[1]	59,884	[1]
Total assets	292,587		292,587					278,567					292,587		278,567		285,893
Total depreciation and amortization													5,335	[2]	4,885	[2]	5,328	[2]
Total capital expenditures													4,465		3,513		3,686
Intersegment Eliminations [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total net sales													3,161		4,891		5,864
Corporate And Other [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total operating income													(52,100)	[1],[3]	(47,494)	[1],[3]	(42,178)	[1],[3]
Total assets	143,031	[3]	143,031	[3]				138,103	[3]				143,031	[3]	138,103	[3]	37,107	[3]
Total depreciation and amortization													1,447	[2]	324	[2]	1,017	[2]
Total capital expenditures													$ 3,423		$ 3,303		$ 1,743

[1] Segment operating income excludes net unallocated corporate operating expenses.

[2] Excludes amortization of debt issuance expenses.

[3] Includes intersegment eliminations.