Schedule of Information on Company's Business Segments (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2013	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2012	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2013		Dec. 31, 2012		Dec. 31, 2011
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Segment sales									$ 2,024,130		$ 1,954,258		$ 1,838,451
Net sales	520,620	490,617	518,445	494,448	490,838	479,859	494,144	489,417	2,024,130		1,954,258		1,838,451
Operating income (loss)	103,873	97,369	99,559	94,712	(125,589)	80,588	88,650	84,569	395,513	[1]	128,218	[1]	304,656	[1]
Interest expense									42,206		42,250		29,332
Other income (expense)-net									(178)		236		(1,443)
Income before taxes									353,129		86,204		273,881
Total assets	2,887,577				2,785,390				2,887,577		2,785,390		2,836,107
Depreciation and amortization									79,334	[2]	78,312	[2]	72,386	[2]
Total capital expenditures									31,536		35,520		34,548
Intersegment Eliminations
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales									(7,383)		(11,318)		(3,161)
Corporate Office
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating income (loss)									(55,180)	[1]	(51,717)	[1]	(52,100)	[1]
Total assets	264,540				170,493				264,540		170,493		143,031
Depreciation and amortization									1,353	[2]	1,587	[2]	1,447	[2]
Total capital expenditures									2,635		2,191		3,423
Fluid & Metering Technologies
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Segment sales									871,814		833,288		831,287
Operating income (loss)									211,256	[1]	146,650	[1]	164,818	[1]
Total assets	1,025,352				1,023,143				1,025,352		1,023,143		1,072,023
Depreciation and amortization									27,633	[2]	29,637	[2]	32,368	[2]
Total capital expenditures									11,581		13,535		12,543
Fluid & Metering Technologies | External Customers
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Segment sales									870,720		829,320		830,821
Fluid & Metering Technologies | Intersegment Eliminations
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Segment sales									1,094		3,968		466
Health & Science Technologies
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Segment sales									714,650		695,235		607,900
Operating income (loss)									136,707	[1],[3]	(62,835)	[1],[3]	106,037	[1],[3]
Total assets	1,113,546				1,102,868				1,113,546		1,102,868		1,178,653
Depreciation and amortization									43,496	[2]	39,981	[2]	30,055	[2]
Total capital expenditures									12,280		13,140		12,938
Health & Science Technologies | External Customers
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Segment sales									708,940		689,574		606,247
Health & Science Technologies | Intersegment Eliminations
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Segment sales									5,710		5,661		1,653
Fire & Safety/Diversified Products
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Segment sales									445,049		437,053		402,425
Operating income (loss)									102,730	[1],[3]	96,120	[1],[3]	85,901	[1],[3]
Total assets	484,139				488,886				484,139		488,886		442,400
Depreciation and amortization									6,852	[2]	7,107	[2]	8,516	[2]
Total capital expenditures									5,040		6,654		5,644
Fire & Safety/Diversified Products | External Customers
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Segment sales									444,470		435,364		401,383
Fire & Safety/Diversified Products | Intersegment Eliminations
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Segment sales									$ 579		$ 1,689		$ 1,042

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

[2] Excludes amortization of debt issuance expenses.

[3] (2)Segment operating income includes asset impairment charges in 2012 of $27.7 million within the Fluid & Metering Technologies segment and $170.8 million within the Health & Science Technologies segment.