Business Segments - Schedule of Information on Company's Business Segments (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2013
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	$ 543,996	$ 494,448
Operating income	113,835	94,712
Interest expense	10,457	10,557
Other income - net	844	1,279
Income before income taxes	104,222	85,434
Total assets	2,951,822		2,887,577
Intersegment elimination
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	(3,024)	(1,688)
Corporate office and other
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating income	(18,449)	(13,866)
Total assets	271,413		264,540
Fluid & Metering Technologies:
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Segment sales	223,361	211,755
Operating income	56,407	48,079
Total assets	1,031,728		1,025,352
Fluid & Metering Technologies: | External customers
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Segment sales	223,007	211,407
Fluid & Metering Technologies: | Intersegment elimination
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Segment sales	354	348
Health & Science Technologies:
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Segment sales	186,375	172,868
Operating income	36,229	32,267
Total assets	1,132,689		1,113,546
Health & Science Technologies: | External customers
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Segment sales	183,892	171,674
Health & Science Technologies: | Intersegment elimination
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Segment sales	2,483	1,194
Fire & Safety/Diversified Products:
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Segment sales	137,284	111,513
Operating income	39,648	28,232
Total assets	515,992		484,139
Fire & Safety/Diversified Products: | External customers
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Segment sales	137,097	111,367
Fire & Safety/Diversified Products: | Intersegment elimination
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Segment sales	$ 187	$ 146