Commitments and Contingencies (Details)	12 Months Ended							12 Months Ended			12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011 USD ($) Cases Defendants	Dec. 31, 2011 EUR (€)	Dec. 31, 2010 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2009 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2007	Dec. 31, 2011 Monetary Damages [Member] Cases	Dec. 31, 2011 Allege Only Damages [Member] USD ($) Cases	Dec. 31, 2011 Parent Company [Member] USD ($) Cases	Dec. 31, 1994 Minimum [Member] American Premier [Member] USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2009 Minimum [Member] Brazilian State Claimant [Member] USD ($)	Dec. 31, 1994 Maximum [Member] American Premier [Member] USD ($)
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Indemnification assets, coverage									$ 10,000,000		$ 33,000,000
Environmental-related accrued liabilities	1,900,000		1,500,000
Indemnity limit arising due to sale of business to Southwire Company	20,000,000
Claims outstanding under indemnity	0		0
Contribution in loss by BICC plc in indemnity for the first year	100.00%	100.00%
Contribution in loss by BICC plc in indemnity for two and three years	75.00%	75.00%
Contribution in loss by BICC plc in indemnity for fourth year	50.00%	50.00%
Contribution in loss by acquiree in indemnity for fifth and sixth years	25.00%	25.00%
Maximum Indemnity Amount Under Agreement With Acquiree		4,000,000
Expiry of seller's obligation to indemnify, years					4 years
Indemnity limit for breach of representations and warranties	105,000,000
Indemnity limit for breach of representations and warranties, deductions	5,000,000
Number of cases	29,064	29,064				281	146	1
Number of defended cases	626	626
Amount per plaintiff							175,000
Pending cases, number	134	134
Damages, value	346,000,000							10,000,000
Number of defendants	110	110
Puntitive damages, value	178,000,000
Accrual related to maritime and non-maritime cases, gross amount	5,100,000		5,100,000
Insurance recoveries related to lawsuits	600,000		500,000
Accrual related to maritime and non-maritime cases, net amount	4,500,000		4,600,000
Principal amount claimed										8,000,000
Other Matters [Abstract]
Minimum rental payments required under non-cancelable lease agreement for year 1	20,000,000
Minimum rental payments required under non-cancelable lease agreement for year 2	13,300,000
Minimum rental payments required under non-cancelable lease agreement for year 3	13,100,000
Minimum rental payments required under non-cancelable lease agreement for year 4	8,200,000
Minimum rental payments required under non-cancelable lease agreement for year 5	5,700,000
Minimum rental payments required under non-cancelable lease agreement thereafter	11,500,000
Rent expense	20,700,000		19,000,000	23,300,000
Letters of credit	38,400,000
Performance bonds	257,800,000
Other guarantees	$ 231,000,000