Acquisitions and Divestitures (Narrative) (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended																12 Months Ended						0 Months Ended	12 Months Ended			0 Months Ended	12 Months Ended		0 Months Ended	12 Months Ended					0 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012		Sep. 28, 2012		Jun. 29, 2012		Mar. 30, 2012		Dec. 31, 2011		Sep. 30, 2011		Jul. 01, 2011		Apr. 01, 2011		Dec. 31, 2012		Dec. 31, 2011		Dec. 31, 2010		Oct. 01, 2012 ProCables S.A. [Member] Rest Of World [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 ProCables S.A. [Member] Rest Of World [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 ProCables S.A. [Member] Rest Of World [Member]	Oct. 01, 2012 ProCables S.A. [Member] Rest Of World [Member] Minimum [Member] employees	Nov. 02, 2012 Prestolite [Member] employees	Dec. 31, 2012 Prestolite [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Prestolite [Member]	Dec. 03, 2012 CHINA [Member] Alcan Cable [Member] employees	Dec. 31, 2012 CHINA [Member] Alcan Cable [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 CHINA [Member] Alcan Cable [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 North America [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 North America [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 North America [Member]	Sep. 04, 2012 North America [Member] Alcan Cable [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 North America [Member] Alcan Cable [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 North America [Member] Alcan Cable [Member]	Sep. 04, 2012 North America [Member] Alcan Cable [Member] Minimum [Member] employees	Dec. 31, 2012 North America [Member] Asset Based Revolving Credit Facility [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 North America [Member] Asset Based Revolving Credit Facility [Member]	Oct. 01, 2012 Seller [Member] ProCables S.A. [Member] Rest Of World [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Cost of acquired entity, purchase price																							$ 18.3				$ 59.5			$ 57.7						$ 151.0
Customary adjustment, primarily related to working capital																																				20.3
Cash paid for acquired entity																																				171.3
Additional payments																																				11
Selling, general and administrative expenses																	425.5	[1]	379.7	[1]	332.1	[1]	0.6				0.6			1.1						3.3
Number of employees																										500	700			300									750
Net sales	1,622.2	[2]	1,512.6	[3]	1,475.2	[4]	1,449.5	[5]	1,345.9	[6]	1,491.1	[7]	1,533.5	[8]	1,437.7	[9]	6,059.5	[1]	5,808.2	[1]	4,856.0	[1]		33.2				27.5			6.7		2,340.2	2,120.2	1,785.0		195.0	610.0
Revenues																	6,059.5		5,808.2		4,856.0				120.0				170.0			65.0
Existing debt																							48.1
Noncontrolling interest, ownership percentage																																										40.00%
Noncontrolling interest, value																																										27.4
Repayments of long-term debt																	217.7	[1]	0	[1]	0	[1]	24.0
Term after no-transfer period that shareholders' may exercise																							36 months
No-transfer period of put options																							4 years
Amount outstanding																																								700.0	400.0
Operating income																	$ 199.4	[1]	$ 214.6	[1]	$ 207.8	[1]		$ 0.4				$ 0.9			$ 0.3		$ 126.1	$ 121.8	$ 96.9		$ 12.7
Percentage of interests acquired																							60.00%

[1] See Note 23 - Restatement of Consolidated Financial Statements

[2] In the above table, the “As Originally Filed” rows correspond to Note 21 - Quarterly Operating Results (Unaudited) as stated in the Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2012 filed by the Company on March 1, 2013.

[3] In the above table, the “As Originally Filed” rows correspond to Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended September 28, 2012 filed by the Company on March 1, 2013.

[4] In the above table, the “As Originally Filed” rows correspond to Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended June 29, 2012 filed by the Company on August 3, 2012. The “Restatement #1” rows correspond to Form 10-Q/A for the fiscal quarter ended June 29, 2012 filed by the Company on March 1, 2013.

[5] In the above table, the “As Originally Filed” rows correspond to Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended March 30, 2012 filed by the Company on May 4, 2012. The “Restatement #1” rows correspond to Form 10-Q/A for the fiscal quarter ended March 30, 2012 filed by the Company on March 1, 2013.

[6] In the above table, the “As Originally Filed” rows correspond to Note 20 - Quarterly Operating Results (Unaudited) as stated in the Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2011 filed by the Company on February 23, 2012. The “Restatement #1” rows correspond to Note 21 - Quarterly Operating Results (Unaudited) as stated in the Form 10-K/A for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2011 filed by the Company on March 1, 2013.

[7] In the above table, the “As Originally Filed” rows correspond to Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended September 30, 2011 filed by the Company on November 3, 2011. The “Restatement #1” rows correspond to Form 10-Q/A for the fiscal quarter ended September 28, 2012 filed by the Company on March 1, 2013.

[8] In the above table, the “As Originally Filed” rows correspond to Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended July 1, 2011 filed by the Company on August 4, 2011. The “Restatement #1” rows correspond to Form 10-Q/A for the fiscal quarter ended June 29, 2012 filed by the Company on March 1, 2013.

[9] In the above table, the “As Originally Filed” rows correspond to Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended April 1, 2011 filed by the Company on May 6, 2011. The “Restatement #1” rows correspond to Form 10-Q/A for the fiscal quarter ended March 30, 2012 filed by the Company on March 1, 2013.