General	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2012
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]
General	General General Cable Corporation (the Company) is a global leader in the development, design, manufacture, marketing and distribution of copper, aluminum and fiber optic wire and cable products for use in the energy, industrial, construction, specialty and communications markets. The Company sells copper, aluminum and fiber optic wire and cable products worldwide. The Company’s operations are divided into three reportable segments: North America, Europe and Mediterranean and Rest of World (ROW) which consists of operations in Latin America, Sub-Saharan Africa, the Middle East and Asia Pacific. As of December 31, 2012, General Cable operated 56 manufacturing facilities, which includes 4 facilities owned by companies in which the Company has an equity investment, in 25 countries with regional distribution centers around the world in addition to the corporate headquarters in Highland Heights, Kentucky.

General

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2012

Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]

General Cable Corporation (the Company) is a global leader in the development, design, manufacture, marketing and distribution of copper, aluminum and fiber optic wire and cable products for use in the energy, industrial, construction, specialty and communications markets. The Company sells copper, aluminum and fiber optic wire and cable products worldwide. The Company’s operations are divided into three reportable segments: North America, Europe and Mediterranean and Rest of World (ROW) which consists of operations in Latin America, Sub-Saharan Africa, the Middle East and Asia Pacific. As of December 31, 2012, General Cable operated 56 manufacturing facilities, which includes 4 facilities owned by companies in which the Company has an equity investment, in 25 countries with regional distribution centers around the world in addition to the corporate headquarters in Highland Heights, Kentucky.