Reportable Segments - Segment Income (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions		3 Months Ended			9 Months Ended
	Jun. 11, 2018	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2018
Segment Reporting Information
Sales to external customers		$ 357.8	$ 272.2		$ 956.7	$ 794.2
Depreciation and amortization expense		24.1	12.1		56.1	36.9
Operating income (loss)		29.9	31.5		59.8	65.8
Capital expenditures		11.6	8.4		26.7	26.4
Restructuring costs		1.5	2.0		13.3	3.5
Severance costs		0.9	1.9		2.8	2.8
Share-based compensation expense adjustment		2.1	0.5		6.4	3.5
Employee severance
Segment Reporting Information
Severance costs						0.9
Share-based compensation expense adjustment						(0.9)
Employee severance | CEO
Segment Reporting Information
Severance costs	$ 1.4
Share-based compensation expense adjustment						(1.8)
Terminiation benefits
Segment Reporting Information
Severance costs						1.8
Terminiation benefits | CEO
Segment Reporting Information
Severance costs						3.2
Cryobiological storage
Segment Reporting Information
Sales to external customers		19.8	20.2		62.6	59.3
Product warranty expense						3.8
AXC
Segment Reporting Information
Integration activities		0.8
VRV
Segment Reporting Information
Sales of acquiree		25.9			77.0
Operating income (loss) of acquiree		2.4			(6.8)
Inventory step up					1.7
Integration activities		0.6			1.8
Operating Segments | E&C Cryogenics
Segment Reporting Information
Sales to external customers		48.9	35.6		131.3	98.6
Depreciation and amortization expense		2.0	2.5		11.1	7.5
Operating income (loss)		3.6	6.4		(7.1)	2.9
Capital expenditures		0.9	2.9		4.0	9.9
Restructuring costs		0.2	0.0		2.4	0.4
Operating Segments | E&C Cryogenics | Cryobiological storage
Segment Reporting Information
Sales to external customers		0.0	0.0		0.0	0.0
Operating Segments | E&C Cryogenics | VRV
Segment Reporting Information
Sales of acquiree		13.5			35.0
Operating income (loss) of acquiree		2.6			(3.0)
Operating Segments | E&C FinFans
Segment Reporting Information
Sales to external customers		128.6	62.5		272.0	190.2
Depreciation and amortization expense		15.1	4.0		23.3	12.1
Operating income (loss)		16.2	5.7		36.0	17.9
Capital expenditures		1.0	0.9		1.9	2.0
Restructuring costs		0.6	0.1		1.8	0.1
Operating Segments | E&C FinFans | Cryobiological storage
Segment Reporting Information
Sales to external customers		0.0	0.0		0.0	0.0
Operating Segments | E&C FinFans | AXC
Segment Reporting Information
Sales of acquiree		60.1			60.1
Operating income (loss) of acquiree		2.6			2.6
Integration activities		0.7
Operating Segments | D&S West
Segment Reporting Information
Sales to external customers		114.9	119.0		344.8	337.2
Depreciation and amortization expense		2.9	2.8		8.7	8.4
Operating income (loss)		24.9	31.9		77.7	77.7
Capital expenditures		2.4	1.3		6.2	4.7
Restructuring costs		0.4	0.0		0.8	0.0
Operating Segments | D&S West | Cryobiological storage
Segment Reporting Information
Sales to external customers		19.8	20.2		62.6	59.3
Product warranty expense				$ 3.8
Operating Segments | D&S East
Segment Reporting Information
Sales to external customers		70.4	56.8		216.8	174.3
Depreciation and amortization expense		3.7	2.5		11.9	7.9
Operating income (loss)		7.1	3.3		7.1	13.5
Capital expenditures		3.8	2.5		9.7	6.0
Restructuring costs		0.3	0.1		8.1	0.6
Operating Segments | D&S East | Cryobiological storage
Segment Reporting Information
Sales to external customers		0.0	0.0		0.0	0.0
Operating Segments | D&S East | VRV
Segment Reporting Information
Sales of acquiree		12.4			42.0
Operating income (loss) of acquiree		(0.2)			(3.8)
Integration activities		0.2			0.2
Intersegment Eliminations
Segment Reporting Information
Sales to external customers		(5.0)	(1.7)		(8.2)	(6.1)
Depreciation and amortization expense		0.0	0.0		0.0	0.0
Operating income (loss)		(0.9)	(0.5)		(2.5)	(1.7)
Capital expenditures		0.0	0.0		0.0	0.0
Intersegment Eliminations | Cryobiological storage
Segment Reporting Information
Sales to external customers		0.0	0.0		0.0	0.0
Corporate
Segment Reporting Information
Sales to external customers		0.0	0.0		0.0	0.0
Depreciation and amortization expense		0.4	0.3		1.1	1.0
Operating income (loss)		(21.0)	(15.3)		(51.4)	(44.5)
Capital expenditures		3.5	0.8		4.9	3.8
Restructuring costs		0.0	1.8		0.2	2.4
Acquisition related costs		4.3	$ 2.0		7.0	$ 4.1
Corporate | AXC
Segment Reporting Information
Integration activities		0.1
Corporate | VRV
Segment Reporting Information
Integration activities		$ 0.4			$ 1.6