Restructuring Activities (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended			15 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009	Jun. 30, 2011
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Restructuring costs	$ 3,497	$ 3,730		$ 7,300
Summary of Restructuring Activities
Beginning balance	2,578	2,881	0
Restructuring charges	5,692	4,756	8,020
Asset impairment	(1,218)	(1,646)	(1,230)
Cash payments	(5,939)	(3,413)	(3,909)
Ending balance	1,113	2,578	2,881
Employee separtion benefits [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Restructuring costs	1,172
Termination Benefits, and Other Misc. Asset Write Downs
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Restructuring costs			8,020
Cost of Sales [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Restructuring costs	2,061	2,579
Cost of Sales [Member] | Termination Benefits, and Other Misc. Asset Write Downs
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Restructuring costs			3,605
Selling, General and Administrative Expense [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Restructuring costs	2,414	531
Selling, General and Administrative Expense [Member] | Termination Benefits, and Other Misc. Asset Write Downs
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Restructuring costs			3,185
Asset impairment [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Restructuring costs		1,646
Asset impairment [Member] | Termination Benefits, and Other Misc. Asset Write Downs
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Restructuring costs			(1,230)
Loss on disposal of assets [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Restructuring costs	1,218
Energy & Chemicals [Member]
Summary of Restructuring Activities
Beginning balance	103	682	0
Restructuring charges	0	0	1,004
Asset impairment	0	0	0
Cash payments	(103)	(579)	(322)
Ending balance	0	103	682
Distribution & Storage [Member]
Summary of Restructuring Activities
Beginning balance	387	1,608	0
Restructuring charges	315	(45)	3,397
Asset impairment	0	0	(234)
Cash payments	(587)	(1,176)	(1,555)
Ending balance	115	387	1,608
BioMedical [Member]
Summary of Restructuring Activities
Beginning balance	2,088	503	0
Restructuring charges	4,940	4,723	3,336
Asset impairment	(1,218)	(1,546)	(996)
Cash payments	(4,812)	(1,592)	(1,837)
Ending balance	998	2,088	503
Corporate [Member]
Summary of Restructuring Activities
Beginning balance	0	88	0
Restructuring charges	437	78	283
Asset impairment	0	(100)	0
Cash payments	(437)	(66)	(195)
Ending balance	$ 0	$ 0	$ 88