Reporting Segments (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended										12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011 segments		Sep. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2011	Mar. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010		Sep. 30, 2010	Jun. 30, 2010	Mar. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2011 segments		Dec. 31, 2010		Dec. 31, 2009
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Number of reportable segments	3										3
Sales from external customers											$ 794,585		$ 555,455		$ 597,458
Sales from external customers											794,585		555,455		597,458
Depreciation and amortization expense											27,915		23,577		21,412
Operating income (loss)	25,155		29,043	21,489	14,307	18,099		13,239	8,563	7,603	89,994		47,504		94,334
Total assets	1,174,475					954,839	[1],[2]				1,174,475		954,839	[1],[2]	926,503	[1],[3]
Capital expenditures											22,380		16,939		13,190
Goodwill	288,770					275,252					288,770		275,252
Reconciliation of the reportable segments' operating income to consolidated income before taxes and minority interest
Interest expense, net											23,371		16,196		15,817
Amortization of deferred financing costs											4,383		3,063		1,616
Gain on acquisition of business									(1,124)		0		(1,124)		(6,954)
Foreign currency loss (gain)											(734)		871		(687)
Income before income taxes and minority interest											62,974		28,498		84,542
Sales											794,585		555,455		597,458
Long-lived assets	576,846					548,743					576,846		548,743
Energy & Chemicals [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Sales from external customers											205,033		137,801		255,074
Depreciation and amortization expense											7,417		7,338		7,335
Operating income (loss)											27,489		6,121		61,852
Total assets	203,067	[1],[4]				188,407	[1],[2]				203,067	[1],[4]	188,407	[1],[2]	205,482	[1],[3]
Capital expenditures											5,228		973		2,707
Goodwill	83,215					83,215					83,215		83,215		83,215
Distribution & Storage [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Sales from external customers											390,332		269,293		252,197
Depreciation and amortization expense											11,767		10,474		10,104
Operating income (loss)											61,415		41,934		39,888
Total assets	556,688	[1],[4]				513,215	[1],[2]				556,688	[1],[4]	513,215	[1],[2]	486,620	[1],[3]
Capital expenditures											7,808		8,563		7,168
Goodwill	158,381					148,010					158,381		148,010		144,290
BioMedical [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Sales from external customers											199,220		148,361		90,187
Depreciation and amortization expense											7,588		5,197		3,591
Operating income (loss)											35,911		30,698		15,912
Total assets	226,729	[1],[4]				227,138	[1],[2]				226,729	[1],[4]	227,138	[1],[2]	135,977	[1],[3]
Capital expenditures											6,692		4,594		2,022
Goodwill	47,174					44,027					47,174		44,027		37,027
Corporate [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Sales from external customers											0		0		0
Depreciation and amortization expense											1,143		568		382
Operating income (loss)											(34,821)		(31,249)		(23,318)
Total assets	187,729	[1],[4]				26,079	[1],[2]				187,729	[1],[4]	26,079	[1],[2]	98,424	[1],[3]
Capital expenditures											2,652		2,809		1,293
Medical respiratory products [Member] | BioMedical [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Sales from external customers											138,411		95,666		41,793
Biological storage systems [Member] | BioMedical [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Sales from external customers											60,809		52,695		43,966
BioMedical Segment - Other [Member] | BioMedical [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Sales from external customers											0		0		4,428
Cryogenic bulk storage systems [Member] | Distribution & Storage [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Sales from external customers											183,932		117,907		135,523
Cryogenic packaged gas systems and beverage liquid CO2 systems [Member] | Distribution & Storage [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Sales from external customers											147,526		103,129		80,278
Cryogenic systems and components [Member] | Distribution & Storage [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Sales from external customers											33,038		20,221		10,987
Cryogenic services [Member] | Distribution & Storage [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Sales from external customers											25,836		28,036		25,409
Heat exchangers [Member] | Energy & Chemicals [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Sales from external customers											158,975		113,313		172,374
Cold boxes and LNG VIP [Member] | Energy & Chemicals [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Sales from external customers											46,058		24,488		82,700
United States [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Sales from external customers											503,011		391,691		441,583
Reconciliation of the reportable segments' operating income to consolidated income before taxes and minority interest
Sales											503,011		391,691		441,583
Long-lived assets	326,439					391,428					326,439		391,428
Czech Republic [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Sales from external customers											87,285		72,486		79,865
Reconciliation of the reportable segments' operating income to consolidated income before taxes and minority interest
Sales											87,285		72,486		79,865
Long-lived assets	78,921					86,680					78,921		86,680
China [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Sales from external customers											71,752		45,203		28,641
Reconciliation of the reportable segments' operating income to consolidated income before taxes and minority interest
Sales											71,752		45,203		28,641
Long-lived assets	73,469					69,243					73,469		69,243
Germany [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Sales from external customers											122,001		0		0
Reconciliation of the reportable segments' operating income to consolidated income before taxes and minority interest
Sales											122,001		0		0
Long-lived assets	95,932					0					95,932		0
Other Non-U.S. Countries [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Sales from external customers											10,536		46,075		47,369
Reconciliation of the reportable segments' operating income to consolidated income before taxes and minority interest
Sales											10,536		46,075		47,369
Long-lived assets	$ 2,085					$ 1,392					$ 2,085		$ 1,392

[1] Corporate assets at December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009 consist primarily of cash, cash equivalents, short term investments and deferred income taxes.

[2] Total assets at December 31, 2010 include goodwill of $83,215, $148,010 and $44,027 for the Energy and Chemicals, Distribution and Storage and BioMedical segments, respectively.

[3] Total assets at December 31, 2009 include goodwill of $83,215, $144,290 and $37,027 for the Energy and Chemicals, Distribution and Storage and BioMedical segments, respectively.

[4] Total assets at December 31, 2011 include goodwill of $83,215, $158,381 and $47,174 for the Energy and Chemicals, Distribution and Storage and BioMedical segments, respectively.