SEGMENT INFORMATION (Details 2) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Sep. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2011	Mar. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Sep. 30, 2010	Jun. 30, 2010	Mar. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009
Net sales and long-lived asset information by geographic area
Net Sales	$ 544,540	$ 601,196	$ 614,929	$ 576,518	$ 530,790	$ 517,537	$ 522,923	$ 505,469	$ 2,337,183	$ 2,076,719	$ 1,841,616
Plant, Property & Equipment	754,715				724,984				754,715	724,984	764,068
Threshold for disclosure of customer concentrations (as a percent)									10.00%	10.00%	10.00%
United States
Net sales and long-lived asset information by geographic area
Net Sales									636,060	594,467	519,671
Plant, Property & Equipment	174,029				174,831				174,029	174,831	156,138
Total Europe
Net sales and long-lived asset information by geographic area
Net Sales									1,340,036	1,191,039	1,073,035
Plant, Property & Equipment	469,716				474,193				469,716	474,193	538,779
France
Net sales and long-lived asset information by geographic area
Net Sales									630,172	557,595	483,051
Plant, Property & Equipment	199,975				202,954				199,975	202,954	245,432
Germany
Net sales and long-lived asset information by geographic area
Net Sales									308,847	255,013	240,302
Plant, Property & Equipment	136,136				138,027				136,136	138,027	154,095
Italy
Net sales and long-lived asset information by geographic area
Net Sales									168,885	152,138	129,257
Plant, Property & Equipment	68,684				73,353				68,684	73,353	77,239
Other Europe
Net sales and long-lived asset information by geographic area
Net Sales									232,132	226,293	220,425
Plant, Property & Equipment	64,921				59,859				64,921	59,859	62,013
Other Foreign Countries
Net sales and long-lived asset information by geographic area
Net Sales									361,087	291,213	248,910
Plant, Property & Equipment	$ 110,970				$ 75,960				$ 110,970	$ 75,960	$ 69,151