Consolidated Statements Of Stockholders' Equity (USD $) In Thousands	Gardner Denver,Inc [Member]	Common Stock [Member]	Capital In Excess Of Par Value [Member]	Treasury Stock [Member]	Retained Earnings [Member]	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Member]	Noncontrolling Interest [Member]	Total
Balance at beginning of year at Dec. 31, 2008		$ 583	$ 545,671	$ (130,839)	$ 711,065	$ 72,407	$ 10,856
Balance at beginning of year, shares at Dec. 31, 2008		58,255
Stock issued for benefit and stock compensation plans		3	7,716
Stock issued for benefit and stock compensation plans, shares		376
Stock-based compensation			5,346
Net (loss) income					(165,185)		1,886	(163,299)
Cash dividends declared; $0.20 and $0.20 per common share in 2011 and 2010, respectively					(2,608)
Foreign currency translation adjustments, net						21,229	753
Unrecognized gain (loss) on cash flow hedges, net of tax						(250)		(250)
Foreign currency (loss) gain on investment in foreign subsidiaries						1,663		1,663
Pension and other postretirement prior service cost and actuarial gain or loss, net of tax						(12,535)		(12,535)
Purchases of treasury stock				(73)
Deferred compensation				(2,023)
Dividends to minority stockholders							(1,656)
Balance at end of year at Dec. 31, 2009	1,052,170	586	558,733	(132,935)	543,272	82,514	11,839	1,064,009
Balance at end of year, shares at Dec. 31, 2009		58,631
Stock issued for benefit and stock compensation plans		9	23,485
Stock issued for benefit and stock compensation plans, shares		819
Stock-based compensation			9,770
Net (loss) income					172,962		1,992	174,954
Cash dividends declared; $0.20 and $0.20 per common share in 2011 and 2010, respectively					(10,535)
Foreign currency translation adjustments, net						(65,291)	(324)
Unrecognized gain (loss) on cash flow hedges, net of tax						(683)		(683)
Foreign currency (loss) gain on investment in foreign subsidiaries						40,414		40,414
Pension and other postretirement prior service cost and actuarial gain or loss, net of tax						4,471		4,471
Purchases of treasury stock				(49,261)
Deferred compensation				(348)
Dividends to minority stockholders							(997)
Balance at end of year at Dec. 31, 2010	1,177,163	595	591,988	(182,544)	705,699	61,425	12,510	1,189,673
Balance at end of year, shares at Dec. 31, 2010		59,450
Stock issued for benefit and stock compensation plans		3	8,649
Stock issued for benefit and stock compensation plans, shares		323
Stock-based compensation			9,970
Acquisition of noncontrolling interests			(8,753)				(11,534)
Net (loss) income					277,563		1,979	279,542
Cash dividends declared; $0.20 and $0.20 per common share in 2011 and 2010, respectively					(10,395)
Foreign currency translation adjustments, net						(31,249)	314
Unrecognized gain (loss) on cash flow hedges, net of tax						434		434
Foreign currency (loss) gain on investment in foreign subsidiaries						(1,783)		(1,783)
Pension and other postretirement prior service cost and actuarial gain or loss, net of tax						(11,541)		(11,541)
Purchases of treasury stock				(132,498)
Deferred compensation				(272)
Dividends to minority stockholders							(1,024)
Business combinations							95
Balance at end of year at Dec. 31, 2011	$ 1,277,291	$ 598	$ 601,854	$ (315,314)	$ 972,867	$ 17,286	$ 2,340	$ 1,279,631
Balance at end of year, shares at Dec. 31, 2011		59,773