Summary of Financial Information by Reportable Segment (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended											12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012		Sep. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2012	Mar. 31, 2012		Dec. 31, 2011		Sep. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2011	Mar. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	$ 589,671	[1]	$ 548,484	$ 613,014	$ 604,356	[2]	$ 613,675	[3]	$ 614,682	$ 610,693	$ 531,853	$ 2,355,525	$ 2,370,903	$ 1,895,104
Operating Income												372,744	400,711	252,410
Identifiable Assets Excluding General corporate assets	2,216,322						2,203,149					2,216,322	2,203,149	1,843,558
Interest expense												14,706	15,397	23,424
Other income, net												(3,524)	(1,667)	(2,865)
Income (loss) before income taxes												361,562	386,981	231,851
General corporate (unallocated)	273,870						162,419					273,870	162,419	183,540
Total assets	2,490,192						2,365,568					2,490,192	2,365,568	2,027,098
LIFO Liquidation Income (before tax)												190	204	754
Depreciation and Amortization Expense												63,778	60,284	60,248
Capital Expenditures												49,750	55,688	33,039
Industrial Products Group
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues												1,293,685	1,256,010	1,099,812
Operating Income												134,431	140,457	93,107
Identifiable Assets Excluding General corporate assets	1,361,693						1,350,980					1,361,693	1,350,980	1,082,299
LIFO Liquidation Income (before tax)														87
Depreciation and Amortization Expense												44,446	40,190	40,778
Capital Expenditures												18,518	23,334	18,459
Engineered Products Group
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues												1,061,840	1,114,893	795,292
Operating Income												238,313	260,254	159,303
Identifiable Assets Excluding General corporate assets	854,629						852,169					854,629	852,169	761,259
LIFO Liquidation Income (before tax)												190	204	667
Depreciation and Amortization Expense												19,332	20,094	19,470
Capital Expenditures												$ 31,232	$ 32,354	$ 14,580

[1] Results for the quarter ended December 31, 2012 reflect restructuring charges of $2.9 million ($2.1 million after income taxes) and due diligence and other costs incurred in connection with exploring strategic alternatives to enhance shareholder value totaling $2.6 million ($1.9 million after income taxes).

[2] Results for the quarter ended March 31, 2012 reflect restructuring charges of $14.4 million ($10.3 million after income taxes).

[3] Results for the quarter ended December 31, 2011 reflect corporate relocation and acquisition due diligence costs totaling $0.6 million ($0.4 million after income taxes) and a net foreign currency gain of $3.4 million related to the financing of the Robuschi acquisition.