Acquisitions [Abstract] Business Combination Disclosure [Text Block] Acquisitions Earnings Per Share (EPS) [Abstract] Share-based Compensation [Abstract] Disclosure of Compensatin Related Costs Shares Based Payments Share-Based Compensation Inventories [Abstract] InventoryDisclosureTextBlock Inventories Business Segment Information [Abstract] SegmentReportingDisclosureTextBlock Business Segment Information Debt [Abstract] DebtDisclosureTextBlock Debt Income Tax Expense [Abstract] IncomeTaxDisclosureTextBlock Income Tax Expense Retirement Plans [Abstract] PensionAndOtherPostretirementBenefitsDisclosureTextBlock Retirement Plans Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements [Abstract] Discontinued Operations and Disposal Groups [Abstract] Schedule of Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations, Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures [Table Text Block] Major Classes Of Discontinued Assets And Liabilities Consolidated Statements Of Operations [Abstract] Statement [Table] Legal Entity [Axis] Entity [Domain] Statement [Line Items] Component of Operating Other Cost and Expense [Line Items] Revenue, Net Net sales Net sales Costs and expenses: Cost of goods and services sold Cost of sales Selling, General and Administrative Expense Selling, general and administrative expenses Amortization of intangible assets Amortization expense related to intangible assets Interest expense, net Interest expense, net Less: Interest expense Other Operating Income (Expense), Net Other (income) expenses, net Total Costs And Expenses Total costs and expenses Total cost of sales, operating and nonoperating expenses. Earnings before income taxes Earnings before income tax Income Tax Expenses Income tax expense Income tax expense from Continuing Operations Total Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations Attributable to Parent, Total Net earnings from continuing operations Net earnings from continuing operations Discontinued Operation, Income (Loss) from Discontinued Operation During Phase-out Period, Net of Tax, Total (Loss) earnings from discontinued operations, net of tax (benefit) expense of $(5,215), $7,397 and $7,535, in 2013, 2012 and 2011, respectively Net loss (earnings) from discontinued operations, net of tax Net (loss) earnings from discontinued operations Net earnings Net (loss) earnings Net (loss) earnings Net (loss) earnings Earnings Per Share, Basic [Abstract] Earnings (loss) per share - Basic: Basic earnings (loss) per share: Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations, Per Basic Share Continuing operations Net earnings from continuing operations Income (Loss) from Discontinued Operations and Disposal of Discontinued Operations, Net of Tax, Per Basic Share, Total Discontinued operations Net (loss) earnings from discontinued operations Earnings Per Share, Basic, Total Net (loss) earnings Earnings Per Share, Diluted [Abstract] Earnings (loss) per share - Diluted: Diluted earnings (loss) per share: Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations, Per Diluted Share Continuing operations Net earnings from continuing operations Income (Loss) from Discontinued Operations and Disposal of Discontinued Operations, Net of Tax, Per Diluted Share, Total Discontinued operations Net earnings (loss) from discontinued operations Earnings Per Share, Diluted, Total Net (loss) earnings Schedule of Share-based Compensation, Stock Options, Activity [Table Text Block] Schedule Of Stock Options Awarded Under The Option Plans Schedule of Inventory, Current [Table Text Block] Schedule Of Inventories Schedule of Segment Reporting Information, by Segment [Table Text Block] Schedule Of Net Sales And Earnings Before Income Tax Schedule of Debt [Table Text Block] Schedule Of Debt Aclara Technologies Llc [Member] Discontinued Operation, Income (Loss) from Discontinued Operation, before Income Tax Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Reclassification Adjustment from AOCI for Sale of Securities, before Tax Assets of Disposal Group, Including Discontinued Operation, Current [Abstract] Assets: Disposal Group, Including Discontinued Operation, Accounts, Notes and Loans Receivable, Net Accounts receivable, net Disposal Group, Including Discontinued Operation, Inventory Inventories Disposal Group, Including Discontinued Operation, Other Current Assets Other current assets Assets of Disposal Group, Including Discontinued Operation, Current Current assets Disposal Group, Including Discontinued Operation, Property, Plant, and Equipment, Net Net property, plant & equipment Disposal Group, Including Discontinued Operation, Intangible Assets, Net Intangible assets, net Disposal Group, Including Discontinued Operation, Goodwill Goodwill Disposal Group, Including Discontinued Operation, Other Noncurrent Assets Other assets Assets of Disposal Group, Including Discontinued Operation Total assets Liabilities of Disposal Group, Including Discontinued Operation [Abstract] Liabilities: Disposal Group, Including Discontinued Operation, Accounts Payable, Current Accounts payable Disposal Group, Including Discontinued Operation, Accrued Liabilities, Current Accrued expenses and other current liabilities Liabilities of Disposal Group, Including Discontinued Operation, Current Current liabilities Disposal Group, Including Discontinued Operation, Other Noncurrent Liabilities Other liabilities Liabilities of Disposal Group, Including Discontinued Operation Total liabilities Schedule of Business Acquisitions, by Acquisition [Table] Business Acquisition [Axis] Business Acquisition Acquiree [Domain] Business Acquisition, Acquiree [Domain] Metrum Technologies Llc [Member] Metrum Technologies LLC [Member] Metrum Technologies LLC [Member] Felix Tool And Engineering Inc [Member] Felix Tool & Engineering, Inc. [Member] Felix Tool & Engineering, Inc. [Member] Finepoint Marketing Inc [Member] Finepoint Marketing, Inc. [Member] Finepoint Marketing, Inc. [Member] Finite-Lived Intangible Assets by Major Class [Axis] Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Major Class Name [Domain] Customer Relationships [Member] Canyon Engineering Products Inc [Member] Business Acquisition [Line Items] Business Combination, Recognized Identifiable Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed, Finite-Lived Intangibles Amortizable identifiable intangible assets Payments to Acquire Businesses, Gross Payment to Acquire Stock Business Combination, Recognized Identifiable Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed, Buildings Payments to Acquire Manufacturing Facility Goodwill Goodwill Goodwill Goodwill, Beginning Balance Goodwill, Ending Balance Area of Real Estate Property Area Of Manufacturing Facility Payments to Acquire Productive Assets, Total Payments to Acquire Productive Assets Capital expenditures Business Combination, Contingent Consideration, Liability Business Combination Contingent Consideration Liability Schedule of Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share [Table] Antidilutive Securities [Axis] Antidilutive Securities Name [Domain] Antidilutive Securities, Name [Domain] Restricted Stock [Member] Restricted Shares [Member] Range [Axis] Range [Domain] Minimum [Member] Maximum [Member] Earnings Per Share [Line Items] Earnings Per Share [Line Items] Income (Loss) from Discontinued Operations, Net of Tax, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest, Total Income (Loss) from Discontinued Operations, Net of Tax, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest, Total Earnings Per Share [Table] Earning Per Share [Line Items] Schedule of Share-based Compensation Arrangements by Share-based Payment Award [Table] Award Type [Axis] Share Based Compensation Arrangements By Share Based Payment Award Award Type And Plan Name [Domain] Award Type [Domain] Employee Stock Option [Member] Performance Accelerated Restricted Share Awards [Member] Performance-Accelerated Restricted Share Awards [Member] Performance Accelerated Restricted Share Awards [Member] Non Employee Directors Plan [Member] Non-Employee Directors Plan [Member] Non Employee Directors Plan [Member] Income Statement Location [Axis] Employee Service Share-based Compensation, Tax Benefit from Compensation Expense Total income tax benefit recognized Total income tax benefit recognized Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items] Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Outstanding, Number Stock option ,Shares Stock options, Shares Options Outstanding, Number Outstanding Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Grants in Period, Net of Forfeitures Stock options Granted, Shares Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Exercises in Period Stock options Exercised, Shares Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Forfeitures in Period Stock options Cancelled, Shares Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Number of Shares Available for Grant Reserved for future grant Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Exercisable, Number Stock options Exercisable, Shares Exercisable Options Outstanding, Number Exercisable Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Outstanding, Weighted Average Exercise Price Stock options Weighted Average Price Stock options Weighted Average Price Options Outstanding, Weighted Average Exercise Price Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Grants in Period, Weighted Average Exercise Price Stock options Granted, Weighted Average Price Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Exercises in Period, Weighted Average Exercise Price Stock options Exercised, Weighted Average Price Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Forfeitures in Period, Weighted Average Exercise Price Stock options Cancelled, Weighted Average Price Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Exercisable, Weighted Average Exercise Price Stock options Exercisable, Weighted Average Price Exercisable Options Outstanding, Weighted Average Exercise Price Inventory, Current [Table] Inventory [Axis] Inventory [Domain] Inventory [Line Items] Inventory, Finished Goods Finished goods Inventory, Work in Process Work in process—including long-term contracts Inventory, Raw Materials Raw materials Inventories, net Total inventories Inventories Schedule of Segment Reporting Information, by Segment [Table] Business Segments [Axis] Segment [Domain] Segment [Domain] Filtration Fluid Flow [Member] Filtration [Member] Filtration [Member] Filtration Fluid Flow [Member] R F Shielding And Test [Member] Test [Member] R F Shielding And Test [Member] Utility Solutions [Member] USG [Member] USG [Member] Utility Solutions [Member] Corporate Segment [Member] Corporate [Member] Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations before Interest Expense, Interest Income, Income Taxes, Extraordinary Items, Noncontrolling Interests, Net Consolidated EBIT Schedule of Long-term Debt Instruments [Table] Lender Name [Axis] Line Of Credit Facility Lender [Domain] Line of Credit Facility, Lender [Domain] Jpmorgan Chase Bank N [Member] JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A. [Member] JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A. member. Debt Instrument [Line Items] Line of Credit Facility, Maximum Borrowing Capacity Revolving credit facility Line Of Credit Facility, Period Of Facility, Years Revolving credit facility period Line of credit facility, period of facility, years. Line of Credit Facility, Current Borrowing Capacity Available to borrow under the credit facility Option To Increase Credit Facility Option amount to increase credit facility Option To Increase Credit Facility Cash and cash equivalents Cash on hand Cash and cash equivalents Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year Cash and cash equivalents at end of year Line Of Credit Facility, Incremental Term Loan Incremental term loan Line of credit facility, incremental term loan. Facility Secured By Pledge Of The Material Foreign Subsidiaries Share Equity Percentage of foreign subsidiaries' share equity Facility secured by pledge of the material foreign subsidiaries' share equity. Debt Instrument [Axis] Debt Instrument, Name [Domain] Long-term Debt Revolving credit facility, including current portion Short-term borrowings outstanding Current portion of long-term debt Total long-term debt, less current portion Total long-term debt, less current portion Long-term debt Income Tax Expense [Table] Income Tax Expense [Table] Income Tax Expense [Axis] Income Tax Expense [Axis] Income Tax Expense [Domain] Income Tax Expense [Domain] Income Tax Expense [Domain] Foreign Valuation Allowance [Member] Foreign Valuation Allowance [Member] Foreign Valuation Allowance [Member] State Valuation Allowance [Member] American Taxpayer Relief Act Of Two Thousand Twelve [Member] American Taxpayer Relief Act Of 2012 [Member] American Taxpayer Relief Act Of Two Thousand Twelve [Member] Income Tax Authority [Axis] Schedule of Defined Benefit Plans Disclosures [Table] Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans [Axis] Defined Benefit Plan and Other Postretirement Benefit Plan [Domain] Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items] Consolidated Statements Of Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Abstract] Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Portion Attributable to Parent [Abstract] Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax: Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Foreign Currency Transaction and Translation Adjustment, Net of Tax Foreign currency translation adjustments Translation adjustments Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Pension and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans, Adjustment, Net of Tax Amortization of prior service costs and actuarial gains (losses) Net unrecognized actuarial loss Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Reclassification Adjustment from AOCI on Derivatives, Net of Tax Change in fair value of interest rate swap Interest rate swap Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Portion Attributable to Parent Total other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Attributable to Parent Comprehensive (loss) income Consolidated Balance Sheets [Abstract] Assets [Abstract] ASSETS Accounts receivable, less allowance for doubtful accounts of $1,855 and $1,457 in 2010 and 2009, respectively Accounts receivable, less allowance for doubtful accounts of $1,124 and $1,217 in 2013 and 2012, respectively Accounts receivable, Total Costs and estimated earnings on long-term contracts, less progress billings of $12,996 and $12,189, respectively Costs and estimated earnings on long-term contracts, less progress billings of $30,887 and $30,534 in 2013 and 2012, respectively Current portion of deferred tax assets Other current assets Assets Held-for-sale, Current, Total Assets held for sale - current Total current assets Total current assets Land Land and land improvements Buildings and Improvements, Gross Buildings and leasehold improvements Machinery and Equipment, Gross Machinery and equipment Construction in Progress, Gross Construction in progress Property, Plant and Equipment, Gross, Total Accumulated Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization, Property, Plant, and Equipment Less accumulated depreciation and amortization Property, plant and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY Long-term Debt, Current Maturities Current maturities of long-term debt Current portion of long-term debt Accounts payable Advance payments on long-term contracts, less costs incurred of $31,694 and $19,547, respectively Advance payments on long-term contracts, less costs incurred of $23,853 and $31,534 in 2013 and 2012, respectively Accrued salaries Current portion of deferred revenue Accrued other expenses Liabilities of Assets Held-for-sale Liabilities held for sale - current Total current liabilities Total current liabilities Pension and Other Postretirement Defined Benefit Plans, Liabilities, Noncurrent Pension obligations Noncurrent liability Deferred tax liabilities Other liabilities Liabilities Of Assets Held For Sale Other Noncurrent Liabilities held for sale - other Liability ( such as a mortgage) related to a disposal group that is held for sale, the aggregate carrying amount, as of the balance sheet date, of noncurrent obligations not separately disclosed in the balance sheet. Noncurrent liabilities are expected to be paid after one year (or the normal operating cycle, if longer).