| **Business Acquisitions, Investments and Redeemable Noncontrolling Interests (Note)**     | 9 Months Ended                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          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| **Business Acquisitions, Investments and Redeemable Noncontrolling Interests [Abstract]** |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           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| Business Acquisitions, Investments and Redeemable Noncontrolling Interests                | BUSINESS ACQUISITIONS, INVESTMENTS AND REDEEMABLE NONCONTROLLING INTERESTSBusiness AcquisitionsOn May 9, 2012, the Company acquired 100% of the shares in Modular Engineering Company Pty Ltd. ("Modular") for $7,875.  An initial payment of $5,237 was made at closing and the remaining purchase price will be paid in equal annual installments on the first and second anniversaries of the closing date.  Modular, a manufacturer of pressure vessels, process and storage tanks and other natural gas filtration products and distributor of aftermarket elements is located in Henderson, Western Australia.  The acquisition of Modular gives the Company first-fit manufacturing capabilities in Western Australia, as well as a platform for aftermarket growth throughout the region.  Modular has been combined into an existing Company subsidiary, which is part of the Company's Industrial/Environmental Filtration segment.  Net sales and Operating profit attributable to Modular for both the three and nine months ended September 1, 2012 were not material to the results of the Company.  The Company incurred costs of $250 related to the acquisition of Modular which are included in Selling and administrative expenses in the Consolidated Condensed Statements of Earnings.  An allocation of the purchase price for the acquisition has been made to major categories of assets and liabilities.  Acquired finite-lived intangible assets of $2,552 were recorded in connection with the purchase.  The $5,339 excess of the initial purchase price over the estimated fair value of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed was recorded as goodwill, which is not deductible for income tax purposes.On December 30, 2011, the Company purchased certain assets of PDDA Filtration, Inc. (“PDDA”), a privately-held provider of filtration solutions, for $530.  PDDA specializes in liquid process filtration products, serving customers in diverse industries including chemical processing, food and beverage, oil and gas, power generation, water, wine and biofuel production.  The purchased assets were combined into the Industrial/Environmental Filtration segment.  The acquisition is not material to the results of the Company.  An allocation of the purchase price for the acquisition has been made to major categories of assets and liabilities.  Inventory acquired was valued at $80.  Acquired intangible assets included customer relationships valued at $400 which are being amortized over their estimated useful life of five years and a non-compete agreement valued at $50 being amortized over three years.  A contingent liability of $200 for a potential earn-out payment was also recognized.  The Company did not recognize any goodwill in connection with this acquisition.On December 29, 2010, the Company acquired 100% of the outstanding membership interests in TransWeb LLC (“TransWeb”), a privately-owned manufacturer of media used in a variety of end-use applications, including respirators and heating, ventilation and air conditioning ("HVAC") filters.  Founded in 1996 and based in Vineland, New Jersey, TransWeb had supplied media to a subsidiary of the Company for several years prior to the acquisition.  TransWeb was acquired to expand the Company’s technology capabilities in the area of media development and to enhance the product offerings of the Company's filtration operating companies.  TransWeb’s results are included in the Industrial/Environmental Filtration segment from the date of acquisition.  Net sales and Operating profit (loss) attributable to TransWeb for the three and nine months endedSeptember 1, 2012 were $2,143, $(73) and $7,908, $440, respectively.  Net sales and Operating profit attributable to TransWeb for the three and nine months endedAugust 27, 2011 were $3,935, $794 and $8,828, $1,268, respectively.  The base purchase price to acquire TransWeb was $30,017, excluding cash acquired.  Of the base purchase price, the Company withheld payment of $17,000 pending resolution of 3M litigation, which funds may be used by the Company in connection with the same (see Note 11).  A contingent liability for a potential earn-out payment to one of the former owners, recorded on the acquisition date at fair value by applying the income approach, was also recognized.  The acquisition-date estimated fair value of the contingent consideration payment of $1,018 was recorded as a component of the consideration transferred in exchange for the equity interests of TransWeb in accordance with accounting guidance.  The contingent liability for the earn-out payment will continue to be accounted for and measured at fair value until the contingency is settled during fiscal year 2016.  The fair value measurement of the contingent consideration payment is based on significant inputs not observed in the market and thus represents a Level 3 measurement as defined by accounting literature (see Note 6).InvestmentsEffective May 1, 2008, the Company acquired a 30% share in BioProcessH2O LLC (“BPH”), a Rhode Island-based manufacturer of industrial waste water and water reuse filtration systems, for $4,000.  Under the terms of the agreement with BPH, the Company has the right, but not the obligation, to acquire additional ownership shares and eventually complete ownership of BPH over several years at a price based on, among other factors, BPH’s operating income.  The investment, with a carrying amount of $3,138 and $3,229, at September 1, 2012 and December 3, 2011, respectively, included in Other noncurrent assets in the Consolidated Condensed Balance Sheets, is being accounted for under the equity method of accounting.  The carrying amount is adjusted each period to recognize the Company’s share of the earnings or losses of BPH, included in Other, net in the Consolidated Condensed Statements of Earnings, based on the percentage of ownership, as well as the receipt of any dividends.  During the nine months ended ended September 1, 2012 and August 27, 2011, the Company did not receive any dividends from BPH.  The equity investment is periodically reviewed for indicators of impairment.The Company also owns a 14.85% share in BioProcess Algae LLC (“Algae”), a Delaware-based company developing technology to grow and harvest algae which can be used to consume carbon dioxide and also be used as a renewable energy source.  During the nine months ended September 1, 2012, the Company invested an additional $1,114 into Algae, $446 which has not yet been funded and is included in Accounts payable and accrued liabilities in the accompanying Consolidated Condensed Balance Sheets.  The investment, with a carrying amount of $1,812 and $698, at September 1, 2012 and December 3, 2011, respectively, included in Other noncurrent assets, is being accounted for under the cost method of accounting.  Under the cost method, the Company recognizes dividends as income when received and reviews the cost basis of the investment for impairment if factors indicate that a decrease in value of the investment has occurred.  During the nine months endedSeptember 1, 2012 and August 27, 2011, the Company received dividends from Algae of $1,200 and $0, respectively, which is included in Other, net in the Consolidated Condensed Statements of Earnings.Redeemable Noncontrolling InterestsIn March 2007, the Company acquired an 80% ownership share in Sinfa SA (“SINFA”), a manufacturer of automotive and heavy-duty engine filters based in Casablanca, Morocco.  As part of the purchase agreement, the Company and the noncontrolling owners each have an option to require the purchase of the remaining 20% ownership shares by the Company after December 31, 2012 which would result in SINFA becoming a wholly owned subsidiary.  The remaining 20% of SINFA owned by the noncontrolling owners has been reported as Redeemable noncontrolling interests and classified as mezzanine equity in the Consolidated Condensed Balance Sheets.  The Redeemable noncontrolling interests will be accreted to the redemption price, through equity, at the point at which the redemption becomes probable.  The Company has not recorded any accretion to date. |

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| - Definition
Includes the following three disclosures: 1) Description of a business combination (or series of individually immaterial business combinations) completed during the period, including background, timing, and recognized assets and liabilities. This element may be used as a single block of text to encapsulate the entire disclosure (including data and tables) regarding business combinations, including leverage buyout transactions (as applicable), 2) Equity investment disclosure, or group of investments for which combined disclosure is appropriate, including: (a) the name of each investee and percentage of ownership of common stock, (b) accounting policies for investments in common stock, (c) difference between the amount at which the investment is carried and the amount of underlying equity in net assets and the accounting treatment of the difference, (d) the total fair value of each identified investment for which a market value is available, (e) summarized information as to assets, liabilities, and results of operations of the investees (for investments in unconsolidated subsidiaries, common stock of joint ventures, or other investments using the equity method), and (f) material effects of possible conversions, exercises, or contingent issuances of the investee. Other disclosures include (a) the names of any investee in which the investor owns 20 percent or more of the voting stock and investment is not accounted for using the equity method, and the reasons why not, and (b) the names of any investee in which the investor owns less than 20% of the voting stock and the investment is accounted for using the equity method, and the reasons why it is and 3) Text disclosure on redeemable non-controlling interest, which is part of temporary equity.
+ References
No definition available.
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