| Segment Reporting Disclosure [Text Block] |
NOTE 17. SEGMENT INFORMATION We report our results in two separate business segments consisting of Professional Instrumentation and Industrial Technologies. When determining the reportable segments, we aggregated operating segments based on their similar economic and operating characteristics. Operating profit represents total revenues less operating expenses, excluding other income/expense, interest and income taxes. The identifiable assets by segment are those used in each segment’s operations. Inter-segment amounts are not significant and are eliminated to arrive at combined totals. Operating profit amounts in the Other category consist of unallocated corporate costs and other costs not considered part of our evaluation of reportable segment operating performance. Segment results are shown below ($ in millions): | | | | | | | | | | | | | | For The Year Ended December 31 | | 2017 | | 2016 | | 2015 | Sales: | | | | | | Professional Instrumentation | $ | 3,139.1 |
| | $ | 2,891.6 |
| | $ | 2,974.2 |
| Industrial Technologies | 3,516.9 |
| | 3,332.7 |
| | 3,204.6 |
| Total | $ | 6,656.0 |
| | $ | 6,224.3 |
| | $ | 6,178.8 |
| | | | | | | Operating Profit: | | | | | | Professional Instrumentation | $ | 709.7 |
| | $ | 642.3 |
| | $ | 694.8 |
| Industrial Technologies | 718.7 |
| | 667.4 |
| | 617.2 |
| Other | (73.5 | ) | | (63.7 | ) | | (42.3 | ) | Total | $ | 1,354.9 |
| | $ | 1,246.0 |
| | $ | 1,269.7 |
| | | | | | | Identifiable assets: | | | | | | Professional Instrumentation | $ | 5,588.1 |
| | $ | 3,905.2 |
| | $ | 3,894.0 |
| Industrial Technologies | 3,773.7 |
| | 3,294.8 |
| | 3,316.6 |
| Other | 1,138.8 |
| | 989.8 |
| | — |
| Total | $ | 10,500.6 |
| | $ | 8,189.8 |
| | $ | 7,210.6 |
| | | | | | | Depreciation and amortization: | | | | | | Professional Instrumentation | $ | 82.0 |
| | $ | 99.4 |
| | $ | 103.5 |
| Industrial Technologies | 86.1 |
| | 75.7 |
| | 73.4 |
| Other | 6.0 |
| | 1.3 |
| | — |
| Total | $ | 174.1 |
| | $ | 176.4 |
| | $ | 176.9 |
| | | | | | | Capital expenditures, gross: | | | | | | Professional Instrumentation | $ | 37.0 |
| | $ | 36.2 |
| | $ | 34.6 |
| Industrial Technologies | 96.8 |
| | 84.4 |
| | 85.5 |
| Other | 2.3 |
| | 9.0 |
| | — |
| Total | $ | 136.1 |
| | $ | 129.6 |
| | $ | 120.1 |
|
Operations in Geographical Areas: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | For The Year Ended December 31 | ($ in millions) | 2017 | | 2016 | | 2015 | Sales: | | | | | | United States | $ | 3,636.1 |
| | $ | 3,471.2 |
| | $ | 3,415.8 |
| China | 612.1 |
| | 536.0 |
| | 501.4 |
| Germany | 307.7 |
| | 268.1 |
| | 268.2 |
| All other (each country individually less than 5% of total sales) | 2,100.1 |
| | 1,949.0 |
| | 1,993.4 |
| Total | $ | 6,656.0 |
| | $ | 6,224.3 |
| | $ | 6,178.8 |
| | | | | | | Long-lived assets: | | | | | | United States | $ | 5,931.2 |
| | $ | 4,480.7 |
| | $ | 4,333.9 |
| United Kingdom | 405.8 |
| | 353.4 |
| | 359.2 |
| Germany | 295.9 |
| | 262.7 |
| | 349.1 |
| All other (each country individually less than 5% of total long-lived assets) | 930.9 |
| | 604.3 |
| | 574.3 |
| Total | $ | 7,563.8 |
| | $ | 5,701.1 |
| | $ | 5,616.5 |
|
Sales by Major Product Group: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | For The Year Ended December 31 | ($ in millions) | 2017 | | 2016 | | 2015 | Professional tools and equipment | $ | 4,352.5 |
| | $ | 4,005.9 |
| | $ | 3,959.7 |
| Industrial automation, controls and sensors | 1,207.7 |
| | 1,138.2 |
| | 1,170.5 |
| Franchise distribution | 626.2 |
| | 618.1 |
| | 590.4 |
| All other | 469.6 |
| | 462.1 |
| | 458.2 |
| Total | $ | 6,656.0 |
| | $ | 6,224.3 |
| | $ | 6,178.8 |
|
|