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QUARTERLY FINANCIAL DATA (UNAUDITED) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified | 3 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended
--- | --- | ---
Dec. 31, 2014 | Sep. 30, 2014 | Jun. 30, 2014 | Mar. 31, 2014 | Dec. 31, 2013 | Sep. 30, 2013 | Jun. 30, 2013 | Mar. 31, 2013 | Dec. 31, 2014 | Dec. 31, 2013 | Dec. 31, 2012
Quarterly financial data (unaudited) |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net sales | $ 683,954 us-gaap_SalesRevenueGoodsNet | $ 715,777 us-gaap_SalesRevenueGoodsNet | $ 728,531 us-gaap_SalesRevenueGoodsNet | $ 685,062 us-gaap_SalesRevenueGoodsNet | $ 714,791 us-gaap_SalesRevenueGoodsNet | $ 691,875 us-gaap_SalesRevenueGoodsNet | $ 727,432 us-gaap_SalesRevenueGoodsNet | $ 718,573 us-gaap_SalesRevenueGoodsNet | $ 2,813,324 us-gaap_SalesRevenueGoodsNet | $ 2,852,671 us-gaap_SalesRevenueGoodsNet | $ 2,853,367 us-gaap_SalesRevenueGoodsNet
Gross profit | 231,085 us-gaap_GrossProfit | 241,609 us-gaap_GrossProfit | 250,267 us-gaap_GrossProfit | 226,336 us-gaap_GrossProfit | 243,047 us-gaap_GrossProfit | 232,697 us-gaap_GrossProfit | 240,338 us-gaap_GrossProfit | 226,572 us-gaap_GrossProfit | 949,297 us-gaap_GrossProfit | 942,654 us-gaap_GrossProfit | 866,656 us-gaap_GrossProfit
Income before income taxes | 100,736 us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesExtraordinaryItemsNoncontrollingInterest | 77,785 us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesExtraordinaryItemsNoncontrollingInterest | 114,866 us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesExtraordinaryItemsNoncontrollingInterest | 82,426 us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesExtraordinaryItemsNoncontrollingInterest | 121,388 us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesExtraordinaryItemsNoncontrollingInterest | 97,840 us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesExtraordinaryItemsNoncontrollingInterest | 106,534 us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesExtraordinaryItemsNoncontrollingInterest | 90,679 us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesExtraordinaryItemsNoncontrollingInterest | 375,813 us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesExtraordinaryItemsNoncontrollingInterest | 416,441 us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesExtraordinaryItemsNoncontrollingInterest | 369,570 us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesExtraordinaryItemsNoncontrollingInterest
Net income | 75,212 us-gaap_NetIncomeLossAvailableToCommonStockholdersBasic | 45,689 us-gaap_NetIncomeLossAvailableToCommonStockholdersBasic | 77,332 us-gaap_NetIncomeLossAvailableToCommonStockholdersBasic | 56,453 us-gaap_NetIncomeLossAvailableToCommonStockholdersBasic | 88,324 us-gaap_NetIncomeLossAvailableToCommonStockholdersBasic | 66,044 us-gaap_NetIncomeLossAvailableToCommonStockholdersBasic | 72,606 us-gaap_NetIncomeLossAvailableToCommonStockholdersBasic | 66,806 us-gaap_NetIncomeLossAvailableToCommonStockholdersBasic | 254,686 us-gaap_NetIncomeLossAvailableToCommonStockholdersBasic | 293,780 us-gaap_NetIncomeLossAvailableToCommonStockholdersBasic | 257,411 us-gaap_NetIncomeLossAvailableToCommonStockholdersBasic
Basic earnings per share (in dollars per share) | $ 0.97 us-gaap_EarningsPerShareBasic | $ 0.58 us-gaap_EarningsPerShareBasic | $ 0.97 us-gaap_EarningsPerShareBasic | $ 0.70 us-gaap_EarningsPerShareBasic | $ 1.09 us-gaap_EarningsPerShareBasic | $ 0.81 us-gaap_EarningsPerShareBasic | $ 0.88 us-gaap_EarningsPerShareBasic | $ 0.81 us-gaap_EarningsPerShareBasic | $ 3.22 us-gaap_EarningsPerShareBasic | $ 3.58 us-gaap_EarningsPerShareBasic | $ 3.10 us-gaap_EarningsPerShareBasic
Diluted earnings per share (in dollars per share) | $ 0.96 us-gaap_EarningsPerShareDiluted | $ 0.57 us-gaap_EarningsPerShareDiluted | $ 0.96 us-gaap_EarningsPerShareDiluted | $ 0.69 us-gaap_EarningsPerShareDiluted | $ 1.07 us-gaap_EarningsPerShareDiluted | $ 0.80 us-gaap_EarningsPerShareDiluted | $ 0.87 us-gaap_EarningsPerShareDiluted | $ 0.80 us-gaap_EarningsPerShareDiluted | $ 3.18 us-gaap_EarningsPerShareDiluted | $ 3.54 us-gaap_EarningsPerShareDiluted | $ 3.06 us-gaap_EarningsPerShareDiluted
Rationalization and asset impairment net gains (charges) | (166)us-gaap_RestructuringSettlementAndImpairmentProvisions | (29,068)us-gaap_RestructuringSettlementAndImpairmentProvisions | (836)us-gaap_RestructuringSettlementAndImpairmentProvisions | 17 us-gaap_RestructuringSettlementAndImpairmentProvisions | (259)us-gaap_RestructuringSettlementAndImpairmentProvisions | (1,627)us-gaap_RestructuringSettlementAndImpairmentProvisions | (851)us-gaap_RestructuringSettlementAndImpairmentProvisions | (1,051)us-gaap_RestructuringSettlementAndImpairmentProvisions | (30,053)us-gaap_RestructuringSettlementAndImpairmentProvisions | (8,463)us-gaap_RestructuringSettlementAndImpairmentProvisions | (9,354)us-gaap_RestructuringSettlementAndImpairmentProvisions
Rationalization and asset impairment net gains (charges), after-tax | (167)leco_RestructuringSettlementAndImpairmentProvisionsNetOfTax | (30,056)leco_RestructuringSettlementAndImpairmentProvisionsNetOfTax | (698)leco_RestructuringSettlementAndImpairmentProvisionsNetOfTax | 7 leco_RestructuringSettlementAndImpairmentProvisionsNetOfTax | (223)leco_RestructuringSettlementAndImpairmentProvisionsNetOfTax | (1,595)leco_RestructuringSettlementAndImpairmentProvisionsNetOfTax | (579)leco_RestructuringSettlementAndImpairmentProvisionsNetOfTax | (673)leco_RestructuringSettlementAndImpairmentProvisionsNetOfTax |  |  |
Higher cost of goods sold due to the liquidation of inventory valued at the historical exchange rate |  |  | 3,468 leco_EffectOfLiquidationOfInventoryValuedAtHistoricalExchangeRateAfterCurrencyDevaluation |  |  |  |  |  |  | 4,117 leco_EffectOfLiquidationOfInventoryValuedAtHistoricalExchangeRateAfterCurrencyDevaluation |
Foreign Currency Transaction Loss, before Tax |  |  |  | 17,665 us-gaap_ForeignCurrencyTransactionLossBeforeTax |  |  |  |  |  | 8,081 us-gaap_ForeignCurrencyTransactionLossBeforeTax |
Special items charge (Gain) |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 51,186 leco_SpecialItemsChargeGain | 21,366 leco_SpecialItemsChargeGain | 10,735 leco_SpecialItemsChargeGain
Asset Impairment Charges |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 32,742 us-gaap_AssetImpairmentCharges |  |
Special Items, Rationalization, Gain on Sale of Assets |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 3,930 leco_SpecialItemsRationalizationGainOnSaleOfAssets |  |
Asia Pacific Welding 2014 Plan [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Quarterly financial data (unaudited) |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Asset Impairment Charges |  | 32,448 us-gaap_AssetImpairmentCharges / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = leco_AsiaPacificWelding2014PlanMember |  |  |  |  |  |  | 32,617 us-gaap_AssetImpairmentCharges / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = leco_AsiaPacificWelding2014PlanMember |  |
Asia Pacific Welding 2012 Plan [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Quarterly financial data (unaudited) |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Asset Impairment Charges |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 125 us-gaap_AssetImpairmentCharges / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = leco_AsiaPacificWelding2012PlanMember |  |
Special Items, Rationalization, Gain on Sale of Assets |  | 3,911 leco_SpecialItemsRationalizationGainOnSaleOfAssets / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = leco_AsiaPacificWelding2012PlanMember |  |  |  |  |  |  | 3,911 leco_SpecialItemsRationalizationGainOnSaleOfAssets / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = leco_AsiaPacificWelding2012PlanMember |  |
Asia Pacific Welding |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Quarterly financial data (unaudited) |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net sales |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 243,800 us-gaap_SalesRevenueGoodsNet / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = leco_AsiaPacificWeldingMember | 266,282 us-gaap_SalesRevenueGoodsNet / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = leco_AsiaPacificWeldingMember | 324,482 us-gaap_SalesRevenueGoodsNet / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = leco_AsiaPacificWeldingMember
Special items charge (Gain) |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 28,635 leco_SpecialItemsChargeGain / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = leco_AsiaPacificWeldingMember | 6,071 leco_SpecialItemsChargeGain / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = leco_AsiaPacificWeldingMember | 4,993 leco_SpecialItemsChargeGain / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = leco_AsiaPacificWeldingMember
Other Asset Impairment Charges |  |  |  |  |  | 4,675 us-gaap_OtherAssetImpairmentCharges / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = leco_AsiaPacificWeldingMember |  |  | 32,742 us-gaap_OtherAssetImpairmentCharges / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = leco_AsiaPacificWeldingMember | 4,444 us-gaap_OtherAssetImpairmentCharges / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = leco_AsiaPacificWeldingMember |
Other Asset Impairment Charges Net of Tax |  |  |  |  |  | 4,503 leco_OtherAssetImpairmentChargesNetofTax / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = leco_AsiaPacificWeldingMember |  |  |  |  |
Land Sales |  |  |  |  | 705 us-gaap_LandSales / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = leco_AsiaPacificWeldingMember |  |  |  | (3,923)us-gaap_LandSales / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = leco_AsiaPacificWeldingMember | 705 us-gaap_LandSales / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = leco_AsiaPacificWeldingMember |
Asset Impairment Charges |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 1,842 us-gaap_AssetImpairmentCharges / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = leco_AsiaPacificWeldingMember
Noncontrolling Interests |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Quarterly financial data (unaudited) |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Other Asset Impairment Charges |  | 805 us-gaap_OtherAssetImpairmentCharges / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = us-gaap_NoncontrollingInterestMember |  |  |  | 1,021 us-gaap_OtherAssetImpairmentCharges / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = us-gaap_NoncontrollingInterestMember |  |  |  |  |
Land Sales |  |  |  |  | 47 us-gaap_LandSales / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = us-gaap_NoncontrollingInterestMember |  |  |  |  |  |
South America Welding |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Quarterly financial data (unaudited) |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net sales |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 148,595 us-gaap_SalesRevenueGoodsNet / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = leco_SouthAmericaWeldingMember | 195,895 us-gaap_SalesRevenueGoodsNet / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = leco_SouthAmericaWeldingMember | 161,483 us-gaap_SalesRevenueGoodsNet / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = leco_SouthAmericaWeldingMember
Foreign Currency Transaction Loss, before Tax |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 21,133 us-gaap_ForeignCurrencyTransactionLossBeforeTax / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = leco_SouthAmericaWeldingMember |  |
Special items charge (Gain) |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 2,538 leco_SpecialItemsChargeGain / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = leco_SouthAmericaWeldingMember | $ 9,660 leco_SpecialItemsChargeGain / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = leco_SouthAmericaWeldingMember | $ 21,715 leco_SpecialItemsChargeGain / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = leco_SouthAmericaWeldingMember | $ 12,198 leco_SpecialItemsChargeGain / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = leco_SouthAmericaWeldingMember | $ 1,381 leco_SpecialItemsChargeGain / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = leco_SouthAmericaWeldingMember

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