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RATIONALIZATION AND ASSET IMPAIRMENTS (Textual) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended							12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015	Sep. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Sep. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2014	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Rationalization and asset impairment charges (gains)	$ 434	$ 18,285	$ 1,239	$ 166	$ 29,068	$ 836	$ 17	$ 19,958	$ 30,053	$ 8,463
Special items charge (Gain)								189,910	51,186	21,366
Restructuring charges								13,719	1,241
Restructuring liability	7,665			305				7,665	305	3,276
Asset impairment charges								6,239
Goodwill, Impairment Loss								6,315
Other current assets	91,167			129,938				91,167	129,938
Other Liabilities, Current	24,761			16,968				24,761	16,968
Europe Welding
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Special items charge (Gain)								1,507	904	2,045
Restructuring charges								1,507	911
Restructuring liability	158			305				158	305	2,435
Goodwill, Impairment Loss								0
North America Welding
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Special items charge (Gain)								155,757	(68)	1,052
Restructuring charges								3,298	(68)
Restructuring liability	67			0				67	0	466
Asset impairment charges								3,417
Goodwill, Impairment Loss		6,315						6,315
Asia Pacific Welding
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Special items charge (Gain)								5,432	28,635	6,071
Restructuring charges								8,914	(184)
Restructuring liability	7,440			0				7,440	0	375
Asset impairment charges					$ 32,448
Goodwill, Impairment Loss								0
Restructuring Charges Net								5,421
Other Asset Impairment Charges									32,742	4,444
The Harris Products Group
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Special items charge (Gain)								0	0	0
Goodwill, Impairment Loss								0
South America Welding [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Special items charge (Gain)		26,506						27,214	21,715	12,198
Restructuring charges								0	582
Restructuring liability	$ 0			$ 0				0	$ 0	$ 0
Goodwill, Impairment Loss								$ 0
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Asset impairment charges		$ 3,417

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Amount of expenses, net of asset impairments and gains or losses on sale of assets, associated with exit or disposal activities pursuant to an authorized plan. Excludes expenses related to a discontinued operation or an asset retirement obligation.

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