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QUARTERLY FINANCIAL DATA (UNAUDITED) (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands | 3 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended
--- | --- | ---
Dec. 31, 2017 | Sep. 30, 2017 | Jun. 30, 2017 | Mar. 31, 2017 | Dec. 31, 2016 | Sep. 30, 2016 | Jun. 30, 2016 | Mar. 31, 2016 | Dec. 31, 2017 | Dec. 31, 2016 | Dec. 31, 2015
Quarterly financial data (unaudited) |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Acquisition Transaction and Integration Costs |  | $ 3,616 |  | $ 3,273 |  | $ 4,498 |  | $ 3,615 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 15,002 |  |  |  |  |
Business Combination, Bargain Purchase, Gain Recognized, Amount |  | (1,935) |  | 51,585 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 49,650 |  | $ 0 |  | $ 0 |
Deconsolidation, Gain (Loss), Amount |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ (34,348) |  |  |  | 0 |  | (34,348) |  | 0 |
DeconsolidationGainOrLossAmountNet |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | (33,251) |  |  |  |  |  | (33,251) |  |  |
IncomeTaxSpecialItemChargeGain |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | (7,196) |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net sales |  | 747,185 |  | 669,491 |  | 626,858 |  | 580,897 |  | $ 563,828 |  | $ 567,646 |  | 592,418 |  | $ 550,772 |  | 2,624,431 |  | 2,274,614 |  | 2,535,791 |
Gross profit |  | 239,466 |  | 219,516 |  | 217,488 |  | 203,856 |  | 197,457 |  | 199,812 |  | 202,927 |  | 189,102 |  | 880,326 |  | 789,298 |  | 841,144 |
Income before income taxes |  | 73,728 | [1] | 130,642 | [2] | 83,966 | [3] | 77,900 | [4] | 78,152 | [1] | 80,296 | [2] | 45,758 | [3] | 73,182 | [4] | 366,236 |  | 277,388 |  | 169,787 |
Net income |  | $ 24,181 | [1] | $ 106,126 | [2] | $ 61,352 | [3] | $ 55,844 | [4] | $ 53,395 | [1] | $ 60,049 | [2] | $ 31,317 | [3] | $ 53,638 | [4] | $ 247,503 |  | $ 198,399 |  | $ 127,478 |
Basic earnings per share (in dollars per share) |  | $ 0.37 | [5] | $ 1.61 | [5] | $ 0.93 | [5] | $ 0.85 | [5] | $ 0.81 | [5] | $ 0.90 | [5] | $ 0.46 | [5] | $ 0.77 | [5] | $ 3.76 |  | $ 2.94 |  | $ 1.72 |
Diluted earnings per share (in dollars per share) |  | $ 0.36 | [5] | $ 1.59 | [5] | $ 0.92 | [5] | $ 0.84 | [5] | $ 0.81 | [5] | $ 0.89 | [5] | $ 0.45 | [5] | $ 0.76 | [5] | $ 3.71 |  | $ 2.91 |  | $ 1.70 |
Rationalization and asset impairment net gains (charges) |  | $ (6,590) |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ (6,590) |  | $ 0 |  | $ (19,958) |
Rationalization and asset impairment net gains (charges), after-tax |  | (6,198) |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Income Tax Expense Benefit Net Resulting from Tax Reform Act |  | 28,616 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 28,616 |  | 0 |  | 0 |
Goodwill, Impairment Loss | [6] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 1,091 |  |  |  |  |
Foreign Currency Transaction Loss, before Tax |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 4,334 |  |  |
Acquisition Transaction and Integration Costs Net of Tax |  | 3,102 |  | $ 2,229 |  | $ 3,494 |  | $ 2,734 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Asset Impairment Charges |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 1,441 |  |  |  |  |
Defined Benefit Plan, Recognized Net Gain (Loss) Due to Settlements and Curtailments |  | (2,867) |  | (5,283) |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | (8,252) | [7] | 1,062 | [7] | (142,738) | [7]
Defined Benefit Plan Recognized Net Gain (Loss) Due To Settlements Net Of Tax |  | (1,770) |  | (3,260) |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Business Combination, Inventory Step Up |  | 2,264 |  | 2,314 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 4,578 |  |  |  |  |
Business Combination, Inventory Step Up Net of Tax |  | $ 1,708 |  | $ 1,745 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Inventory Write-down |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 22,880 |  |  |
International Welding [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Quarterly financial data (unaudited) |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net sales |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 724,024 |  | 507,289 |  | 530,460 |
Americas Welding [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Quarterly financial data (unaudited) |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net sales |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 1,609,779 |  | $ 1,494,982 |  | $ 1,741,350 |
Goodwill, Impairment Loss | [6] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 1,091 |  |  |  |  |
[1] | 2017 includes special item charges of $2,867 ($1,770 after-tax) for pension settlement charges, $6,590 ($6,198 after-tax) for rationalization and asset impairment charges, $28,616 for the net impact of the U.S. Tax Act and acquisition-related items including $2,264 ($1,708 after-tax) in amortization of step up in value of acquired inventories, $3,616 ($3,102 after-tax) for acquisition transaction and integration costs and a $1,935 adjustment to the bargain purchase gain.
[2] | 2017 includes special item charges of $5,283 ($3,260 after-tax) for pension settlement charges and acquisition-related items including $2,314 ($1,745 after-tax) in amortization of step up in value of acquired inventories, $3,273 ($2,229 after-tax) for acquisition transaction and integration costs and a $51,585 bargain purchase gain.
[3] | 2017 includes special item charges of $4,498 ($3,494 after-tax) related to acquisition transaction and integration costs.2016 includes special item charges of $34,348 ($33,251 after-tax) primarily related to the loss on deconsolidation of Venezuelan subsidiary and a tax benefit of $7,196 related to the reversal of an income tax valuation allowance as a result of a legal entity change to realign the Company's tax structure.
[4] | 2017 includes special item charges of $3,615 ($2,734 after-tax) related to acquisition transaction costs.
[5] | The quarterly earnings per share ("EPS") amounts are each calculated independently. Therefore, the sum of the quarterly EPS amounts may not equal the annual totals.
[6] | The Company performed an interim goodwill impairment test, using a combination of income and market valuation approaches, resulting in a non-cash impairment charge to the carrying value of goodwill. The impairment charge is recorded within Rationalization and asset impairment charges in the accompanying Consolidated Statements of Income.
[7] | Pension settlement charges for the year ended December 31, 2017 resulting from lump sum pension payments. For the year ended December 31, 2015, the Company recorded pension settlement charges of $142,738, primarily related to the purchase of the group annuity contract.

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