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GOODWILL AND INTANGIBLES (Changes in Carrying Amount of Goodwill by Reportable Segment) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands | 12 Months Ended
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Dec. 31, 2017 | Dec. 31, 2016
Changes in the carrying amount of goodwill by reportable segment |  |  |  |
Balance at the beginning of the period |  | $ 231,919 | $ 187,504 |
Additions and adjustments | [1] | (377) | 42,886 | [2]
Impairment charge | [3] | (1,091) |  |
Foreign currency translation |  | 4,131 | 1,529 |
Balance at the end of the period |  | 234,582 | 231,919 |
Americas Welding [Member] |  |  |  |
Changes in the carrying amount of goodwill by reportable segment |  |  |  |
Balance at the beginning of the period |  | 196,378 | 152,335 |
Additions and adjustments | [1] | (76) | 43,217 | [2]
Impairment charge | [3] | (1,091) |  |
Foreign currency translation |  | 2,048 | 826 |
Balance at the end of the period |  | 197,259 | 196,378 |
International Welding [Member] |  |  |  |
Changes in the carrying amount of goodwill by reportable segment |  |  |  |
Balance at the beginning of the period |  | 23,664 | 23,345 |
Additions and adjustments | [1] | 0 | (30) | [2]
Foreign currency translation |  | 2,003 | 349 |
Balance at the end of the period |  | 25,667 | 23,664 |
The Harris Products Group |  |  |  |
Changes in the carrying amount of goodwill by reportable segment |  |  |  |
Balance at the beginning of the period |  | 11,877 | 11,824 |
Additions and adjustments | [1] | (301) | (301) | [2]
Impairment charge | [3] | 0 |  |
Foreign currency translation |  | 80 | 354 |
Balance at the end of the period |  | $ 11,656 | $ 11,877 |
[1] | Adjustments to Harris Products Group include the tax benefit attributable to the amortization of tax deductible goodwill in excess of goodwill recorded for financial reporting purposes.
[2] | Additions to Americas Welding reflect goodwill recognized in the acquisition of Vizient in 2016.
[3] | 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.

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- Definition The aggregate amount of goodwill acquired and adjustments made during the period and allocated to the reportable segment. + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition Amount after accumulated impairment loss of an asset representing future economic benefits arising from other assets acquired in a business combination that are not individually identified and separately recognized. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 350 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (a) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=35741047&loc=d3e13816-109267 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 350 -SubTopic 20 -Section 45 -Paragraph 1 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6388280&loc=d3e13770-109266 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 350 -SubTopic 20 -Section 45 -Paragraph 5 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=64834752&loc=SL49117168-202975 + Details
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