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SEGMENT INFORMATION (Textual) (Details) $ in Thousands		12 Months Ended
		Dec. 31, 2017 USD ($) segment	Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($)
Financial information for the reportable segments
Number of operating segments (segments) | segment		3
Percentage of total inventories valued using the LIFO method (as a percent)		32.00%	40.00%
Special items
Asset Impairment Charges		$ 1,441
Special items charge (Gain)		(15,330)	$ 34,348	$ 189,910
Goodwill, Impairment Loss	[1]	1,091
Foreign Currency Transaction Loss, before Tax			4,334
Europe Welding
Special items
Goodwill, Impairment Loss	[1]	0
The Harris Products Group
Special items
Special items charge (Gain)		0	0	0
Goodwill, Impairment Loss	[1]	0
United States
Special items
EntityWideDisclosureOnGeographicAreasRevenueFromExternalCustomersAttributedToForeignCountries1		$ 151,630	$ 134,216	$ 175,049
Revenues | Customer concentration risk | Maximum
Special items
Percentage of concentration of credit risk not met other than separately disclosed		10.00%	10.00%	10.00%
[1] 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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