Commitments, Contingent Liabilities and Other Matters - General (Details) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2018 USD ($) corporate_entity	Dec. 31, 2017 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($)
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
2019	$ 9.1
2020	7.3
2021	4.5
2022	3.8
2023	3.4
Carrying values of accruals	631.7	$ 685.7
Liabilities for asbestos product liability	587.5	641.2
Proceeds from insurance recoveries	45.3	57.3	$ 46.7
Payments for asbestos-related matters, net of insurance recoveries	9.7	1.0	5.8
Recorded charges related to asbestos product liability matters	$ 2.4	5.7	4.9
Asbestos Related Claims \| Minimum
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Number of corporate entities named defendants \| corporate_entity	50
Other Operating Income (Expense)
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Recorded charges related to asbestos product liability matters	$ 2.0	3.5	4.2
Gain (Loss) on Disposition of Discontinued Operations, Net of Tax
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Recorded charges related to asbestos product liability matters	0.4	2.2	$ 0.7
Other Long Term Liabilities
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Accruals included in other long-term liabilities	600.3	651.6
Other assets \| Asbestos Related Claims
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Insurance recovery assets	$ 541.9	$ 590.9
Buildings \| SPX Flow, Inc \| Discontinued Operations, Disposed of by Means Other than Sale, Spinoff
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Duration of office lease agreement	5 years
2019	$ 2.1
2020	2.1
2021	2.1
2022	2.1
2023	$ 2.1

Liability For Asbestos And Environmental Claims, Proceeds From Insurance Recoveries

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Term of lessee's operating lease, in 'PnYnMnDTnHnMnS' format, for example, 'P1Y5M13D' represents reported fact of one year, five months, and thirteen days.

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Carrying amount as of the balance sheet date of reserves for the costs of settling insured claims and costs incurred in the claims settlement process attributable to asbestos and environmental claims, before estimated recoveries from reinsurers.

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Amount, before effects of reinsurance, of expense for claims incurred and costs incurred in the claim settlement process attributable to asbestos and environmental claims.

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Number of defendants named in a legal action.

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Amount of receivable related to a loss contingency accrual that is expected to be collected after one year or beyond the normal operating cycle, if longer. For example, an insurance recovery receivable.

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Amount of required minimum rental payments for operating leases having an initial or remaining non-cancelable lease term in excess of one year due in the next fiscal year following the latest fiscal year. Excludes interim and annual periods when interim periods are reported on a rolling approach, from latest balance sheet date.

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