|
Debt And Credit Arrangements (Details)
Share data in Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified |
12 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Dec. 31, 2011
USD ($)
Y
|
Dec. 31, 2010
USD ($)
|
Dec. 31, 2009
USD ($)
|
Dec. 31, 2011
Convertible Notes Payable [Member]
Convertible Notes, Due 2018 [Member]
USD ($)
|
Aug. 03, 2011
Convertible Notes Payable [Member]
Convertible Notes, Due 2018 [Member]
USD ($)
|
Dec. 31, 2010
Convertible Notes Payable [Member]
Convertible Notes, Due 2018 [Member]
USD ($)
|
Dec. 31, 2011
Subordinated Debt [Member]
Subordinated Notes, Due 2015 [Member]
USD ($)
|
Dec. 31, 2010
Subordinated Debt [Member]
Subordinated Notes, Due 2015 [Member]
USD ($)
|
Dec. 31, 2011
Line of Credit [Member]
Senior Credit Facility [Member]
|
May 18, 2010
Line of Credit [Member]
Senior Credit Facility [Member]
USD ($)
|
Dec. 31, 2011
Line of Credit [Member]
Revolver [Member]
|
Dec. 31, 2011
Line of Credit [Member]
Revolver [Member]
Minimum [Member]
|
Dec. 31, 2011
Line of Credit [Member]
Revolver [Member]
Maximum [Member]
|
Dec. 31, 2011
Line of Credit [Member]
Prior Senior Credit Facility [Member]
USD ($)
|
Dec. 31, 2011
Line of Credit [Member]
Foreign Facilities [Member]
USD ($)
|
Dec. 31, 2010
Line of Credit [Member]
Foreign Facilities [Member]
USD ($)
|
Dec. 31, 2011
Term Loan [Member]
Senior Term Loan, Due 2015 [Member]
USD ($)
|
Dec. 31, 2010
Term Loan [Member]
Senior Term Loan, Due 2015 [Member]
USD ($)
|
Dec. 31, 2011
Revolving Line of Credit [Member]
Revolver [Member]
USD ($)
|
Dec. 31, 2011
Revolving Line of Credit [Member]
Revolver [Member]
Minimum [Member]
|
Dec. 31, 2011
Revolving Line of Credit [Member]
Revolver [Member]
Maximum [Member]
|
Dec. 31, 2011
Senior Credit Facility [Member]
Senior Term Loan, Due 2015 [Member]
USD ($)
|
Dec. 31, 2011
Additional Paid-in Capital [Member]
Convertible Notes Payable [Member]
Convertible Notes, Due 2018 [Member]
USD ($)
|
Dec. 31, 2011
Carrying Amount, Deferred Financing Fees [Member]
Convertible Notes Payable [Member]
Convertible Notes, Due 2018 [Member]
USD ($)
|
Dec. 31, 2011
Chart Ferox [Member]
Facility 2 [Member]
|
Dec. 31, 2011
Flow Instruments And Engineering Gmbh [Member]
EUR (€)
lines_of_credit
|
Dec. 31, 2011
Bonding/Guarantee Facility [Member]
Chart Cryogenic Engineering Systems Co., Ltd. [Member]
Foreign Facilities [Member]
CNY
|
Dec. 31, 2011
Revolving Line of Credit [Member]
Chart Cryogenic Engineering Systems Co., Ltd. [Member]
Foreign Facilities [Member]
CNY
|
Dec. 31, 2011
Overdraft Facility [Member]
Chart Cryogenic Engineering Systems Co., Ltd. [Member]
Foreign Facilities [Member]
CNY
|
Dec. 31, 2011
Line of Credit [Member]
Chart Cryogenic Engineering Systems Co., Ltd. [Member]
Foreign Facilities [Member]
USD ($)
|
Dec. 31, 2011
Line of Credit [Member]
Chart Ferox [Member]
CZK
creditfacilities
|
Dec. 31, 2011
Line of Credit [Member]
Chart Ferox [Member]
Facility 1 [Member]
USD ($)
|
|
| Debt Instrument [Line Items] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Gross amount of long-term debt | $ 174,474,000 | $ 0 | $ 0 | $ 163,175,000 | $ 55,250,000 | $ 61,750,000 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Short-term debt | 4,758,000 | 0 | 4,758,000 | 0 | 4,758,000 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Components of the Company's borrowings | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total debt | 234,482,000 | 224,925,000 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Less: current maturities | (11,258,000) | (6,500,000) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Long-term debt | 223,224,000 | 218,425,000 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Aggregate principal amount of debt | 250,000,000 | 250,000,000 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Proceeds from issuance of debt | 242,700,000 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Stated interest rate | 2.00% | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Minimum percentage of conversion price of Convertible Notes on each trading day | 130.00% | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Convertible Notes principal amount denominator for trading price | 1,000,000 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Unamortized discount | (75,526,000) | (75,526,000) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Maximum allowable percentage of the product of the last reported sale price of Common Stock and coversion rate for Convertible Notes Payable | 97.00% | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Number of common shares convertible | 14.4865 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Conversion price per share | $ 69.03 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Percent of the principal amount of the Convertible Notes plus accrued interest to be purchased by the Company subject to Company undergoing a fundamental change | 100.00% | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Minimum holding percentage of convertible notes payable required to declare Convertible Notes to be due and payable in events of default | 25.00% | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Percent of Convertible Notes declarable as due and payable in certain events of default | 100.00% | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Number of shares of convertible debt hedged and capped call | 3,622 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Convertible Notes payment call options and capped call transactions | 66,486,000 | 0 | 0 | (66,486,000) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Initial cap price of the call transactions and the strike price of warrant transactions | $ 84.96 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Proceeds from issuance of warrants | 48,848,000 | 0 | 0 | 48,848,000 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Net cost of Convertible Note Hedge and all capped transactions | 17,638,000 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Liability component of Convertible Notes before present value calculation | 170,885,000 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Carrying value of equity component | 79,115,000 | 79,115,000 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Percentage used as debt rate for present value of cash flows | 7.90% | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Interest expense for the Convertible Notes | 5,672,000 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Debt instrument interest expense excluding non-cash accretion expense | 2,083,000 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Interest accretion of convertible notes discount | 3,589,000 | 0 | 0 | 3,589,000 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Carrying amount of deferred financing fees | (7,277,000) | (2,303,000) | (4,974,000) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Principal amount of liability component | 250,000,000 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Carrying value of liability component | 174,474,000 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Number of years to maturity | 5 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Maximum borrowing capicity of line of credit facility | 200,000,000 | 65,000,000 | 135,000,000 | 320,000 | 30,000,000 | 60,000,000 | 10,000,000 | 175,000,000 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Number of Credit Facilities Maintained | 2 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Deferred financing fees written off due to refinancing | 2,969,000 | 1,706,000 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sub-limit for issuance of swingline loans | 25,000,000 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sub-limit for letters of credit | 50,000,000 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Maximum amount for foreign currency denominated letters of credit and borrowings | 40,000,000 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Maximum amount of permitable subsidiary borrowings | 40,000,000 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Periodic payment of debt instrument | 1,625,000 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Percentage in excess of federal funds rate related to election of ABR borrowing | 0.50% | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Percentage in excess of LIBOR rate related to election of ABR borrowing | 1.00% | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Commitment fee percentage | 0.30% | 0.50% | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Applicable Margin for Eurocurrency Revolving Facility Borrowings | 2.00% | 3.50% | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Fronting fee percentage charged for issuance of letters of credit | 0.125% | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Maximum percentage of capital stock guaranteed by company's material Non-U.S. subsidiaries for obligations under the Senior Credit Facility | 65.00% | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Amount of extinguished debt | 163,175,000 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Subordinated notes redemption price percentage of principal | 103.042% | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Remption price of Subordinated Notes principal amount plus accrued and unpaid interest | 175,600,000 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Call premium in conjunction with redemption of Subordinated Notes | 4,964,000 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Amount of letters of credit outstanding | 35,875,000 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Amount of line of credit facility outstanding | 0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Number of lines of credit maintained by Flow | 2 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Letter of credit and guarantee fees percentage of face amount for maturities up to one year | 0.70% | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Letter of credit and guarantee fees percentage of face amount for maturities between one and three years | 0.80% | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Letter of credit and guarantee fees percentage of face amount for maturities between three and five years | 1.20% | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Letter of credit and guarantee fees percentage of face amount for all maturities | 0.70% | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Bank guarantees supported by credit facilities | 2,248,000 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Maturities of Long-term Debt [Abstract] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2012 | 11,258,000 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2013 | 6,500,000 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2014 | 6,500,000 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2015 | 35,750,000 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2016 | 0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Thereafter | 250,000,000 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total | 310,008,000 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Interest paid | 16,608,000 | 16,774,000 | 16,820,000 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Fair value of debt instrument | $ 45,426,000 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weighted average interest rate of debt | 2.73% | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Effective interest rate of debt | 7.90% | 9.125% | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Minimum trading days required during thirty consecutive trading days where last reported sales price is at least 130 percent of conversion price | 20 days | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Maximum days after any five trading day period in which trading price was less than 97 percent of last reported sale price of Common Stock times conversion rate | 5 days | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Revolving line of credit time to maturity | 12 months | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||