v2.4.0.6
Reporting Segments (Details) (USD $)
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
 3 Months Ended 12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2011
segments
Sep. 30, 2011
Jun. 30, 2011
Mar. 31, 2011
Dec. 31, 2010
Sep. 30, 2010
Jun. 30, 2010
Mar. 31, 2010
Dec. 31, 2011
segments
Dec. 31, 2010
Dec. 31, 2009
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]                      
Number of reportable segments 3               3    
Sales from external customers                 $ 794,585 $ 555,455 $ 597,458
Sales from external customers                 794,585 555,455 597,458
Depreciation and amortization expense                 27,915 23,577 21,412
Operating income (loss) 25,155 29,043 21,489 14,307 18,099 13,239 8,563 7,603 89,994 47,504 94,334
Total assets 1,174,475       954,839 [1],[2]       1,174,475 954,839 [1],[2] 926,503 [1],[3]
Capital expenditures                 22,380 16,939 13,190
Goodwill 288,770       275,252       288,770 275,252  
Reconciliation of the reportable segments' operating income to consolidated income before taxes and minority interest                      
Interest expense, net                 23,371 16,196 15,817
Amortization of deferred financing costs                 4,383 3,063 1,616
Gain on acquisition of business             (1,124)   0 (1,124) (6,954)
Foreign currency loss (gain)                 (734) 871 (687)
Income before income taxes and minority interest                 62,974 28,498 84,542
Sales                 794,585 555,455 597,458
Long-lived assets 576,846       548,743       576,846 548,743  
Energy & Chemicals [Member]
                      
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]                      
Sales from external customers                 205,033 137,801 255,074
Depreciation and amortization expense                 7,417 7,338 7,335
Operating income (loss)                 27,489 6,121 61,852
Total assets 203,067 [1],[4]       188,407 [1],[2]       203,067 [1],[4] 188,407 [1],[2] 205,482 [1],[3]
Capital expenditures                 5,228 973 2,707
Goodwill 83,215       83,215       83,215 83,215 83,215
Distribution & Storage [Member]
                      
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]                      
Sales from external customers                 390,332 269,293 252,197
Depreciation and amortization expense                 11,767 10,474 10,104
Operating income (loss)                 61,415 41,934 39,888
Total assets 556,688 [1],[4]       513,215 [1],[2]       556,688 [1],[4] 513,215 [1],[2] 486,620 [1],[3]
Capital expenditures                 7,808 8,563 7,168
Goodwill 158,381       148,010       158,381 148,010 144,290
BioMedical [Member]
                      
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]                      
Sales from external customers                 199,220 148,361 90,187
Depreciation and amortization expense                 7,588 5,197 3,591
Operating income (loss)                 35,911 30,698 15,912
Total assets 226,729 [1],[4]       227,138 [1],[2]       226,729 [1],[4] 227,138 [1],[2] 135,977 [1],[3]
Capital expenditures                 6,692 4,594 2,022
Goodwill 47,174       44,027       47,174 44,027 37,027
Corporate [Member]
                      
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]                      
Sales from external customers                 0 0 0
Depreciation and amortization expense                 1,143 568 382
Operating income (loss)                 (34,821) (31,249) (23,318)
Total assets 187,729 [1],[4]       26,079 [1],[2]       187,729 [1],[4] 26,079 [1],[2] 98,424 [1],[3]
Capital expenditures                 2,652 2,809 1,293
Medical respiratory products [Member] | BioMedical [Member]
                      
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]                      
Sales from external customers                 138,411 95,666 41,793
Biological storage systems [Member] | BioMedical [Member]
                      
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]                      
Sales from external customers                 60,809 52,695 43,966
BioMedical Segment - Other [Member] | BioMedical [Member]
                      
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]                      
Sales from external customers                 0 0 4,428
Cryogenic bulk storage systems [Member] | Distribution & Storage [Member]
                      
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]                      
Sales from external customers                 183,932 117,907 135,523
Cryogenic packaged gas systems and beverage liquid CO2 systems [Member] | Distribution & Storage [Member]
                      
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]                      
Sales from external customers                 147,526 103,129 80,278
Cryogenic systems and components [Member] | Distribution & Storage [Member]
                      
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]                      
Sales from external customers                 33,038 20,221 10,987
Cryogenic services [Member] | Distribution & Storage [Member]
                      
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]                      
Sales from external customers                 25,836 28,036 25,409
Heat exchangers [Member] | Energy & Chemicals [Member]
                      
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]                      
Sales from external customers                 158,975 113,313 172,374
Cold boxes and LNG VIP [Member] | Energy & Chemicals [Member]
                      
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]                      
Sales from external customers                 46,058 24,488 82,700
United States [Member]
                      
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]                      
Sales from external customers                 503,011 391,691 441,583
Reconciliation of the reportable segments' operating income to consolidated income before taxes and minority interest                      
Sales                 503,011 391,691 441,583
Long-lived assets 326,439       391,428       326,439 391,428  
Czech Republic [Member]
                      
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]                      
Sales from external customers                 87,285 72,486 79,865
Reconciliation of the reportable segments' operating income to consolidated income before taxes and minority interest                      
Sales                 87,285 72,486 79,865
Long-lived assets 78,921       86,680       78,921 86,680  
China [Member]
                      
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]                      
Sales from external customers                 71,752 45,203 28,641
Reconciliation of the reportable segments' operating income to consolidated income before taxes and minority interest                      
Sales                 71,752 45,203 28,641
Long-lived assets 73,469       69,243       73,469 69,243  
Germany [Member]
                      
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]                      
Sales from external customers                 122,001 0 0
Reconciliation of the reportable segments' operating income to consolidated income before taxes and minority interest                      
Sales                 122,001 0 0
Long-lived assets 95,932       0       95,932 0  
Other Non-U.S. Countries [Member]
                      
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]                      
Sales from external customers                 10,536 46,075 47,369
Reconciliation of the reportable segments' operating income to consolidated income before taxes and minority interest                      
Sales                 10,536 46,075 47,369
Long-lived assets $ 2,085       $ 1,392       $ 2,085 $ 1,392  
[1] Corporate assets at December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009 consist primarily of cash, cash equivalents, short term investments and deferred income taxes.
[2] Total assets at December 31, 2010 include goodwill of $83,215, $148,010 and $44,027 for the Energy and Chemicals, Distribution and Storage and BioMedical segments, respectively.
[3] Total assets at December 31, 2009 include goodwill of $83,215, $144,290 and $37,027 for the Energy and Chemicals, Distribution and Storage and BioMedical segments, respectively.
[4] Total assets at December 31, 2011 include goodwill of $83,215, $158,381 and $47,174 for the Energy and Chemicals, Distribution and Storage and BioMedical segments, respectively.