Pension and other postretirement benefits - amounts recognized in accumulated other comprehensive (income) loss (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Defined Benefit Plan, Chance in Amounts Recognized in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance, accumulated other comprehensive (income) loss, net of tax	$ 110,855	$ 132,048
Impact of currency translation, accumulated other comprehensive (income) loss, net of tax	105,410	9,637	(13,071)
Ending balance, accumulated other comprehensive (income) loss, net of tax	260,895	110,855	132,048
Pension
Defined Benefit Plan, Chance in Amounts Recognized in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance, prior service cost (credit)	182	216
Net Amortization and deferral	(34)	(34)
Actuarial gain (loss) obligation, prior service cost (credit)	0	0
Impact of currency translation, prior service cost (credit)	0	0
Ending balance, prior service cost (credit)	148	182
Beginning balance, net (gain) or loss	144,684	186,700
Net amortization and deferral, net (gain) or loss	(4,337)	(5,813)
Actuarial changes in benefit obligation, net gain (loss)	73,596	(36,446)
Impact of currency translation, net (gain) or loss	(974)	243
Ending balance, net (gain) or loss	212,969	144,684
Beginning balance, deferred taxes	(52,480)	(67,567)
Net amortization and deferral, deferred taxes	1,539	1,947
Actuarial changes in benefit obligation, deferred taxes	(26,131)	13,206
Impact of currency translation, deferred taxes	265	(66)
Ending balance, deferred taxes	(76,807)	(52,480)
Beginning balance, accumulated other comprehensive (income) loss, net of tax	92,386	119,349
Net amortization and deferral, accumulated other comprehensive (income) loss, net of tax	(2,832)	(3,900)
Actuarial changes in benefit obligation, accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	47,465	(23,240)
Impact of currency translation, accumulated other comprehensive (income) loss, net of tax	(709)	177
Ending balance, accumulated other comprehensive (income) loss, net of tax	136,310	92,386
Other Benefits
Defined Benefit Plan, Chance in Amounts Recognized in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance, prior service cost (credit)	17	(38)
Net Amortization and deferral	55	55
Actuarial gain (loss) obligation, prior service cost (credit)	0	0
Ending balance, prior service cost (credit)	72	17
Beginning balance, net (gain) or loss	7,056	12,287
Net amortization and deferral, net (gain) or loss	(48)	(1,398)
Actuarial changes in benefit obligation, net gain (loss)	1,273	(3,833)
Ending balance, net (gain) or loss	8,281	7,056
Beginning balance, deferred taxes	(2,422)	(4,346)
Net amortization and deferral, deferred taxes	(4)	492
Actuarial changes in benefit obligation, deferred taxes	(493)	1,432
Ending balance, deferred taxes	(2,919)	(2,422)
Beginning balance, accumulated other comprehensive (income) loss, net of tax	4,651	7,908
Net amortization and deferral, accumulated other comprehensive (income) loss, net of tax	(3)	856
Actuarial changes in benefit obligation, accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	780	(2,401)
Ending balance, accumulated other comprehensive (income) loss, net of tax	5,434	4,651
Beginning balance, gain (loss) initial obligation	0	5
Net amortization and deferral, initial obligation	0	(5)
Actuarial changes in benefit obligation, initial obligation	0	0
Ending balance, gain (loss) initial obligation	$ 0	$ 0

Actuarial changes in benefit obligation accumulated other comprehensive income loss net of tax.

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- Definition

Actuarial changes in benefit obligation deferred taxes

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Actuarial changes in benefit obligation net gain (loss)

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- Definition

Amortization Of Accumulated Actuarial Gains Or Losses And Transition Obligations Pension

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- Definition

Defined benefit plan accumulated other comprehensive income pension liability before tax.

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- Definition

Defined Benefit Plan Actuarial Net Gain (Loss) And Prior Service Costs

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Defined Benefit Plan Amortization Of Deferred Taxes

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- Definition

Defined Benefit Plan Amortization Of Initial Obligation

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Defined benefit plan, amounts recognized in other comprehensive income (loss), initial obligation.

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- Definition

Impact of currency translation prior service cost credit

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Accumulated change in equity from transactions and other events and circumstances from non-owner sources, net of tax effect, at period end. Excludes Net Income (Loss), and accumulated changes in equity from transactions resulting from investments by owners and distributions to owners. Includes foreign currency translation items, certain pension adjustments, unrealized gains and losses on certain investments in debt and equity securities, other than temporary impairment (OTTI) losses related to factors other than credit losses on available-for-sale and held-to-maturity debt securities that an entity does not intend to sell and it is not more likely than not that the entity will be required to sell before recovery of the amortized cost basis, as well as changes in the fair value of derivatives related to the effective portion of a designated cash flow hedge.

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The pretax net amount of gains and losses that are not yet recognized as a component of net periodic benefit cost, and that are recognized as increases or decreases in other comprehensive income as they arise. Gains and losses are due to changes in the value of either the benefit obligation or the plan assets resulting from experience different from that assumed or from a change in an actuarial assumption, or the consequence of a decision to temporarily deviate from the substantive plan.

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Amount related to the pretax cost of benefit changes attributable to plan participants' prior service pursuant to a plan amendment or a plan initiation, which has not yet been recognized as components of net periodic benefit cost.

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Amount included in accumulated other comprehensive income (AOCI) expected to be recognized as components of net periodic benefit cost for the fiscal year that follows the most recent annual statement of financial position, including gain (loss), prior service cost (credit), and transition asset (obligation).

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Amount included in accumulated other comprehensive income (AOCI) related to gain (loss) expected to be recognized as components of net periodic benefit cost for the fiscal year that follows the most recent annual statement of financial position.

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Amount included in accumulated other comprehensive income (AOCI) related to prior service cost (credit) expected to be recognized as components of net periodic benefit cost for the fiscal year that follows the most recent annual statement of financial position.

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- Definition

Amount before tax and reclassification adjustments of gain (loss) on foreign currency translation adjustments, foreign currency transactions designated and effective as economic hedges of a net investment in a foreign entity and intra-entity foreign currency transactions that are of a long-term-investment nature.

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Amount of tax expense (benefit), before reclassification adjustments of gain (loss) on foreign currency translation adjustments, foreign currency transactions designated and effective as economic hedges of a net investment in a foreign entity and intra-entity foreign currency transactions that are of a long-term-investment nature.

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Amount after tax and reclassification adjustments of gain (loss) on foreign currency translation adjustments, foreign currency transactions designated and effective as economic hedges of a net investment in a foreign entity and intra-entity foreign currency transactions that are of a long-term-investment nature.

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