v2.4.0.6
Schedule of Financial Data for Company Reportable Business Segments and Product Lines (Detail) (USD $)
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
 3 Months Ended 12 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2013
Dec. 30, 2012
Sep. 30, 2012
Jul. 01, 2012
Mar. 31, 2012
Jan. 01, 2012
Oct. 02, 2011
Jul. 03, 2011
Mar. 31, 2013
Mar. 31, 2012
Mar. 31, 2011
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]                      
Total net sales $ 572,117 $ 557,320 $ 554,212 $ 593,910 $ 592,754 $ 574,246 $ 547,140 $ 569,229 $ 2,277,559 $ 2,283,369 $ 1,964,462
Total intersegment sales                 145,047 [1] 134,949 [1] 119,076 [1]
Net sales revenue by services                 2,277,559 2,283,369 1,964,462
Total operating earnings 56,991 [2] 59,737 [2] 62,885 [2] 70,255 [2] 65,879 [3] 53,777 [3] 42,440 [3] 48,715 [3] 249,868 [2],[4] 210,811 [3],[4] 183,814 [4]
Restructuring charges (1,723) (3,776) (1,295) (370) (2,236) (1,440) (902) (410) (7,164) (4,988) (6,813)
Property, plant, and equipment, net 350,126       353,215       350,126 353,215 344,385
Capital Expenditures                 55,286 48,943 59,940
Depreciation and amortization                 50,502 50,360 44,393
Reserve Power
                      
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]                      
Net sales revenue by services                 1,118,965 1,092,734 970,480
Motive Power
                      
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]                      
Net sales revenue by services                 1,158,594 1,190,635 993,982
Europe
                      
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]                      
Total net sales                 926,165 995,431 890,313
Total intersegment sales                 76,947 75,652 55,586
Total operating earnings                 64,032 63,872 55,643
Restructuring charges                 (4,473) (4,988) (6,813)
Property, plant, and equipment, net 152,577       161,854       152,577 161,854 169,056
Capital Expenditures                 20,761 21,631 22,034
Depreciation and amortization                 22,255 25,451 21,564
Europe | Legal Settlement
                      
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]                      
Bargain purchase gain                   900  
Americas
                      
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]                      
Total net sales                 1,126,904 1,082,747 896,629
Total intersegment sales                 36,854 38,115 42,141
Total operating earnings                 171,854 138,894 124,515
Property, plant, and equipment, net 152,678       144,701       152,678 144,701 142,263
Capital Expenditures                 29,566 20,862 22,368
Depreciation and amortization                 23,073 21,466 19,842
Asia
                      
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]                      
Total net sales                 224,490 205,191 177,520
Total intersegment sales                 31,246 21,182 21,349
Total operating earnings                 21,146 12,133 10,469
Restructuring charges                 (2,691)    
Property, plant, and equipment, net 44,871       46,660       44,871 46,660 33,066
Capital Expenditures                 4,959 6,450 15,538
Depreciation and amortization                 $ 5,174 $ 3,443 $ 2,987
[1] Intersegment sales are presented on a cost-plus basis which takes into consideration the effect of transfer prices between legal entities.
[2] Included in Operating earnings were restructuring charges of $370, $1,295, $3,776 and $1,723 for the first, second, third and fourth quarters of fiscal 2013, respectively.
[3] Included in Operating earnings were restructuring charges of $410, $902, $1,440 and $2,236 for the first, second, third and fourth quarters of fiscal 2012, respectively. Operating earnings also included a legal proceedings settlement income of $900, in the second quarter of fiscal 2012.
[4] The Company does not allocate interest expense or other (income) expense to the reportable segments.