General (Text Block)	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2016
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements Disclosure [Text Block]	General Colfax Corporation (the “Company” or “Colfax”) is a diversified global industrial manufacturing and engineering company that provides gas- and fluid-handling and fabrication technology products and services to customers around the world principally under the Howden, ESAB and Colfax Fluid Handling brand names. The Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements included in this quarterly report have been prepared by the Company in accordance with the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) and accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) for interim financial statements. The Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet as of December 31, 2015 is derived from the Company’s audited financial statements. Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with GAAP have been omitted in accordance with the SEC’s rules and regulations for interim financial statements. The Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements included herein should be read in conjunction with the audited financial statements and related footnotes included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015 (the “2015 Form 10-K”), filed with the SEC on February 16, 2016. The Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements reflect, in the opinion of management, all adjustments, which consist solely of normal recurring adjustments, necessary to present fairly the Company’s financial position and results of operations as of and for the periods indicated. Significant intercompany transactions and accounts are eliminated in consolidation. During the three months ended September 30, 2016, the Company determined that an other-than-temporary lack of exchangeability between the Venezuelan bolivar and U.S. dollar, due to government controls, has restricted the Company’s Venezuelan operations ability to pay dividends and satisfy other obligations denominated in U.S. dollars. In addition, other government-imposed restrictions affecting labor, production, and distribution are prohibiting the Company from controlling key operating decisions. These circumstances have caused the Company to no longer meet the accounting criteria of control in order to continue consolidating its Venezuelan operations. Therefore, the Company has deconsolidated the financial statements of its Venezuelan operations as of September 30, 2016. As a result of the deconsolidation, the Company recorded a charge of $2.4 million in Selling, general and administrative expense for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016, substantially all of which related to accumulated foreign currency translation charges previously included in Accumulated other comprehensive loss. Due to loss of control, the Company has applied the cost method of accounting for its Venezuelan operations as of September 30, 2016. The Company’s Venezuelan operations represented less than 1% of the Company’s net assets, revenues and operating income for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016. The Company makes certain estimates and assumptions in preparing its Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements in accordance with GAAP. These estimates and assumptions affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses for the periods presented. Actual results may differ from those estimates. The results of operations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016 are not necessarily indicative of the results of operations that may be achieved for the full year. Quarterly results are affected by seasonal variations in the Company’s business. Historically, our gas- and fluid-handling shipments have peaked during the fourth quarter. Also, all of our European operations typically experience a slowdown during the July and August and December holiday seasons. General economic conditions may, however, impact future seasonal variations.

General

Colfax Corporation (the “Company” or “Colfax”) is a diversified global industrial manufacturing and engineering company that provides gas- and fluid-handling and fabrication technology products and services to customers around the world principally under the Howden, ESAB and Colfax Fluid Handling brand names.

The Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements included in this quarterly report have been prepared by the Company in accordance with the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) and accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) for interim financial statements.

The Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet as of December 31, 2015 is derived from the Company’s audited financial statements. Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with GAAP have been omitted in accordance with the SEC’s rules and regulations for interim financial statements. The Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements included herein should be read in conjunction with the audited financial statements and related footnotes included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015 (the “2015 Form 10-K”), filed with the SEC on February 16, 2016.

The Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements reflect, in the opinion of management, all adjustments, which consist solely of normal recurring adjustments, necessary to present fairly the Company’s financial position and results of operations as of and for the periods indicated. Significant intercompany transactions and accounts are eliminated in consolidation.

During the three months ended September 30, 2016, the Company determined that an other-than-temporary lack of exchangeability between the Venezuelan bolivar and U.S. dollar, due to government controls, has restricted the Company’s Venezuelan operations ability to pay dividends and satisfy other obligations denominated in U.S. dollars. In addition, other government-imposed restrictions affecting labor, production, and distribution are prohibiting the Company from controlling key operating decisions. These circumstances have caused the Company to no longer meet the accounting criteria of control in order to continue consolidating its Venezuelan operations. Therefore, the Company has deconsolidated the financial statements of its Venezuelan operations as of September 30, 2016. As a result of the deconsolidation, the Company recorded a charge of $2.4 million in Selling, general and administrative expense for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016, substantially all of which related to accumulated foreign currency translation charges previously included in Accumulated other comprehensive loss. Due to loss of control, the Company has applied the cost method of accounting for its Venezuelan operations as of September 30, 2016. The Company’s Venezuelan operations represented less than 1% of the Company’s net assets, revenues and operating income for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016.

The Company makes certain estimates and assumptions in preparing its Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements in accordance with GAAP. These estimates and assumptions affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses for the periods presented. Actual results may differ from those estimates.

The results of operations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016 are not necessarily indicative of the results of operations that may be achieved for the full year. Quarterly results are affected by seasonal variations in the Company’s business. Historically, our gas- and fluid-handling shipments have peaked during the fourth quarter. Also, all of our European operations typically experience a slowdown during the July and August and December holiday seasons. General economic conditions may, however, impact future seasonal variations.