Segment Reporting [Abstract] Schedule of Segment Reporting Information, by Segment [Table] Schedule of Segment Reporting Information, by Segment [Table] Statement, Business Segments [Axis] Statement, Business Segments [Axis] Segment [Domain] Segment [Domain] Electronics Marketing [Member] Electronics Marketing [Member] Electronics marketing. Technology Solutions [Member] Technology Solutions [Member] Technology solutions. Corporate [Member] Corporate Elimination [Member] Statement, Geographical [Axis] Statement, Geographical [Axis] Segment, Geographical [Domain] Segment, Geographical [Domain] Americas [Member] Americas [Member] Americas [Member] EMEA [Member] EMEA [Member] EMEA [Member] Asia/Pacific [Member] Asia Pacific [Member] Asia/Pacific. Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] Sales and services providing by the company Schedule Of Segment Reporting Information By Segment [Abstract] Schedule of Segment Reporting Information by Segment. Sales: Segment Reporting Information Sales Revenue Net [Abstract] Segment Reporting Information Sales Revenue, Net. Sales Revenue, Net Operating income (loss): Segment Reporting Information, Operating Income (Loss) [Abstract] Operating income (loss) Before restructuring Charges Operating Income Loss Before Restructuring Charges Operating income (loss) Before restructuring Charges. Restructuring, integration and other charges (Note 13) Restructuring Integration And Other Charges The amount charged against earnings in the period for incurred and estimated costs associated with exit from or disposal of business activities or restructurings pursuant to a duly authorized plan, and other charges. Operating Income (Loss) Operating Income (Loss) Sales, by geographic area: Geographic Areas, Revenues from External Customers [Abstract] Assets: Segment Reporting Information Assets [Abstract] Segment Reporting Information Assets. Assets Assets Property, plant and equipment, net, by geographic area Geographic Areas, Long-Lived Assets [Abstract] Property, plant and equipment, net Property, Plant and Equipment, Net Sales and services provided by the company Schedule of Segment Reporting Information, by Segment [Table Text Block] Goodwill and Intangible Assets Disclosure [Abstract] Carrying amount of goodwill, by reportable segment Schedule of Goodwill [Table Text Block] Goodwill and accumulated Impairment Goodwill Impaired Accumulated Impairment Loss [Table Text Block] Goodwill impaired accumulated impairment loss. Compensation and Retirement Disclosure [Abstract] Pension plan Pension and Other Postretirement Benefits Disclosure [Text Block] Earnings Per Share [Abstract] Earnings per share Earnings Per Share [Text Block] Basic earnings per share calculation Schedule of Calculation of Numerator and Denominator in Earnings Per Share [Table Text Block] Equity [Abstract] Comprehensive income Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Attributable to Parent [Abstract] Net income Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Parent Foreign currency translation adjustments Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Foreign Currency Transaction and Translation Adjustment, Net of Tax Total comprehensive income Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Attributable to Parent Shareholders' equity (Textuals) [Abstract] Shareholders Equity (Textuals) [Abstract] Shareholders' equity. Authorized repurchase of common stock under Share Repurchase Program Stock Repurchase Program, Authorized Amount Shares repurchased during period Stock Repurchased and Retired During Period, Shares Average market price per shares repurchased during period Treasury Stock Acquired, Average Cost Per Share Cost of repurchase Stock Repurchased During Period, Value Restructuring and Related Activities [Abstract] Schedule of Restructuring and Related Costs [Table] Schedule of Restructuring and Related Costs [Table] Report Date [Axis] Report Date [Axis] Financial Statements Date [Domain] Financial Statements Date [Domain] Fiscal Year 2012 [Member] Fiscal Year 2012 [Member] Fiscal Year 2011 [Member] Fiscal 2011. Fiscal 2010 And Prior [Member] Fiscal 2010 and prior. EM [Member] EM [Member] TS [Member] TS [Member] Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items] Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items] Restructuring and Related Cost, Number of Positions Eliminated Restructuring and Related Cost, Number of Positions Eliminated Restructuring And Related Costs Number Of facilities Vacated Restructuring And Related Costs Number Of facilities Vacated Restructuring And Related Costs Number Of facilities Vacated. Restructuring Charges Restructuring Charges Restructuring, integration and other charges (Textuals) [Abstract] Restructuring Integration And Other Charges (Textuals) [Abstract] Restructuring, integration and other charges. Remaining number of restructuring plans Number Of Restructuring Plans Remaining Number of restructuring plans remaining. Debt Disclosure [Abstract] Schedule of Long-term Debt Instruments [Table] Schedule of Long-term Debt Instruments [Table] Long-term Debt, Type [Axis] Long-term Debt, Type [Axis] Long-term Debt, Type [Domain] Long-term Debt, Type [Domain] 5.875% Notes due March 15, 2014 [Member] Notes Due 2014 Member Notes due 2014. 6.00% Notes due September 1, 2015 [Member] Notes Due 2015 Member Notes due 2015. 6.625% Notes due September 15, 2016 [Member] Notes Due 2016 Member Notes due 2016. 5.875% Notes due June 15, 2020 [Member] Notes Due 2020 Member Notes due 2020. Debt Instrument [Line Items] Components of long-term debt Long-term Debt, Excluding Current Maturities [Abstract] Senior notes Long-term Debt, Gross Other long-term debt Other Long-term Debt, Noncurrent Subtotal Long Term Debt Noncurrent Before Discount On Notes Long term debt noncurrent before discount on notes. Discount on notes Debt Instrument, Unamortized Discount Long-term debt Long-term Debt, Excluding Current Maturities Income Statement [Abstract] Cost of sales Cost of Revenue Gross profit Gross Profit Selling, general and administrative expenses Selling, General and Administrative Expense Restructuring, integration and other charges (Note 13) Other income (expense), net Other Nonoperating Income (Expense) Interest expense Interest Expense Gain on bargain purchase and other Business Combination Bargain Purchase Gain Recognized Amount And Other A business combination where the amount of net identifiable assets acquired and liabilities assumed exceeds the aggregate consideration transferred or to be transferred, this element represents the amount of gain recognized by the entity and off set by other losses. Income before income taxes Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations before Equity Method Investments, Income Taxes, Extraordinary Items, Noncontrolling Interest Income tax provision Income Tax Expense (Benefit) Net income Net earnings per share (Note 10): Basic Earnings Per Share, Basic Diluted Earnings Per Share, Diluted Shares used to compute earnings per share (Note 10): Weighted Average Number of Shares Outstanding, Diluted [Abstract] Basic Weighted Average Number of Shares Outstanding, Basic Diluted Weighted Average Number of Shares Outstanding, Diluted External financing Debt Disclosure [Text Block] Additional Cash Flow Elements and Supplemental Cash Flow Information [Abstract] Additional cash flow information Cash Flow, Supplemental Disclosures [Text Block] Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract] Income taxes (Textuals) [Abstract] Income Taxes (Textuals) [Abstract] Income taxes. Effective tax rate Effective Income Tax Rate, Continuing Operations Income tax adjustment Income Tax Adjustments Related To Write Off Of Deferred Tax Assets Acquisitions Net Income tax adjustments related to write off of deferred tax assets acquisitions net. Components of short-term debt Schedule of Short-term Debt [Table Text Block] Components of long-term debt Schedule of Long-term Debt Instruments [Table Text Block] United States [Member] UNITED STATES Germany [Member] GERMANY United kingdom [Member] UNITED KINGDOM Taiwan [Member] TAIWAN, PROVINCE OF CHINA China [Member] CHINA Singapore [Member] SINGAPORE Belgium [Member] BELGIUM Basic earnings per share calculation Earnings Per Share Reconciliation [Abstract] Numerator: Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Parent [Abstract] Denominator: Weighted average common shares for basic earnings per share Net effect of dilutive stock options and performance share awards Incremental Common Shares Attributable to Share-based Payment Arrangements Weighted average common shares for diluted earnings per share Basic earnings per share Diluted earnings per share Earnings per share (Textuals) [Abstract] Earnings Per Share (Textuals) [Abstract] Earnings per share. Antidilutive shares Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share, Amount Goodwill and intangible assets (Textuals) [Abstract] Goodwill And Intangible Assets (Textuals) [Abstract] Goodwill and intangible assets. Customer relationship and trade name intangible assets acquired Intangible Assets, Net (Excluding Goodwill) Intangible assets carrying value Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Net Intangible assets original cost value Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Gross Accumulated amortization and foreign currency translation Finite Lived Intangible Assets Accumulated Amortization And Foreign Currency Translation Finite lived intangible assets accumulated amortization and foreign currency translation. Weighted average life of intangible assets Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Weighted-Average Useful Life Intangible asset amortization expense Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Amortization Expense Amortization expense year one Future Amortization Expense, Year One Amortization expense year two Future Amortization Expense, Year Two Amortization expense year three Future Amortization Expense, Year Three Amortization expense year four Future Amortization Expense, Year Four Amortization expense year five Future Amortization Expense, Year Five Schedule of Goodwill [Table] Schedule of Goodwill [Table] Goodwill [Line Items] Goodwill [Line Items] Components of short-term debt Short-term Debt [Abstract] Bank credit facilities Short-term Bank Loans and Notes Payable Borrowings under the accounts receivable securitization program Accounts receivable securitization program, borrowings outstanding Accounts receivable securitization program, borrowings outstanding. Other debt due within one year Other Long-term Debt, Current Short-term debt Short-term Debt Goodwill and intangible assets Goodwill and Intangible Assets Disclosure [Text Block] Components of net periodic pension costs Schedule of Net Benefit Costs [Table Text Block] Restructuring, integration and other charges Restructuring and Related Activities Disclosure [Text Block] Short-term Debt, Type [Axis] Short-term Debt, Type [Domain] Bank Credit Facilities [Member] Bank credit facilities. Accounts Receivable Securitization Program [Member] Accounts receivable securitization program. Credit Agreement [Member] Credit Agreement Member Credit agreement. Debt Instrument [Line Items] Weighted average interest rate on bank credit facilities Bank Credit Facilities Weighted Average Interest Rate Bank credit facilities weighted average interest rate. Accounts receivable securitization program maximum borrowing amount Accounts Receivable Securitization Program Maximum Borrowing Amount Accounts receivable securitization program maximum borrowing amount. Accounts Receivable Securitization Loan Program Term Accounts Receivable Securitization Loan Program Term Accounts Receivable securitization program, expiration date Accounts Receivable securitization program expiration date Accounts Receivable securitization program expiration date. Interest on borrowings Debt Instrument, Basis Spread on Variable Rate Program facility fee Accounts Receivable Securitization Program Facility Fees The fees associated with the Company's accounts receivable securitization program facility. Line of Credit Facility Term Line of Credit Facility Term Unsecured revolving credit facility Line of Credit Facility, Maximum Borrowing Capacity Line of credit facility expiration date Line of Credit Facility, Expiration Date Unsecured revolving credit facility Line of Credit Facility, Amount Outstanding Letters of credit outstanding, amount Letters of Credit Outstanding, Amount Terms on which interest on borrowings is calculated Debt Instrument, Interest Rate Terms Senior Notes interest rate Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage Company's debt, carrying value Debt and Capital Lease Obligations Company's debt, fair value Debt Instrument, Fair Value Disclosure Statement of Financial Position [Abstract] Statement [Table] Statement [Table] Statement, Scenario [Axis] Statement, Scenario [Axis] Scenario, Unspecified [Domain] Scenario, Unspecified [Domain] Class of Stock [Axis] Class of Stock [Axis] Class of Stock [Domain] Class of Stock [Domain] Statement [Line Items] Statement [Line Items] ASSETS Assets [Abstract] Current assets: Assets, Current [Abstract] Cash and cash equivalents Cash and Cash Equivalents, at Carrying Value Receivables, less allowances of $111,362 and $107,739, respectively Accounts Receivable, Net, Current Inventories Inventory, Net Prepaid and other current assets Other Assets, Current Total current assets Assets, Current Property, plant and equipment, net Goodwill (Notes 2 and 3) Goodwill Other assets Other Assets, Noncurrent Total assets LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY Liabilities and Equity [Abstract] Current liabilities: Liabilities, Current [Abstract] Borrowings due within one year (Note 4) Accounts payable Accounts Payable, Current Accrued expenses and other Accrued Liabilities, Current Total current liabilities Liabilities, Current Long-term debt (Note 4) Other long-term liabilities Other Liabilities, Noncurrent Total liabilities Liabilities Commitments and contingencies (Note 6) Commitments and Contingencies Shareholders' equity (Notes 9 and 10): Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Parent [Abstract] Common stock $1.00 par; authorized 300,000,000 shares; issued 144,978,000 shares and 152,835,000 shares, respectively Common Stock, Value, Issued Additional paid-in capital Additional Paid in Capital, Common Stock Retained earnings Retained Earnings (Accumulated Deficit) Accumulated other comprehensive income (Note 9) Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax Treasury stock at cost, 37,835 shares and 37,802 shares, respectively Treasury Stock, Value Total shareholders' equity Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Parent