De Laval Steam Turbine

De Laval Steam Turbine History of Asbestos Use

The first American De Laval Steam Turbine plant was opened in Trenton, New Jersey, in 1901. In December 1900, the company placed an ad in the paper for experienced mechanics for a plant opening in May. Soon after its opening, the plant was fully functional and producing turbines, pumps, gears, compressors and other high-speed equipment.

De Laval Steam Turbine was recognized as one of the top manufacturers of these materials and saw considerable growth during World War I. The company was one of the main suppliers of power-generating equipment for over 70 Navy vessels. While De Laval had to downsize following the war and through the Great Depression, the company saw a similar boost during World War II and once again expanded its operations.

Unfortunately, throughout this time of growth, the company was incorporating asbestos fibers into their pumps and other ship equipment. From the 1930s to the 1970s, asbestos use in the United States grew exponentially, particularly in industries that required products and goods that could sustain high heat, fire and chemical reactions. All of the products De Laval was producing faced high-heat environments, and the company relied on asbestos to make their goods reliable and durable.

Until the 1960s, product catalogs show that De Laval Steam Turbine continued to use asbestos in their production. The company hit hard financial times around this period, as demand for shipbuilding decreased significantly, and they looked for a partner to buy a 70% share. In 1964, Transamerica Corporation, an insurance company that was branching into other industries, acquired De Laval.

De Laval Steam Turbine Becomes IMO Industries

After the acquisition, De Laval had a growth period from the 1970s to the 1980s. In 1986, the company rebranded itself as IMO industries, an independent company. But by 1992, IMO faced citations from the Environmental Protection Agency for hazardous waste at several locations.

During this time period, former employees began filing asbestos exposure lawsuits against IMO/De Laval. More than 7,000 cases claim IMO/De Laval products caused asbestos diseases. The company still faces asbestos litigation today.

In the transition from De Laval to IMO Industries, all asbestos liabilities fell to IMO. The company has not set up an asbestos trust. Instead IMO pays out lawsuit verdicts directly or through insurance. This remains true even though IMO was acquired by II Acquisition Corporation in 1997.

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De Laval Steam Turbine Asbestos Products

De Laval was part of an industry that was notorious for asbestos use. Steam turbines generate high temperatures, so using asbestos insulation on the parts was a way to control temperature and prevent fires.

Shipyards and shipbuilding also utilized large amounts of asbestos because of products from an array of manufacturers, including De Laval Steam Turbine. Reports estimate that some shipyards used upwards of 500,000 pounds of asbestos every month.

De Laval Steam Turbine products that may have contained asbestos or asbestos-containing parts include, but are not limited to:

• De Laval Main Feed Booster Pump
• Centrifugal pump packaging

De Laval Steam Turbine and Occupational Exposure

De Laval employed more than 2,000 people in their various plants during their periods of growth. Workers from other companies also risked exposure when working with De Laval parts on ships and in shipyards. Because the company’s turbines were so popular for Naval vessels, particularly destroyers and carrier ships, thousands of Navy veterans also were exposed to asbestos during their time of service.

Have A Question About Asbestos Exposure and De Laval Steam Turbine? Ask experienced mesothelioma advocate Jennifer Lucarelli Ask a Question

Asbestos Litigation Against De Laval Steam Turbine

By 1992, De Laval Steam Turbine was named as a defendant in 7,000 pending asbestos-related lawsuits and had already settled a number of claims in the years prior. Because of the asbestos litigation filtering in against them, the company could not overcome their financial difficulties and was acquired by II Acquisition Corporation in 1997.

Since its acquisition, De Laval is still frequently named in mesothelioma and asbestos lawsuits. The company purchased insurance worth $1.85 billion to cover its litigation expenses and defense costs for asbestos claims. In an insurance lawsuit brought forward by IMO Industries seeking better coverage, court documents showed that their insurance company, TIG Insurance Company, spent over $72 million on asbestos litigation between 1986 and 2014.

Prior to 1986, the document revealed IMO had spent around $33 million on such costs. The company relied on a number of insurance policies to help cover these costs. In 2003, insurance company Aetna noted paying over $15 million for these expenses and told IMO that the policy coverage was exhausted.

IMO and its parent company still bear the responsibility for any pending or future litigation related to De Laval. If you have an asbestos illness caused by exposure at IMO/De Laval, learn how a mesothelioma lawyer can help.