Hamilton Manufacturing Company
Hamilton Manufacturing Company has operated in many industries since the late 1800s. Some of its products, like fume hoods, were once commonly made with asbestos. Asbestos exposure from Hamilton products may lead to mesothelioma. People who develop this disease may file lawsuits for compensation.
Request a Free 2026 Asbestos and Mesothelioma Guide
Hamilton Manufacturing Company History of Asbestos Use
In 1880, James Edward Hamilton founded Hamilton Manufacturing Company (Hamilton) as a furniture manufacturing company. Over the years, it had many name changes and owners. For instance, it once operated as Hamilton Scientific and as a division under Thermo Fisher Scientific.
In 2015, Hamilton Laboratory Solutions LLC bought Hamilton Scientific. The company was renamed and currently operates as Hamilton Laboratory Solutions.
By the 1900s, Hamilton was manufacturing furniture and materials for many industries. Popular industries for its products included dentistry, steel printing and medical and scientific laboratories. In the 1980s, the company stopped selling every product line except those in the laboratory division.
For much of the 20th century, equipment and furniture produced for laboratories often contained asbestos. For instance, Hamilton has made fume hoods for laboratories for many years. Before the 1980s, companies that made these hoods frequently added asbestos for heat protection. Asbestos materials may also have been used throughout Hamilton manufacturing factories.
People may have been exposed to asbestos while manufacturing Hamilton products or by using its products in other workplaces. Asbestos exposure may lead to diseases like mesothelioma. Patients and their loved ones may be able to file lawsuits against the companies responsible for their exposure.
- Don't lose your rights
- Free case evaluation
- Help filing VA claims
- Treatment for Vets
- Provide for loved ones
- $30 billion set aside
Hamilton Manufacturing Company Asbestos Products
Hamilton has been associated with asbestos in multiple ways, including through affiliations with other companies. For example, the company’s ownership changed many times throughout its long history. Some companies that purchased it have since been named in lawsuits as asbestos companies. Involvement with these companies may indicate potential asbestos use by Hamilton.
Notably, the type of furniture and equipment Hamilton produced for many industries often contained asbestos. For instance, companies added asbestos to fume hoods for decades. Hamilton’s fume hoods have been popular for years, including at the height of U.S. asbestos use.
Some products manufactured by Hamilton that may have contained asbestos include:
- Children’s furniture
- Countertops
- Dental cabinetry
- Drafting furniture
- Laboratory equipment (like fume hoods)
- Medical equipment
- Radio cabinets
- Steel printer equipment
Hamilton Manufacturing Company and Occupational Exposure
Hamilton manufactured different types of furniture and laboratory equipment, such as fume hoods. Many of these products were commonly made with asbestos until the 1980s.
To manufacture these products, Hamilton required high heat and may also have used asbestos for heat protection. Manufacturing facilities were often built with asbestos construction materials, like asbestos insulation.
Because of the mineral’s popularity in the manufacturing industry, many employees faced asbestos exposure risks. Some occupations at Hamilton with potential exposure risks included factory workers, carpenters and others. Workers at jobsites that used Hamilton products may have faced exposure risks too. Any amount of asbestos exposure may lead to an asbestos-related disease, such as asbestosis and asbestos cancer.
- Carpenters
- Construction workers
- Crane operators
- Dentists
- Doctors
- Electricians
- Engineers
- Factory workers
- High school, college and graduate students
- Industrial workers
- Lab assistants
- Lab technicians
- Machinists
- Metal workers
- Researchers
- Scientists
- Teachers and professors
- Welders
Asbestos Litigation Against Hamilton Manufacturing Company
Victims in some mesothelioma lawsuits have cited laboratory equipment as a source of asbestos exposure. This includes lab equipment made by companies that Hamilton was once affiliated with. For example, Thermo Fisher Scientific has been named as a defendant in various asbestos lawsuits.
In 2008, a mesothelioma patient’s family was awarded $7 million after his death. He had worked as a contractor for Thermo Fisher Scientific, which manufactured laboratory equipment. Thermo Fisher Scientific also owned Hamilton for 25 years.
There is an established history of asbestos use in scientific laboratory equipment. Companies similar to Hamilton have been sued over this, resulting in compensation for some victims.
Anyone who thinks they may have experienced asbestos exposure through Hamilton products can speak with a lawyer. Experienced asbestos attorneys have access to extensive asbestos company records. They can explain victims’ options based on the details of their case.
Sources
Hamilton Laboratory Solutions. ABOUT.
Hamilton Laboratory Solutions. Company History.
Hamilton Laboratory Solutions. PRODUCTS.
United States Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit. Zanowick v. Baxter Healthcare Corp.
University of Virginia. ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH & SAFETY: ASBESTOS.
Financial Assistance for Mesothelioma Patients
Tara Strand specializes in writing content about mesothelioma and asbestos. She focuses on topics like mesothelioma awareness, research, treatment, asbestos trust funds and other advocacy efforts.
Legally
Reviewed by
Jennifer Lucarelli
Mesothelioma Lawyer and Legal Advisor
For more than two decades, Jennifer Lucarelli has served as Legal Advisor at Mesothelioma.com. She has advocated for more than 1,000 asbestos victims, securing millions in settlements and helping them access quality medical care.