Menu

Hysol Aerospace Corporation

Expert Fact Checked

This page was legally reviewed by Jennifer Lucarelli. For information on our content creation and review process read our editorial guidelines. If you notice an error or have comments or questions on our content please contact us.

Jennifer Lucarelli Lawyer and Legal Advisor

In 1948, Hysol Aerospace Corporation began in Olean, New York, as Vilex Corporation. The company manufactured adhesives for the aerospace industry before branching into other industries. For years, many of its adhesives contained asbestos. Hysol Aerospace has faced litigation for exposing people to asbestos in its products.


01. History of Asbestos Use

Hysol Aerospace Corporation History of Asbestos Use

Vilex Corporation began in Olean, New York, in 1948. In 1960, Vilex changed its name to Hysol Aerospace Corporation (Hysol Aerospace). It has also been known by the name Hysol Aerospace & Industrial Adhesive Co.

Quick Facts
  • Years in Operation: 1948 – 2000
  • Location: Olean, New York
  • Production: Adhesives, epoxies
  • Asbestos Trust: No

The company focused on high-solid adhesives for use in the aerospace industry. Through the company’s work, it also started making epoxy resins. It became the first American company to make electric insulating compounds.

Hysol Aerospace went through many mergers and acquisitions throughout its history. In 1967, the Dexter Corporation merged with Hysol Aerospace and became a division of the company. It was known as Dexter-Hysol.

At the time of Hysol Aerospace’s peak, asbestos was a common additive to adhesives. In one lawsuit, the plaintiff’s expert stated that a 1985 Dexter-Hysol catalog listed 71% of the aerospace adhesives as having asbestos.

Hysol Aerospace also expanded into producing a wide range of consumer goods. This included a molding compound found in color television transistors. Expanding into other industries put more people at risk of being exposed to asbestos through its products. It sold products containing asbestos until 1987.

Then, in 2000, a German chemical company called Henkel purchased the Hysol Aerospace factory in New York. This ended Hysol Aerospace’s operations as its own company. Henkel’s U.S. division continued to produce Hysol brand products until it sold the brand to Chinese investors. They renamed it Hysol Huawei Electronics Co., Ltd.

02. Asbestos Products

Hysol Aerospace Corporation Asbestos Products

Hysol Aerospace produced adhesives, epoxies and resins primarily for the aerospace industry. Companies used asbestos in adhesives because of its durability and heat resistance. Hysol Aerospace expanded into other industries too, making products for consumer use.

Some asbestos products manufactured by Hysol Aerospace include:

  • Hysol EA901N/AB1 Adhesive
  • Hysol EA9309-3NA Adhesive
  • Hysol EA9330 Adhesive
  • Hysol EA960F Adhesive
03. Occupational Exposure

Hysol Aerospace Corporation and Occupational Exposure

Hysol Aerospace’s asbestos adhesives put many different workers at risk of exposure. For example, aerospace engineers and aircraft mechanics used the company’s products as a regular part of their jobs. Workers who handled these products may have experienced occupational asbestos exposure. Asbestos fibers may become airborne when the adhesives are mixed, applied or removed.

Some consumer products that Hysol Aerospace produced contained asbestos. These may also have put people at risk of exposure. People who used Hysol Aerospace adhesives with asbestos may also have been exposed. Inhaling asbestos fibers can cause asbestos diseases like mesothelioma to develop.

Occupations Impacted by Hysol Aerospace Corporation’s Asbestos Use
04. Asbestos Litigation

Asbestos Litigation Against Hysol Aerospace Corporation

Hysol Aerospace has faced mesothelioma litigation because of its asbestos use. The company has been named in asbestos lawsuits citing exposure from its products and resulting illnesses.

Many mesothelioma lawsuits settle before trial. These agreements are usually private, meaning the settlement amounts are often unavailable to the public. The average mesothelioma settlement is between $1 million and $1.4 million.

People who may have been exposed to asbestos through Hysol Aerospace’s products can talk to a mesothelioma lawyer. With their experience, attorneys can help navigate the often complex history of a company and find which entities to file against. They also have the resources to help their clients choose the best legal option for their case.