Yarway Corporation

Yarway Corporation History of Asbestos Use

Yarway Corporation, once known as the Simplex Engineering Company, was founded in 1908 by Robert Yarnall and Bernard Waring. After undergoing several brand changes, the company officially became Yarway Corporation in 1962 and its products can still be recognized under this name today.

Yarway found a niche in the steam power industry, focusing on the manufacture of steam traps, valves, gaskets and other components needed for power generation. Around the 1920s, asbestos was growing in popularity in the United States. The mineral was recognized for its durability and chemical- and fire-resistance, and was inexpensive. Like many other companies at the time, Yarway began incorporating the mineral into its products because heat resistance was important in the power industry.

Throughout the next several decades, Yarway Corporation’s products continued to grow in popularity and expanded beyond the power-generation industry. Over time, the company also produced products for the chemical, pulp and paper industries.

Yarway remained a dominant manufacturer, reporting $70 million in sales in 1985. In 1986, Keystone International, Inc., acquired Yarway for $100 million. Tyco International Ltd. acquired Keystone in 1997. Yarway had stopped using asbestos in its products in 1988.

The Yarway brand later became part of Pentair’s Valves & Controls business, which Emerson acquired in 2017. Emerson currently sells Yarway-branded valves, steam traps and related equipment.

Yarway Asbestos Personal Injury Trust Fund

After filing a voluntary petition for relief under Chapter 11, the United States District Court for the District of Delaware affirmed the Bankruptcy Court’s confirmation order and approved the plan on July 14, 2015. The Yarway Asbestos Personal Injury Trust was officially established when the plan became effective on August 19, 2015. The asbestos trust fund was initially funded with $325 million and began accepting claims in December 2015.

The amount of compensation claimants may receive for their individual case can vary and be above base-level averages.

Most Recent Information From the Yarway Asbestos Personal Injury Trust

According to the trust’s year-end 2025 report, as of December 31, 2025:

• Approximately 5,984 Yarway Asbestos Personal Injury Trust claims were paid.
• The trust paid approximately $22.24 million in Yarway asbestos claims.
• Approximately $2.97 million was reported in settled but unpaid claims.
• The trust has approximately $216.47 million in total assets.
• The trust has paid approximately 43,950 Yarway asbestos claims since it was established.
• The trust has paid approximately $204.3 million to asbestos victims since it was established.

Current Yarway Asbestos Personal Injury Trust Payment Percentage

The current payment percentage is 27.5% for the Yarway Asbestos Personal Injury Trust. At a payment percentage of 27.5%, the current payout on a Yarway Expedited Review claim for mesothelioma is $15,125.

Determining Review Process When Filing a Yarway Asbestos Personal Injury Trust Claim

An experienced asbestos lawyer will evaluate the injured party’s case to determine the appropriate review process when submitting a Yarway asbestos trust claim. A sample of Yarway claims filed between 2023 and 2025 indicated that approximately 100% of claims were filed under the Individual Review (IR) process and 0% of claims were filed under the Expedited Review (ER) process.

• Expedited Review Process: Yarway claims filed under the ER process will have an efficient review from the trust based on the medical and exposure criteria outlined in the Trust Distribution Procedures. Approved claims will be compensated according to the standard scheduled value associated with the diagnosed disease.
• Individual Review Process: Yarway claims filed through the IR process will receive a thorough review of the claimant’s exposure, medical and personal records to determine an individual liquidated value. IR submission is required for certain lung cancer claims and secondary exposure cases.

The trust remains active and continues to accept Yarway asbestos claims. Payment amounts vary based on diagnosis, age, exposure history and other claim-specific factors. Individuals exposed to Yarway products can learn how a mesothelioma lawyer may help.

Yarway Corporation Asbestos Products

From the early 1920s to around 1988, Yarway manufactured a variety of products that contain asbestos. In various asbestos claims filed in more recent years, numerous exposure victims have named Yarway’s gaskets and packing as hazardous, as well as the company’s joint packing made of Teflon and asbestos from the 1940s to the 1970s.

Asbestos products manufactured by Yarway Corporation include:

• Yarway Process Steam Traps
• Yarway Series 40 Steam Traps
• Yarway Tandem Blow-off Valves
• Yarway Seatless (Simplex) Blow-off Valves
• Yarway Double-Tightening Valves
• Yarway Hydraulic Valves
• Yarway Air Control Valves
• Gun-Pakt Expansion Joints
• Wrought Steel Expansion Joints
• Cylinder Guided Expansion Joints
• Yarway (Simplex) Pipe-Joint Clamps
• Yarway Automatic Boiler Skimmer
• Yarway Starting and Pressure Unloader
• Yarway Adjustable Spray Head

Yarway Corporation and Occupational Exposure

Yarway’s asbestos goods were manufactured and used across the country, putting thousands of people at risk of exposure. In addition to workers employed by Yarway and directly producing the products, workers from numerous other occupations also came into contact with the asbestos materials and faced exposure.

Asbestos Litigation Against Yarway Corporation

According to documents, Yarway was first named as a defendant in an asbestos lawsuit in 1991. Records show the majority of these original claims stemmed from asbestos use in the company’s gaskets and packing materials.

Between 2007 and 2012, Yarway noted they faced 10,000 mesothelioma lawsuits, which resulted in asbestos settlement totals of more than $125 million. In 2013, the company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection to help protect itself from the severe costs of future claims.

At the time of filing, Yarway contended that they had used all of the money from their insurance policies to pay the final claims and were unsure how to pay future claimants. They hoped to develop a reorganization plan that would create a trust fund for pending and future asbestos claims against them.

During the bankruptcy reorganization, Yarway sought to protect Tyco and certain other affiliated parties from liability for Yarway asbestos claims. The confirmed plan extended those protections to claims covered by the reorganization.