Amatex Corporation made asbestos textiles until the early 1980s. The company filed for bankruptcy after facing numerous asbestos claims. Amatex put its own workers and workers in other industries at risk of exposure to asbestos and resulting illnesses like mesothelioma.
If you or a loved one were diagnosed with mesothelioma or any other illness due to asbestos exposure, you might be entitled to substantial compensation.
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Did Amatex Use Asbestos?
Amatex made heat-resistant textiles with asbestos for decades. Asbestos was long a prized material for insulation and for strengthening various products and making them more heat- or fire-resistant.
Amatex began using asbestos in textiles in the 1950s and continued this practice through the early 1980s. Now owned by a different company, the products it makes today do not contain asbestos.
Amatex Corporation History
Established as the American Asbestos Textile Corp in the 1950s, Amatex started as a textile manufacturer in Norristown, Pennsylvania.
- Most of the company’s products were made to resist hot temperatures and fire, including insulation, ropes, gaskets, wicks, and cloth.
- Amatex purchased a second manufacturing facility in Meridith, New Hampshire, from Keasbey & Mattison in 1962.
- To make their products fire and heat-resistant, Amatex used asbestos. It was affordable and easy to mix into materials.
- Amatex stopped using asbestos in its products, but this was many years after the company already knew how dangerous it was to expose workers to toxic asbestos fibers.
- Today, it operates in Laconia, New Hampshire, making high-temperature materials with fiberglass instead of asbestos.
Amatex faced numerous asbestos-related claims, resulting in more than 9,000 claims. Davlyn Group, a global textile manufacturer, acquired Amatex in 2020.
How Did Amatex Use Asbestos?
Asbestos was once a highly desirable material for many industrial applications. For companies like Amatex that made heat-resistant fabrics, asbestos was inexpensive, efficient, and readily available.
Amatex used asbestos in textiles from the early 1950s through the early 1980s. Many other industries used Amatex asbestos products, including heat-protective safety gear, furnace seals, heat-resistant tapes, and more. Examples of Amatex products that contained asbestos include:
- Carded fiber
- Cloth
- Cords
- Lap
- Rope
- Roving
- Tape
- Tubing
- Wick
- Yarn
Amatex asbestos textile brands included Quietline, Safecote, Thermalon, and Titegrip.
Who Was at Risk of Exposure to Amatex Asbestos Textiles?
Amatex workers who manufactured asbestos textiles were at high risk for exposure. By handling and being around asbestos, they were at risk of inhaling asbestos fibers.
Amatex textiles were used in many other industries. Anyone working with their products in other workplaces risked exposure to asbestos. Some of the types of workers who may have handled Amatex asbestos products include:
- Automotive plant workers
- Boiler workers
- Chemical plant workers
- Construction workers
- HVAC installers and repairers
- Insulation workers
- Oil and petroleum workers
- Pipefitters
- Shipyard workers
Amatex Asbestos Claims
After decades of using asbestos in its products, Amatex faced numerous claims. Some workers exposed to asbestos fibers through Amatex textiles developed illnesses like mesothelioma, lung cancer, and asbestosis and sued the company for damages.
One example was a claim brought by Ernest Cleveland. He worked in a shipyard and handled asbestos products from many different companies. He developed asbestosis in the early 1980s and sued Amatex and other companies involved in his asbestos exposure.
Amatex settled with Cleveland, but his case went forward with other defendants, resulting in a $1.5 million award.
Cleveland’s was one of nearly 10,000 asbestos claims against Amatex that would ultimately send the company to Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.
Amatex Settlement Trust
With the sheer amount of asbestos-related claims, Amatex filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in the 1980s.
Stipulations under the company’s Chapter 11 bankruptcy mandated they create a Creditors’ Committee of Asbestos Litigants to compensate current plaintiffs.
The Amatex Asbestos Disease Trust Fund was also created to handle future asbestos claims. Although the trust fund is now inactive, the company paid out more than $11 million in settlement amounts during the first decade alone.
In 1990, Amatex came out of bankruptcy and re-established the company. Even though they no longer use asbestos, Amex continues to manufacture heat and fire-resistant materials.
What to Do if You Used Amatex Asbestos Products
Talk to your doctor if you were exposed to asbestos through Amatex or other companies. Early diagnosis is the best way to improve your prognosis for an asbestos illness.
A mesothelioma lawyer can help you seek compensation. Because it reorganized under bankruptcy, Amatex cannot be sued. A lawyer can help you find other ways to seek compensation, including asbestos trusts or claims against other companies that exposed you to asbestos.
Additional Help and Legal Resources for Asbestos Victims
Don’t forget to fill out our form to get our free Financial Compensation Packet, filled with information on the experienced asbestos and mesothelioma attorneys in your area. For additional assistance, contact us at 800-793-4540.
References
View All ReferencesAmatex Corporation Asbestos FAQs
Did Amatex Corporation make products that contained asbestos?
Yes. Amatex Corporation is among the companies linked to asbestos exposure. The specific products involved, and the years they contained asbestos, are described above on this page. Workers who handled or worked near those products, and in some cases their family members, could have been exposed to asbestos fibers.
Can I get compensation for Amatex Corporation asbestos exposure?
Possibly. If you were exposed to Amatex Corporation asbestos products and later developed mesothelioma or another asbestos-related disease, you may be able to recover compensation. Depending on the company’s status, that can come through a claim, a bankruptcy trust claim, or both. A free case review can confirm which options apply to your exposure.
How do I prove asbestos exposure from Amatex Corporation?
Exposure is usually documented with your work history, identification of the specific products, the job sites and dates involved, co-worker statements, and your medical records. An asbestos attorney gathers this evidence for you. Speak with a mesothelioma lawyer at no cost to get started.