Garlock Sealing Technologies

Garlock Sealing Technologies manufactures gaskets and other sealing products. Although the company no longer uses asbestos in its products, its use of asbestos resulted in related lawsuits. Garlock filed for bankruptcy and created an asbestos trust fund to handle asbestos liabilities.

If you have mesothelioma, asbestosis, or asbestos-related lung cancer, you may qualify for substantial compensation. Currently, there is over $30 billion in asbestos trust funds awaiting those who’ve been diagnosed with an asbestos illness. We invite you to fill out our form today for a free Financial Compensation Packet, filled with information about experienced mesothelioma lawyers in your area, how to get paid in 90 days, how to file an asbestos trust fund claim, and much more. 

Do Garlock Products Contain Asbestos?

New Garlock sealing products do not contain asbestos. Garlock used asbestos in many of its products until about 1980. Sealing materials contained asbestos as an insulator. It helped minimize heat loss. When these products were removed or changed by workers, they often released harmful asbestos fibers.

Garlock Sealing Technologies History

Garlock was established in 1887 when founder Olin J. Garlock invented a more effective way to seal pistons in steam-powered locomotive engines.

At the time, Garlock’s invention was considered ground-breaking and unlike any other product of its kind. As a result, his seal became a standard in the locomotive industry.

As the company began to expand, it added new products to its line, including:

• Compression packing
• Gaskets
• Expansion joints
• Valves
• Pump diaphragms

However, like most manufacturing companies, Garlock used a lot of asbestos in many of these products from 1907 to 1980.

More specifically, the company’s valves, gaskets, and packing materials contained asbestos. Garlock also acquired Anchor Packing Company, another company that made products with asbestos.

Garlock employees and workers in companies that bought Garlock products began developing life-threatening diseases such as malignant mesothelioma and asbestos-related lung cancer.

Garlock faced asbestos lawsuits and liabilities from its own products and those made by Anchor. This led to bankruptcy in 2010 after Garlock was acquired by EnPro Industries. As part of bankruptcy proceedings, Garlock set up an asbestos trust fund to compensate claimants.

Which Garlock Products Contained Asbestos?

Companies that made sealing products, like Garlock, relied on asbestos for its many unique properties: lightweight and flexible, strong, insulating, and fire and electricity resistant.

Some of the Garlock brand names of products that contained asbestos include Blue-Gard, Flexseal, Garfite, Garlock, Gylon, and Plastallic. Specific products Garlock made with asbestos include:

• Asbestos packing
• Asbestos tape
• Chemiseal jacketed gaskets
• Compressed asbestos sheets
• Graphite filament packing
• High-pressure ring packing
• Insulation tape
• Lattice braid packing
• Pre-cut gasketing
• Rope
• Seal tape
• Spiral wound gaskets
• Valve stem packing

Workers Affected by Garlock Asbestos Products

Garlock’s asbestos-containing products reached a wide array of industries. People working in numerous occupations were affected. The following occupations were known to have Garlock’s asbestos-containing products:

• Shipyard workers
• Factory workers
• Steam locomotive engineers
• Plumbers
• Pipefitters
• Steelworkers
• Electricians
• Insulators
• Oil industry workers
• Miners
• Construction workers
• Machinery fitters
• Paper mill workers

Garlock was one of many asbestos companies that supplied the U.S. military. Sealing products were particularly important in building ships for the Navy. This led to high exposure rates in the U.S. Navy and higher than average rates of mesothelioma and other asbestos illnesses in veterans.

Garlock Sealing Technologies Lawsuits

As claims continued to mount, Garlock faced thousands of asbestos-related claims and lawsuits, which resulted in extreme financial danger for the company.

Garlock has lost millions in asbestos-related cases. The following lawsuit is one example of the numerous lawsuits against the company.

Wanda Jones

In July of 2006, a Virginia jury awarded $10.4 million to Wanda Jones, the widow of a shipyard worker who died in 2005 from mesothelioma, a deadly type of lung cancer primarily caused by asbestos exposure.

After a three-week trial in Newport News Circuit Court, the jury found that Wanda Jones’ husband, Buddy Jones, 60, was exposed to asbestos at Newport News Shipbuilding while making gaskets and sealing pumps.

Buddy Jones worked at the shipyard for four years during the 1960s. Several decades later, he was diagnosed with mesothelioma and died exactly one year before his widow won her case against Garlock and two other companies, Johns Manville and John Crane.

Other Garlock Asbestos Lawsuits

Donald Reynolds worked in oil refineries for decades and eventually developed pleural mesothelioma. He worked with many asbestos products on the job and sued several companies, including Garlock. A jury awarded him $3.75 million with 60% of liability assigned to Garlock.

James Grumley developed mesothelioma after working on boilers in a paper mill. Boilers used seals and gaskets, which can lead to asbestos exposure when removed or repaired. Grumley won a $12 million jury award, with Garlock being held liable.

“One of the Most Sued Companies”

With a plethora of lawsuits, several news sources cited Garlock as “one of the most sued companies in American history.”

Garlock has paid over $1 billion in asbestos-related claims and closed many pending cases.

Garlock Bankruptcy and Trust Fund

In 2010, with more than 900,000 pending asbestos-related claims, Garlock filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. The lawsuits stemmed from its own products and those made by Anchor Packing.

Although Garlock denied any wrongdoing before filing for bankruptcy, the company admitted that defending mounting lawsuits proved too difficult.

Once the company filed for bankruptcy, all pending claims were put on hold. As the company reorganized, it also created an asbestos trust fund for pending and future asbestos-related claims.

Lawyers representing asbestos victims tried to convince bankruptcy courts that Garlock should fund the trust with $1.4 billion. Garlock argued the amount was too high. A judge determined that Garlock should fund the trust with $125 million.

The Garlock Sealing Technologies Settlement Facility is still active today. It accepts claims related to Garlock and Anchor products.

Garlock Sealing Technologies Today

Garlock is still in business today. It is a wholly-owned EnPro Industries division and has 13 manufacturing plants in the U.S., Canada, Asia, and Europe.  

The company employs over 2,000 people and has a global distribution network encompassing 75 countries.

Garlock’s experience with fluid sealing products gives the company a large industrial customer base. Garlock no longer uses asbestos in its gaskets and other heat-resistant products.

Seeking Compensation if You Worked With Garlock Products

If you worked with Garlock sealing products and now have an asbestos illness, contact a mesothelioma lawyer to determine what you can do about it.

You may qualify to make a claim with the Garlock Trust. While you can no longer sue the company, a lawyer can ensure you have the best chance of making a successful claim for compensation.

They can also investigate your work history to find other companies that can be held liable for your asbestos exposure and resulting illness. Many people with asbestos illnesses were exposed by several companies.

Additional Resources and Information for Asbestos Victims

If you’ve been injured by asbestos, keep in mind that there is a good chance that you’ll qualify for considerable compensation. Don’t forget to fill out our form for our free Financial Compensation Packet, filled with information on the experienced asbestos and mesothelioma attorneys in your area. If you have questions or need additional assistance, contact us at 800-793-4540.