Garlock Sealing Technologies

Garlock Sealing Technologies manufactures gaskets and other sealing products. Although the company no longer uses asbestos in its products, its long association with it resulted in related lawsuits. Garlock filed for bankruptcy to handle the mounting cases and is now a subsidiary of EnPro Industries.

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. 

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, and more

However, similar to most manufacturing companies in the past, Garlock used a lot of asbestos in many of these products.

More specifically, the company’s valves, gaskets, and packing materials contained asbestos. This continued until the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) placed strict regulations on asbestos in the 1970s.

Consequently, Garlock employees and workers in companies that bought Garlock products began developing life-threatening diseases such as malignant mesothelioma and asbestos-related lung cancer. A string of asbestos-related claims and lawsuits followed.

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.

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

Garlock Sealing Industries Bankruptcy

In 2010, with more than 900,000 pending asbestos-related claims, Garlock filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. 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. When the company emerges from bankruptcy, its reorganization will allow an asbestos trust fund for pending and future asbestos-related claims.

Occupations Affected by Garlock Sealing Technologies

Garlock’s asbestos-containing products reached a wide array of industries, and in turn, 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
• Steelworkers
• Electricians
• Insulators
• Oil industry workers
• Miners

Asbestos-Containing Products Made by Garlock Sealing Technologies

Garlock manufactured and distributed numerous asbestos-containing products, including the following:

• Gaskets
• Sheet gaskets
• Pump packing
• Asbestos cloth
• Seals
• Valve packing
• Rope packing
• Sheet packing

Garlock Sealing Technologies Today

Garlock is still in business today. It is currently a wholly-owned division of EnPro Industries 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. Like many long-established enterprises in its field, Garlock no longer uses asbestos in its gaskets and other heat-resistant 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.

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 to get 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.