Home / Asbestos Companies / DeLaval

DeLaval

Fact checked and legally reviewed by Daniel Wasserberg, Esq. • Contributor & Legal Advisor

A manufacturer of steam turbines, pumps, and compressors, DeLaval (now known as IMO Industries, Inc.), used asbestos in its products until the 1960s. A major supplier of the U.S. Navy, DeLaval’s products endangered thousands of service members.

You may be eligible for compensation if you or a loved one has developed an asbestos-related illness following exposure to DeLaval asbestos products or activities.

Apply For Compensation

DeLaval & Asbestos Exposure

Founded in 1890 in Stockholm, Sweden, DeLaval rapidly expanded internationally. The company opened its first American factory in 1901, quickly gaining recognition as a top manufacturer of turbines, pumps, gears, compressors, and other high-speed equipment.

DeLaval became a major supplier to the U.S. Navy during World War I, a relationship it maintained until the 1950s. During much of this period, from the 1930s to the 1960s, the company incorporated asbestos as an additive to enhance the durability and heat- and fire-resistance of the majority of its products.  

The company began facing financial challenges in the 1960s due to a decline in demand for shipbuilding. These financial troubles were worsened by growing knowledge and eventually litigation surrounding the dangers of asbestos and DeLaval’s negligent and knowing use of this dangerous mineral. 

This led to a series of acquisitions and rebrands in the latter half of the 20th century. DeLaval is now known as IMO Industries, Inc. It was purchased by II Acquisition Corporation in 1997 and continues to be named in asbestos lawsuits. 

Dangers of Asbestos-Related Diseases

Asbestos refers to a group of six naturally occurring minerals that share similar structural features and physical properties. These minerals can break apart into fine, resilient fibers that become easily airborne. 

Once inhaled or swallowed, the fibers can embed themselves in the body’s tissues, where they persist for decades without decomposing. Over time, this can lead to chronic irritation, tissue scarring, and genetic damage, ultimately resulting in severe health conditions that may take many years to appear.

Conditions linked to asbestos exposure include:

• Mesothelioma
• Lung cancer
• Asbestosis
• Other forms of cancer
• Pleural effusions
• Pleural plaques
• Pleural thickening

Among these, mesothelioma is particularly aggressive and deadly. This uncommon cancer forms in the mesothelium, the protective lining that surrounds internal organs. Asbestos exposure is the sole confirmed cause of mesothelioma, and treatment costs can reach as high as $400,000 per year for affected patients.

Financial Compensation From DeLaval

DeLaval has not filed for bankruptcy and does not maintain an asbestos trust fund. Instead, the company addresses its asbestos-related responsibilities through lawsuits and insurance.

Individuals affected by asbestos exposure generally have two main legal options to pursue financial recovery:

• Personal injury lawsuit: This type of case allows individuals who have been diagnosed with an asbestos-related illness to claim compensation for medical expenses, lost income, and other related damages.
• Wrongful death lawsuit: If an asbestos victim has passed away, surviving family members or dependents can file this type of suit to seek damages for their loss.

Given the extensive historical use of asbestos, many victims have the right to pursue claims against more than one manufacturer. Partnering with a skilled asbestos lawyer is crucial for identifying every possible source of compensation and maximizing the overall recovery amount.

Additional forms of compensation may also be available to qualifying victims, including:

• Benefits from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)
• Workers’ compensation
• Treatment grants

Asbestos Lawsuits Against DeLaval

Like many asbestos companies, DeLaval does its best to keep exact knowledge regarding settlement and verdict amounts quiet. The company frequently chooses to settle claims out of court for undisclosed sums, and when claims proceed to trial, it often seeks to have them dismissed on technical grounds.

Arthur Dumas 

Arthur Dumas was exposed to asbestos-containing DeLaval pumps while serving aboard multiple U.S. Navy ships between 1960 and 1974. He claimed direct exposure during maintenance and repair work, including insulation tear-outs and gasket replacements.

Mr. Dumas filed suit against DeLaval along with several other asbestos companies, seeking compensation for his resulting asbestos injuries. DeLaval sought summary judgment, which was granted, absolving them of responsibility in this case, although several other defendants proceeded to trial. 

William Ankiel, Jr.

William Ankiel was a Navy boiler technician who was stationed aboard the USS Hollister from October 1975 to 1978, where he serviced and operated boilers and other equipment in the vessel’s fire rooms. This equipment included asbestos-contaminated DeLaval products.

After his death from mesothelioma, his family filed suit against IMO Industries (DeLaval’s successor) and others. DeLaval attempted to have the case dismissed on technical grounds. However, the court allowed the case to proceed after reviewing DeLaval’s equipment specifications, which detailed the requirement for asbestos-made gaskets and packing.

Philip Royce May

Philip May served as a Navy mechanic for 20 years, from 1956 to 1976. During this time, he served on multiple vessels and faced significant asbestos exposure while servicing asbestos-contaminated pumps, including those manufactured by DeLaval.

Following his death from mesothelioma, his wife, Ruth, filed a wrongful death lawsuit against DeLaval and others. DeLaval attempted to dodge responsibility by blaming the asbestos exposure on replacement parts manufactured by others; however, this use of the bare metal defense was unsuccessful. 

Abestos Insurance Litigation

Some of DeLaval’s most public legal battles surrounding its use of asbestos have been with its own insurers, including cases against Transamerica Corporation and TIG Insurance Company.  

Although these cases are not directly involved in specific personal injury claims, they have been pivotal in determining insurance coverage for thousands of asbestos-related personal injury claims against DeLaval and its successor, IMO Industries, Inc.

In one case against Transamerica Corporation, IMO sought to prove it had purchased insurance policies totaling $1.85 billion, which were intended to cover both the payouts to claimants (indemnification) and the ongoing legal costs (defense costs) associated with asbestos litigation.

IMO initiated this litigation to enforce and clarify its rights, particularly regarding policies that explicitly stated defense costs would be paid “outside the limits.” This meant that the insurer would cover legal defense expenses in addition to the policy’s indemnity limits, a prospect their insurers resisted, given the company’s multi-million dollar liabilities.

Asbestos-Containing Products Used at DeLaval

Despite growing evidence of the serious health and environmental hazards associated with asbestos use, product catalogs from DeLaval up until the 1960s confirm the widespread use of asbestos in its products.

DeLaval asbestos-contaminated products include:

• Centrifugal pump packaging
• DeLaval Main Feed Booster Pump
• High-speed equipment components
• Steam turbine insulation
• Various pump and compressor parts

Occupations At-Risk

DeLaval exposed its own employees to significant occupational asbestos exposure, but also jeopardized the health of thousands of others. These individuals, whose work involved DeLaval asbestos products, were also put at risk for asbestos-related diseases.

High-risk occupations include:

• Factory workers
• Machinists
• Navy veterans
• Seamen
• Shipyard workers

Asbestos workers frequently brought home asbestos fibers and particles on their clothes, skin, and hair, unintentionally exposing their family members and loved ones. This secondhand or “take-home” exposure can also cause severe asbestos illnesses. 

Get Help Today 

Negligent asbestos companies like DeLaval should be held responsible for the harm they’ve caused. Despite knowing the severe health risks associated with asbestos, including diseases such as mesothelioma, lung cancer, and asbestosis, they continued to use it, failing to warn workers and consumers about the dangers. 

This negligence has resulted in countless victims suffering preventable illnesses. For those affected, the consequences extend far beyond physical pain. Patients and their families often endure overwhelming emotional strain and face significant financial burdens due to medical costs and lost income.

Our trusted legal partners have decades of collective experience guiding victims through the complexities of asbestos lawsuits. With the right legal support, pursuing an asbestos claim can be straightforward and far less stressful, giving victims the best chance to maximize their potential compensation.

If you or a loved one has developed an asbestos-related illness and wants to seek justice and financial relief, contact us today for a free consultation.