Ingersoll Rand Company

Highest-Risk Occupations

In addition to endangering those employed in their factories, Ingersoll Rand and Trane also exposed consumers and end-users who worked with and around their asbestos-contaminated products. Despite knowing about the dangers of asbestos, Ingersoll Rand continued selling these products to customers, including the U.S. Navy and major railroad companies, well into the 1980s. 

Who Is at Highest Risk for Exposure?

Anyone exposed to asbestos is at risk of developing an asbestos-related illness. However, people regularly exposed through their jobs face the highest risks. 

Because of the widespread use of its products, thousands of people were exposed to asbestos from Ingersoll Rand pumps, compressors, and boilers, inhaling or ingesting fibers released during installation, operation, and maintenance.

HVAC worker

Those who installed, serviced, and maintained HVAC systems using Trane’s popular asbestos-containing products are at high risk of asbestos-related illness. Although Trane no longer uses asbestos in its products, many of its contaminated systems and components are still in place in older structures, endangering any technicians who work with or around them.

Industrial Maintenance Worker

Ingersoll Rand’s pumps and compressors required regular servicing, inspection, and maintenance, which often included replacing asbestos-containing components, such as insulation, packing, gaskets, and more. Those responsible for these tasks may have been exposed to high levels of asbestos, particularly if working in poorly ventilated areas.

U.S. Navy Veterans

Ingersoll Rand’s pumps and compressors were widely used on naval vessels, where asbestos was commonly used for insulation, fireproofing, and durability. Many of its products required asbestos gaskets, packing, or insulation, and shipboard work done in cramped, stuffy conditions created inhalation exposure during installation, repair, or maintenance.

Family Members Exposed to Secondhand Asbestos

Family members of asbestos workers who have developed asbestos-related illnesses due to secondary exposure during chores like washing work clothes may be eligible for compensation. Wrongful death lawsuits offer additional opportunities for compensation for those who have lost a loved one to asbestos exposure.

Ingersoll Rand Asbestos Products

Ingersoll Rand manufactured products that used or required asbestos components for roughly 60 years, from the 1920s until the 1980s. Trane, purchased by the company in 2008, also used asbestos directly in the manufacturing of its popular HVAC components.

Some of Ingersoll Rand’s pumps and compressors used asbestos components manufactured by other companies. Even Ingersoll Rand machinery that did not contain asbestos often required the use of asbestos gaskets during installation.

Top Asbestos-Containing Products

• Boilers
• Compressors
• Gaskets
• HVAC components
• Packing materials
• Pumps
• Railroad brakes
• Seals

Securing Compensation From Ingersoll Rand

Ingersoll Rand made and sold products that contained or relied on asbestos components for roughly 60 years, injuring hundreds of thousands of employees and consumers. If you or a loved one worked with or around its pumps, compressors, or boilers before the 1980s and you’ve developed an asbestos-related illness, you may be entitled to compensation.

Asbestos-exposure victims may also be eligible for additional financial support, like workers’ compensation or benefits from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). Working with an experienced mesothelioma attorney can help you understand all your options and give your claim the best chances of success. We can help you determine your eligibility for free. Contact us today.

In 2008, Ingersoll Rand established a $449 million fund to manage asbestos claims. Prior to creating the fund, the company had resolved over 208,000 claims totaling more than $308 million. According to Ingersoll Rand’s internal projections, its asbestos-related liabilities through 2053 are expected to exceed $755 million, and the company has stated that it is prepared to cover these obligations with support from its insurance provider.

– Daniel Wasserberg, Attorney

Filing a Lawsuit

Unlike several of its subsidiaries, Ingersoll Rand has never filed for bankruptcy or established an asbestos trust fund. However, in June 2024, the company sold its legacy asbestos-liability subsidiaries to Delticus, a corporate liability acquisition platform that specializes in long-tail legacy liabilities. 

Despite the liability transfer, victims of asbestos exposure harmed by Ingersoll Rand may still qualify for compensation through a lawsuit.

There are two primary types of lawsuits that victims can use to pursue compensation:

• Personal injury lawsuit: This allows living victims of asbestos exposure to seek compensation for their losses.
• Wrongful death lawsuit: This allows the dependents or family members of deceased asbestos exposure victims to recover damages for the loss of their loved one.

Key Requirements to File

• Diagnosis: Claimants must have a diagnosis of an asbestos-related illness (such as mesothelioma, lung cancer, or asbestosis) OR proof of a wrongful death from an asbestos-related illness. 
• Proof of exposure: Claimants must have documentation linking the victim’s illness to asbestos exposure from Ingersoll Rand Company through employment or use of their products. 
• Statute of limitations: Potential claimants have a limited time to file a claim. Deadlines vary by state, with most averaging just two to three years, so it’s critical to move quickly.

Notable Lawsuits Against Ingersoll Rand

Since the 1980s, Ingersoll Rand has faced over 200,000 asbestos lawsuits. Historically, the company has done its best to dismiss these cases or settle them out of court for undisclosed sums. 

In 2020, the company expanded its legal playbook, using the Texas Two-Step strategy to handle asbestos claims against Trane. First, the company created two new subsidiaries, Aldrich Pump, LLC and Murray Boiler, LLC, to assume Trane’s asbestos liabilities. Then, both companies filed for bankruptcy, halting roughly 100,000 active claims against them. 

Despite the legal maneuvering, some claimants have won significant victories in the courtroom. If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with an asbestos-related disease due to asbestos in Ingersoll Rand’s products, contact us today to get a free case assessment

Ingersoll Rand’s Involvement With Asbestos

Ingersoll Rand used asbestos components manufactured by other companies to produce their popular steam pumps and air compressors. When it acquired the HVAC company Trane in 2008, Ingersoll Rand also took on its new subsidiary’s asbestos liability.

Ingersoll Rand and Trane exposed employees, their families, and end-users like HVAC workers, boilermakers, shipbuilders, railroad workers, and more to dangerous asbestos products.

Exposure to asbestos through Ingersoll Rand or Trane products and business activities can lead to the development of serious illnesses decades later. Those exposed are at elevated risk of developing mesothelioma, lung cancer, asbestosis, and other dangerous diseases.

In 2020, Ingersoll Rand merged with Gardner Denver, another machinery manufacturer. It is still active as a major supplier of industrial machinery. 

Contact Us for a Free Case Assessment

Until the 1980s, many of Ingersoll Rand’s popular pumps and compressors used asbestos parts manufactured by others, or they required end users to install the machinery with asbestos gaskets. The company’s decision to continue using asbestos endangered hundreds of thousands of people, including many industrial workers and military veterans. 

Companies like Ingersoll Rand can be held accountable for the damage done. Victims of asbestos exposure and their family members may qualify for legal compensation.  

Working with an experienced asbestos attorney can help victims and their families secure critical compensation to cover medical bills, replace lost income, and create financial security for dependents. The right lawyer can help with every step of the legal process, reducing client stress while maximizing potential compensation.  

Contact us today for a free case assessment to determine your eligibility and learn more about your case.

Written & Legally Reviewed By

Samuel Meirowitz Esq. Attorney and On-Site Legal Advocate

Samuel Meirowitz is a member of the “Top 100 Trial Lawyers.” Mr. Meirowitz was named a “Rising Star” in 2013 & 2014 by Super Lawyers and then a Super Lawyer every year since 2016. In 2013, Mr. Meirowitz obtained what is believed to be the first multi-million-dollar asbestos verdict seen in more than two decades in a New York federal court. In that highly contentious matter, Mr. Meirowitz was able to convince the jury to hold a boiler manufacturer responsible for 60 percent of the $3.8 million awarded, despite the defendant’s attempt to escape all blame by pointing fingers at the plaintiff’s employer and the U.S. Navy (in which the plaintiff admirably served from 1966-70 during the Vietnam conflict). This verdict was upheld by the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit.

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