John Crane Inc.

Highest-Risk Occupations

John Crane sold its asbestos-containing sealing and packing products to customers in a wide variety of industries, including:

• Oil and gas
• Power generation
• Chemicals
• Pharmaceuticals
• Mining
• Food and beverage
• Shipbuilding

They were also a supplier for the U.S. military beginning in the 1920s. 

Despite evidence that John Crane should have known about asbestos’s dangers in the 1930s, the company continued using it until the 1980s, endangering thousands of workers.

Who Is at Highest Risk for Exposure?

Those who worked directly with asbestos-containing products, whether manufacturing them or interacting with them, face the highest risks for developing asbestos-related illnesses like mesothelioma or lung cancer decades later. 

Factory Workers

Factory workers at John Crane plants were exposed to asbestos when they handled asbestos-containing materials during manufacturing.

Activities like cutting and assembly generated asbestos dust, exposing those directly handling the products and other nearby employees. 

Boiler Technicians

Boiler technicians were often called upon to remove and install John Crane asbestos-containing gaskets and packing during repairs and maintenance.

Their work often occurred in poorly ventilated areas and included using hammers, hand scrapers, and power wire brushes to remove or install components, releasing asbestos fibers into the air. 

Shipyard Workers

John Crane asbestos gaskets and packing were popular for shipboard use, particularly in engine rooms and other high-heat areas, due to their resistance to heat and fire.

The workers responsible for installing, replacing, and removing those parts were often exposed to high quantities of airborne asbestos dust.   

U.S. Military Veterans

Members of the U.S. Armed Forces were exposed to John Crane asbestos products in military installations, especially aboard naval vessels.

Those who worked with or near asbestos-containing seals, gaskets, and packing are at high risk of asbestos-related diseases. Veterans account for roughly a third of all mesothelioma cases diagnosed each year.  

Family Members Exposed to Secondhand Asbestos

The family members of asbestos workers may be eligible to file personal injury lawsuits if they have been diagnosed with an asbestos-related illness caused by secondary exposure.

Many family members were exposed during normal activities, like laundering asbestos-contaminated work clothes. Others may qualify for compensation through a wrongful death lawsuit if their loved one has passed away.

John Crane Inc. Asbestos Products

John Crane used asbestos in its sealing and packing products from the 1920s until the 1980s. The company used two varieties of asbestos: “white” chrysotile asbestos and “blue” crocidolite asbestos.

Despite having access to compelling evidence of asbestos’s dangers as early as the 1930s, John Crane didn’t issue any warnings about the potential hazards of its products until 1983.

It finally phased out asbestos use two years later in 1985, far too late for the thousands of workers injured by the company’s negligence.

Top Asbestos-Containing Products

• Asbestos yarn
• Braided asbestos yarn
• Gaskets
• Hydraulic packing
• Molded packing
• Ring packing
• Rope packing
• Seals

Securing Compensation From John Crane Inc.

John Crane exposed thousands of people to asbestos, leaving many of its victims struggling to cope with the physical, emotional, and financial toll of asbestos injuries.

If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with an asbestos-related disease caused by exposure to John Crane’s products or facilities, you may be entitled to asbestos-related compensation.

In fact, many claimants who are eligible for compensation from John Crane also qualify for compensation from other asbestos manufacturers or for other types of compensation, such as VA benefits or workers’ compensation.

We can help you determine your eligibility for free. Contact us today to get a free case evaluation.

Veterans are disproportionately affected by asbestos-related illnesses. Filing asbestos lawsuits helps veterans and their families hold negligent companies that made, sold, or used asbestos accountable for the harm they’ve done. Filing a lawsuit won’t affect your eligibility for VA benefits and doesn’t require you to sue the military or the government.

– Daniel Wasserberg, Attorney

Filing a Lawsuit

John Crane Inc. has never declared bankruptcy or established an asbestos trust fund. Instead, its current parent company, Smiths Group plc, chooses to handle asbestos claims against its subsidiary in court. 

Asbestos exposure victims and their family members must pursue justice and compensation by filing lawsuits.

Depending on their circumstances, claimants have two primary legal options:

• 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.

Many asbestos claims never go to trial, instead ending in out-of-court monetary settlements. Settlements provide a relatively quick route to compensation without the stress of a trial.

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 John Crane Inc. 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 John Crane Inc.

John Crane has a long history of defending itself against claims, fielding over 330,000 asbestos claims in the last 45 years. According to its 2025 annual report, by the end of the year, there were 21,000 active claims against it, and asbestos litigation had cost the company roughly $192 million in claim payouts.  

Companies like John Crane know to expect lawsuits, and they employ specialized legal teams to protect their interests. Asbestos exposure victims deserve the same support. 

If you or a member of your family has been diagnosed with an asbestos-related disease following exposure to John Crane’s products, we want to help you get the compensation you deserve. Contact us today to get a free case assessment.

John Crane Inc. Involvement With Asbestos

Founded in 1917 as a manufacturer of sealing products, John Crane Inc. has expanded into a global manufacturer with 6,000 employees, 200 facilities, and operations in more than 50 countries. However, the company’s reliance on asbestos during the 20th century also resulted in devastating illnesses for thousands of workers. 

Asbestos is cheap, durable, nonconductive, and resistant to heat, fire, and chemical corrosion. It’s also highly carcinogenic, leading many of those exposed to it to develop serious illnesses like mesothelioma and lung cancer. 

Beginning in the 1920s, John Crane added asbestos to its popular sealing and packing products. It sold these products to customers across a wide range of industries, including auto manufacturers, oil and gas companies, power plants, shipyards, other manufacturers, and the U.S. military. 

Recent trial evidence has proven that John Crane should have known about the dangers of asbestos exposure as early as the 1930s, and that it definitely knew of the hazardous nature of its products by the early 1970s. Still, the company failed to warn workers and users about the dangers until 1983 and didn’t stop using asbestos until 1985. 

The company has been named in over 330,000 asbestos claims by victims of asbestos exposure and their families.

Contact Us for a Free Case Assessment

By 1985, when John Crane finally stopped using asbestos, the dangers it posed to human health and the environment were public knowledge. Asbestos manufacturers chose to continue using it, endangering employees and end users in pursuit of profits.

If John Crane’s negligent use of asbestos has injured you or one of your loved ones, you may be eligible to seek compensation through a personal injury or wrongful death lawsuit. Our partner law firm, Meirowitz & Wasserberg, specializes in providing aggressive, experienced legal guidance to asbestos exposure victims and their families, helping them secure the money they need.

With the right support, starting the filing process is easy and takes just a few minutes. Reach out to us today, and we can help you determine your eligibility and learn more about your case against John Crane for free.

Written & Legally Reviewed By

Daniel Wasserberg, Esq. Attorney and On-Site Legal Advocate

Daniel Wasserberg was a New York metropolitan area “Super Lawyer Rising Star” from 2013 to 2018 (attorneys under age 40), and a Super Lawyer in 2019. In 2017, Daniel was named a “Top 100 Civil Litigator” by the National Trial Lawyers organization. This recognition is rarely awarded to attorneys under the age of 40. Daniel is proud to call himself a Trial Lawyer, and is often asked to speak at gatherings of the nation’s leading attorneys, from both sides of the bar.

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