SPX Cooling Tech

Highest-Risk Occupations

Asbestos’s high heat resistance, strength, and durability made it an attractive material for HVAC and cooling systems, such as those manufactured and sold by SPX. 

However, asbestos is a known carcinogen, and when asbestos-containing materials are damaged, repaired, removed, or disturbed during installation, they can release microscopic fibers into the air, potentially exposing workers and others nearby to serious health risks.

Who Is at Highest Risk for Exposure?

There’s no safe level of asbestos exposure. However, the highest risks are associated with people who worked closely with SPX’s asbestos-contaminated cooling systems in poorly ventilated spaces without protective equipment, increasing the risk of inhaling asbestos fibers.

HVAC Technicians

HVAC technicians are at medium risk of asbestos exposure, working with and around a wide variety of asbestos-containing products, including asbestos insulation, which creates frequent opportunities for close contact. 

A 2017 article that examined asbestosis deaths in the United States from 1970 to 2014 provides proof that HVAC technicians are over four times more likely to die of asbestosis, a progressive respiratory disease caused by exposure to asbestos, than the general population.

SPX Factory Workers

Workers at SPX manufacturing plants regularly handled the asbestos-containing components used to build SPX cooling towers, condensers, and HVAC systems.

Dust and fibers from these components put workers at risk for serious illnesses like mesothelioma and lung cancer. 

U.S. Military Veterans

The U.S. military used SPX systems and products on bases, ships, and other facilities. Because these systems required ongoing maintenance and repairs, workers and nearby personnel could have been exposed to airborne asbestos fibers when asbestos-containing components were disturbed. 

Asbestos use in the military was so common that veterans account for roughly 30% of the mesothelioma cases diagnosed each year.  

Family Members Exposed to Secondhand Asbestos

Secondhand asbestos exposure can also cause serious illness, including exposure that occurs through everyday household activities like washing contaminated work clothes.

Family members and loved ones harmed by secondary exposure may be eligible to pursue personal injury claims, while surviving dependents may qualify to file a wrongful death lawsuit if a loved one died from asbestos-related disease linked to SPX Cooling Tech asbestos exposure.

SPX Cooling Tech Asbestos Products

SPX Cooling Tech manufactured and sold multiple products and equipment lines that serviced the HVAC, process cooling, industrial, and refrigeration markets. For over 50 years, many of these products contained asbestos.

The company primarily used asbestos as an insulator, but it was also used in other components. Additionally, products manufactured under the company’s former names, such as the Piston Ring Company and Sealed Power Corporation, may also have contained asbestos. 

Top Asbestos-Containing Products

• Cylinder sleeves
• Engine parts
• Marley Crossflow Cooling Towers (e.g., NC Everest Cooling Tower)
• Marley Components
• Marley ClearSky Plume Abatement System 
• Marley Counterflow Cooling Towers (e.g., MD Everest Cooling Tower)
• Marley Field-Erected Cooling Towers
• Piston rings
• Recold Fluid Coolers and Evaporative Condensers

Securing Compensation From SPX Cooling Tech 

SPX Cooling Tech has faced over 12,500 asbestos claims made by injured workers and their loved ones.

If you or a member of your family worked with SPX products and has since been diagnosed with an asbestos-related disease, you may also be eligible to pursue financial compensation through a lawsuit.

Many individuals who are eligible for compensation from SPX may also be eligible for other forms of compensation, such as benefits from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) or workers’ compensation.

We can help you determine your eligibility for these and other compensation options at no cost. Contact us today to get your complimentary case assessment.

Some claimants worked in industries where they were exposed to a wide variety of asbestos-contaminated products. Your lawyer can help you determine if additional companies may also bear some responsibility for your asbestos exposure. Holding all relevant companies responsible not only prevents future wrongdoing but also helps to maximize your potential compensation.

– Daniel Wasserberg, Attorney

Filing a Lawsuit

SPX Cooling Tech has never gone bankrupt and does not operate an asbestos trust fund.

Victims who have been injured by asbestos exposure stemming from SPX products may be eligible to seek compensation through one of two main types of lawsuits:

• 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.

Most asbestos claims end in out-of-court settlements. Settlements are agreements between the claimant and the defendant, usually including monetary compensation for injuries.

Accepting a settlement offer can be a good option for claimants who need compensation quickly or want to avoid the stress and uncertainty 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 SPX Cooling Tech 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 SPX Cooling Tech 

SPX Cooling Tech is a major global conglomerate that generates billions in revenues every year. It has the budget and legal support to fight claims in court, frequently settling strong claims out of court, seeking summary judgment to dismiss cases, and appealing unfavorable verdicts. 

On November 1, 2022, SPX took additional steps to protect itself from its ongoing asbestos liabilities, divesting three wholly owned subsidiaries to Canvas Holdco, LLC. These divested subsidiaries hold all of SPX’s consolidated asbestos-related liabilities, separating them from the company’s profitable operations. 

However, victims and their families still have options. Working with an experienced mesothelioma attorney can help you counter these tactics and give your case the best possible chance of success.

If you or a loved one developed an asbestos-related disease due to asbestos exposure from SPX’s products, you can still seek compensation. Contact us today to get a free case assessment.

SPX Cooling Tech’s Involvement With Asbestos

Founded in 1911 as the Piston Ring Company, the business initially focused on producing automobile piston rings. In 1988, as the company expanded globally, it rebranded to SPX Corporation and later evolved into SPX Technologies. The company became known as SPX Cooling Tech in 2005. 

SPX Cooling Tech and its subsidiaries were leading manufacturers of heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) equipment. Like many HVAC manufacturers of its time, the company historically used asbestos in its products for its heat-resistant properties. 

The company relied on asbestos for over 50 years, from the 1930s until 1986. During this time, it failed to warn employees and workers about the potential dangers of its products, resulting in the development of serious asbestos-related diseases like mesothelioma in many workers.

In 2022, SPX divested three wholly owned subsidiaries that held its asbestos liabilities to Canvas Holdco, LLC, a move designed to protect the parent company from litigation. Despite the financial maneuvering, victims of its asbestos negligence may still qualify for compensation.

Contact Us for a Free Case Assessment

Companies like SPX Cooling Tech rely on their massive annual revenue and expert legal teams to protect them from responsibility to the people they have injured. These companies knew about the dangers of asbestos and continued to use it as a convenient, cheap solution to industrial problems, putting profit over people.

If you or someone you love has been injured by exposure to SPX asbestos products, you don’t have to fight alone. The asbestos attorneys at Meirowitz & Wasserberg have decades of combined experience fighting against major corporations to get justice and compensation for their clients.

Our team can provide free resources to help you understand all of your compensation options. Reach out today for a free consultation 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.

Learn More