A.B.B. Lummus Global Inc.
A.B.B. Lummus Global, Inc. is part of a larger organization, A.B.B. Ltd, which is headquartered in Switzerland. It began as two separate entities, the Swedish electrical company Allmanna Svenska Elektriska Aktiebolaget (ASEA) and the Swiss Brown, Boveri & Die (BBC), both of which were founded in the 1800s.
ASEA specialized in high-capacity transformers and electrical systems, building the world’s first 120 MVA 220kV transformer and designing the first 400 kV AC cable, which ran to an underground power station and was designed to withstand an atomic bomb. For its part, BBC built Europe’s first steam turbine (the first high-speed locomotive) and first 110 kV gas-insulated switchgear, which was designed to increase the safety of circuit breakers installed in confined spaces.
The companies merged in 1988, forming A.B.B. and establishing a headquarters in Zurich, Switzerland. As a single company, the researchers, scientists and technicians of A.B.B. continued their ground-breaking work. In 1998, A.B.B. introduced the FlexPicker, a robot created specifically for the “picking and packing” industries. In 2000, it made high-voltage shore-to-ship electrical transmissions possible, and in 2002 the AC electrical networks of Victoria and South Australia were joined to create the world’s longest underground transmission.
In 1995, A.B.B. formed Lummus Global by merging A.B.B. Global Engineering with A.B.B. Lummus Crest. Lummus Global has long been a leader in developing process technology for the petrochemical and oil and gas industries. As of 2007, over 40 percent of all olefins and ethylene project licenses were held by Lummus.
A.B.B. Lummus Global and Asbestos
The news of asbestos use by U.S.-based A.B.B. units began to surface in the 1980s. The first claims were filed against the A.B.B. subsidiary Combustion Engineering, which used asbestos to insulate the boilers it manufactured through the 1960s. Claims against Lummus were filed shortly thereafter, as claimants learned that Lummus had used asbestos in the construction of refineries, chemical plants and other industrial facilities. Reactors and generators were also made with insulation, gaskets and other materials that contained asbestos.
Claimants filed suits against the company due to the development of asbestos-related diseases, including mesothelioma and asbestosis. Mesothelioma is a form of cancer in which cancer cells develop in the “mesothelium,” which is a protective membrane that covers most of the body’s internal organs. Those looking for more information about mesothelioma can click here to receive a free mesothelioma packet in the mail.
A.B.B. Lummus Global and Asbestos Litigation
In 2006, A.B.B. Lummus Global filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in an effort to pay out asbestos-related liability claims filed against the company. It was the second of two A.B.B. subsidiaries to file asbestos-claim-related bankruptcy. The first, Combustion Engineering, had filed for Chapter 11 the previous year. A total of 135,000 asbestos claims were filed against Lummus Global in the United States. Another 440,000 claims were filed against Combustion Engineering.
An Asbestos PI Trust was created as part of the Lummus Chapter 11 reorganization plan. A.B.B. allocated nearly $1.5 billion to pay asbestos claims made by Lummus Global and Combustion Engineering employees and subcontractors. The purpose of the Trust is to expedite claims against A.B.B. in a timely and equitable fashion. The Trust sets forth a specific process for filing a claim, and a specific procedure by which claims are assessed. At the time the initial Trust document was released, awards were capped at $4,000 for Feedwater Heater Claims and $30,000 for Design and Construction Claims.
A.B.B. sold Lummus Global to Texas-based CB&I in 2007 for $850 million in an effort to further fund its asbestos liability trust. If you believe that working for A.B.B. Lummus Global or its subcontractors has resulted in asbestos exposure, you may be at risk of developing an asbestos-related disease and annual checkups should be received.
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Last Modified Thursday, February 9th, 2012 | Disclaimer | Privacy Policy |
The information provided by The Mesothelioma Center is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.
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