North American Refractories Company

Currently part of the ANH Refractories family of companies, North American Refractories Company (NARCO) and the other companies in the ANH family provide high-grade fireproof ceramic refractory products and services for high-temperature applications in the cement and lime, energy, chemicals, non-ferrous metals, glass, iron and steel, and environmental technology industries.

Originally, however, North American Refractories was an independent company until it was acquired by Honeywell in 1979. A German company, Didier-Werke AG, bought the company in 1986. In 1994, RHI acquired Didier-Werke AG and, hence, NARCO. ANH Refractories entered the picture in 2000.

NARCO caters mostly to the North American steel industry, producing refractory products in four plants located across the United States. The company employs about 700 workers.

NARCO and Asbestos

Throughout the 20th century, refractory products contained some amount of asbestos. As a matter of fact, many refractory companies used asbestos as long ago as the late 19th century. Often the percentages of asbestos in these products were quite large because manufacturers regarded it as the best fire-resistant product available. In addition, asbestos was inexpensive to use and readily available.

The result of this widespread use of asbestos has been an onslaught of lawsuits filed against North American Refractories Company due to its negligent use of the mineral for so many years. Claims have been made which infer that leaders of companies like NARCO may have known about the dangers of asbestos use but failed to find suitable substitutes or to supply their employees with protective gear that may have prevented asbestos inhalation. Many refractory employees as well as others who were regularly exposed to refractory products - including steel mill employees, oil refinery workers, chemical plant workers, boilermakers, miners, potters, glazers and many other tradesmen - have developed asbestos-related diseases, including the cancer mesothelioma.

In 2002, NARCO filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, faced with a growing number of claims. In 2007, a judge for the bankruptcy court of the Western District of Pennsylvania recommended the formation of an asbestos personal injury trust claim to handle any unsettled or future asbestos injury claims and the company emerged from bankruptcy protection.

If you have been diagnosed with an asbestos-related disease as a result of working for NARCO or worked with any of their products and would like to learn more about treatment options or financial assistance to help pay for treatments, please fill out the form on this page to receive a comprehensive packet in the mail.