Garlock Sealing Technologies

Garlock’s History with Asbestos

Garlock manufactured gaskets, valve packing and packaging materials containing asbestos from 1907 to 1980. The company initially made seals for pistons on steam engines and later expanded to provide gaskets, valves and packing for manufacturing, power generation, shipbuilding and other industries.

Garlock products were also used on U.S. Navy vessels, including submarines. Military service members and civilians who handled these materials faced airborne asbestos exposure during installation, use and repair.

People who made or worked with these products were exposed to asbestos fibers, putting them at risk for diseases such as mesothelioma and lung cancer. Because Garlock produced asbestos-containing products for decades, thousands of people were exposed, many of whom later filed claims for asbestos-related diseases.

Garlock Files for Bankruptcy and Develops a Trust Fund

Garlock faced more than 900,000 asbestos-related claims and filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2010. After two rejected reorganization plans, the court approved a plan in June 2017, creating the GST Settlement Facility to compensate people exposed to Garlock’s asbestos-containing products.

The asbestos trust fund began accepting claims on September 17, 2018, with roughly $480 million available to compensate people diagnosed with mesothelioma, lung cancer or other asbestos-related diseases, including asbestosis. Mesothelioma claimants receive the highest portion of their claim, while other diseases are assigned lower payment percentages.

The trust applies cost-of-living adjustments, reviews settlement ratios regularly, and updates maximum settlement values to ensure fair compensation. In 2025, the trust announced maximum settlement values increased, including the highest potential offer for mesothelioma and lung cancer claimants at $342,900. Payments to people who previously received settlements are adjusted proportionally to reflect these updates.

Trustees actively manage the fund, monitor liquidity and maintain long-term solvency to support current and future claimants. They oversee payments, apply cost-of-living adjustments, and review settlement procedures to maintain fairness and stability.

Garlock Asbestos Products 

Garlock developed asbestos-based materials to handle the intense heat and pressure inside industrial systems. The mineral’s durability and resistance to corrosion made it a common ingredient in Garlock’s sealing and insulation lines.

Key Garlock Products

• Cloth
• Gaskets
• Packing material
• Pump packing
• Ring packing
• Rope packing
• Seals
• Sheet gaskets
• Sheet packing
• Valve packing
  

These products were widely distributed to manufacturers, utilities and shipyards. Because asbestos fibers could escape when materials were cut, fitted or replaced, anyone working with Garlock’s products risked inhaling the fibers.

Workers at Risk From Garlock Asbestos Products

Garlock’s materials reached nearly every major industry in the 20th century. People in many trades handled gaskets, packing and seals while keeping equipment running in high-demand settings. Exposure often occurred during routine tasks like installation, maintenance and replacement.

Occupations at Risk

• Boilermakers
• Construction workers
• Electricians
• Factory workers
• Insulators
• Mechanics
• Navy veterans
• Pipefitters
• Shipyard workers
• Steelworkers

The reach of Garlock’s products meant exposure wasn’t limited to factory workers. Electricians, pipefitters and engineers who relied on Garlock materials also carried the risk of asbestos exposure, increasing the chances of developing diseases such as mesothelioma later in life.

Studies confirm these elevated risks. A 2021 surveillance study published in the American Journal of Industrial Medicine found workers in construction trades, including insulators, pipefitters, plumbers and carpenters, had significantly higher rates of mesothelioma and asbestosis compared with other workers

Asbestos Litigation Involving Garlock

Garlock faced hundreds of thousands of asbestos-related claims, creating major financial and legal challenges. The company defended itself against mesothelioma lawsuits aggressively in court, winning some cases while paying multimillion-dollar settlements in others. Litigation involved employees, contractors and others exposed to Garlock’s products over many decades.

Key Garlock Verdicts and Settlements

• $17 million: A Philadelphia jury in 2009 awarded families of two men with mesothelioma who were exposed to Garlock and Crane Co. gaskets containing 75% to 90% asbestos.
• $2.7 million: A Texas jury in 2010 awarded a pipefitter who developed mesothelioma from exposure to Garlock and Union Carbide products.
• Undisclosed amount: An 84-year-old former boiler mechanic who developed mesothelioma received a settlement in 2008.
  

Before filing for bankruptcy in 2010, Garlock spent tens of millions of dollars each year on settlements. The company also challenged co-defendants’ bankruptcy plans to avoid assuming additional asbestos liability for other companies’ asbestos exposure. At the time of its bankruptcy filing, Garlock still had more than 100,000 cases pending. The company has paid nearly $1.37 billion in indemnity, with insurance covering more than $1 billion.

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