Get in Touch
Have questions? Call or chat with our Patient Advocates for answers.
From 1960 to 1981, Harbison-Walker manufactured asbestos-containing rope, brick, refractory cement and other contaminated products that led to asbestos litigation. The company filed for bankruptcy in 2002 and established a trust fund. It contains approximately $1.53 billion to handle future asbestos claims.
Written by Michelle Whitmer | Edited By Fran Mannino | Last Update: July 11, 2024
The Harbison-Walker Refractories Company was founded in 1865 under the name Star Fire Brick Company. The name changed to Harbison-Walker in 1875.
The company’s primary products included fireproof bricks and other industrial materials that could withstand high temperatures. Because of its fireproofing characteristics, asbestos was used in many Harbison-Walker products.
In 1967, Harbison-Walker merged with Dresser Industries Inc. Harbison-Walker began facing asbestos-related lawsuits in the 1990s, filed by people who developed asbestos-related diseases after using its products.
Dresser merged with energy industry giant Halliburton in 1998 after Dresser agreed to handle all asbestos-related claims stemming from Harbison-Walker products. Halliburton soon realized its involvement in the litigation proceedings was unavoidable.
At the time of Halliburton’s acquisition of Dresser, which included subsidiary Harbison-Walker, former Vice President Dick Cheney was the chief executive officer of Halliburton, according to The New York Times.
The merger was initially considered a positive move on Cheney’s part, but current and future asbestos suits stemming from Harbison-Walker products cost the company a fortune in legal claims. Halliburton said the level of asbestos problems that accompanied the merger couldn’t have been anticipated.
In 1999, Harbison-Walker was purchased by RHI AG, an Austrian company that produces refractory products. After this purchase, Halliburton and Dresser were left to handle all asbestos-related claims involving Harbison-Walker products.
In 2015, the company modified its name to HarbisonWalker International. It is the largest supplier of refractory products and services in the U.S.
Harbison-Walker entered bankruptcy so it could not only survive, but also reorganize and set up an asbestos trust to handle future asbestos-related claims. Harbison-Walker felt the decision benefitted the company, its stakeholders and asbestos claimants.
The Harbison-Walker bankruptcy case is unusual compared to other asbestos companies that filed for bankruptcy.
Harbison-Walker and its parent company, Dresser Industries Inc., had merged with Halliburton prior to filing for bankruptcy in 2002. During the bankruptcy, the company struck a deal with its insurers, London Underwriters (and their reinsurers, Equitas), to settle the asbestos claims for “100 cents” on the dollar, meaning the full value of the claims.
The trust that resulted from the settlement, known as DII Industries, LLC Asbestos PI Trust, was funded with about $4 billion. Recent estimates show it now contains about $1.65 billion.
As of January 2022, the trust’s payment percentage is 60%, which is high compared to other asbestos trust funds.
Gain access to trust funds, grants and other forms of compensation for you or your loved ones.
Get Help NowEven as the company’s business was growing, the turn of the 21st century greeted Harbison-Walker with more than 200,000 pending mesothelioma claims, of which nearly 132,000 were related to an indemnification agreement made as part of the company’s 1992 spin-off from Dresser.
Asbestos-containing products manufactured by Harbison-Walker included:
Harbison-Walker manufactured these products between 1960 and 1981. They were used in construction, power generation, rubber manufacturing, chemical production, pulp and paper mills, metal works and aboard U.S. Navy ships.
The following occupations were at risk of exposure to Harbison-Walker’s asbestos products:
Workers in a variety of industries, including power generation, construction, manufacturing and maritime operations, were exposed to asbestos through Harbison-Walker’s products. U.S. Navy veterans faced the risk of heavy exposure to Harbison-Walker’s asbestos products aboard naval vessels with poor ventilation.
Former employees of Harbison-Walker who worked in manufacturing facilities faced high levels of asbestos exposure and may still be at risk of developing asbestos-related diseases such as lung cancer, asbestosis and mesothelioma.
Recommended ReadingYour web browser is no longer supported by Microsoft. Update your browser for more security, speed and compatibility.
If you are looking for mesothelioma support, please contact our Patient Advocates at (855) 404-4592
The Mesothelioma Center at Asbestos.com has provided patients and their loved ones the most updated and reliable information on mesothelioma and asbestos exposure since 2006.
Our team of Patient Advocates includes a medical doctor, a registered nurse, health services administrators, veterans, VA-accredited Claims Agents, an oncology patient navigator and hospice care expert. Their combined expertise means we help any mesothelioma patient or loved one through every step of their cancer journey.
More than 30 contributors, including mesothelioma doctors, survivors, health care professionals and other experts, have peer-reviewed our website and written unique research-driven articles to ensure you get the highest-quality medical and health information.
My family has only the highest compliment for the assistance and support that we received from The Mesothelioma Center. This is a staff of compassionate and knowledgeable individuals who respect what your family is experiencing and who go the extra mile to make an unfortunate diagnosis less stressful. Information and assistance were provided by The Mesothelioma Center at no cost to our family.LashawnMesothelioma patient’s daughter
Whitmer, M. (2024, July 11). Harbison-Walker Refractories Co.. Asbestos.com. Retrieved October 9, 2024, from https://www.asbestos.com/companies/harbison-walker-refractories-company/
Whitmer, Michelle. "Harbison-Walker Refractories Co.." Asbestos.com, 11 Jul 2024, https://www.asbestos.com/companies/harbison-walker-refractories-company/.
Whitmer, Michelle. "Harbison-Walker Refractories Co.." Asbestos.com. Last modified July 11, 2024. https://www.asbestos.com/companies/harbison-walker-refractories-company/.
Mesothelioma Center - Vital Services for Cancer Patients & Families doesn’t believe in selling customer information. However, as required by the new California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA), you may record your preference to view or remove your personal information by completing the form below.