M.H. Detrick Company made asbestos-containing refractory and insulation materials from the 1930s through the mid-1960s. Facing asbestos litigation, the company filed for bankruptcy in 1998. An asbestos trust fund was created in 2002, which is now closed.
Quick Facts About M. H. Detrick Company Trust Fund and Lawsuits
Founded:
1914
Years Operated:
1914 - Present
Headquarters:
Mokena, Illinois
Business:
Refractory and insulation products
Asbestos Trust:
Yes (closed in 2011)
Bankruptcy Status:
Filed Jan. 13, 1998, and reorganized Aug. 21, 2002
Overview of the M. H. Detrick Asbestos Trust
After declaring bankruptcy on Jan. 13, 1998, the company established an asbestos trust fund to set aside money for those who developed asbestos-related diseases from exposure to its products. But the trust’s claim period ended on Feb. 10, 2011, and the trust is now closed.
Key Facts About the M.H. Detrick Asbestos Trust
This asbestos trust fund is no longer active, having closed in 2011.
It was established with $3 million and began taking claims on Aug. 21, 2002.
While active, it assumed all asbestos-related claims against M. H. Detrick Company pursuant to Section 524(g) of the US Bankruptcy Code.
With the trust closed, those exposed to M. H. Detrick asbestos products can speak with a Patient Advocate to explore other financial assistance options.
The asbestos trust fund compensated workers exposed to asbestos in the company’s products between 1939 and 1964. Anyone who handled their products or worked for the company during its extensive use of asbestos could still develop serious health issues like mesothelioma in the future because of the decades-long latency period between exposure and diagnosis.
While the M.H. Detrick Asbestos Trust is closed, ending the possibility of trust and other legal claims against the company, other financial assistance avenues may be available to you. For example, if other companies were also involved in your exposure, you may be eligible for other trust funds and possibly legal claims. A Patient Advocate can guide you through VA benefits, navigate insurance and pursue grants and other resources for mesothelioma patients and caregivers, as well as connect you with expert legal advice.
Legal Help for People Exposed to M. H. Detrick Company’s Asbestos Products
An asbestos lawyer can help identify other liable companies beyond M. H. Detrick, whose trust fund is now closed. Since workplace asbestos exposure often involves multiple manufacturers, legal expertise is essential to uncover all potential sources of compensation for your mesothelioma or lung cancer diagnosis.
Our team of Patient Advocates can help you find the right asbestos lawyer for you and your family. They can determine if you qualify to file a workers’ compensation claim, a claim with other asbestos trust funds or a mesothelioma lawsuit against another company.
Your Patient Advocate can also connect you with support groups, match you with a mesothelioma specialist and schedule an appointment for you and provide guides on treatment options and nutrition. They’re here for you, offering support for you and your loved ones whenever you need it.
Exposed to Asbestos at M. H. Detrick Company?
Gain access to trust funds, grants and other forms of compensation for you or your loved ones.
M.H. Detrick faced thousands of asbestos-related lawsuits over its asbestos products and the illnesses people developed from exposure. For example, Wesley Roberts Jr. was diagnosed with mesothelioma in 1994 and died a year later. His lawsuit named M.H. Detrick among 27 defendants.
Roberts was a pipefitter from 1941 to 1981 at an Exxon oil refinery in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. M.H. Detrick was among 26 companies that settled the claim before it went to court.
M.H. Detrick’s History With Asbestos
M.H. Detrick served a number of industries to provide a wide variety of asbestos-containing suspended refractory construction materials from 1939 to 1964. Few other asbestos companies manufactured as many asbestos-containing products.
Asbestos was prized for its heat-resistance, flexibility and durability. At the time it was also relatively inexpensive. The company’s asbestos products were supplied in various heat-resistant grades, and the applications were diverse. These products included heat-resistant castings, asbestos cement, coatings, insulating materials and pre-fired brick primarily used in the construction of industrial furnaces, ovens and boilers.
M.H. Detrick was also a supplier for the U.S. military, putting veterans at risk for mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases. Veterans and workers who developed asbestos-related diseases after working with these products went on to sue the company for compensation to cover medical bills and lost wages.
As of 2025, M.H. Detrick continues to operate out of Frankfort, Illinois. The company still sells refractory heat enclosures and linings for industrial purposes.
Who Was at Risk of Asbestos Exposure From M.H. Detrick?
The company manufactured, sold and distributed asbestos-containing products for 26 years, from 1939 through 1964. Industries including chemical, refining, glass, incineration, industrial boil production and metal works often exposed workers to asbestos dust during manufacturing and maintenance.
Those in military service also faced serious asbestos exposure risks from M.H. Detrick’s products. Boiler workers stationed on submarines may have experienced the highest levels of asbestos contact because of poor ventilation and constant proximity to insulated machinery.
Higher-Risk Jobs
Boiler workers
Chemical plant workers
Construction workers
Industrial workers
Metal workers
Oil refinery workers
Power plant workers
Shipyard workers
A 2024 review published in the Journal of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene traces more than a century of knowledge about asbestos hazards in the insulating trade and shows the high risks Navy personnel faced. It outlines how insulation materials, medical studies and industrial hygiene practices documented the dangers of airborne asbestos.
Yet ship and shipyard work around boilers, steam pipes and engine rooms kept exposing workers. Monitoring, medical surveillance and control measures developed slowly, which left many Navy workers at serious risk of asbestos-related disease.
M.H. Detrick’s Asbestos Products
M.H. Detrick manufactured a wide range of asbestos-containing products used in construction, insulation and industrial repairs. Many of these products produced high levels of asbestos dust when cut, mixed or applied, putting workers at serious risk of exposure.
M.H. Detrick Products That Contained Asbestos
7M Asbestos Cement
Asbestolux
Asbestos Rope
Block Insulation
Bonding Cement
Calcrete 30
Casting Cement T10
Detroc Asbestos Board
Detrick Boiler Wall Coatings
Detrick Casing Cement
Detrick MW Block Insulation
Detrick No. 7 Asbestos Cement
Detrick Plastic Insulation
Detrick T-60 Finishing Cement
Detrick T-60 Insulating Cement
Duriseal Protective Coatings
Fibrous Adhesive
Griptex Mineral Wool Block
Hilite Insulating and Finishing Cement
Hitherm
Insulating Cement
MHD Finishing Cement
Monoseal
MW Insulating Cement
Permiseal
Pyroscat Fire Proofing Cement
Refractory Cement T20 and T22
Super 711 Cement
Therman Coat
Utility Insulating Finishing Cement
Utility Thermal Finish Cement
M.H. Detrick’s asbestos products were heavily used throughout the 20th century. Even though these materials are no longer manufactured, many remain in older buildings and equipment, creating ongoing risks for workers and veterans who encounter them during repairs, maintenance or demolition.
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Asbestos.com. "M. H. Detrick Company Trust Fund and Lawsuits." Last modified January 14, 2026. https://www.asbestos.com/companies/m-h-detrick-company/.
D. Carl Money is an attorney at Nemeroff Law. He has devoted his career to fighting for workers diagnosed with mesothelioma and their families. Money has more than 25 years of experience fighting for people with asbestos-related diseases. He’s licensed in Texas, New York, England and Wales and belongs to various legal organizations across the U.S. and U.K.
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