M. H. Detrick Company
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.
Written by D. Carl Money | Edited by Amy Edel | Last Update: September 29, 2025
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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
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 companies manufactured as many asbestos-containing products as M.H. Detrick.
The company extensively used asbestos because it’s heat-resistant, flexible and durable, and at the time it was 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 2022, M.H. Detrick continues to operate out of Frankfurt, Illinois. The company still sells refractory heat enclosures and linings for industrial purposes.
M.H. Detrick Asbestos Trust Now Closed
Asbestos lawsuits eventually led the company to file for bankruptcy on Jan. 13, 1998. As part of the bankruptcy proceedings, the M.H. Detrick Asbestos Trust was established with $3 million and began taking claims on Aug. 21, 2002.
The trust compensated workers exposed to asbestos in the company’s products between 1939 and 1964. The trust’s claim period ended on Feb. 10, 2011, and the trust is now closed.
Anyone who handled their products or worked for the company during its asbestos heyday still may develop serious health issues like mesothelioma in the future because of the decades-long latency period between exposure and diagnosis. Other forms of financial assistance may be available to help compensate those exposed.
Gain access to trust funds, grants and other forms of compensation for you or your loved ones.
Get Help NowAsbestos Litigation Involving M.H. Detrick
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 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. Products That Contained Asbestos
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.
Industries That Used M.H. Detrick Products & Workers at Risk
The company manufactured, sold and distributed asbestos-containing products for 26 years, from 1939 through 1964. During this time, its products were widely supplied to industries that relied on asbestos for insulation, durability and fire resistance.
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 Occupations
- 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.
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