Durametallic - Durametallic Corporation (New Era)
Durametallic Corporation (“Durametallic”) was incorporated in Michigan in 1917 and formerly manufactured, sold, supplied and distributed asbestos-containing packing and sealing products. Durametallic’s principal place of business is located in Kalamazoo, Michigan; however they are also licensed to do business in California.
Between approximately 1930-1985, some of Durametallic’s products contained asbestos. After that, federal regulations went into effect that severely restricted the use of asbestos due to the known health risks associated with exposure. Asbestos, when inhaled or ingested, can cause mesothelioma, a fatal cancer of the internal organs, asbestosis, and other types of cancer.
Durametallic’s products were primarily used on equipment in factories, refineries and other industrial plants, which operated at high temperature and under high pressure, including valves, pumps and compressors. Asbestos was inexpensive, readily available and well known for its insulating and fire retardant properties and therefore was used in thousands of products and many industries for that purpose.
Durametallic’s asbestos-containing products were used at various sites in California including the following:
- Dow Chemical, Pittsburgh, CA
- East Bay Pump, Oakland, CA
- Hercules Powder, Hercules, CA
- Kern County Refinery, Bakersfield, CA
- PG&E, San Francisco, CA
- Sacomo Manufacturing, San Francisco, CA
- Shell Chemical Co., Martinez, CA
- Tidewater Oil Co., Bakersfield, CA
- Standard Oil, Bakersfield, CA
- Union Oil, Coalinga, CA
The removal, installation and handling of Durametallic’s asbestos-containing packing and sealing products caused the release of unsafe levels of breathable asbestos fiber and dust from the products into the workplace air, exposing the worker to hazardous levels of asbestos fiber and dust. Any employee exposed to asbestos either developed or carries a risk of developing an asbestos-related disease.
If you or someone you know has been exposed to asbestos as a result of handling or being involved with Durametallic, and if you think such exposure may have caused you or your loved one to become ill with mesothelioma or any other form of asbestos related disease, please contact the lawyers at Clapper, Patti Schweizer & Mason for more information.