FMC Corporation and Asbestos-Containing Products
Company History
FMC Corporation traces its origins to the late nineteenth century, evolving from a modest agricultural machinery enterprise into one of the United States’ most diversified industrial manufacturers. Over the course of the twentieth century, FMC expanded aggressively into chemicals, defense systems, food processing machinery, and — most relevant to asbestos exposure history — industrial pumps and fluid-handling equipment. By mid-century, the company had established itself as a major supplier to the petrochemical, refining, power generation, and heavy manufacturing sectors across the United States.
FMC’s pump and machinery divisions operated during an era when asbestos was routinely specified as a component in industrial equipment. Gaskets, packing materials, insulating components, and valve assemblies produced during this period frequently incorporated asbestos-containing materials because of their heat resistance, compressibility, and chemical compatibility with the aggressive fluids and high-pressure environments typical of industrial processing operations. FMC Corporation is believed to have continued the use of asbestos-containing components in its pump and fluid-handling product lines through approximately the early 1980s, after which tightening federal regulations and mounting health evidence led the broader industrial equipment industry toward asbestos substitutes.
FMC remains an active corporation and has not established an asbestos bankruptcy trust fund. Workers and families with potential exposure histories related to FMC equipment are subject to the civil litigation process rather than a trust claim filing system.
Asbestos-Containing Products
According to asbestos litigation records, FMC Corporation manufactured and sold industrial pump assemblies and related fluid-handling equipment that plaintiffs alleged contained asbestos-containing internal components. Court filings document that the types of components most frequently cited in exposure claims associated with FMC pumps include:
Pump Packing and Shaft Seals Plaintiffs alleged that braided pump packing used to seal rotating shafts in FMC pump assemblies was manufactured with or supplied alongside asbestos-containing packing material. This type of packing was standard in the industrial pump industry through much of the mid-twentieth century. Workers performing routine maintenance — including repacking pump stems and replacing worn shaft seals — were potentially exposed to asbestos fibers during the removal of degraded packing and the installation of replacement material.
Gaskets and Flange Components According to asbestos litigation records, flat sheet gaskets and spiral-wound gaskets associated with FMC pump flanges, valve bodies, and pipe connections were alleged to have contained compressed asbestos fiber in their construction. Compressed asbestos sheet gaskets were widely used in high-temperature, high-pressure service because of their ability to maintain a fluid-tight seal under demanding operating conditions. Court filings in cases involving FMC equipment document worker allegations that cutting gaskets to fit, scraping failed gaskets from flange faces, and handling gasket material in confined spaces generated respirable asbestos dust.
Insulating and Heat Shield Materials In certain industrial configurations — particularly in refinery and power plant applications — pump assemblies were fitted with external insulating jackets or heat shields. Plaintiffs alleged in court filings that some FMC equipment was installed with or in proximity to asbestos-containing insulation that workers encountered during installation, maintenance, and repair activities.
It is important to note that, consistent with Tier 2 legal standards, the presence of asbestos in specific FMC products is drawn from litigation records and plaintiff allegations. The characterization of these products as asbestos-containing has been the subject of contested civil litigation, and FMC Corporation’s liability has not been established as a universal legal fact across all jurisdictions or cases.
Occupational Exposure
The workers most likely to have encountered asbestos-containing materials associated with FMC pump equipment were those employed in industries where large-scale fluid-handling systems were central to daily operations. Court filings document exposure allegations from workers in the following occupational categories and industries:
Refineries and Petrochemical Plants FMC pumps were widely used in crude oil refining and chemical processing facilities. Pipefitters, millwrights, pump mechanics, and maintenance workers at these installations routinely serviced pump equipment as part of scheduled turnarounds and emergency repairs. Plaintiffs alleged that repacking pumps, replacing gaskets, and working in confined spaces around pump systems exposed them to asbestos fibers over extended periods of employment.
Power Generation Facilities Steam-driven power plants — both utility and industrial — relied heavily on large pump assemblies for boiler feedwater service, condensate return, and cooling water systems. According to asbestos litigation records, workers at power generation facilities alleged exposure to asbestos-containing packing and gasket materials associated with FMC equipment during routine pump overhauls.
Shipyards and Marine Applications FMC Corporation supplied pump equipment for marine and naval applications during the mid-twentieth century. Shipyard workers and Navy personnel who installed, maintained, or repaired pump systems in confined shipboard spaces were among those who brought exposure claims referencing FMC equipment. Court filings document allegations that the enclosed nature of engine rooms and pump spaces concentrated airborne asbestos fibers during maintenance work.
Chemical Processing and General Manufacturing FMC pumps appeared in a wide range of general industrial settings, including food processing plants, fertilizer manufacturing facilities, and heavy chemical production operations. Maintenance mechanics, industrial pipefitters, and plant engineers at these facilities are documented in litigation records as having alleged exposure to asbestos-containing components within FMC pump assemblies over careers spanning decades.
Exposure Pathways The primary exposure pathways identified in court filings involving FMC pump equipment include:
- Primary maintenance exposure: Direct handling of asbestos-containing packing and gasket materials during pump servicing
- Bystander exposure: Proximity to pump maintenance activities performed by other tradespeople in shared work areas
- Disturbance of aged materials: Removal of brittle, dried asbestos-containing packing or gaskets that friable with age, increasing fiber release
- Lack of respiratory protection: Plaintiffs consistently alleged that respiratory protective equipment was not provided or required during pump maintenance activities in the decades when asbestos use was routine
The latency period for asbestos-related diseases — often ranging from ten to fifty years between exposure and diagnosis — means that workers exposed to FMC equipment during the 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s may be receiving diagnoses of mesothelioma, asbestosis, or asbestos-related lung cancer today.
Trust Fund / Legal Status
No Asbestos Bankruptcy Trust Exists for FMC Corporation
FMC Corporation has not filed for asbestos-related bankruptcy and has not established a Section 524(g) asbestos settlement trust. As a result, individuals alleging asbestos-related injuries attributable to FMC equipment do not have the option of filing an administrative trust claim against the company.
Claims involving FMC Corporation proceed through the civil tort litigation system. According to asbestos litigation records, FMC has been named as a defendant in asbestos personal injury lawsuits across multiple jurisdictions, with plaintiffs alleging that exposure to asbestos-containing components in FMC pump and fluid-handling equipment caused or contributed to their development of mesothelioma, asbestosis, and related diseases.
Considerations for Potential Claimants
Because no trust fund exists, individuals with potential FMC-related exposure histories should be aware of the following:
- Statutes of limitations apply: Civil asbestos claims are subject to state-specific statutes of limitations that typically begin running from the date of diagnosis. Delays in consulting legal counsel can result in loss of the right to file.
- Product identification is important: Documenting the specific FMC equipment to which a worker was exposed — through employment records, union records, co-worker testimony, or facility maintenance logs — strengthens the evidentiary foundation of a civil claim.
- Multiple defendants are common: Most asbestos personal injury cases involve exposure to products from multiple manufacturers. FMC Corporation claims are frequently litigated alongside claims against other pump manufacturers, gasket suppliers, and insulation producers who also supplied materials to the same worksites.
- Legal representation is advisable: Given that FMC remains a solvent corporate defendant subject to civil litigation rather than a fixed trust schedule, experienced asbestos litigation counsel can evaluate the strength of exposure evidence and advise on the appropriate legal strategy.
Summary
FMC Corporation was a major American industrial manufacturer whose pump and fluid-handling equipment was used across refineries, power plants, chemical processing facilities, shipyards, and general manufacturing operations from the mid-twentieth century through approximately the early 1980s. According to asbestos litigation records, plaintiffs alleged that asbestos-containing packing, gaskets, and associated components in FMC equipment exposed maintenance workers, pipefitters, millwrights, and other tradespeople to hazardous asbestos fibers during routine servicing activities.
FMC Corporation has not established an asbestos bankruptcy trust. Workers or family members who believe asbestos exposure from FMC pump equipment contributed to a diagnosis of mesothelioma, asbestosis, or asbestos-related lung cancer should consult with an attorney experienced in asbestos litigation to evaluate their civil legal options and ensure compliance with applicable filing deadlines.