ITT Corporation and Asbestos-Containing Products
Company History
ITT Corporation — originally founded as International Telephone & Telegraph Corporation — grew over the course of the twentieth century from a telecommunications company into one of the largest industrial conglomerates in the United States. Through an aggressive acquisition strategy spanning the mid-twentieth century, ITT assembled a broad portfolio of subsidiary businesses operating across defense, hospitality, insurance, and, critically for this reference, industrial manufacturing. By the 1960s and 1970s, ITT’s industrial divisions were producing pumps, valves, steam traps, and fluid-handling equipment that was installed in refineries, chemical plants, shipyards, power generation facilities, and heavy manufacturing operations throughout the country.
ITT’s industrial equipment divisions included well-known subsidiary brands that manufactured components integral to the functioning of large-scale industrial systems. These subsidiaries operated under ITT’s corporate umbrella while maintaining their own product lines, and their equipment was frequently specified by contractors and plant engineers for use in high-temperature, high-pressure environments — the same environments in which asbestos-containing gaskets, packing materials, and insulation were routinely used either as manufactured components or as field-applied materials.
The company underwent significant restructuring in subsequent decades, eventually separating into distinct publicly traded entities. The industrial businesses that manufactured pumps and flow-control equipment were ultimately spun off and operate today under separate corporate identities. ITT’s transition away from its conglomerate structure, however, has not insulated the legacy industrial operations from asbestos litigation arising out of products manufactured and sold during the mid-twentieth century.
Asbestos use in ITT’s industrial product lines is understood to have continued through approximately the early 1980s, consistent with broader industry timelines following tightened federal regulation and increasing awareness of asbestos-related health hazards.
Asbestos-Containing Products
According to asbestos litigation records, ITT Corporation and its industrial subsidiaries manufactured and distributed pumps, valves, and steam traps that plaintiffs allege contained asbestos-containing components or were designed to be used in conjunction with asbestos-containing replacement parts. Court filings document claims involving equipment produced under ITT subsidiary brand names that were widely distributed to industrial worksites across the United States from at least the 1940s through the early 1980s.
Plaintiffs alleged that asbestos was present in several forms within ITT-affiliated industrial equipment, including:
Pump packing and mechanical seals: Braided asbestos packing was commonly used in centrifugal and reciprocating pump assemblies to prevent fluid leakage around rotating shafts. According to litigation records, workers responsible for maintaining and repacking pumps were exposed to asbestos fibers during the removal of worn packing materials.
Valve packing and stem seals: Court filings document allegations that valves manufactured by ITT subsidiaries incorporated asbestos-containing stem packing. Valve packing required periodic replacement, and workers performing that maintenance — including pipefitters, millwrights, and stationary engineers — were alleged to have been exposed during the removal and installation process.
Gaskets in flanged connections and bonnets: Plaintiffs alleged that asbestos-containing compressed sheet gaskets were used in flanged connections, valve bonnets, and pump casings. These gaskets required cutting to fit and were subject to deterioration under heat and pressure cycling, releasing fibers during removal.
Steam traps: According to asbestos litigation records, steam trap assemblies associated with ITT product lines incorporated internal components and sealing materials that plaintiffs alleged contained asbestos. Steam traps were essential components of industrial steam distribution systems and were serviced regularly by maintenance tradespeople.
Insulation materials on associated equipment: Court filings in some cases document allegations that ITT-branded or ITT-subsidiary equipment was shipped with or installed alongside asbestos-containing insulation blankets or block insulation, exposing insulation workers, pipecoverers, and nearby tradespeople.
It is important to note that in many industrial environments, the original manufacturer’s components were supplemented or replaced by asbestos-containing aftermarket parts sourced from separate suppliers. Litigation records reflect disputes over whether exposure claims relate to original manufactured components, replacement parts, or field-applied materials installed by other parties.
Occupational Exposure
Workers in a range of trades encountered ITT-affiliated industrial pumps, valves, and steam traps throughout their working lives. The occupations most frequently documented in court filings as potentially exposed include:
- Pipefitters and steamfitters who installed, maintained, and repaired valve and pump assemblies in refineries, chemical plants, and power stations
- Millwrights and maintenance mechanics responsible for repacking pumps and overhauling rotating equipment
- Stationary engineers and boiler operators who maintained steam systems, including steam traps, in industrial and utility settings
- Insulators and asbestos workers who applied or removed insulation from piping systems, including around pump and valve assemblies
- Shipyard workers employed in naval shipyards and commercial shipbuilding facilities where fluid-handling systems incorporating pumps and valves were installed in engine rooms and mechanical spaces
- Refinery and chemical plant operators who performed routine maintenance tasks in high-heat process environments
According to asbestos litigation records, exposure events frequently occurred not only during the primary maintenance task — such as repacking a valve — but also as a result of bystander exposure. Workers in adjacent trades or working in confined spaces alongside mechanics performing dusty maintenance tasks were also alleged to have inhaled asbestos fibers released during that work.
The latency period for asbestos-related diseases — including mesothelioma, asbestosis, and lung cancer — typically ranges from 20 to 50 years after initial exposure. This extended latency means that workers who handled ITT-affiliated industrial equipment during the 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s may be receiving diagnoses today.
Industries and facilities where ITT pumps, valves, and steam traps were documented or alleged to have been in service include petroleum refining, chemical manufacturing, electric power generation, paper and pulp mills, steel production, and the United States Navy and commercial maritime sectors.
Trust Fund / Legal Status
ITT Corporation is a Tier 2 entity for purposes of this reference. Asbestos claims involving ITT and its industrial subsidiaries have been litigated in civil courts across the United States, but ITT has not established a dedicated asbestos bankruptcy trust fund. This distinguishes ITT from manufacturers such as Johns-Manville, Owens Corning, or Armstrong World Industries, which resolved asbestos liability through Chapter 11 reorganization and the creation of Section 524(g) trusts.
According to asbestos litigation records, claims against ITT and successor entities have proceeded through the civil tort system. Plaintiffs alleging exposure to asbestos from ITT-affiliated equipment have brought lawsuits in state and federal courts, with outcomes varying by jurisdiction, the specific products at issue, the plaintiff’s documented exposure history, and the particular ITT subsidiary or successor entity named.
Because ITT underwent substantial corporate restructuring and spin-offs over the years, identifying the correct legal entity responsible for a given product line is an important and sometimes complex step in pursuing a claim. Attorneys handling asbestos litigation typically conduct corporate history research to trace successor liability and determine which contemporary entity, if any, bears responsibility for claims arising from legacy product lines.
For individuals or families researching potential legal options:
- Workers diagnosed with mesothelioma, asbestosis, lung cancer, or other asbestos-related conditions who handled pumps, valves, or steam traps in industrial settings should document their complete work history, including employers, facilities, dates of employment, and the specific equipment they worked with.
- Exposure involving asbestos-containing products from multiple manufacturers is common in industrial settings. Even if ITT-affiliated equipment is one source of alleged exposure, other manufacturers’ products used at the same facility — such as gasket suppliers, insulation manufacturers, or other valve and pump manufacturers — may have established bankruptcy trust funds, allowing for claims to be filed concurrently.
- An attorney experienced in asbestos litigation can evaluate whether viable civil claims exist against ITT successor entities and can identify trust fund claims available through other defendants involved in the same exposure history.
- There are no trust fund claim forms or deadlines specific to ITT at this time, as no ITT asbestos trust has been established. Civil litigation deadlines (statutes of limitations) vary and are generally measured from the date of diagnosis or the date the claimant knew or should have known of the connection between their illness and asbestos exposure.
Summary: ITT Corporation and its industrial subsidiaries manufactured pumps, valves, and steam traps that are the subject of ongoing asbestos litigation in the United States. According to court filings and litigation records, plaintiffs alleged that these products contained asbestos-containing packing, gaskets, and sealing components that exposed maintenance workers and tradespeople over a period of several decades. ITT has not established an asbestos bankruptcy trust fund; claims are pursued through civil litigation against ITT successor entities. Workers or family members researching exposure history involving ITT-affiliated industrial equipment should consult an attorney experienced in asbestos matters to evaluate available legal options and identify any applicable trust fund claims against co-defendants.