Company History

The Blaw-Knox Company was a Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania industrial manufacturer formed in 1917 through the merger of the Blaw Steel Centering Company and the Knox Pressed and Welded Steel Company. The combined firm became a diversified heavy-equipment maker, producing water-cooled furnace equipment, steel forms and centering, process and mill equipment, and — through later expansion — construction and paving machinery. The company was closely tied to the community of Blawnox, Pennsylvania, a town near Pittsburgh named for the firm. Over its long history, Blaw-Knox passed through several corporate owners, and the Blaw-Knox brand continued in use in the road-construction sector under later parent companies.

During the mid-twentieth century, when much of this equipment was in service, asbestos was a standard material in thermal-insulation and mechanical-sealing applications throughout heavy industry. Manufacturers of furnace, steam, and process equipment routinely incorporated asbestos-containing insulation, gaskets, and packing that were considered safe and industry-standard at the time.

According to U.S. Navy machinery records, Blaw-Knox steam accumulators were documented aboard U.S. Navy vessels including the aircraft carriers USS Nimitz (CVN-68) and USS Forrestal (CVA-59) as documented naval original-equipment-manufacturer (OEM) machinery. A steam accumulator is a pressure vessel that stores steam or hot water to buffer fluctuating demand within a ship’s steam plant.

Asbestos-Containing Products

Blaw-Knox did not manufacture asbestos as a raw material. However, according to asbestos litigation records, high-temperature steam and process equipment of this era was commonly built and serviced with asbestos-containing thermal insulation and sealing components that were considered industry-standard at the time.

Thermal insulation was routinely applied to the exterior of steam accumulators, vessels, and associated piping to conserve heat and protect personnel. Plaintiffs have alleged that asbestos-containing insulation, lagging, and insulating cement were used on and around steam and process equipment of this vintage.

Gaskets and packing sealed the flanged connections, access covers, and fittings associated with pressure vessels and process equipment. Plaintiffs have alleged that compressed asbestos fiber gaskets and asbestos packing were used at these connections and that replacement materials specified for such equipment were similarly composed of asbestos-containing materials.

According to court filings, the hazard associated with these components was not limited to initial installation. Because insulation, gaskets, and packing degrade under heat, pressure, and continuous operation, they required periodic replacement or repair, and cutting, scraping, or removing worn asbestos-containing material allegedly generated airborne fibers. Individuals seeking to confirm whether specific Blaw-Knox equipment is associated with asbestos-containing components are encouraged to consult asbestos litigation records, period product documentation, or an attorney with access to product-identification databases.

Occupational Exposure

According to asbestos litigation records, exposure to asbestos-containing materials associated with steam and process equipment of this type occurred across a range of naval, marine, and industrial occupations. The following worker categories appear with regularity in asbestos claims involving heavy steam and furnace equipment:

Boilermakers, Machinist’s Mates, and Shipboard Engineers — Navy personnel who operated and maintained steam-plant equipment aboard ship allegedly worked around asbestos-containing insulation, gaskets, and packing during routine maintenance and overhaul.

Insulators and Laggers — Workers who applied, patched, or removed thermal insulation on vessels, accumulators, and piping were, according to plaintiffs, among those most directly exposed to asbestos-containing insulation materials.

Shipyard Workers — Personnel who installed, overhauled, or repaired steam equipment during construction, refit, or drydock periods may have encountered asbestos-containing components associated with this machinery.

Furnace, Mill, and Process Plant Workers — Because Blaw-Knox built furnace and heavy process equipment used broadly in steel mills and industrial plants ashore, workers who maintained this equipment appear in litigation involving high-temperature equipment.

Bystander and Secondary Exposure — Asbestos litigation records also reflect claims by workers who did not perform the maintenance themselves but worked in proximity to those who did, as well as family members who may have experienced take-home exposure from fibers carried on work clothing.

The latency period for asbestos-related diseases — including mesothelioma, asbestosis, and asbestos-related lung cancer — is typically 20 to 50 years following initial exposure, so workers exposed during the peak decades of asbestos use may only recently be receiving diagnoses.

Trust Fund / Legal Status

Blaw-Knox Company is classified as a Tier 2 manufacturer for purposes of this reference site. This designation means the company and its corporate successors have been associated with asbestos-related personal injury litigation, but no dedicated Blaw-Knox asbestos bankruptcy trust fund has been established. Accordingly, claims involving this equipment are not resolved through a trust fund claims process in the same manner as claims against companies that reorganized under Chapter 11 specifically due to asbestos liability.

Because Blaw-Knox operated through numerous corporate relationships and changed ownership several times over its history, individuals pursuing legal claims may need to account for corporate succession when identifying appropriate defendants. An experienced asbestos attorney can assist in tracing these corporate histories.

For individuals who worked with Blaw-Knox equipment and were also exposed to asbestos-containing products from other manufacturers — a common circumstance in shipboard and industrial environments — separate trust fund claims may be available through those manufacturers’ established asbestos trusts.

If you or a family member worked with or around Blaw-Knox steam accumulators or heavy process equipment and has since been diagnosed with mesothelioma, asbestosis, or asbestos-related lung cancer, legal options may be available.

Key points to understand:

  • Blaw-Knox Company has been associated with asbestos litigation but does not operate a dedicated asbestos bankruptcy trust fund. Claims would be pursued through direct civil litigation rather than a trust claims process.
  • Corporate succession involving Blaw-Knox’s several ownership changes may be relevant to identifying proper defendants.
  • Workers exposed to multiple asbestos-containing products — as was common aboard Navy ships and in industrial plants — may be eligible to file claims against multiple responsible parties, including manufacturers with established trust funds.
  • The long latency period for asbestos-related disease means that exposure from decades ago can give rise to claims today.
  • An attorney specializing in asbestos litigation can review your work history, identify relevant products and manufacturers, and advise on available legal remedies.

Documentation of your work history — including employers, job sites, job titles, ship assignments, and any product names or model numbers you can recall — is valuable when consulting with an attorney and should be preserved.