Product Description

Reed-Prentice was a leading American manufacturer of plastic injection molding machinery from the 1930s through the late 1970s. The brand was operated as the Reed-Prentice Division of Package Machinery Company, headquartered in Worcester, Massachusetts. Reed-Prentice presses were sold in capacity ranges from 4-ounce, 6-ounce, and 8-ounce small-shot models up to 32-ounce and 60-ounce large-tonnage machines, and the brand supplied a wide cross-section of American plastics manufacturers — including injection and extrusion molders producing dispenser pumps, electrical components, household products, and packaging.

According to publicly filed asbestos litigation records, Reed-Prentice injection molding machines were standard equipment in West Coast and Midwest molding plants from the immediate postwar era through the late 1970s. The Reed-Prentice 8-oz injection machine in particular was widely deployed; aftermarket suppliers such as Injection Molders Supply Co. (IMS) of Cleveland, Ohio published replacement cylinder and heater assemblies dimensioned specifically for the popular Reed-Prentice 8-oz frame.

Reed-Prentice was named as a corporate defendant in numerous asbestos personal-injury and wrongful-death actions, including the New York Court of Appeals decisions in Robinson v. Reed-Prentice Division of Package Machinery Co., 49 N.Y.2d 471 (1980), and in the consolidated New York City Asbestos Litigation matters reported at Matter of New York City Asbestos Litig., 27 N.Y.3d 765 (2016).

Asbestos Content

Plaintiffs alleged in publicly filed U.S. asbestos litigation that Reed-Prentice injection molding machines incorporated asbestos in one or more of the structural roles common to plastic injection presses of the era:

Heating cylinder insulation — The heated injection cylinder (the long horizontal barrel through which molten plastic was pushed by the reciprocating screw or plunger) operated at process temperatures of 350°F to 600°F and above, depending on the plastic being molded. Plaintiffs alleged that the cylinder was wrapped in asbestos-containing thermal insulation to retain process heat, protect operators, and stabilize melt temperature.

Band heater insulation and gaskets — The electric band heaters clamped around the injection cylinder were alleged to be insulated and gasketed with asbestos-bearing material. When band heaters failed (a routine maintenance event) operators or maintenance personnel removed the failed band, disturbed the surrounding insulation, and installed a replacement — releasing asbestos fiber during the work.

Nozzle insulation — The heated nozzle that connected the cylinder to the mold sprue bushing was alleged to be wrapped or gasketed with asbestos-containing material.

Hot platen insulation — Some Reed-Prentice press configurations included heated mold platens; plaintiffs alleged that platen insulation contained asbestos.

Aftermarket asbestos-insulated cylinders — Aftermarket suppliers including Injection Molders Supply Co. (IMS), 3514 Lee Rd., Cleveland 20, Ohio marketed replacement cylinders and heaters specifically for the Reed-Prentice 8-oz frame; those replacement assemblies are alleged in litigation records to have been supplied with asbestos-containing insulation through at least the early 1970s.

How Workers Were Exposed

Workers across plastic molding operations were exposed to asbestos from Reed-Prentice machines during multiple routine and maintenance tasks:

  • Band heater replacement — A routine maintenance event. Removing a failed band required disturbing the surrounding cylinder insulation, generating airborne asbestos fiber in the operator’s immediate breathing zone.
  • Cylinder rewrap and re-insulation — During major press overhauls and cylinder rebuilds, the entire cylinder insulation jacket was stripped and replaced. Workers cut, tore, scraped, and reinstalled asbestos-containing insulation by hand.
  • Mold changes — Each mold change required workers to lean over hot platens and access heated areas where asbestos insulation was disturbed.
  • Nozzle changes and purging — Cleaning purges and nozzle changes required workers to work in proximity to asbestos-insulated nozzle assemblies.
  • Heater wiring and electrical maintenance — Plant electricians replacing thermocouples, heater leads, and contactors at press control panels worked within asbestos-insulated cylinder areas.
  • Machine rebuilding and refurbishment — Used-equipment dealers and rebuild shops servicing Reed-Prentice presses for resale handled and stripped asbestos-containing insulation as part of refurbishment.

Plaintiffs alleged that plastic molding operators, machine setup workers, mold-change crews, plant maintenance mechanics, millwrights, plant electricians, and bystander workers were exposed to airborne asbestos fiber during these routine activities — often without warnings, respiratory protection, or knowledge of the asbestos content of the cylinder insulation they were disturbing.

Plants Where Reed-Prentice Presses Were Installed

Reed-Prentice machines were deployed across the U.S. plastics industry — including at injection and extrusion molders producing dispenser pumps, trigger sprayers, plastic closures, electrical components, packaging, and consumer products. Publicly filed asbestos litigation records and contemporaneous trade-press archives associate Reed-Prentice equipment with West Coast molders headquartered in Los Angeles and South Gate, California during the 1940s-1960s era — including molders that supplied the personal-care, packaging, and electrical-component industries.

This information reflects facility history, exposure pathways, and product documentation drawn from publicly filed asbestos litigation, federal regulatory records, and industry archives. It does not constitute a finding of fact or liability with respect to any specific manufacturer, supplier, or facility operator.

Documented End-User Plants and Worker Populations

Reed-Prentice injection molding machines were installed across virtually every category of U.S. plastic-molding operation during the asbestos era. Reed-Prentice-related worker exposure occurred at:

Plastic Dispenser, Sprayer, and Packaging Molders

  • Trigger-sprayer, finger-pump, and dispenser-pump molders — including Calmar Co. Los Angeles (6800 McKinley Ave; 1950s-60s era), Realex Corp / Calmar Lee’s Summit Missouri (1985-2004), Saint-Gobain Calmar / MeadWestvaco Calmar Grandview Missouri (2004-present), AFA Dispensing, Seaquist Perfect, Continental, and other U.S. personal-care and packaging-pump molders
  • Plastic-bottle, plastic-jar, and plastic-closure molders — supplying the food-and-beverage, personal-care, pharmaceutical, and household-chemical industries
  • Plastic-packaging and rigid-container molders — supplying commodity packaging across U.S. consumer-goods industries

Electrical-Component Plastic Molders

  • Phenolic switchgear, breaker, panelboard, and terminal-block molders — including Square D Company plants at Cedar Rapids Iowa, Peru Indiana, Columbia Missouri, Lincoln Nebraska, Middletown Ohio, and other Square D facilities; Westinghouse Electric Corporation electrical-component plants; General Electric electrical-component plants; and independent electrical-component molders
  • Plastic-handle, plastic-knob, and plastic-component molders for consumer and industrial electrical products

Consumer Appliance and Industrial Molders

  • Small-appliance plastic-component molders — supplying toaster, broiler, oven, food-warmer, humidifier, and other small-appliance manufacturers
  • Automotive plastic-component molders — supplying instrument-panel, interior-trim, and under-hood molded components to U.S. automotive OEMs
  • Industrial plastic-component molders — supplying machined and molded plastic parts to U.S. industrial OEMs

Worker Populations Across All End-User Plants

Plastic molding operators, machine setup workers, mold-change crews, plant maintenance mechanics, millwrights, plant electricians, machinist-rebuild crews, and bystander workers at all of these end-user plants were exposed to airborne asbestos fiber from Reed-Prentice cylinder insulation, band-heater insulation, and nozzle gasket and packing materials during routine press operation, band-heater replacement, cylinder rewrap, and machine rebuild work throughout the asbestos era.

If You Worked at a Plastic-Molding Plant Running Reed-Prentice Injection Molding Machines

If you operated, maintained, or rebuilt Reed-Prentice injection molding machines at any time during the asbestos era — and have since been diagnosed with mesothelioma, asbestosis, lung cancer, or another asbestos-related illness — asbestos-related diseases can develop silently for 20, 30, or even 40 years after initial exposure. You may have legal rights.

Free, confidential case evaluation: Speak with O’Brien Law Firm — (314) 936-2956

All consultations are free. No fee unless a financial recovery is made on your behalf.