Manufacturer Background

Synthane Corporation (later Synthane-Taylor Corporation) of Oaks, Pennsylvania was a principal U.S. manufacturer of Bakelite laminated products — phenolic-resin-bonded paper, cloth, and asbestos laminates — during the asbestos era. Synthane is the manufacturer of the Synthane and Spauldite brand asbestos-phenolic laminate product lines, and the company is referenced in industry publications throughout the 1940s-1970s era as a major supplier to U.S. electrical-equipment, transformer, motor, and switchgear manufacturers. The corpus identifies a notable ‘Synthane Installs New Laminating Press’ industry-publication article documenting the company’s manufacturing-capacity expansion during the asbestos era.

Documented Asbestos-Bearing Products

  • Synthane brand asbestos-paper and asbestos-cloth phenolic laminate (also covered in a dedicated AP product page)
  • Spauldite brand asbestos-phenolic laminate (Spaulding-Synthane joint product; also covered in a dedicated AP product page)
  • Synthane laminate sheets — phenolic-bonded paper, cloth, asbestos paper, asbestos cloth grades
  • Synthane machined laminate parts — washers, barriers, spacers, panels
  • Synthane structural insulating components for transformer, switchgear, motor assemblies

Documented Applications and Recipient Industries

Synthane / Synthane-Taylor Bakelite laminate products were allegedly supplied to U.S. power transformer manufacturers (Westinghouse, GE, Allis-Chalmers, McGraw-Edison, Cooper Power, Federal Pacific), motor manufacturers, switchgear and breaker plants (Square D, Allen-Bradley, Cutler-Hammer/Eaton, ITE), aerospace manufacturers, and industrial OEMs during the asbestos era.

How Workers Were Exposed

Per publicly filed allegations in U.S. asbestos litigation, workers exposed to Synthane Corporation / Synthane-Taylor laminate, fibre, and structural insulating products allegedly handled them during:

  • Raw stock cutting, sawing, drilling, and machining — finishing operations on cured phenolic laminate or vulcanized fibre release fiber from the matrix
  • Component assembly — fitting laminate parts into transformer, switchgear, motor, and electrical-equipment assemblies
  • Field maintenance and rebuild — handling aged Synthane Corporation / Synthane-Taylor components during equipment overhaul
  • Quality control and inspection — dimensional and electrical testing of cured laminate parts
  • Receiving, stockroom, and shipping — moving bulk laminate sheets and machined components in and out of the plant

The occupational health risks associated with asbestos inhalation are well established under OSHA standards and documented by regulatory bodies including the EPA. Diseases associated with asbestos exposure include mesothelioma, asbestosis, lung cancer, and other asbestos-related conditions, which may have latency periods of decades between initial exposure and clinical diagnosis.

Workers exposed to Synthane Corporation / Synthane-Taylor laminate, vulcanized fibre, transformer board, or structural insulating components at any U.S. transformer plant, electrical equipment manufacturer, motor manufacturer, switchgear plant, or industrial facility may have legal rights if they have since been diagnosed with mesothelioma, asbestosis, lung cancer, or another asbestos-related disease.

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.