Product Description

Werner & Pfleiderer (W&P) twin-screw extruders — including the ZSK series — dominated plastics compounding, masterbatch, and specialty chemical processing in the U.S. from the 1950s through the 1980s. According to publicly filed asbestos litigation records, the heated barrel segments allegedly carried asbestos-fabric jacket lagging to hold process temperature, and the barrel-segment and die-head flanges allegedly sealed with compressed asbestos sheet gaskets. Shaft seals at the drive end allegedly used braided asbestos packing.

Barrel changeouts, die-head cleanouts, and jacket-lagging replacement allegedly generated airborne asbestos fibers over the extruder platform.

Workers Exposed

  • Plastics compounding operators feeding polymer and additives
  • Chemical process operators running masterbatch lines
  • Plant mechanics and millwrights disassembling barrel segments
  • Plant maintenance mechanics replacing die-head gaskets and lagging