Allis-Chalmers, headquartered in West Allis, Wisconsin, was a diversified heavy industrial manufacturer supplying the US Navy with steam turbines, centrifugal pumps, electrical transformers, switchgear, and motors throughout World War II and the Cold War. Allis-Chalmers supplied the Navy across multiple product categories — turbine equipment for power generation applications, pump equipment for auxiliary service, and electrical distribution equipment for shipboard power systems — all of which used asbestos-containing materials in the steam service, high-temperature, and electrical applications standard in their era.
Asbestos in Allis-Chalmers Turbine Equipment
Allis-Chalmers steam turbines installed in Navy auxiliary service used asbestos-containing sealing materials:
- Turbine casing gaskets at steam inlet and exhaust flanges — asbestos sheet or spiral wound gaskets at all high-temperature connection points on Allis-Chalmers turbine casings
- Turbine shaft gland packing — braided asbestos packing in turbine shaft seal stuffing boxes requiring periodic adjustment and replacement during turbine maintenance
- Steam chest and control valve gaskets on Allis-Chalmers turbine admission valve chests
Asbestos in Allis-Chalmers Pump Equipment
Allis-Chalmers centrifugal pumps supplied to the Navy used asbestos packing and gaskets in the same pattern as other pump manufacturers:
- Shaft gland packing on Allis-Chalmers centrifugal pump stuffing boxes — braided asbestos packing providing shaft sealing, replaced periodically during pump maintenance
- Pump body and flange gaskets at suction and discharge connections — asbestos sheet gasket material at flanged pump connections throughout auxiliary service applications
Electrical Equipment and Asbestos
Allis-Chalmers also supplied electrical transformers, switchgear, and motors to the Navy in which asbestos-containing materials were used in the thermal insulation and arc-suppression applications standard in electrical equipment of the era:
- Transformer windings and insulation in some Allis-Chalmers transformer designs used asbestos-containing electrical insulation on transformer coil windings
- Switchgear arc chutes and arc-suppression components in some Allis-Chalmers naval switchgear used asbestos-containing arc-quenching materials
Asbestos Litigation Record
Allis-Chalmers appears in asbestos litigation filed by Navy veterans documenting exposure from turbine, pump, and electrical equipment maintenance aboard Navy vessels and at shore facilities. The litigation record documents Allis-Chalmers’ Navy supply contracts across multiple product categories and the asbestos-containing components in their product lines.
VA Claims for Veterans Exposed to Allis-Chalmers Products
VA evaluates asbestos-related disability claims on a case-by-case basis. Veterans generally need evidence of in-service asbestos exposure, a current asbestos-related diagnosis, and a medical link between them. Machinist’s Mates, Electrician’s Mates, and other engineering ratings who performed Allis-Chalmers turbine, pump, and electrical equipment maintenance involving asbestos-containing materials and have since been diagnosed with mesothelioma may qualify for VA disability benefits.