Anchor Darling Industries, formerly Anchor Darling Valve Company, headquartered in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, manufactured high-pressure gate valves, globe valves, and specialty valves for nuclear steam system applications in US Navy nuclear submarines and nuclear surface ships, as well as for commercial nuclear power plant and high-pressure industrial steam applications. Anchor Darling valves were specified for nuclear steam system service because their designs were qualified for the demanding pressure, temperature, and service environment requirements of naval nuclear propulsion plant secondary steam systems. Anchor Darling valve products were installed in the secondary steam systems of nuclear submarines and nuclear surface ships — the high-pressure piping that carries steam from the reactor steam generators to the main propulsion turbines — where the nuclear service qualification of the valve design was required. According to asbestos litigation records, Anchor Darling valve assemblies incorporated asbestos-containing stem packing at valve stem gland seals and asbestos-containing body gasket materials at valve bonnet connections, creating asbestos exposure for engineering ratings who maintained Anchor Darling valve installations in nuclear propulsion plant steam systems.

Anchor Darling Valve Asbestos

Anchor Darling high-pressure and nuclear-qualified valve assemblies incorporated asbestos in valve sealing:

  • Nuclear steam system valve stem packing — Anchor Darling gate valves and globe valves qualified for nuclear steam system service installed in Navy nuclear submarine and nuclear surface ship secondary steam systems incorporated asbestos-containing stem packing at the valve stem gland seal. Engineering ratings performing valve repacking operations on Anchor Darling nuclear steam system valves removed and replaced asbestos-containing stem packing during maintenance
  • Valve bonnet gaskets — Anchor Darling valve bonnet connections incorporated asbestos-containing compressed gasket materials at the bonnet-to-body interface. Engineering ratings disassembling Anchor Darling nuclear steam system valves for internal inspection or seat maintenance encountered asbestos-containing bonnet gasket materials during valve teardown
  • High-pressure connection gaskets — Anchor Darling nuclear steam system valves installed with flanged connections in the secondary steam piping incorporated asbestos-containing compressed gasket materials at the valve inlet and outlet flange faces

VA Claims for Veterans Exposed to Anchor Darling 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. Engineering ratings who maintained Anchor Darling valve installations in naval vessel nuclear steam systems and have since been diagnosed with mesothelioma, asbestosis, or asbestos-related lung cancer may qualify for VA disability benefits.