Crane Packing Company — operating under the John Crane brand name — was one of the most extensively documented asbestos packing and gasket manufacturers in United States Navy asbestos litigation. Crane Packing manufactured asbestos-containing compression packing, mechanical seals, and spiral-wound gaskets used throughout Navy ship valve stems, pump shafts, and piping flanges. The company’s compressed asbestos gasket sheet and braided asbestos packing products were installed throughout the engineering spaces of naval vessels — at every stuffing box, valve stem, and pump mechanical seal. These products released asbestos fiber whenever they were installed, adjusted, or replaced — a routine maintenance task performed by Machinist’s Mates, Boiler Technicians, and Pipefitters throughout the Navy’s operational history. Crane Packing (John Crane) products were among the most frequently named asbestos packing products in naval asbestos litigation, generating a substantial litigation record across decades of naval asbestos cases. Publicly filed asbestos litigation records document Crane Packing Company extensively: named exhibit documentation from depositions, asbestos gasket and packing identification in Navy and marine applications, direct testimony about Crane packing aboard Navy ships, and Crane Packing’s presence as a co-defendant alongside major naval equipment manufacturers.

Documented Asbestos — Crane Packing in Naval Litigation

Exhibit Documentation — Crane Packing Co. Deposition Evidence

Asbestos Gaskets — Navy and Marine Applications

Testimony — Crane Packing Aboard Navy Ships

Crane Packing Exposure — Asbestos Risk Documentation

Non-Asbestos Transition Documentation

Crane Packing Products in Naval Applications

Compression packing — stuffing boxes: Braided asbestos compression packing was used in the stuffing boxes of every valve stem and pump shaft in Navy ship engineering spaces. Machinist’s Mates who re-packed valve stems — cutting lengths of braided asbestos packing from a spool, wrapping it around the stem, and driving it into the stuffing box — performed this operation throughout their Navy careers.

Spiral-wound gaskets: Crane Packing’s spiral-wound gaskets — wound with asbestos filler between metal windings — were used at high-pressure steam flange connections throughout the boiler and engineering spaces. These gaskets were replaced at every flange break during overhaul or repair.

Compressed asbestos sheet: Crane Packing supplied compressed asbestos sheet — from which custom-cut flat gaskets were punched or cut — to Naval shipyards and engineering departments for on-the-spot gasket fabrication. Sheet gaskets were cut from rolls or sheets of compressed asbestos, releasing asbestos fiber at every cut edge.

Mechanical seals: John Crane mechanical seals for pump applications incorporated asbestos-containing internal components. Machinist’s Mates who overhauled ship service pumps handled John Crane seal assemblies as a routine part of pump maintenance.

VA Claims and Legal Options — Crane Packing / John Crane

Navy veterans — particularly Machinist’s Mates, Boiler Technicians, Pipefitters, and other engineering ratings who repacked valves, rebuilt pumps, or performed gasket work aboard naval vessels — and shipyard workers who installed Crane Packing products during ship construction or overhaul, who subsequently developed mesothelioma, asbestos-related lung cancer, asbestosis, or pleural disease, may qualify for:

  • VA service connection under VA asbestos-claim guidance for veterans with documented duty performing valve and pump maintenance in ship engineering spaces
  • Civil claims against John Crane Inc. (successor to Crane Packing Company) based on documented asbestos packing and gasket use in Navy and marine applications

Key documents:

  • DD-214 or service records — documenting naval service in engineering ratings
  • Rating records — Machinist’s Mate (MM), Boiler Technician (BT), or Pipefitter designation with documented valve and pump maintenance duty
  • Diagnosis — mesothelioma, asbestos-related lung cancer, asbestosis, or pleural 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.

Exposure documentation derived from publicly filed asbestos litigation records including Crane Packing Co. exhibit documentation from depositions, asbestos gasket identification in Navy and marine applications in the Crane Packing context, testimony establishing direct exposure to John Crane packing aboard Navy ships, and Crane Packing Company in multi-defendant naval asbestos proceedings. This does not constitute legal or medical advice.