Gardner Denver Inc., headquartered in Quincy, Illinois, was a manufacturer of reciprocating air compressors, rotary blowers, and positive displacement pumps for industrial, marine, and governmental applications. Gardner Denver supplied the United States Navy with low-pressure ship’s service air compressors, medium-pressure compressors for pneumatic tool and service air systems, and rotary blowers for ventilation and process applications throughout naval vessel engineering plants and shore facility systems. Gardner Denver compressors provided compressed air for shipboard pneumatic control systems, pneumatic tools, and ship’s service air applications aboard naval vessels. Gardner Denver reciprocating compressor cylinder heads, valve cover assemblies, and piston rod gland assemblies incorporated asbestos-containing gasket and packing materials in the compressor sealing systems. Machinist’s Mates performing routine maintenance on Gardner Denver compressors in naval engineering spaces — removing cylinder heads for valve service, removing valve covers for valve plate replacement, and repacking piston rod glands — encountered asbestos gasket and packing materials throughout the compressor maintenance work.

Compressor Cylinder Head and Valve Cover Gasket Asbestos

Gardner Denver compressors incorporated asbestos gaskets in cylinder assembly joints:

  • Cylinder head gaskets — Gardner Denver reciprocating air compressors used asbestos-containing compressed cylinder head gaskets sealing the cylinder head-to-cylinder block joint against compressed air leakage. Machinist’s Mates performing cylinder head removal for valve service or internal inspection on Gardner Denver compressors removed and replaced asbestos cylinder head gaskets during each head removal, with gasket removal requiring scraping of asbestos material from the cylinder head and block mating faces
  • Valve cover and unloader gaskets — Gardner Denver compressor suction valve covers, discharge valve covers, and cylinder unloader assemblies used asbestos-containing compressed gasket materials at the valve cover flange joints. Machinist’s Mates performing valve plate replacement and unloader service on Gardner Denver compressors encountered asbestos gasket materials throughout the valve maintenance operations

Piston Rod Packing and Shaft Seal Asbestos

Gardner Denver compressor moving element seals incorporated asbestos packing:

  • Piston rod stuffing box packing — Gardner Denver reciprocating compressors used asbestos-containing braided packing in piston rod stuffing box glands sealing the reciprocating piston rods against air leakage from the compressor cylinders. Machinist’s Mates repacking Gardner Denver compressor piston rod glands removed compressed asbestos packing rings and installed replacement packing during routine compressor maintenance

VA Claims for Veterans Exposed to Gardner Denver Products

VA presumptive service connection under 38 CFR § 3.309(d) covers asbestos exposure from Navy compressor maintenance. Machinist’s Mates who maintained Gardner Denver compressors in naval vessel and shore facility engineering spaces and have since been diagnosed with mesothelioma, asbestosis, or asbestos-related lung cancer may qualify for VA disability benefits.