Manning, Maxwell & Moore, headquartered in Stratford, Connecticut, was a manufacturer of centrifugal pumps, pressure gauges, and fluid handling equipment for industrial and marine applications, supplying the United States Navy with centrifugal pump equipment for installation in shipboard fluid handling systems throughout the mid-twentieth century. Manning, Maxwell & Moore centrifugal pumps were installed in Navy vessel seawater service systems, fuel oil transfer systems, lube oil systems, and auxiliary fluid handling systems. According to asbestos litigation records, Manning, Maxwell & Moore centrifugal pump assemblies incorporated asbestos-containing shaft packing in pump shaft stuffing boxes and asbestos-containing compressed gasket materials in pump casing cover joints, creating exposure for Machinist’s Mates who performed pump maintenance in naval vessel machinery spaces.

Centrifugal Pump Asbestos

Manning, Maxwell & Moore pump assemblies incorporated asbestos in shaft sealing and casing joints:

  • Centrifugal pump shaft stuffing box packing — Manning, Maxwell & Moore centrifugal pumps incorporated asbestos-containing braided shaft packing in the pump shaft stuffing boxes where the pump shaft exited the pump casing. Pump shaft packing required periodic replacement as the packing compressed and shaft leakage developed. Machinist’s Mates repacking Manning, Maxwell & Moore centrifugal pump stuffing boxes removed and replaced the asbestos-containing shaft packing during each repacking operation, with direct handling of the old asbestos packing during removal and cutting of new packing rings to length releasing asbestos fiber
  • Pump casing cover gaskets — Manning, Maxwell & Moore centrifugal pump casings incorporated access covers at impeller and mechanical seal access points, sealed with asbestos-containing compressed gasket materials at the casing cover joint faces. Machinist’s Mates removing pump casing covers for impeller inspection, impeller replacement, or pump internals maintenance encountered asbestos-containing gasket materials at casing cover joint faces during pump maintenance
  • Pump suction and discharge flange gaskets — the suction and discharge connection flanges on Manning, Maxwell & Moore centrifugal pumps incorporated asbestos-containing compressed gasket materials at the pump connection flange faces. Machinist’s Mates servicing pump suction and discharge piping connections encountered asbestos gasket materials at pump connection flanges during piping maintenance

VA Claims for Veterans Exposed to Manning, Maxwell & Moore Products

VA presumptive service connection under 38 CFR § 3.309(d) covers asbestos exposure from Navy pump maintenance. Machinist’s Mates who performed centrifugal pump maintenance on Manning, Maxwell & Moore pump installations aboard naval vessels and have since been diagnosed with mesothelioma, asbestosis, or asbestos-related lung cancer may qualify for VA disability benefits.