Rock Wool Manufacturing Company

Rock Wool Manufacturing creates wool insulation, and has placed asbestos in several of its products due to the material’s durable and heat resistant nature. Ultimately, Rock Wool Manufacturing stopped placing asbestos in its products in the 1970s. Lawsuits involving asbestos exposure led the company to file for bankruptcy in the 1990s. Years later, an asbestos trust fund was established to compensate people who developed asbestos-related illnesses following exposure to asbestos-containing products manufactured by Rock Wool.

For many years, Rock Wool placed asbestos in its insulation and mineral wool board. The company valued asbestos due to the material’s durable and heat-resistant nature.

Many people do not know that rock wool is a synonym for mineral wood insulation. Rock wool was first utilized in the 19th century and was popular in construction until the 1950s when the dangers of asbestos were better understood. Rock wool is even still utilized today in some new types of construction,

Some companies that utilized Rock Wool products included Gold Bond and Johns Manville. Many products did not include asbestos, but some businesses explored combining asbestos with rock wool. Understandably, workers who manufactured Rock Wool products were exposed to the hazard of asbestos.

Rock Wool has been involved in countless lawsuits related to exposure to asbestos found in the company’s products. While Rock Wool succeeded in having some of these lawsuits dismissed, other lawsuits were resolved in settlements or proceeded to trial.

One 1994 lawsuit involved several ship workers who initiated legal action against the company as well as other companies who manufactured asbestos products. Each of the workers developed asbestosis or lung cancer following years working around asbestos-filled material.

In 1995, a worker, as well as his wife, initiated a lawsuit against the company as well as several other companies that produced asbestos-containing materials. The man had worked at a power plant around insulation and other products filled with asbestos. Consequently, the man later developed mesothelioma. Rock Wool was found liable for this man’s exposure.

Rock Wool faced countless lawsuits from workers who alleged that Rock Wool’s products caused them to develop asbestos-related illnesses. Lawsuits connected to asbestos ultimately led the Rock Wool Company to pursue a bankruptcy in the 1990s.

At the end of the 1990s, Rock Wool emerged from bankruptcy and created the Rock Wool Asbestos Trust. The trust was tasked with both managing and settling asbestos personal injury and property damage cases.

As of 2022, the trust is inactive. The last open claim period for Rock Wool Manufacturing was in 2011.

Facing a mesothelioma diagnosis is scary. If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with an asbestos-related illness following exposure to products manufactured by Rock Wool, you should not hesitate to speak with a seasoned attorney. Call 888-506-1131 today to reach Throneberry Law Group and schedule a free case evaluation. You can also schedule an appointment with us online.