Chicago Pneumatic was founded in 1901 as a manufacturer of various tools. These tools include generators, air compressors, power tools, light towers and hydraulic equipment. Chicago Pneumatic was founded by John W. Duntley who originally intended to make and sell construction tools “that weren’t available yet.”

 In 1901, Chicago Pneumatic patented the first single-valve pneumatic hammer and soon thereafter expanded to England, Canada and Germany. In 1912, Chicago Pneumatic created a horizontal 2-cycle semi-diesel oil engine to power CP compressors. This innovation was followed by the Simplate valve, which presented greater control with high speeds and offered greater capacity. In 1939, Chicago Pneumatic produced the first impact wrench in the world. Throughout the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s Chicago Pneumatic continued to expand and develop new products. Chicago Pneumatic’s best sellers included tools for drilling wells and breaking into hard surface rock. Tools manufactured by Chicago Pneumatic helped to build some of the nation’s most prolific sky scrapers and other architecture projects of its time. In 1987, Chicago Pneumatic because a part of AtlasCopco., a Swedish conglomerate.

In 1948, Chicago Pneumatic opened a multimillion-dollar plant in Utica, New York at 2200 Bleecker Street, Frankfort, New York 13503.

Chicago Pneumatic used grinding, heat treating and welding to manufacture its tools. Workers in the grinding and heat treatment departments were at high risk of asbestos exposure. Additionally, during the heat treatment process and cool down method, asbestos was poured onto extremely hot pieces directly from the oven. Workers described the asbestos as being unloaded at the plant in large bags. The bags would be dumped and unloaded into large vats, causing large clouds of particles that were presumably inhaled by the workers in the vicinity.

The attorneys at Lipsitz, Ponterio & Comerford, LLC have gathered a vast amount of information concerning the type and variety of asbestos-containing products used at and produced by Chicago Pneumatic. It is important to secure legal representation as soon as possible after a diagnosis of mesothelioma or lung cancer. If you or a loved one were once employed at a Chicago Pneumatic facility or used products manufactured by Chicago Pneumatic and have been diagnosed with mesothelioma or lung cancer, we urge you to contact us regarding your legal rights.