Buffalo Pumps, Inc. is located at 874 Oliver Street in North Tonawanda, New York, and has operated at this original site since its founding in 1887.  All operations, including engineering, manufacturing, and sales, are conducted within the 94,300-square-foot facility. While the defense market has long been a key segment, the company’s primary business has centered on commercial pump manufacturing.

The company began as the Buffalo Steam Pump Company, originally supplying single and double-piston pumps. In the early 1900s, the product line expanded to include centrifugal pumps. In the 1930s, Buffalo Steam Pump Company was acquired by Buffalo Forge Company and became the Buffalo Pumps Division. In 1979, Ampco-Pittsburgh Corporation acquired Buffalo Forge and its subsidiaries. The Buffalo Pumps Division continued to grow in marine and OEM markets and, in 1985, officially became Buffalo Pumps, Inc., remaining a subsidiary of Ampco-Pittsburgh Corporation, headquartered in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Buffalo Pumps, Inc. has a documented history of using asbestos in its pump products, especially those designed for marine, industrial, and high-heat applications. Asbestos was incorporated for its heat resistance and durability, particularly in components such as gaskets, packing materials, and valves. Despite the known health hazards of asbestos exposure, these materials were used until the 1980s.

Asbestos Exposure Risks

  • Occupational Exposure: Workers who manufactured, installed, maintained, or repaired Buffalo Pumps asbestos-containing components were at significant risk of inhaling airborne asbestos fibers.
  • Secondary (Take-Home) Exposure: Family members may also have been exposed to asbestos through asbestos fibers carried home on work clothing or gear.
  • Specific Products: Various types of Buffalo Pumps—including single suction, double suction, paper stock, sewage, and multistage pumps—were known to contain asbestos components.

Health Consequences of Asbestos Exposure

Asbestos exposure can lead to serious and sometimes fatal diseases, including:

  • Mesothelioma (a rare, aggressive cancer linked exclusively to asbestos exposure)
  • Lung cancer
  • Asbestosis (a chronic lung disease)
  • Other cancers (including esophageal and some throat cancers)
  • Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)

Legal Action and Compensation

Buffalo Pumps, Inc. has faced numerous lawsuits alleging asbestos-related injuries. The company continues to deal with asbestos liabilities and receives thousands of claims annually. Victims of exposure to Buffalo Pumps products may be eligible for compensation through personal injury or wrongful death lawsuits.

Prior to the late 1970s, asbestos-containing materials were also used during construction and maintenance at the Buffalo Pumps facility in North Tonawanda, New York. Inhalation of asbestos dust during the application or removal of these materials put workers at significant health risk, such as mesothelioma and lung cancer. Even those who were not in direct contact with asbestos materials remain at risk for the development of asbestos-related diseases.

If you or a loved one worked at Buffalo Forge or Buffalo Pumps and have been diagnosed with mesothelioma, lung cancer, or another asbestos-related disease, contact us today to learn more about your legal rights.