The Dresser-Rand plant in Wellsville, New York, was constructed in 1916 by James L. Moore as the Moore Steam Turbine Company. After it was acquired by the Worthington Pump and Machinery Corporation in 1937, it became Worthington’s Steam Turbine Division. Worthington merged with Studebaker in 1967, and the company was renamed Studebaker-Worthington. During a reorganization of the Worthington corporate structure in 1970, the Wellsville plant combined with smaller operations in several other cities to form the Turbodyne Corporation, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Studebaker-Worthington. Dresser Industries acquired the Wellsville plant in 1985, and after a merger with Ingersoll-Rand in 1987, the company was renamed Dresser-Rand. Located on Coats Street in Wellsville, the plant currently employs around 600 people, and it manufactures steam turbines and pumps for industrial and maritime applications. Dresser-Rand currently maintains its headquarters in Olean, New York.

Up until the late 1970s, asbestos-containing gaskets and packing material were used in the manufacturing process at the Dresser-Rand (formerly Worthington) plant in Wellsville, New York. Asbestos-containing pipe covering, insulating cement and block insulation were also utilized during maintenance procedures at the plant. Inhaling dust and particles from the application of asbestos-containing materials placed workers at risk for developing asbestos-related diseases, such as mesothelioma or lung cancer.

Workers at Dresser-Rand regularly came into contact with asbestos-containing insulation materials that surrounded the equipment they worked with. Asbestos-containing pipe covering, insulating cement and block insulation covered pipes, pumps and boilers at the Wellsville plant. During maintenance procedures, workers removed the insulation in order to access the equipment associated with steam and water systems. When maintenance or repair procedures were completed, new asbestos-containing insulation was applied. Removing and applying asbestos-containing insulation caused asbestos dust to become airborne.

Asbestos gaskets were used in turbines and pumps because of their durability and ability to withstand high temperatures. Gaskets were fabricated from sheets of asbestos-containing gasket material. The process of cutting or removing asbestos-containing gasket materials emitted asbestos dust into the air, which workers inhaled. Asbestos-containing packing materials were also installed in equipment manufactured by Dresser-Rand. Packing materials prevented steam, hot water or dangerous chemicals from leaking. Workers who participated in the manufacturing process of Worthington or Dresser-Rand turbines or pumps, or laborers, such as electricians and steamfitters, who were responsible for the upkeep and maintenance of turbines and pumps, are at risk for developing mesothelioma or lung cancer.

In the process of representing workers and their families, we have gathered a vast amount of information concerning the type and variety of asbestos-containing products to which our clients were exposed. Our clients understand the importance of securing legal representation as soon as possible after a diagnosis of mesothelioma or lung cancer. If you or a loved one were once employed at the Dresser-Rand (formerly Worthington) plant in Wellsville, New York, and have been diagnosed with mesothelioma or lung cancer, we urge you to contact us regarding your legal rights.