Aurora Pump Company Asbestos Exposure: Pumps, Gaskets, Packing & Claims
Aurora Pump Company, now an operating Pentair pump brand, traces its history to Aurora Pump and Manufacturing Company in Aurora, Illinois, in 1919. Pentair’s official Aurora history states that the business reorganized as Aurora Pump Company in 1927, supplied diesel pumps to the U.S. Navy in 1941, received an Army-Navy “E” award in 1943, and was acquired by Pentair in 1997.
Federal and state asbestos cases document that some historical Aurora pumps used asbestos-containing gaskets and packing, particularly in Navy and industrial applications. The record is product-specific: courts have also documented Aurora pumps or configurations that were asbestos-free or used mechanical seals. This page therefore does not claim that every Aurora pump contained asbestos. No Aurora Pump-specific §524(g) asbestos personal-injury trust was confirmed from the primary company and court records reviewed.
🏢 Aurora Pump Company History
Pentair’s official Aurora history provides a reliable corporate timeline. Aurora Pump and Manufacturing Company was founded in Aurora, Illinois, in 1919 and reorganized as Aurora Pump Company in 1927. The company supplied pumps for military and civilian applications and eventually became part of Pentair.
Documented Corporate Timeline
| Date | Documented Event |
|---|---|
| 1919 | Aurora Pump and Manufacturing Company founded in Aurora, Illinois. |
| 1927 | Business reorganized as Aurora Pump Company. |
| 1937 | Pentair’s Aurora timeline states the company was sold to Frank Maon and Lionel Claypool. |
| 1941 | Aurora supplied diesel pumps to the U.S. Navy. |
| 1943 | Aurora received the Army-Navy “E” award according to Pentair’s company timeline. |
| 1997 | Aurora was acquired by Pentair. |
| Current | Aurora remains an operating Pentair brand serving commercial, industrial, fire-protection and water applications. |
For broader machinery research, see Industrial Equipment Manufacturers & Asbestos Exposure.
⚙️ Aurora Pumps, Gaskets & Packing
The strongest asbestos evidence concerns historical pump gaskets and packing. In federal Navy litigation, an Aurora representative testified that pump manufacturers such as Aurora used asbestos packing because it was a common pump-packing material and that Aurora supplied replacement packing and gasket parts to the Navy. Other records document specific Aurora pumps using asbestos packing and sheet gaskets.
Documented Equipment & Components
| Equipment / Component | What Court Records Support |
|---|---|
| Aurora pumps | Numerous federal and state asbestos cases document Aurora pumps in Navy and industrial facilities. |
| Internal pump packing | Some historical Aurora pumps used asbestos-containing packing around pump shafts. |
| Internal gaskets | Some Aurora pump configurations used asbestos-containing gaskets. |
| Sheet gaskets | Navy records cited in litigation identify sheet gaskets used on certain Aurora pumps. |
| Replacement parts | Testimony states Aurora supplied replacement packing and gasket parts directly or through distributors to the Navy. |
| Mechanical-seal pumps | Some Aurora pumps used mechanical seals and did not require asbestos packing or internal gaskets. |
| External insulation / flange gaskets | These materials could be supplied or installed by other manufacturers and must be separately identified. |
Why Product-Specific Identification Matters
| Issue | Documented Limitation |
|---|---|
| Did every Aurora pump contain asbestos? | No. Federal records explicitly describe some Aurora products as asbestos-free. |
| Did every pump use packing? | No. Some pumps used mechanical seals instead. |
| Did all packing contain asbestos? | No. Packing composition could vary by pump, date and customer specification. |
| Were flange gaskets made by Aurora? | Not necessarily. Third-party flange gaskets were used in some installations. |
| Was external insulation supplied by Aurora? | Not necessarily; external insulation may have been installed by others. |
⚓ Navy & Industrial Workers
Aurora pumps were used aboard Navy ships and in civilian industrial facilities. Published cases involve machinists, mechanics, pipefitters, electricians and maintenance employees who worked directly on pumps or near others performing pump overhaul work.
Potentially Exposed Worker Groups
| Worker Group | Potential Historical Exposure Activity |
|---|---|
| Navy machinist’s mates | Overhauling pumps and replacing packing and gaskets. |
| Shipyard machinists | Disassembling and rebuilding pumps during ship repair. |
| Pipefitters | Breaking pump flanges and removing flange gaskets. |
| Industrial mechanics | Replacing pump packing, seals and gaskets. |
| Millwrights | Maintaining rotating equipment and connected systems. |
| Electricians | Potential bystander exposure while working near pump maintenance in confined machinery spaces. |
| Power-plant workers | Maintaining feed, condensate, water and process pumps. |
| Refinery / chemical workers | Servicing process pumps and associated piping. |
| Brewery / manufacturing workers | Industrial litigation documents Aurora pumps in civilian production facilities. |
Documented Exposure Settings
| Setting | Documented Connection |
|---|---|
| U.S. Navy | Pentair’s history documents Aurora Navy supply beginning by 1941; numerous asbestos cases identify Aurora pumps aboard Navy vessels. |
| Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard | Cabasug litigation documented evidence concerning Aurora pumps and asbestos gaskets/packing on vessels serviced at PHNS. |
| USS Forrestal | Dumas litigation included testimony concerning work on Aurora pumps and original asbestos-containing packing, gaskets and insulation. |
| USS Burton Island | Behrmann litigation cited Navy records showing two Aurora fresh-water pumps using asbestos packing and sheet gaskets. |
| Schlitz/Stroh Brewery, Winston-Salem | Whitehead litigation involved Aurora pumps, packing rings, seals and gaskets, while the court found insufficient claimant-specific causation evidence. |
| Commercial / industrial facilities | Aurora pumps have long served water, fire, process and industrial systems. |
See High-Risk Jobs Asbestos Exposure and Job Site Asbestos Exposure.
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🔧 How Aurora Pump Asbestos Exposure Could Occur
Pump overhaul can require opening equipment, removing packing from stuffing boxes, replacing internal gaskets and cleaning sealing surfaces. Court testimony describes workers picking old packing from pumps and scraping old gaskets with wire brushes or putty knives. If those historical components contained asbestos, the work could disturb fibers.
Maintenance Exposure Pathways
| Task | Potential Exposure Mechanism |
|---|---|
| Pulling pump packing | Old packing could break apart while being removed from a stuffing box. |
| Picking packing residue | Workers sometimes used picks to remove material that remained in the pump. |
| Removing internal gaskets | Old gasket material could tear or adhere to metal surfaces. |
| Scraping gasket residue | Wire brushes and putty knives could disturb dried gasket material. |
| Cutting replacement gaskets | Historical sheet gasket material could be cut at the worksite. |
| Breaking pump flanges | Flange work could disturb gaskets supplied by Aurora or third parties. |
| Removing insulation | External insulation could create exposure if it contained asbestos, although its manufacturer must be identified separately. |
| Cleanup | Sweeping or handling maintenance debris could re-suspend fibers. |
Asbestos-Related Health Conditions
| Condition | General Relationship to Asbestos |
|---|---|
| Mesothelioma | A rare cancer strongly associated with asbestos exposure; multiple Aurora cases involve mesothelioma plaintiffs. |
| Lung cancer | Occupational asbestos exposure can increase lung-cancer risk. |
| Asbestosis | Progressive pulmonary fibrosis caused by inhaled asbestos fibers. |
| Pleural disease | Asbestos exposure can cause pleural plaques, thickening and other abnormalities. |
Working on an Aurora pump does not by itself prove asbestos exposure. The pump model, seal or packing configuration, component composition, work performed and exposure frequency must be established.
⚖️ Aurora Pump Lawsuits & Current Claim Status
Aurora Pump Company has been named in asbestos personal-injury cases in federal and state courts. Outcomes vary substantially based on product identification and causation evidence. Some courts found enough evidence for Aurora claims to proceed; others granted summary judgment because the plaintiff could not sufficiently connect a particular exposure to Aurora-attributable asbestos.
Current Claim Structure
| Issue | Verified Status |
|---|---|
| Current Aurora brand | Operating Pentair brand |
| Aurora asbestos litigation | Documented in federal and state courts |
| Aurora-specific §524(g) asbestos trust | No such trust confirmed from primary company and court records reviewed |
| Current Aurora trust payment percentage | Not applicable |
| Current Aurora disease schedule | Not applicable |
| Other asbestos trusts | Separate trust claims may apply to qualifying products made by bankrupt manufacturers encountered at the same workplace. |
Product-Liability Questions
| Question | Why It Matters |
|---|---|
| Which Aurora pump model was present? | Different pump designs used different sealing systems. |
| Did it use packing or a mechanical seal? | A mechanical-seal configuration could eliminate packing. |
| Did the original packing/gasket contain asbestos? | Some did; other products were asbestos-free. |
| Who supplied replacement material? | Aurora sometimes supplied replacement parts, but third-party products were also used. |
| How frequently did the claimant perform the work? | Courts evaluate frequency, regularity, proximity and causation under applicable law. |
📊 Documented Aurora Pump Asbestos Cases
Published decisions illustrate both sides of the evidence. They support historical asbestos use in some Aurora pumps while rejecting the broader proposition that all Aurora pumps necessarily contained asbestos.
Selected Court Records
| Case | Documented Significance |
|---|---|
| Rogers v. A.O. Smith Corp. (E.D. Pa. 2022) | Aurora representative testimony stated that asbestos packing was commonly used in pumps and that Aurora supplied replacement packing/gasket parts to the Navy; court found evidence from which a jury could infer exposure to Aurora pumps with asbestos gaskets and packing. |
| Dumas v. ABB Group Inc. (D. Del. 2016) | Court found material factual issues based on circumstantial evidence that Aurora supplied original asbestos-containing gaskets and packing and that the plaintiff encountered them. |
| Cabasug v. Crane Co. (D. Haw. 2013) | Technical-manual evidence showed certain Aurora Type GNC pumps used asbestos gaskets and packing and carried asbestos packing as onboard spares. |
| Behrmann v. ABB Inc. (W.D. Wash. 2021) | Navy records showed two Aurora fresh-water pumps aboard USS Burton Island used asbestos packing and sheet gaskets; the court nevertheless granted Aurora summary judgment based on claimant-specific causation evidence. |
| Whitehead v. Air & Liquid Systems Corp. (M.D.N.C. 2020) | Court emphasized that some Aurora products contained asbestos while others were asbestos-free and found insufficient evidence tying the claimant’s mesothelioma to Aurora-attributable asbestos. |
| Walsh v. Aurora Pump Co. (Del. Super. Ct. 2017) | Mesothelioma action involving alleged Navy exposure; Aurora obtained summary judgment based on the evidence presented. |
Statistics We Do Not Invent
| Category | Verified Status |
|---|---|
| Total Aurora workers exposed | No reliable company-wide total confirmed. |
| Total Navy personnel exposed | No defensible Aurora-specific nationwide total confirmed. |
| Total Aurora asbestos lawsuits | No authoritative current cumulative figure confirmed. |
| Total asbestos-containing Aurora pump models | No complete authoritative historical total confirmed. |
| Current asbestos trust assets | Not applicable; no Aurora-specific §524(g) trust confirmed. |
📋 Aurora Pump Claim Evidence & Product Identification
Aurora litigation shows that a pump brand alone is not sufficient. Stronger evidence identifies the particular pump or pump type, establishes whether it used asbestos-containing packing or gaskets, and documents the worker’s actual maintenance or proximity to dust-producing work.
Evidence That May Help Document Exposure
- Medical documentation establishing an asbestos-related disease.
- Navy, shipyard, employment, union or Social Security records.
- Aurora pump nameplates, model numbers and serial numbers.
- Navy machinery lists and ship equipment records.
- Aurora technical manuals identifying gasket, packing or seal specifications.
- Maintenance and overhaul records.
- Parts orders showing Aurora replacement gaskets or packing.
- Invoices or storeroom records identifying third-party replacement components.
- Coworker testimony describing pump overhaul, packing removal and gasket scraping.
- Evidence distinguishing original Aurora components from external insulation or flange materials supplied by others.
Separate asbestos trust claims may apply when qualifying products from bankrupt manufacturers were encountered in the same machinery spaces or industrial facilities. Each trust has independent medical and exposure requirements. Compensation is not guaranteed.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Did Aurora Pump Company use asbestos?
Court records document that some historical Aurora pumps used asbestos-containing packing and gaskets. However, other Aurora products were asbestos-free or used mechanical seals, so each pump must be evaluated individually.
Was Aurora Pump equipment used by the U.S. Navy?
Yes. Pentair’s official Aurora history states that Aurora supplied diesel pumps to the U.S. Navy in 1941, and later court records document Aurora pumps aboard numerous Navy vessels.
What asbestos components were associated with Aurora pumps?
Historical cases particularly document internal packing, gaskets and sheet gasket material. External insulation and flange gaskets could also be present but were not necessarily manufactured or supplied by Aurora.
How could a worker be exposed while repairing an Aurora pump?
Potential exposure could occur while pulling old packing, removing internal gaskets, scraping gasket residue, cutting sheet gaskets or working near others performing those tasks if the materials contained asbestos.
Did every Aurora pump contain asbestos?
No. Federal litigation expressly documents that some Aurora pumps or pump systems were asbestos-free and that certain designs used mechanical seals rather than packing.
What evidence exists for Navy exposure?
Federal cases cite Aurora technical manuals, Navy equipment records and testimony identifying asbestos-containing packing and gaskets in particular Aurora pumps and replacement parts.
Does Aurora Pump Company have an asbestos bankruptcy trust?
No Aurora Pump-specific §524(g) asbestos personal-injury trust was confirmed from the primary company and court records reviewed. Aurora remains an operating Pentair brand.
What evidence may support an Aurora Pump asbestos claim?
Medical records, service or employment history, pump identification, technical manuals, maintenance records, replacement-part records and credible coworker testimony may help establish historical exposure.
🧾 Aurora Pump Company Summary
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1919 as Aurora Pump and Manufacturing Company |
| Reorganized | 1927 as Aurora Pump Company |
| U.S. Navy supply | Pentair history documents diesel-pump supply in 1941 |
| Army-Navy “E” award | 1943 according to Pentair’s Aurora timeline |
| Pentair acquisition | 1997 |
| Primary asbestos-litigation equipment | Historical pumps |
| Documented asbestos components | Some internal packing, gaskets and sheet gaskets |
| Important limitation | Not every Aurora pump contained asbestos; some used asbestos-free components or mechanical seals |
| Current status | Operating Pentair brand |
| Aurora-specific asbestos trust | No §524(g) trust confirmed from primary records reviewed |
| Current trust payment percentage | Not applicable |
| Exposure totals | No reliable nationwide total confirmed |
📚 Confirmed Company & Court Sources
- Pentair — official Aurora brand history documenting the company’s 1919 founding, 1927 reorganization, U.S. Navy supply, Army-Navy “E” award and 1997 Pentair acquisition.
- U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Pennsylvania — Rogers v. A.O. Smith Corp. (2022), documenting testimony about Aurora asbestos packing, gaskets and Navy replacement parts.
- U.S. District Court, District of Delaware — Dumas v. ABB Group Inc., documenting circumstantial evidence concerning original asbestos-containing gaskets and packing in Aurora pumps.
- U.S. District Court, District of Hawaii — Cabasug v. Crane Co., documenting Aurora Type GNC pump manuals and asbestos-containing gasket/packing evidence.
- U.S. District Court, Western District of Washington — Behrmann v. ABB Inc., documenting Navy records for Aurora pumps using asbestos packing and sheet gaskets.
- U.S. District Court, Middle District of North Carolina — Whitehead v. Air & Liquid Systems Corp., documenting that some Aurora products contained asbestos while others were asbestos-free.
Submit Your Case
Call 800.291.0963
Live chat is available 24/7, 365 days a year.
Submit Your Case
Working around an Aurora pump does not automatically establish asbestos exposure, disease causation, legal liability or compensation. The particular pump, gasket or packing, asbestos content, original or replacement component status, work activity, exposure frequency, medical evidence and applicable law must be evaluated individually. Compensation is not guaranteed.
⚕️ Legal & Medical Information Disclaimer
This page provides general educational information and is not legal or medical advice. Consult a qualified healthcare professional about diagnosis and treatment and a qualified attorney about individual legal rights and filing deadlines.