John Crane Company Asbestos Exposure: Packing, Gaskets & Navy Claims
John Crane, Inc., historically associated with the Crane Packing Company name, manufactured industrial sealing products used in pumps, valves, flanges and piping systems. Published federal and state appellate decisions document asbestos-containing John Crane packing and gasket products used by the U.S. Navy and industrial workers. The company’s parent, Smiths Group plc, states that the asbestos products involved in litigation were primarily industrial packing and gaskets and that John Crane ceased manufacturing asbestos-containing products in 1985.
John Crane remains an operating business within Smiths Group and continues to face asbestos litigation rather than processing claims through a dedicated asbestos bankruptcy trust. Smiths Group’s FY2025 report stated that John Crane was then a defendant in approximately 21,000 claims, with approximately 313,000 claims dismissed over the preceding 45 years and 157 cumulative final judgments after appeals since 1979. Smiths’ March 2026 half-year report continued to carry a substantial John Crane litigation provision, confirming that asbestos litigation remains an active legacy matter.
🏢 John Crane Company History
John Crane’s official history dates the business to 1917, when engineer John Crane developed packing technology and the Crane Packing Company was formed. The company expanded internationally during the 1920s and developed mechanical-seal technology beginning in the 1930s. John Crane later became part of Smiths Industries/Smiths Group and today supplies mechanical seals, seal-support systems, couplings, filtration and related technologies to energy and process industries.
Company Facts at a Glance
| Topic | Verified Information |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1917 |
| Historical name | Crane Packing Company |
| Core historical products | Industrial packing, gaskets and sealing products |
| Asbestos products in litigation | Primarily packing and gaskets |
| U.S. Navy sales | Published court records confirm asbestos-containing packing and gasket products supplied to the Navy |
| Asbestos-product cessation | 1985 according to Smiths Group |
| Current parent | Smiths Group plc |
| Current status | Operating global industrial-technology business |
| Dedicated §524(g) trust | No John Crane-specific asbestos trust confirmed |
John Crane Corporate Milestones
| Period | Milestone |
|---|---|
| 1917 | John Crane’s official history identifies the origin of the company and Crane Packing Company. |
| 1920s | International expansion into England, Canada and Italy. |
| 1930s | Expansion into mechanical-seal technology. |
| 1939 | UK-based Crane Packing Limited acquired by Tube Investments. |
| 1985 | Smiths Group reports John Crane ceased manufacturing asbestos-containing products. |
| 1987 | TI Group acquired remaining John Crane operations, reuniting the business. |
| 2000 | John Crane became part of Smiths Industries, now Smiths Group. |
| 2026 | John Crane remains an operating Smiths business serving energy and industrial markets. |
Important: John Crane, Inc. is not the same company as Crane Co. Published federal asbestos decisions specifically warn that the two companies can be confused: John Crane is associated with packing and gasket products, while Crane Co. is a separate industrial company.
⚙️ John Crane Packing, Gaskets & Historical Asbestos Products
The asbestos-product evidence for John Crane is unusually strong. In Taylor v. John Crane, Inc., the California Court of Appeal stated that John Crane manufactured sealing devices including valve packing, that some packing contained asbestos, and that from 1963 through 1984 the company sold both asbestos-containing and non-asbestos-containing packing to the Navy. During that same period, John Crane sold asbestos-containing gasket material manufactured elsewhere but bearing the John Crane logo.
Documented Historical Products
| Product / Component | Documented Evidence |
|---|---|
| Valve packing | Published court decisions document asbestos-containing John Crane packing used in valves. |
| Pump packing | Federal Navy litigation documents asbestos-containing packing used in pumps. |
| Compressed sheet gasket material | John Crane supplied asbestos-containing gasket sheets used to make flange gaskets. |
| Symbol 2150 gasket material | Pritt identifies John Crane 2150 material under Navy MIL-A-17472 as compressed asbestos sheet gasket material. |
| Rope-like gasket / sealing material | Pfeifer documents a dust-producing asbestos-based John Crane rope-like gasket used by a government boiler technician. |
| Pre-cut / replacement gaskets | Historical John Crane gasket products appear in Navy and industrial litigation. |
Product Composition Evidence
| Evidence | Finding |
|---|---|
| Caruolo v. John Crane | John Crane witness testified that gaskets used during the relevant Navy period were approximately 70–80% asbestos and packing approximately 45–50% asbestos. |
| Taylor v. John Crane | Confirms asbestos-containing and non-asbestos packing were both sold to the Navy from 1963–1984. |
| Pritt v. John Crane | Documents Symbol 2150 compressed asbestos sheet gasket material and Navy packing specifications listing asbestos. |
| Smiths Group FY2025 | Describes litigated historical products primarily as packing and gaskets and states asbestos was encapsulated within them. |
| Smiths Group cessation date | John Crane ceased manufacturing asbestos-containing products in 1985. |
Product Accuracy Table
| Claim | Accurate Treatment |
|---|---|
| John Crane manufactured asbestos-containing packing | Confirmed by published court decisions and Smiths Group disclosures. |
| John Crane sold asbestos-containing gasket material | Confirmed. |
| John Crane supplied asbestos products to the U.S. Navy | Confirmed by multiple published cases. |
| Every John Crane packing product contained asbestos | False as a blanket statement; Taylor expressly documents both asbestos and non-asbestos packing. |
| John Crane manufactured all gasket material it sold | Not always; Taylor states some asbestos gasket material was manufactured elsewhere and carried John Crane’s logo. |
| John Crane continued manufacturing asbestos products after 1985 | Not supported; Smiths Group states manufacturing ceased in 1985. |
⚓ Navy & Industrial Workers Potentially Exposed
John Crane products were used where pumps, valves, flanges and steam systems required sealing. Published cases repeatedly involve Navy machinist’s mates, boiler-room personnel, shipyard workers and industrial maintenance employees who removed and replaced packing or cut gasket material.
Potentially Exposed Worker Groups
| Worker Group | Potential Historical Activity |
|---|---|
| Navy machinist’s mates | Removing and replacing pump and valve packing and flange gaskets. |
| Navy boiler technicians / firemen | Repairing steam valves, flanges and boiler-room equipment. |
| Shipyard workers | Overhauling pumps, valves and piping systems. |
| Pump mechanics | Removing packing, scraping gaskets and rebuilding pumps. |
| Valve mechanics | Pulling old packing and installing new packing. |
| Pipefitters / steamfitters | Cutting and replacing flange gaskets and working on connected equipment. |
| Boilermakers | Working around high-temperature piping and sealing systems. |
| Industrial maintenance workers | Routine replacement of packing and gasket materials. |
| Nearby trades | Potential bystander exposure during dusty removal or fabrication work. |
Documented Exposure Settings
| Setting | Evidence |
|---|---|
| U.S. Navy ships | Numerous published cases document John Crane packing and gaskets aboard Navy vessels. |
| Submarines | Taylor involved a machinist’s mate serving aboard submarines and surface ships. |
| Boiler rooms / engine rooms | Caruolo and Pritt describe packing and gasket work in shipboard machinery spaces. |
| Government boiler facilities | Pfeifer documents post-Navy work as a government boiler technician. |
| Power / utility facilities | Published litigation includes industrial power and utility maintenance. |
| Factories / process plants | Industrial pumps and valves required sealing products during maintenance. |
See U.S. Navy Asbestos Exposure, High-Risk Jobs Asbestos Exposure and Job Site Asbestos Exposure.
Need help now? Call 800.291.0963
Live chat is available 24/7, 365 days a year.
Submit Your Case
🔧 How Historical John Crane Asbestos Exposure Occurred
Published testimony describes dust-producing work with John Crane products. Workers pulled packing from valves and pumps, scraped packing glands, removed old flange gaskets, cut replacement gaskets from asbestos sheet, hammered gasket material into shape, wire-brushed residue and swept accumulated debris. John Crane has historically disputed that its encapsulated products released harmful amounts of asbestos; courts and juries have evaluated that defense against claimant-specific exposure and expert evidence.
Potential Exposure Activities
| Activity | Documented / Potential Mechanism |
|---|---|
| Removing valve packing | Pulling, picking and chipping old packing could generate debris and dust. |
| Removing pump packing | Packing extraction during pump overhaul could disturb aged material. |
| Cutting sheet gaskets | Workers fabricated flange gaskets from compressed asbestos sheet. |
| Hammering gasket sheets | Caruolo describes making gaskets by hammering gasket material. |
| Scraping flange surfaces | Removal of adhered gasket residue could generate dust. |
| Wire brushing | Taylor describes wire-brush cleanup of flange debris. |
| Sweeping debris | Dry cleanup could re-suspend dust generated by maintenance. |
| Nearby maintenance work | Bystanders could potentially encounter dust from packing and gasket removal. |
Asbestos-Related Diseases in John Crane Litigation
| Condition | Documented Context |
|---|---|
| Mesothelioma | Central disease in numerous published John Crane Navy and industrial cases. |
| Lung cancer | Documented in cases including Roverano v. John Crane. |
| Other asbestos-related disease | Smiths Group describes litigation involving multiple allegedly asbestos-related diseases. |
| Claim-specific causation | A diagnosis alone does not establish exposure to a John Crane asbestos product. |
⚖️ John Crane Current Asbestos Litigation
John Crane has not resolved its asbestos liabilities through a dedicated bankruptcy trust. Smiths Group continues to account for John Crane asbestos litigation as a significant legacy provision. FY2025 disclosures state that the company’s litigation involves historical industrial sealing products, primarily packing and gaskets, and that John Crane continues to defend claims based in part on its position that asbestos was encapsulated in those products.
FY2025 John Crane Claims Experience
| Measure | Smiths Group FY2025 Disclosure |
|---|---|
| Claims dismissed over approximately 45 years | Approximately 313,000 |
| Claims in which John Crane was currently a defendant | Approximately 21,000 |
| Cumulative final judgments after appeals since 1979 | 157 |
| Cumulative value of awards since 1979 | Approximately $192 million |
| FY2025 discounted pre-tax litigation provision | £191 million |
| FY2025 gross litigation provision before discount | £231 million |
Latest 2026 Provision Update
| Date | John Crane Litigation Provision |
|---|---|
| July 31, 2025 | £191 million discounted provision |
| January 31, 2026 | £174 million discounted provision |
| 2026 reporting treatment | Non-headline and legacy provision within Smiths Group |
| Meaning | An accounting estimate for expected litigation/defense costs; not a claimant trust fund or pool of guaranteed compensation. |
Current Claim Structure
| Issue | Status |
|---|---|
| Operating company | Yes. |
| Asbestos litigation continuing | Yes. |
| Dedicated John Crane §524(g) trust | No dedicated trust confirmed. |
| Trust Payment Percentage | Not applicable. |
| Trust disease schedule | Not applicable. |
| Potential compensation route | Individual personal-injury or wrongful-death litigation, subject to applicable law and evidence. |
📊 Documented John Crane Asbestos Cases
John Crane has an extensive published appellate record. These decisions provide unusually detailed evidence about product composition, Navy specifications, maintenance practices, causation disputes and case outcomes. Verdicts are case-specific and should not be treated as guaranteed values for another claimant.
Selected Published Cases
| Case | Documented Significance |
|---|---|
| Caruolo v. John Crane, Inc., 2d Cir. 2000 | Navy boiler-room case; John Crane witness testified historical gaskets were 70–80% asbestos and packing 45–50% asbestos in the period at issue. Federal appellate court upheld causation evidence supporting the verdict. |
| Lewis v. John Crane, Inc., Cal. Ct. App. 2002 | Shipyard asbestos case involving John Crane products; jury awarded damages and appellate court addressed trial and offset issues. |
| Taylor v. John Crane, Inc., Cal. Ct. App. 2003 | Documents Navy machinist’s-mate work with asbestos packing/gaskets and John Crane sales of asbestos and non-asbestos packing to Navy from 1963–1984. |
| Pfeifer v. John Crane, Inc., Cal. Ct. App. 2013 | Documents asbestos-containing John Crane packing/gaskets used by Navy and government boiler technician; court affirmed judgment with modification. |
| Pritt v. John Crane, Inc., D. Mass. 2022 | USS Purdy machinist’s-mate case; documents Symbol 2150 compressed asbestos gasket material and asbestos-containing Navy packing specifications; summary judgment denied. |
| Roverano v. John Crane, Inc., Pa. Supreme Court 2020 | Lung-cancer asbestos case addressing apportionment and treatment of bankruptcy trusts/settled entities on verdict sheet. |
Case-Specific Verdict Evidence
| Case | Outcome / Accuracy Note |
|---|---|
| Taylor | Jury found John Crane 31% responsible; damages and allocation were litigated on appeal. This is historical case evidence, not a claim-value estimate. |
| Lewis | Published decision reports a $2.3 million jury award arising from shipyard exposure; appellate issues followed. |
| Caruolo | Federal appellate court upheld the jury’s causation determination; individual facts controlled the result. |
| Pritt | Summary judgment denial allowed the claimant’s case to proceed; it was not itself a final liability verdict. |
| Smiths FY2025 aggregate | 157 cumulative final judgments after appeals since 1979, totaling approximately $192 million in awards. |
📋 John Crane Claim Evidence & Product Identification
Because John Crane sold both asbestos-containing and non-asbestos-containing packing, identifying the specific product and work period is important. Navy procurement records, military specifications, equipment records, packaging, product symbols, coworker testimony and employment histories may help establish whether a claimant worked with asbestos-containing John Crane material.
Evidence That May Help Document Exposure
- Medical records confirming mesothelioma, lung cancer or another asbestos-related disease.
- Navy service records, ship assignments and occupational ratings.
- Ship machinery histories and maintenance records.
- John Crane packing cartons, labels and product numbers.
- Symbol 2150 compressed sheet gasket records.
- MIL-SPEC and MIL-STD procurement documents.
- Industrial purchase orders and maintenance records.
- Employment, union and Social Security records.
- Coworker or shipmate testimony identifying John Crane products.
- Evidence describing packing removal, gasket fabrication, scraping, brushing and cleanup.
Product-Identification Checklist
| Step | Question |
|---|---|
| 1 | Was John Crane—not Crane Co.—positively identified? |
| 2 | Was the material packing, sheet gasket, pre-cut gasket or another sealing product? |
| 3 | What product number, symbol, specification or packaging identified it? |
| 4 | Did that John Crane product contain asbestos during the claimant’s work period? |
| 5 | Was the material original, Navy-stock replacement or a later third-party replacement? |
| 6 | How was the material removed, cut, installed or cleaned? |
| 7 | How frequently and closely did the claimant perform or observe the work? |
| 8 | What other asbestos products were present at the site? |
Figures We Do Not Invent
| Item | Status |
|---|---|
| Total number of workers historically exposed | No reliable nationwide total confirmed. |
| Guaranteed settlement value | None. |
| John Crane trust percentage | Not applicable; no dedicated §524(g) trust confirmed. |
| Scheduled disease values | Not applicable. |
| Every packing/gasket product contained asbestos | Not supported. |
| FY2026 full-year claim count | Not stated until a reliable full-year company disclosure is available; FY2025 claim figures remain clearly dated. |
Compensation is not guaranteed. Claim viability and value depend on disease, product identification, exposure evidence, causation, jurisdiction, defenses, insurance and filing deadlines.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Did John Crane manufacture asbestos-containing packing?
Yes. Published appellate decisions and Smiths Group disclosures confirm that John Crane historically manufactured asbestos-containing industrial packing. John Crane also sold non-asbestos packing, so the specific product and date matter.
Did John Crane sell asbestos gaskets?
Yes. Published cases document asbestos-containing John Crane gasket material. Some gasket material was manufactured by another company but sold with John Crane identification.
Were John Crane asbestos products used by the U.S. Navy?
Yes. Multiple published federal and state cases document John Crane asbestos packing and gasket products used aboard U.S. Navy vessels.
When did John Crane stop manufacturing asbestos-containing products?
Smiths Group states that John Crane ceased manufacturing asbestos-containing products in 1985.
How many asbestos claims was John Crane facing in the latest full-year disclosure?
Smiths Group’s FY2025 report stated that John Crane was then a defendant in approximately 21,000 claims. The figure is dated July 31, 2025 and should not be treated as an undated permanent total.
Does John Crane have an asbestos bankruptcy trust?
No John Crane-specific §524(g) asbestos personal-injury trust was confirmed. John Crane remains an operating business and asbestos claims have continued through the civil court system.
Is John Crane the same company as Crane Co.?
No. They are separate companies. Federal asbestos decisions specifically distinguish John Crane packing and gasket products from Crane Co. valves and other equipment.
What evidence may support a John Crane asbestos claim?
Useful evidence may include medical records, Navy or employment records, product packaging and numbers, military specifications, maintenance records, invoices, ship records and credible coworker or shipmate testimony identifying asbestos-containing John Crane packing or gasket products.
🧾 John Crane Company Summary
| Detail | Confirmed Information |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1917 |
| Historical name | Crane Packing Company |
| Primary asbestos products in litigation | Industrial packing and gaskets |
| Navy use | Extensively documented in published litigation |
| Manufacturing cessation | 1985 for asbestos-containing products, according to Smiths Group |
| Current parent | Smiths Group plc |
| FY2025 claims currently naming JCI | Approximately 21,000 |
| FY2025 cumulative dismissed claims | Approximately 313,000 |
| Final judgments after appeals since 1979 | 157 through FY2025 |
| Cumulative awards | Approximately $192 million through FY2025 |
| FY2025 discounted litigation provision | £191 million |
| January 31, 2026 discounted litigation provision | £174 million |
| Dedicated §524(g) asbestos trust | No dedicated John Crane trust confirmed |
📚 Confirmed Primary & Court Sources
- John Crane — official company history confirming the 1917 origin of Crane Packing Company, development of sealing technology and later corporate history.
- Smiths Group plc — FY2025 Annual Report and results, documenting John Crane asbestos products, 1985 manufacturing cessation, claims experience, final judgments, awards and litigation provision.
- Smiths Group plc — HY2026 results, documenting the John Crane litigation provision of £174 million at January 31, 2026 and continued treatment as an active legacy liability.
- California Court of Appeal — Taylor v. John Crane, Inc. (2003), documenting asbestos-containing and non-asbestos packing sold to the Navy and asbestos gasket material carrying John Crane identification.
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit — Caruolo v. John Crane, Inc. (2000), documenting Navy packing/gasket exposure and product-composition testimony.
- California Court of Appeal — Lewis v. John Crane, Inc. (2002), involving shipyard exposure to John Crane asbestos products.
- California Court of Appeal — Pfeifer v. John Crane, Inc. (2013), documenting Navy and government boiler work involving John Crane asbestos packing and gaskets.
- U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts — Pritt v. John Crane, Inc. (2022), documenting Navy Symbol 2150 compressed asbestos gasket material and asbestos-containing packing specifications.
- Pennsylvania Supreme Court — Roverano v. John Crane, Inc. (2020), addressing asbestos-related lung-cancer litigation and allocation issues.
Submit Your Case
Call 800.291.0963
Live chat is available 24/7, 365 days a year.
Submit Your Case
Working with pumps, valves or gaskets does not automatically establish exposure to a John Crane asbestos product, disease causation, legal liability or compensation. The specific product, asbestos content, dates, 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.