Owens-Illinois Inc. Asbestos Exposure

Owens-Illinois, Inc. manufactured and sold Kaylo high-temperature insulation from 1948 until it sold the business to Owens-Corning Fiberglas in 1958. Published court decisions identify historical Kaylo as asbestos-containing pipe covering and block insulation used around boilers, piping and other hot industrial systems. Cutting, installing, removing or cleaning up this material could create respirable dust.

Legacy Owens-Illinois asbestos liabilities were placed in Paddock Enterprises, LLC before Paddock entered Chapter 11 in 2020. The confirmed reorganization created the Owens-Illinois Asbestos Personal Injury Trust, which began accepting claims in 2022. Product and exposure dates remain essential: the trust resolves qualifying O-I liabilities, not every exposure involving Kaylo made after Owens-Corning acquired the line.

🏢 Owens-Illinois Company History

O-I traces its origins to Michael J. Owens and the automatic bottle-making machine first used in 1903. The Owens Bottle Company and Illinois Glass Company merged in 1929 to form Owens-Illinois. Glass packaging remained the company’s principal business, but the historical corporation also developed Kaylo calcium-silicate insulation. Official bankruptcy materials identify 1948 through 1958 as the Owens-Illinois Kaylo period.

Owens-Illinois history relevant to asbestos research
Date or period	Documented event	Claim relevance
1903	Michael J. Owens put the automatic bottle-making machine into use.	Early records may use an Owens predecessor name.
1929	Owens Bottle and Illinois Glass combined as Owens-Illinois.	The merger created the historical corporate identity.
1948–1958	Owens-Illinois manufactured and sold Kaylo insulation.	This is the central O-I product-responsibility period.
1958	Owens-Illinois sold its Kaylo business to Owens-Corning Fiberglas.	Later product and exposure dates require separate attribution.
2019	A corporate restructuring placed legacy asbestos liabilities in Paddock Enterprises.	Paddock became the debtor connected with those liabilities.
2022	Paddock’s plan became effective and the O-I Trust began operations.	Qualifying legacy claims are handled through the trust process.

Corporate names and roles that should remain distinct
Name	Relevant role	Accuracy safeguard
Owens-Illinois, Inc.	Historical Kaylo manufacturer and seller during 1948–1958.	Do not extend this period indefinitely.
O-I Glass, Inc.	Current public-company identity and glass-packaging parent.	Current products do not prove historical asbestos exposure.
Paddock Enterprises, LLC	Successor by merger associated with legacy O-I asbestos liabilities.	Paddock’s reorganization governs channeled claims.
Owens-Corning Fiberglas	Purchased the Kaylo business in 1958.	Post-sale Kaylo requires manufacturer and date evidence.
Owens-Illinois Asbestos Personal Injury Trust	Resolves valid claims under court-approved procedures.	Eligibility and payment are not automatic.

🧱 Owens-Illinois Kaylo Products and Materials

Published appellate decisions describe asbestos-containing Kaylo as pipe covering and block insulation for steam piping, boilers and related equipment. One Sixth Circuit decision stated that Kaylo contained approximately 15% asbestos. That finding does not concern unrelated O-I glass products.

Documented Owens-Illinois Kaylo forms
Product or fact	Documented description	Investigation focus
Kaylo pipe covering	Preformed thermal insulation installed around hot piping.	Pipe size, job site, installation date and package markings.
Kaylo block insulation	Insulating blocks used on boilers and other hot surfaces.	Equipment, fastening method and cutting activity.
Kaylo heat insulation	Industrial thermal insulation documented in appellate litigation.	Specification, supplier and responsible manufacturing period.
Asbestos content	A federal appellate decision described Kaylo as approximately 15% asbestos.	Use authenticated product-period evidence for a specific claim.
O-I production period	Official materials identify 1948 through 1958.	Match exposure and product dates to this period.

Product-identification safeguards
Question	Why it matters
Was the product actually marked Kaylo?	A generic reference to insulation may not identify its maker.
When was it purchased or installed?	The 1958 sale affects attribution between O-I and Owens-Corning periods.
Was it pipe covering or block insulation?	Form can help connect testimony with specifications and invoices.
Was the worker present during disturbance?	Installed insulation alone does not establish airborne exposure.
Do records identify a different supplier?	Industrial sites often used several insulation brands.
Was the material original or a replacement?	Later insulation may have a different composition and manufacturer.

Do not disturb surviving insulation. Use historical packages, specifications, purchase orders, contractor files and qualified inspection.

👷 Workers and Job Sites Associated With Kaylo

Kaylo was designed for high-temperature systems, so relevant work histories often involve industrial construction, shipbuilding, utilities and process facilities. Published cases document use in ship engine and boiler rooms. Other sites require product-specific proof rather than an assumption based only on the type of facility.

Workers whose duties may warrant investigation
Trade or role	Possible historical contact	Details to document
Insulator or pipe coverer	Cutting and fitting Kaylo pipe covering or blocks.	Brand, form, installation date and tools.
Boilermaker	Installing, removing or working beside boiler insulation.	Boiler, outage, contractor and crew.
Pipefitter or plumber	Opening insulated lines and working beside covering removal.	System, location, product and frequency.
Shipyard worker	Work in engine rooms, boiler rooms and insulated compartments.	Vessel, yard, trade and construction period.
Maintenance mechanic	Accessing insulated equipment during repair.	Machine, task and condition of insulation.
Laborer or cleanup worker	Handling debris or sweeping dust after insulation work.	Source, cleanup method and ventilation.
Nearby trade	Bystander presence during cutting or removal.	Distance, duration and shared work area.

Job-site settings and useful records
Setting	Potential Kaylo context	Records to seek
Shipyard or vessel	Insulated piping and boilers in confined spaces.	Vessel plans, yard records and contractor specifications.
Power plant	Steam lines, turbines, boilers and auxiliary equipment.	Outage logs, insulation contracts and material lists.
Refinery or chemical plant	Process piping and heat-control systems.	Unit drawings, purchase orders and maintenance files.
Factory or mill	Boiler rooms and process steam networks.	Facility, department, equipment and shutdown records.
Commercial mechanical room	Boilers and hot-water or steam piping.	Building plans, renovation files and invoices.
Insulation warehouse or shop	Receiving, cutting or issuing packaged products.	Catalogs, stock records, labels and coworker testimony.

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🌫️ How Owens-Illinois Kaylo Exposure May Have Occurred

Fibers can become airborne when asbestos insulation is cut, broken or removed. A credible history identifies the task, frequency, distance, ventilation and cleanup. Occupying a building where Kaylo may have been installed does not establish a claim.

Potential Kaylo exposure pathways
Activity	Possible release mechanism	Proof focus
Cutting pipe covering	Sawing or trimming could create insulation dust.	Product markings, tools and repetition.
Fitting block insulation	Shaping blocks around boilers could disturb material.	Equipment, product form and installer testimony.
Removing old insulation	Aged covering could break during repair or demolition.	Original installation date and material identity.
Working nearby	Dust from another trade’s work could enter shared airspace.	Distance, timing and ventilation.
Dry cleanup	Sweeping could resuspend settled debris.	Dust source and housekeeping routine.
Handling work clothing	Dust could be carried away from the job site.	Source worker, clothing practice and household contact.

Exposure categories that require separate proof
Category	Illustrative history	Evidence needed
Direct occupational	An insulator cuts identified O-I-period Kaylo.	Product, dates, task and duration.
Bystander occupational	A pipefitter works beside Kaylo installation.	Shared location, distance and frequency.
Area exposure	Debris remains after insulation removal.	Source activity and cleanup conditions.
Household transfer	A family member handles dusty work clothes.	Source exposure, household routine and applicable law.
Post-1958 Kaylo	Exposure involves product made after the O-I sale.	Manufacturer, production date and responsible trust or entity.

The National Cancer Institute associates asbestos with mesothelioma, lung cancer and asbestosis. A diagnosis does not identify Owens-Illinois, Kaylo or a responsible source.

⚖️ Owens-Illinois Trust Claims and Compensation

Paddock filed Chapter 11 on January 6, 2020. Its plan became effective July 8, 2022. The Owens-Illinois Asbestos Personal Injury Trust began accepting claims on October 3, 2022 under its Trust Distribution Procedures, or TDP.

Current Owens-Illinois Trust facts
Trust fact	Verified information	Important qualification
Official name	Owens-Illinois Asbestos Personal Injury Trust.	It arose from the Paddock reorganization.
Plan effective date	July 8, 2022.	Consult the plan and TDP for controlling terms.
Claims opening date	October 3, 2022.	Current forms and procedures should be used.
Claim review	Expedited Review and Individual Review are available where applicable.	Each method has medical and exposure requirements.
Current payment percentage	65% for Scheduled Value and gross Individual Review settlement value.	The percentage can change and does not guarantee approval.
Increase announced	August 19, 2026, from 50% to 65%.	Always confirm the rate on the official trust site.

Potential claim routes and limitations
Route	Possible application	Key limitation
O-I Trust claim	Qualifying disease and exposure tied to O-I responsibility.	Must satisfy the TDP and filing requirements.
Other asbestos trust	A different bankrupt manufacturer supplied an exposure source.	Each trust requires separate product and exposure proof.
Personal-injury lawsuit	A viable claim against a legally responsible non-channeled party.	Availability, defenses and deadlines depend on law and facts.
Workers’ compensation	A qualifying occupational disease claim.	Employer rules and benefits vary by jurisdiction.
Household-exposure claim	Recognized take-home theory supported by evidence.	Duties and filing rules differ among states.

The 65% figure applies after a claim is allowed and valued under the TDP; it is not the likelihood of success. Compensation depends on disease, exposure evidence, claim route and current rules.

📚 Documented Owens-Illinois and Kaylo Records

Corporate, bankruptcy and trust records establish company history and the claim process. Appellate decisions document Kaylo’s asbestos content, forms and workplace use. Individual product and exposure evidence remains necessary.

Authoritative records and what they establish
Record	Confirmed information	Limitation
O-I corporate history	Company origins, 1929 formation and modern glass business.	It is not a claimant exposure record.
Paddock Chapter 11 announcement	1948–1958 Kaylo history and restructuring context.	Eligibility is controlled by trust documents.
2022 SEC Form 8-K	Plan effectiveness and §524(g) trust implementation.	It does not prove a worker’s exposure.
Official O-I Trust website	Active claims process and current payment percentage.	Terms may change; the TDP controls.
Owens-Illinois v. Armstrong	Kaylo pipe/block insulation and shipyard exposure evidence.	A decided case does not establish every later claim.
Strickland v. Owens Corning	Approximate asbestos content and product-line history.	Facts must be applied to the correct exposure period.

Unsupported conclusions to avoid
Supported fact	Unsupported conclusion
Owens-Illinois made asbestos-containing Kaylo.	Every O-I product or glass plant contained asbestos.
O-I manufactured Kaylo during 1948–1958.	O-I made all Kaylo installed after 1958.
Kaylo work could generate dust.	Every person at a Kaylo job site had substantial exposure.
An active O-I Trust accepts claims.	Any former O-I worker automatically qualifies.
The current payment percentage is 65%.	An approved claimant receives 65% of an invented case value.
Published cases describe workplace exposure.	Those findings prove another claimant’s circumstances.

No companywide exposure count or universal settlement average is stated here. Aggregate litigation history cannot determine whether one person meets the trust’s medical, exposure and procedural requirements.

📋 Evidence for an Owens-Illinois Asbestos Claim

A claim should connect a diagnosed person to O-I-attributable Kaylo and explain how it was disturbed. The trust’s Approved Site List does not eliminate medical or exposure requirements.

Evidence categories for claim review
Category	Examples	Purpose
Medical	Pathology, imaging, physician reports and death certificate.	Supports the claimed disease level.
Employment	Social Security, payroll, union, military and personnel records.	Places the worker at the relevant location and time.
Product	Kaylo packaging, labels, invoices, specifications and photographs.	Supports product and manufacturer identification.
Job site	Vessel, plant, building, department and equipment records.	Connects product use to a defined work area.
Activity	Cutting, installing, removal, nearby work or cleanup.	Explains the possible fiber-release pathway.
Witness	Coworker, supervisor, contractor or household member statement.	Corroborates duties, frequency and conditions.
Trust documentation	Current claim form, exposure affidavit and supporting exhibits.	Addresses procedural and TDP requirements.

Practical claim-review sequence
Step	Question	Result sought
1	What asbestos-related disease is documented?	Applicable TDP disease level and medical proof.
2	Where and when did the work occur?	Dated employer and job-site chronology.
3	What evidence identifies Kaylo?	Product-specific documents or credible testimony.
4	Does the date connect the product to O-I?	Correct responsibility period and claim route.
5	How was the material disturbed?	Frequency, proximity and exposure narrative.
6	Do current trust rules apply?	Complete filing under the correct review method.

Keep originals and note the source of every fact. Do not alter dates to fit a trust period or assume an Approved Site entry proves a particular product encounter. Related companies can be researched through the paper, wood and building-products companies asbestos exposure page.

❓ Frequently Asked Questions About Owens-Illinois

Did Owens-Illinois manufacture asbestos-containing insulation?

Yes. Official bankruptcy materials and published court decisions document Owens-Illinois manufacture and sale of asbestos-containing Kaylo high-temperature insulation during 1948–1958.

What Owens-Illinois products contained asbestos?

The principal documented product is Kaylo thermal insulation, including pipe covering and block insulation. This does not mean every Owens-Illinois glass product or facility contained asbestos.

When did Owens-Illinois stop making Kaylo?

Owens-Illinois sold the Kaylo business to Owens-Corning Fiberglas in 1958. The product’s manufacturing and exposure dates are important when identifying the correct responsible entity or trust.

Who may have encountered Owens-Illinois Kaylo?

Potentially relevant trades include insulators, pipe coverers, boilermakers, pipefitters, shipyard workers, maintenance mechanics, laborers and nearby workers. Each claim still needs individual exposure evidence.

Does Owens-Illinois have an asbestos trust?

Yes. The Paddock reorganization created the Owens-Illinois Asbestos Personal Injury Trust to resolve valid qualifying asbestos claims under court-approved Trust Distribution Procedures.

What is the current O-I Trust payment percentage?

The official trust website states 65% for Expedited Review Scheduled Values and 65% of gross Individual Review settlement values. The rate can change and does not guarantee claim approval or payment.

Does working at an O-I glass plant prove asbestos exposure?

No. Employment establishes location, not exposure. A claim should identify an asbestos-containing product, relevant dates, a disturbance activity, proximity, frequency and supporting records or testimony.

What evidence can support an O-I Trust claim?

Relevant evidence may include medical records, employment documents, Kaylo labels or invoices, job-site files, specifications, photographs and coworker affidavits, together with the current trust forms.

🧾 Owens-Illinois Asbestos Exposure Summary

Key Owens-Illinois and Kaylo facts
Topic	Confirmed or carefully qualified information
Historical company	Owens-Illinois, Inc., formed in 1929.
Documented asbestos product	Kaylo high-temperature pipe covering and block insulation.
O-I Kaylo period	1948–1958.
1958 transaction	Kaylo business sold to Owens-Corning Fiberglas.
Legacy debtor	Paddock Enterprises, LLC.
Chapter 11 filing	January 6, 2020.
Plan effective	July 8, 2022.
Trust	Owens-Illinois Asbestos Personal Injury Trust.
Claims opened	October 3, 2022.
Current payment percentage	65%, subject to change and claim approval.
Guaranteed compensation	None.

📚 Confirmed Sources

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Working around insulation or at an Owens-Illinois facility does not automatically establish a payable claim. Product identity, manufacturing and exposure dates, job site, task, medical evidence and the current Trust Distribution Procedures must be evaluated individually. Compensation is not guaranteed.

This page provides general information, not medical or legal advice. Exposure, eligibility, deadlines and compensation depend on individual facts and applicable law.