Combustion Engineering

Combustion Engineering was a leading manufacturer of industrial boilers and power-generation equipment. The company was founded in 1912. It used asbestos insulation in its boilers and sold them throughout the country. Its products were used in a wide range of industries, including paper, oil, sugar, steel and shipbuilding. Asbestos products were also used on ships and other vessels.

Combustion Engineering manufactured other products, such as stokers, dryers and coal pulverizing equipment for coal-fired boilers.

CE became a frequently named defendant in asbestos litigation because of the asbestos insulation used in its products. Over time, this exposed individuals, especially industrial workers, to asbestos. When asbestos is disturbed, the fibers can become airborne. Once asbestos fibers are inhaled, they may become lodged in the lungs or other tissues and cause permanent damage. This exposure could lead to life-threatening asbestos-related diseases like mesothelioma, asbestosis and lung cancer.

Combustion Engineering used asbestos until the mid-1970s. The asbestos company had already been named in asbestos claims since the 1960s, sparking decades-long asbestos litigation against it.

Who was exposed to asbestos from Combustion Engineering products?

Asbestos was used in Combustion Engineering products to insulate the boilers and other high-heat products. Workers who built, transported or serviced these products were at risk of asbestos exposure.

Those at risk of occupational asbestos exposure include:

• Boilermakers and boiler workers
• Chemical refinery workers
• Construction workers
• Electricians
• Engineers
• Factory workers
• HVAC workers
• Industrial workers
• Insulators
• Food and beverage workers
• Machinists
• Maintenance workers
• Metal workers
• Military personnel
• Miners and mine workers
• Paper mill workers
• Pipefitters
• Plumbers
• Power plant employees
• Railroad workers
• Refinery workers
• Shipyard workers
• Steamfitters
• Textile workers
• Veterans

Combustion Engineering faced thousands of lawsuits filed by workers, families and others alleging that asbestos exposure from their products led to asbestos-related diseases.

In late 1989, Combustion Engineering was acquired by a Swiss company called ASEA Brown Boveri (ABB). With the acquisition, ABB took on CE’s asbestos liabilities, which were beginning to mount. By the end of 2001, there were 94,000 asbestos claims pending against the CE subsidiary. ABB’s 2001 annual report states the company set aside $940 million to cover expected claims against Combustion Engineering.

A notable lawsuit filed against the manufacturers includes:

• Anderson v. Combustion Engineering, Inc.: This lawsuit was filed on behalf of the widow of a machinist at a power plant. The machinist was exposed to asbestos from boilers and later developed mesothelioma and died in 1998. Combustion Engineering was found 29% responsible for Anderson’s death.

Lawsuits against Combustion Engineering included claims such as failure to warn, negligence and wrongful death for the harms experienced. Because of the overwhelming number of asbestos lawsuits against the company, they filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in early 2003. This filing then led to the establishment of their asbestos bankruptcy trust to help pay victims of exposure from Combustion Engineering products.

Asbestos bankruptcy trusts are established to review and pay claims submitted by people suffering from asbestos-related diseases caused by products made or sold by companies that declared bankruptcy.

Combustion Engineering’s asbestos bankruptcy trust was created in 2005 (Combustion Engineering 524(g) Asbestos PI Trust) and went into effect in April 2006. It was initially funded with $1.243 billion.

This bankruptcy trust was formed to pay victims who have submitted personal injury claims from asbestos Combustion Engineering products. ABB also agreed to give claimants ABB stock and cash as another form of payment.

The trust is still accepting claims today. The current payment percentage, as of 2026, is 20%. It was raised from 18.5% on January 1, 2024.

To be eligible to file a claim in the asbestos bankruptcy trust, claimants must have proof of asbestos exposure and a medical diagnosis linked to that exposure. For more specific eligibility requirements, consult with an attorney to understand your eligibility.

Individuals who have been diagnosed with mesothelioma, lung cancer or other asbestos-related diseases after exposure to Combustion Engineering products have legal options available to them.

This includes:

• Filing a claim with the asbestos trust: If you have proof that your medical diagnosis is from Combustion Engineering asbestos products, you may be eligible to file a claim with the Combustion Engineering asbestos trust.
• Filing a personal injury lawsuit: You can also pursue a personal injury lawsuit against other parties (manufacturers of asbestos products, distributors, etc.) that led to asbestos exposure. Individuals may seek compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering and loss of quality of life. All claims against Combustion Engineering must go through the trust, so this is not an option for CE claims.
• Filing a wrongful death lawsuit: Families of loved ones who have passed away as a result of an asbestos-related disease may pursue a wrongful death lawsuit. They can seek compensation for loss of financial support, funeral and burial expenses and loss of companionship. All claims against Combustion Engineering must go through the trust, so this is not an option for CE claims.

Those seeking legal action should be aware of the statute of limitations for filing these claims, which will vary by state. An asbestos attorney can review employment records, medical records, evidence and other important documents to build your case and determine the best legal action.

What products did Combustion Engineering make that contained asbestos?

Combustion Engineering manufactured boilers that contained asbestos insulation and were used in power plants and industrial facilities across many industries.

Can I file a lawsuit if I was exposed to asbestos from Combustion Engineering products decades ago?

No, you cannot file a lawsuit against Combustion Engineering. The company’s Chapter 11 bankruptcy now funnels all asbestos liabilities through its personal injury trust. An attorney can help you figure out if you’re still eligible to submit a claim there.

Am I eligible to file a Combustion Engineering asbestos claim?

To file a Combustion Engineering asbestos claim you’ll need to follow the bankruptcy trust procedures, have valid proof of asbestos exposure, possess medical records of the medical condition you’re suffering from and show how it is directly linked to asbestos exposure. An attorney can help build your case and navigate the eligibility process for filing your claim.

Motley Rice attorneys have been pioneers in asbestos litigation for decades, representing thousands of individuals and families harmed by asbestos exposure. Our legal team helped uncover corporate knowledge of asbestos dangers and has held companies accountable through personal injury, wrongful death and product liability claims.

Our asbestos lawsuit attorneys have handled hundreds of complex cases, including:

• Representing industrial workers in West Virginia exposed to asbestos on the job
• Serving as U.S. counsel for Canadian provincial workers’ compensation boards
• Litigating product liability and secondhand exposure cases involving asbestos-containing materials (insulation, brake pads, talcum powder)

Read more on our toxic exposure litigation experience.