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John Crane Company & Asbestos

John Crane Company & Asbestos

For decades, John Crane, Inc. made products that contained asbestos. Learn about the company’s history and current status after dealing with asbestos lawsuits.

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Written by: John Hurst
Reviewed by: Meredith Clark
Last Updated: June 22, 2026

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Case Overview

John Crane Inc. once manufactured, marketed and sold asbestos-containing products. The company has faced hundreds of thousands of asbestos lawsuits. People continue to file cases after they developed asbestos-related diseases caused by their exposure to asbestos-containing John Crane products. Learn more about John Crane Inc. asbestos products, lawsuits and history.

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Key takeaways about John Crane Asbestos

  • John Crane, Inc., sold products containing asbestos for decades. It is now a subsidiary of Smiths Group PLC.
  • The company has more than 21,000 asbestos lawsuits pending against it, and more than 310,000 other lawsuits have been dismissed.
  • Despite paying out approximately $192 million, John Crane has never filed for bankruptcy or formed a trust to satisfy its asbestos liabilities. 

History and overview of John Crane

John Crane, Inc. was established in 1917 as Crane Packing Company. It had facilities in Canada, England and the U.S. Before World War II, John Crane sold its UK-based operations to Tube Investment, which is now known as TI Group PLC.

Since then, John Crane has been involved in numerous purchases and acquisitions. TI Group PLC purchased John Crane in 1987. Eventually, the company again began operating under the name John Crane. Today, John Crane, Inc. is a subsidiary of Smiths Group PLC.

When did John Crane become aware of the dangers of asbestos?

From the 1930s until 1985, John Crane sold asbestos-containing products, such as gaskets and mechanical packings. In 1970, the company learned that asbestos exposure could cause people to develop diseases such as lung cancer, asbestosis and mesothelioma.

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If you or a loved one has developed a serious illness associated with asbestos exposure, you may be entitled to compensation. Our team of asbestos lawyers can evaluate your case and recommend your next steps.

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You can also reach our team by calling 1.800.768.4026.

Who was at risk of exposure to asbestos from John Crane asbestos products?

Industrial workers face the greatest risk of asbestos exposure. Even though asbestos has been phased out of many industrial products, workers in many professions may still encounter asbestos. At-risk workers include those working in:

  • Automotive repair
  • Construction
  • Demolition
  • Mining
  • Oil refining
  • Shipbuilding
  • Steel manufacturing
  • Tile installation

This is not an exhaustive list.

Did John Crane file for bankruptcy?

No, John Crane has not filed for asbestos-related bankruptcy.

Many companies that produced, sold or marketed asbestos products faced financial crises from lawsuits. As of 2015, researchers knew of at least 100 companies that went bankrupt from litigation as a result of people developing serious illnesses from asbestos exposure. Many of these companies had to form asbestos lawsuit trusts to meet their financial obligations.

John Crane, however, never declared bankruptcy or formed a trust. People who developed serious illnesses related to working with John Crane products can still file lawsuits, and law firms are accepting new cases.

Learn more about asbestos trust claims.

Our asbestos litigation experience

For decades, Motley Rice attorneys have advocated for people who developed asbestos-related illnesses and their surviving loved ones. Our team helped expose corporate knowledge of the dangers of asbestos exposure and continues seeking justice through lawsuits on behalf of those harmed.

Learn more about asbestos litigation.

Key takeaways about John Crane Asbestos

History and overview of John Crane

Who was at risk of exposure to asbestos from John Crane asbestos products?

Did John Crane file for bankruptcy?

Our asbestos litigation experience

About the Author

John D. Hurst

John D. Hurst

Member

John Hurst is dedicated to holding corporations accountable for their impact on individuals and society. He focuses his practice on developing and executing case strategies in toxic tort, occupational disease, public nuisance, catastrophic injury and product liability litigation.

Sources
  1. Courtroom View Network. South Carolina Jury Hits John Crane With $1.75M Asbestos Verdict.
  2. Illinois Appellate Court. Daniels v. Arvinmeritor, Inc.
  3. JD Supra. Oregon Jury Awards $33 Million In Shipyard Laborer’s Asbestos Gaskets Case.
  4. John Crane, Inc. History of John Crane.
  5. PR Newswire. The Lanier Law Firm Announces Asbestos Verdict Against John Crane Inc.
  6. PR Newswire. NY Jury Issues $1.4 Million Verdict Against John Crane Inc. in Asbestos Death.
  7. RAND. Bankruptcy Trusts Complicate the Outcomes of Asbestos Lawsuits.
  8. Smiths Group plc. Annual Report FY2025.
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