Founded in the late 1800s under the name of the United States Rubber Company, Uniroyal Holding Incorprated went on to become one of the biggest manufacturers of rubber products. As the company expanded and went through various mergers as well as name changes, it also widened its product line into other industries. With these changes, the company began utilizing asbestos in its manufacturing processes and goods from 1941 and 1976. Due to its use of various asbestos-containing products, Uniroyal is still involved in asbestos exposure lawsuits as of 2021.
The History Behind Uniroyal HoldingIn 1892, Uniroyal began operations as the United States Rubber Company, which manufactured tires and other products from synthetic rubber. The company’s creation resulted from a group of other Connecticut rubber manufacturers merging.
Over the preceding few decades, the company increased in size and began to offer products in both the automotive as well as footwear industries. As it expanded, the US Rubber Comp any acquired other businesses in an attempt to branch out. An early division of the company was the Mishawaka Woolen Manufacturing Company. The Mishawaka company gained a reputation for its footwear, which the US Rubber Company continued manufacturing for years. Uniroyal sought a substantial increase during the first World War and created rubber fuel cells for the military and employed over 100,000 workers at the Mishawaka factory.
In 1931, Uniroyal acquired a large segment of Gillette Safety Tire Company in Wisconsin to secure a great role in the tire industry. Uniroyal solely owned Gillette Tire Company in 1940 and expanded its operation in Wisconsin over the next few decades.
By the mid-1960s, Uniroyal became the third biggest producer of tires in the country. The US Rubber Company officially became Uniroyal in 1964 to establish unity between its various lines of product.
During this period, Uniroyal greatly expanded into other commercial avenues and started placing a large amount of asbestos in its products. Due to its various divisions, Uniroyal produced chemicals for industrial uses as well as fabrics and other products. Uniroyal’s various asbestos products included fireproof textile and continued production of the items.
As Uniroyal grew in size, it exposed a growing number of people to asbestos.
In the 1980s, Uniroyal merged with B.F. Goodrich to form Uniroyal Goodrich. A year later, Michelin acquired Goodrich’s portion and completely bought out Uniroyal in 1990. Michelin continues to own and operate Uniroyal. Some of the workers exposed to asbestos-containing products manufactured by Uniroyal include boilermakers, insulators, mechanics, shipyard workers, and veterans.
Asbestos Litigation Pending Against UniroyalDue to its previous asbestos usage, Uniroyal was involved in various lawsuits connected to plants that once manufactured asbestos. The town of Mishawaka, Indiana in 2007 initiated legal action against Uniroyal in 2007 to receive funds to clean the rubber factory that was in 1997. The Environmental Protection Agency later performed an investigation of the factor and found asbestos. The Environmental Protection Agency then assessed over $1.5 million to clean up the site.
One case initiated against the company involved a man who developed a lung-related illness following asbestos exposure caused by Uniroyal. The man’s father had been employed as an insulator at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, and the man experienced secondary asbestos exposure due to his father who carried the fiber home on his clothing.
Contact a Knowledgeable Asbestos Exposure LawyerIf you or a loved one has been exposed to asbestos-containing products manufactured by Uniroyal, you are at risk of facing serious illnesses. You should not hesitate to speak with an experienced attorney at Throneberry Law Group today to schedule a free case evaluation.
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