Kewaunee Scientific Corporation is an American laboratory furniture manufacturer with origins that date back to 1903. Throughout much of the 20th century, the company included asbestos in its laboratory equipment, and particularly its fume hoods. These items were distributed to educational institutions, government facilities, and industrial laboratories across the nation, putting countless lab employees, students, researchers, and others who came into contact with them in danger of being diagnosed with mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases.
Kewaunee Scientific Corporation’s History
Kewaunee Scientific Corporation was established as the Kewaunee Casket and Manufacturing Company in 1903, in Kewaunee, Wisconsin. The business initially struggled, but in 1906, local investors reorganized the failing enterprise. They dropped the word “Casket” from the company’s name and pivoted its operations to manufacturing laboratory furniture. At that time, there were only two other companies producing laboratory equipment, making Kewaunee one of the industry’s early pioneers.[1]
After its false start and reorganization, the company operated as a private entity owned by four families, with each holding equal stakes. Financial challenges persisted through its early years, with the business barely managing to service its debts to the State Bank of Kewaunee.
In 1926, the company expanded, acquiring the plant and equipment of the Economy School Furniture Company in Adrian, Michigan. The newly purchased facility was modernized in 1929, including the installation of electricity and a new blower system. Though these moves led to Kewaunee becoming profitable, this was reversed by the Great Depression: The prices the company was forced to charge dropped so dramatically that each sale resulted in losses of 25 to 30 percent. Full profitability wasn’t restored until 1937.[1]
The 1930s brought many changes. In 1931, company management decided to expand the Adrian facility’s operations to the production of metal furniture, continuing its wood furniture manufacturing at its Kewaunee site. By 1932, the Adrian plant had begun producing metal laboratory furniture. Unionization in Kewaunee in 1935, as well as the costs associated with aging buildings and inefficient operations, led to the consolidation of the two locations, with all wood furniture production moved to Adrian by early 1941. By April 1942, the empty Kewaunee buildings were leased to the Kewaunee Shipbuilding and Engineering Corporation for wartime ship construction.
During World War II, Kewaunee secured several government contracts, including manufacturing airplane wheel chocks and producing specialized metal enclosures for the classified Manhattan Project. Later, the post-war boom significantly benefited the company. Its sales jumped from $2.9 million in 1947 to $5.1 million in 1949, leading the company to expand the Adrian plant. They added an engineering building and introduced stainless steel fabrication capabilities. At the same time, Kewaunee entered into a partnership with Fisher Scientific Company of Pittsburgh, manufacturing a stock line of metal laboratory furniture that Fisher warehoused and distributed to industrial customers.
Recognizing that southeastern Michigan’s automotive-focused economy wasn’t ideal for laboratory furniture manufacturing, the company’s leadership looked for expansion opportunities in the South. In 1954, they selected Statesville, North Carolina, for a new wood furniture manufacturing facility, forming the subsidiary Technical Furniture, Inc. The first phase consisted of 56,000 square feet of office and manufacturing space, with production beginning in February 1955.
Throughout the 1950s and 1960s, Kewaunee continued expanding and innovating. The company developed Kemresin, a modified epoxy resin product, through a joint research project with Battelle Laboratories beginning in 1958. Production of Kemresin began in Statesville in 1963, initially focusing on laboratory sinks before expanding to high-quality laboratory tops.
In 1967, the company changed its name to Kewaunee Scientific Equipment Corporation and went public in 1968. The 1970s brought further expansion with the acquisition of the Angle Steel Division and the purchase of a manufacturing facility in Lockhart, Texas, in 1977.
The 1980s marked significant organizational changes. In 1984, the company moved its corporate headquarters to Wilmette, Illinois, and acquired J.M. Manufacturing Corporation of Santa Clara, California. The Adrian plant was closed in 1986, with operations transferred to Statesville and Lockhart. That same year, the company adopted its current name: Kewaunee Scientific Corporation.
Under the leadership of Eli Manchester, Jr., who became president and CEO in 1990, the company relocated its headquarters to Statesville and implemented cost-cutting measures that helped restore profitability. By the late 1990s, Kewaunee had achieved significant revitalization, with strong earnings performance and expanded product lines.
How Did Kewaunee Scientific Corporation Incorporate Asbestos?
Laboratory Fume Hoods and Asbestos
Through much of its operational history, Kewaunee Scientific Corporation integrated asbestos into its laboratory fume hood systems through the use of asbestos cement panels, which were also known as transite panels or asbestos cement linings. These components were selected for their exceptional resistance to corrosion and heat. These properties made them well suited to laboratory environments, where corrosive chemicals were handled regularly.
Incorporating asbestos into fume hood construction served multiple purposes: The mineral provided structural integrity and strength, enhanced the equipment’s ability to withstand harsh chemical environments, and offered superior fire resistance. Fume hoods are critical safety items in laboratories. Their functions include containing and exhausting hazardous vapors and particles away from work areas, making durability and chemical resistance essential characteristics.[2]
According to company records, fume hoods manufactured by Kewaunee Scientific before 1985 potentially contained these asbestos components. The widespread use of chrysotile asbestos in cement products was common industry practice during this era, as manufacturers prioritized the mineral’s beneficial properties while remaining largely unaware of its health implications or choosing to ignore them so they could continue earning profits from selling the inexpensive material.
Asbestos in Kewaunee’s Manufacturing Facilities
The manufacturing process at Kewaunee’s facilities created multiple points of potential exposure. During production, raw asbestos fibers could become airborne when cement panels were cut, shaped, or installed into fume hood assemblies. Factory workers handling these materials faced direct contact with asbestos dust, while teams at customer sites encountered additional exposure risks when installing the equipment: Both positioning and connecting the equipment involved significant manipulation and the risk of damage and release of deadly particles into the air.
Beyond the immediate manufacturing environment, the company’s facilities themselves often contained asbestos in building materials such as insulation, flooring, and ceiling tiles, creating additional exposure risks for all personnel working on-site.
Kewaunee Scientific Corporation Products Containing Asbestos
The primary asbestos-containing products manufactured by Kewaunee Scientific Corporation included:
Laboratory Fume Hoods (pre-1985)
- Models with asbestos cement panel linings
- Equipment manufactured under partnership agreements with Fisher Scientific (1945-1968)
- Various configurations designed for educational, government, and industrial laboratories
Associated Components
- Asbestos cement panels (transite panels)
- Internal lining systems for chemical resistance
- Ventilation components incorporating asbestos materials
Who Was at Risk from Kewaunee Scientific Corporation’s Asbestos-Containing Equipment
Kewaunee Scientific Corporation’s asbestos-containing laboratory equipment created exposure risks in multiple professional and educational environments. The company’s products were distributed to and installed in schools, universities, government research facilities, and industrial laboratories. This put many diverse groups at risk of asbestos-related health consequences.
Those most at risk of asbestos exposure from Kewaunee’s laboratory equipment included:
Educational Personnel and Students
- High school, college, and graduate students conducting laboratory experiments
- Teachers and professors overseeing laboratory activities
- Lab assistants and technicians responsible for maintaining school equipment
Research and Scientific Professionals
- Biologists, microbiologists, physicists, and other researchers
- Environmental health and safety (EHS) workers
- Physicians conducting laboratory research
Technical and Maintenance Staff
- Laboratory technicians operating fume hood systems
- Maintenance workers servicing equipment
- Electricians, plumbers, and carpenters involved in the installation or repair of laboratory equipment
- Engineers overseeing facility operations
Military and Government Personnel
- Veterans from all service branches (Air Force, Army, Navy, Coast Guard) who worked in research facilities
- Industrial workers in government laboratories
- Personnel at military research installations
In addition to these potential exposure victims, asbestos posed significant risks to their family members through secondary contamination, when asbestos fibers that had adhered to clothing, hair, and skin were carried home, contaminating vehicles and homes. Spouses and parents who laundered lab employees’ work garments, and children embracing parents returning from work or siblings returning from school, faced the serious risk of indirect exposure to these dangerous fibers from the toxic mineral fibers that became embedded in household furnishings, carpeting, and other surfaces.
In addition to the occupational, educational, and secondary exposure posed decades ago, there are also contemporary concerns posed by equipment that has been in place for years. It’s not uncommon to find Kewaunee’s asbestos-containing fume hoods in older buildings that were equipped before the 1980s. Individuals working in facilities that may contain these systems should consult certified asbestos professionals for proper assessment and handling procedures.
Legal Actions Against Kewaunee Scientific Corporation
Like many other companies that included asbestos in their manufacturing environment and products, Kewaunee Scientific Corporation has faced multiple legal challenges. Most lawsuits that have been filed against the company have related to exposure from the asbestos-contaminated parts in its laboratory equipment. These cases typically center on assertions that the company failed to adequately warn users about the health risks associated with asbestos-containing fume hoods or that they failed to provide sufficient guidance on how people who used them could protect themselves.
Lawsuits have been filed by former employees of institutions that used Kewaunee equipment, researchers who worked with the company’s fume hoods, and even by family members who suffered secondary exposure. These cases rely on evidence that the company was aware or should have been aware of the dangers of asbestos, and whether adequate warnings were provided to those using the equipment.
Many institutions that purchased or distributed Kewaunee’s laboratory equipment have also been named in litigation, as they too are legally responsible for providing safe working environments for their employees and students. Most asbestos lawsuits involve multiple defendants: In the case of Kewaunee Scientific, these suits generally include equipment manufacturers, distributors, and facility owners, as well as any other entities in the chain of exposure.
Whether through settlement agreements or awards assigned by juries after reviewing evidence, successful legal actions have resulted in significant compensation for victims. The discovery process involved in litigation has made clear that asbestos was widely used in laboratory equipment and settings, exposing an extensive population to the risks inherent in asbestos exposure.
Potential Exposure to Kewaunee Scientific Corporation Asbestos
If you worked in a laboratory that used Kewaunee Scientific Corporation equipment, attended school in a facility with the company’s fume hoods, or lived with someone who had this type of exposure, you may be at risk for asbestos-related health conditions like mesothelioma, asbestosis, or asbestos-related lung cancer. Even if you feel healthy, knowing the symptoms of these diseases and informing your healthcare provider about your exposure history will go a long way in making sure that your health is monitored and you go through appropriate screening. The earlier an asbestos-related disease is diagnosed, the better your outlook.
The latency period for asbestos-related diseases can span decades, with symptoms of mesothelioma often not appearing until 20 to 50 years after exposure. Early detection through regular medical screening can significantly expand treatment options and improve outcomes for those diagnosed with asbestos-related conditions.
Support for Individuals Diagnosed with Mesothelioma and Other Asbestos-Related Diseases
Medical Care
Receiving a diagnosis of mesothelioma, lung cancer, asbestosis, or other asbestos-related conditions can be overwhelming, but comprehensive support systems exist for patients and their families. Leading medical centers across the country offer cutting-edge treatments, including targeted therapies, immunotherapy, surgical interventions, and multimodal treatment approaches that combine various therapeutic strategies.
Financial Relief
For many people diagnosed with mesothelioma, agreeing on a treatment plan with their medical team is just the first step. Anger, grief, and concern about medical expenses and their family’s financial security led them to a mesothelioma lawyer who knows asbestos cases inside and out. Dealing with an asbestos-related illness can come with huge medical bills, lost income, and real worry about how to take care of your family financially. An experienced mesothelioma lawyer will listen to your situation, answer all your questions, and help you figure out if you can take legal action against Kewaunee Scientific Corporation and any other companies that may have been responsible for your exposure.
Recovering money from those companies frequently involves filing a personal injury lawsuit seeking compensation for the harm that they’ve caused. Some companies have set up asbestos trust funds to compensate these victims so that they can avoid litigation. These funds pay less than is expected from filing a lawsuit, but the process is less complicated and less stressful, and payment is generally available more quickly.
For many people, the main reason to file a claim is to hold the companies accountable for putting them at risk. Whatever your reason, it’s important to talk to a knowledgeable asbestos lawyer as soon as possible. There are strict time limits on filing these types of claims, but your attorney will make sure everything gets filed on time and help you get the best result.
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