Goulds Pumps’ history as a manufacturer of industrial pumps dates back to the 1840s, when it first began producing wooden pumps. Over the years, the company began incorporating asbestos in many of its products to add strength. While the company’s pumps no longer contain this hazardous material, countless workers experienced significant occupational asbestos exposure from working with the equipment and have been diagnosed with mesothelioma, lung cancer, and other asbestos-related diseases.
The History of Goulds Pumps
Goulds Pumps can trace its history back to 1840, when Abel Downs began producing wooden pumps in Seneca Falls, New York. Downs partnered with others to establish a company called Downs, Mynderse, and Co., which quickly caught the attention of businessman Seabury S. Gould, who was also working on pumps in his shop in Seneca Falls. In 1848, Gould purchased a substantial interest in the company and assumed its presidency, buying out Mynderse and another co-owner and changing the company name to Downs and Company.[1]
Gould had a vision of providing fresh flowing water to the pioneers who were settling the American West, farmers in the East, and plantations in the South. In 1849, he created the world’s first all-iron, steam-powered pump, which replaced the windmill-driven pumps that were providing water to trains. In 1853 he constructed a new plant that was incorporated in New York in 1864. By 1869, the company had changed its name to Goulds Manufacturing Company.[2]
Though the company initially manufactured a wide range of iron products, including church bells, tools, and corn shellers, the quality and innovation represented by its pump design made the equipment its primary product. The company’s presidency was assumed by Seabury’s son James, who introduced suction pumps, lift pumps, and power, steam, and piston pumps, and then the presidency was assumed by his grandson, Norman. The company rebranded again in 1926, this time as Goulds Pumps, Inc.[2]
Though the company continued to be successful, it was the 1940s that marked its greatest period of expansion. Goulds Pumps was awarded the Army-Navy “E” Award for outstanding production of war material after providing pumps for Navy vessels, and in 1945 it produced the largest pump it had ever built, a horizontal version to be used on a petroleum pipeline that required three railroad flat cars to ship. It also developed new pump lines for water systems and general industry and began expanding by acquiring other companies and opening branch offices all around the country.[2]
Throughout much of the mid-20th century, Gould Pumps supplied pumps to industries including chemical processing, pulp and paper manufacturing, mining, oil and gas, power generation, and water treatment. The family maintained control of the company until 1964, when Norman J. Gould died. At that point, ownership transferred to public stockholders. The 1970s and 1980s saw continued tremendous growth as demand for oil created an increased need for pumps, but saw a period of falling sales in the mid-1980s, as well as a contentious labor strike.[1]
In 1985, the company named Stephen Ardia CEO of Goulds Pumps, and under his leadership, the company’s annual sales had reached $500 million by 1990. But the company faced challenges too, including a lawsuit alleging problems with a consumer pump in California and being named in a Superfund lawsuit in New York.[4] In 1994, Thomas McDermott replaced Stephen Ardia as president and CEO, and oversaw a management reorganization and turn to building global market share. The company’s headquarters moved from Seneca Falls to Fairport, near Rochester. Annual sales rose to nearly 800 million.[2]
In 1997, Goulds Pumps was purchased by ITT Industries and in 1998 its corporate headquarters returned to Seneca Falls. In 2011, ITT spun off its water technology division into Xylem Incorporated, which served as Goulds Pumps’ parent company, and in 2016, it established In TelCo Management LLC through a corporate reorganization to hold all ITT LLC and Goulds Pumps LLC legacy asbestos liabilities. In 2021, ITT divested In TelCo to Delticus HoldCo, L.P. (Delticus), a corporate liability consolidation vehicle.[3]
How Did Goulds’ Pumps Use Asbestos?
From the early days of its production through the late 1970s, Goulds Pumps included asbestos in various components of its products. Initially unaware of its toxicity, the company primarily used the mineral because of its exceptional durability, heat resistance, and ability to withstand corrosive chemicals such as sulfuric acid.
Goulds Pumps’ Seneca Falls manufacturing facility spanned 920,000 square feet and was comprised of five main operational buildings: the ANSI factory, the Mid-Range factory, an Engineered-to-Order Foundry, a Research & Development lab, and an Engineered Products Operation.[4] Before the 1980s, asbestos materials permeated the company’s facilities, putting the company’s employees at risk.
Asbestos exposure within the plant came from several areas, including:
- Foundry equipment was lined with asbestos refractory materials
- Asbestos insulation within walls, electrical components, and ductwork
- Safety equipment, heat-resistant gear, and protective clothing were made with asbestos
- Furnaces built with bricks and lining that contained asbestos for heat resistance
- Boiler systems were lined with asbestos refractory and insulation and used asbestos gaskets and packing
Asbestos was used extensively in several components within the pumps that Goulds manufactured, including:
- Gaskets fabricated from sheets of asbestos-containing material
- Packing materials made of braided, rope-like strands used to stuff pumps and maintain proper flow
- Valves manufactured with asbestos for durability
- Machine brake linings contained asbestos that released dust during operation
Because Goulds’ pumps needed to withstand extreme temperatures and handle corrosive substances, these components were considered essential to their proper functioning.
Despite growing awareness of the health risks associated with asbestos, the company continued using the material until the late 1970s,
Who Was Exposed to Asbestos from Goulds Pumps?
Goulds Pumps were extremely popular through most of the 20th century, and as a result, their asbestos-containing products and their components endangered tens of thousands of workers over several decades. The risk extended beyond those who directly handled asbestos materials or maintained the equipment, spreading to virtually anyone working in or around environments containing Goulds products.
Goulds Pumps Employees
Workers at the Seneca Falls facility faced high on-the-job exposure risks: The factory floor, laboratory area, foundry, and boiler rooms all contained significant quantities of asbestos products. During normal factory operations, maintenance, and repairs, fibers from these products would become airborne and contaminate the Goulds Pumps workplace atmosphere.
Activities that released asbestos fibers included:
- Cutting or removing asbestos gaskets
- Replacing packing materials with tools like packing pullers
- Mixing dry asbestos-containing insulation with water for furnace applications
- Removing insulation to access plumbing systems and equipment
- Maintenance on brake systems releasing asbestos dust
End User Exposure
Beyond the factory workers at Goulds manufacturing facilities, those who installed, operated, maintained, or repaired Goulds Pumps products were endangered by the asbestos particles released by the equipment. Those potential victims included:
- Factory workers at Goulds manufacturing facilities
- Plumbers and steamfitters maintaining or repairing Goulds pumps
- Industrial workers at chemical plants, plastics manufacturers, steel mills, and oil refineries
- Boilermakers and insulators
- U.S. Navy personnel and shipyard workers
- Power plant operators
- Mining industry workers
- Pulp and paper mill employees
- Water and wastewater treatment plant staff
Secondary Asbestos Exposure
Tragically, in addition to facing occupational exposure themselves, many workers unknowingly brought asbestos fibers into their homes on their clothing, skin, and hair. These carry-home particles have been blamed for thousands of family members of asbestos workers being sickened by what is known as take-home or secondary exposure, which has particularly affected spouses who laundered their partners’ work clothes.
Asbestos Litigation Involving Goulds Pumps
As awareness of asbestos dangers increased and workers began developing serious illnesses, Goulds Pumps faced mounting legal challenges. Unlike some manufacturers, the company did not establish an asbestos trust fund through bankruptcy proceedings. This means that the company’s employees were limited to filing workers compensation claims and suing the companies that provided asbestos to their employer, including Babcock & Wilcox and Owens Corning, while end-user victims must pursue compensation and justice through personal injury or wrongful death lawsuits.
Significant cases against Goulds Pumps have included:
- Myrtle J. Mahar died of malignant mesothelioma after working as a laborer, spare laborer, and janitor at the Georgia-Pacific mill in Woodland, Maine, from 1977 through 2008. Her survivors blamed exposure to asbestos used at the plant for her illness, pointing to her duties of cleaning and painting the exterior of pumps, cleaning areas where pumps and valves were present, and cleaning areas after work had been done on the pumps. Though Goulds attempted to have the case dismissed, arguing that there was no evidence that her illness was caused by exposure to asbestos from their products, their motion for summary judgment was denied.[5]
- The survivors of Elijah Sparkman, Jr., filed suit against Goulds Pumps, accusing them of failure to warn of the dangers of asbestos exposure from its products. Mr. Sparkman had worked as a laborer, boiler operator, evaporator operator, and precipitator operator from 1954 to 2000 at Westvaco Pulp and Paper mill in North Charleston, South Carolina. He died of mesothelioma in 2012, one month after being diagnosed with the rare, asbestos-related disease. Though the court had initially granted the company’s request to have the case dismissed because it had not manufactured or supplied the asbestos-containing parts blamed for Mr. Sparkman’s illness, the court reconsidered that decision and revoked it following the state Supreme Court’s refusal to adopt a bare metal defense.[6]
Courts have consistently recognized the link between exposure to asbestos from Goulds products and serious illnesses like mesothelioma, often resulting in substantial compensation for victims and their families.
Health Consequences of Asbestos Exposure
Individuals exposed to asbestos from Goulds Pumps are at risk of developing serious health conditions decades after coming into contact with the carcinogenic fibers. The most common asbestos-related diseases include:
- Mesothelioma: A rare, aggressive cancer affecting the lining of the lungs, abdomen, or heart
- Lung Cancer: Malignant tumors developing in the lungs
- Asbestosis: Progressive scarring of lung tissue, causing breathing difficulties
- Pleural Plaques: Thickened areas of the lung lining
- Other Cancers: Includes colon, throat, and gastrointestinal cancers
Help for People Sickened by Exposure to Asbestos in Goulds Pumps
If you worked with Goulds pumps and have been diagnosed with an asbestos-related illness, you may be entitled to file a personal injury lawsuit or wrongful death claim against the company. The best way to explore your options and learn about what’s involved is to reach out to an asbestos attorney who has specialized knowledge of the complicated legal process. A mesothelioma attorney can help you in many ways, including:
- Researching your biographical information and work history to determine where and when you were exposed to asbestos
- Identifying potentially responsible parties, including and beyond Goulds Pumps
- Accessing extensive databases that document the asbestos-containing products used at specific work sites
- Connecting with former coworkers who can provide testimony about your workplace conditions
- Working with medical experts to establish the link between your asbestos exposure and your diagnosis
Though ITT separated Goulds Pumps’ asbestos liabilities from the rest of its business, the company has not established an asbestos trust fund, so lawsuits leading to jury trials or out-of-court settlements represent the primary route to compensation. However, a mesothelioma attorney’s investigation of your employment history may identify other exposures to products made by bankrupted companies that have established asbestos trust funds for the benefit of people harmed by their products.
Contacting one of these knowledgeable professionals will provide you with the answers to all your questions about your legal options. Armed with this information, you and your family will be much better equipped to make decisions about what is best for you and your family’s future financial security.
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