Labconco Corporation is an American laboratory equipment manufacturer founded in Kansas City, Missouri, in 1925. Throughout much of the 20th century, the company used asbestos in various laboratory products, including fume hoods, cabinets, and ventilation systems. These products were widely distributed to schools, universities, government research facilities, and industrial laboratories nationwide, putting laboratory workers, researchers, teachers, and maintenance personnel at risk of developing mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases.
Labconco Corporation’s History
Labconco Corporation began as Laboratory Construction Company in 1925, founded by entrepreneurs Phil Goldfisch and Ralph Callaway in a small garage in downtown Kansas City, Missouri. The company’s journey began when Callaway visited Goldfisch’s repair shop for a car battery repair and noticed a rack of lead pipes designed to vent acid fumes from laboratory work performed by the local agriculture industry.[1]
The two men initially focused on manufacturing Kjeldahl apparatus, which were used to determine organic nitrogen and protein contents in chemical substances.[2] This made sense given Kansas City’s position as one of the largest milling towns in the region. The company’s first products were used by local milling companies to analyze the content in agricultural commodities. This process remains important to agricultural pricing today.
In 1939, Ralph’s son, Redman “Red” Callaway, joined the business and later became its president. Over his sixty years of leadership, Labconco expanded beyond its Midwest agricultural roots. In the 1950s, the company established a headquarters in Kansas City. This hub for engineering and innovation helped it grow to serve scientists beyond the Midwest.[1]
The 1960s brought major innovations and market expansion. Red Callaway’s drive to expand into new markets led to a focus on laboratory fume hoods. Working with a local engineering firm, the company developed a one-piece molded fiberglass inner liner that was said to improve performance and user safety. The 1961 Fiberglass-47 Fume Hood established new standards for laboratory ventilation worldwide, though it also contained asbestos, a material that was later found to be carcinogenic.
The fiberglass used in the company’s fume hoods turned out to be ideal for other laboratory products as well, including glove boxes, tissue culture enclosures, and laboratory exhaust blowers. All of these became part of Labconco’s expanding product line. The company shifted from direct sales to distributing its products through laboratory supply dealers. This significantly expanded the company’s reach, and so did product catalogs, which introduced Labconco products throughout the United States.
The 1970s marked a period of significant product development and growth. Labconco tripled its field sales team, introduced the industry’s first full-color catalog, and continued developing innovative products, including biosafety cabinets, freeze-dry apparatus, and laboratory glassware washers.
In 1980, John McConnell became president of the company and led the organization through even more expansion. He was particularly interested in freeze-drying apparatus, and led a product launch of the equipment. Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, Labconco experienced rapid growth in global laboratory markets, expanding into international markets with freeze dryers and biosafety cabinets leading the way. The company developed relationships in Japan, Latin America, Europe, and greater Asia, establishing a separate international department to serve these markets effectively.[1]
To meet increasing demand, Labconco expanded production operations in Kansas City and added a facility in Fort Scott, Kansas. The company also launched its website, began exhibiting at tradeshows, and created marketing campaigns that helped drive continued growth. Today, Labconco Corporation continues operating as a manufacturer of laboratory equipment and maintains its position as a leader in the industry. The company no longer incorporates asbestos materials into its products.
How Did Labconco Corporation Use Asbestos?
Laboratory Equipment
Throughout much of its history, Labconco Corporation used asbestos in various laboratory equipment systems because of the mineral’s heat resistance, chemical durability, and fire-retardant characteristics. Without knowledge at the time of the mineral’s dangers, these properties made asbestos seem particularly useful for laboratory environments, where equipment was regularly subjected to high temperatures, corrosive chemicals, and fire hazards.
The company’s asbestos-containing products included laboratory fume hoods and cabinets with asbestos lining materials, as well as heat-resistant lab tables and benches with asbestos components, insulated piping and ductwork within lab equipment systems, and ventilation and filtration systems that used asbestos insulation.
Laboratory fume hoods were among the most significant asbestos-containing products manufactured by Labconco. These critical safety devices were designed to contain and exhaust hazardous vapors and particles away from work areas, and they used asbestos linings because they provided both chemical resistance and structural integrity; they enhanced the equipment’s ability to withstand harsh laboratory environments while offering invaluable fire protection.
Manufacturing and Installation
The use of asbestos in Labconco’s manufacturing process created multiple exposure points. During production, asbestos fibers could become airborne when materials were cut, shaped, or installed into equipment assemblies. Factory workers handling these materials suffered direct exposure to asbestos particles, while installation teams at customer sites encountered additional risks when positioning and connecting equipment.
Beyond the manufacturing environment, exposure occurred during regular equipment operation, routine maintenance procedures, and repair activities. Laboratory personnel operating asbestos-lined equipment faced ongoing exposure risks, while maintenance workers servicing these systems breathed in toxic particles disturbed when they accessed, cleaned, or replaced internal components.
Additionally, like many companies operating during the 20th century, Labconco’s factory and facilities contained asbestos in building materials, including insulation, flooring, and ceiling tiles. This created additional exposure risks for all personnel working on-site throughout Labconco’s operations.
Labconco Corporation Products Containing Asbestos
The primary asbestos-containing products manufactured by Labconco Corporation included:
Laboratory Fume Hoods and Cabinets
- Models with asbestos cement panel linings
- Equipment with heat-resistant asbestos insulation
- Various configurations designed for educational, government, and industrial laboratories
Heat-Resistant Laboratory Furniture
- Lab tables and benches with asbestos components
- Work surfaces are designed to withstand high temperatures and chemical exposure
- Specialized furniture for research and industrial applications
Ventilation and Filtration Systems
- Insulated piping and ductwork containing asbestos materials
- Exhaust systems with asbestos-lined components
- Filtration equipment with heat-resistant asbestos elements
Associated Components
- Internal lining systems for enhanced chemical resistance
- Insulation materials for temperature control
- Structural components designed for laboratory safety applications
Who Was at Risk from Labconco Corporation’s Asbestos-Containing Equipment
Labconco Corporation’s widespread distribution of asbestos-containing laboratory equipment created exposure risks across many professional and educational environments. The company’s products were installed in schools, universities, government research facilities, industrial laboratories, and military installations. This put a wide range of groups at risk of developing mesothelioma, asbestosis, and other asbestos-related health conditions.
- Educational Personnel and Students
High school, college, and graduate students conducting laboratory experiments in facilities equipped with Labconco’s asbestos-containing equipment faced regular exposure risks. Teachers, professors, and instructors overseeing these laboratory activities encountered similar dangers, while lab assistants and technicians responsible for maintaining and operating school equipment experienced heightened exposure levels during routine maintenance and repairs.
- Research and Scientific Professionals
Biologists, microbiologists, physicists, chemists, and other researchers working in laboratories equipped with Labconco’s products faced ongoing occupational exposure throughout their careers. Environmental health and safety workers, medical researchers, and industrial scientists all encountered risks when working with or around asbestos-containing laboratory equipment.
- Technical and Maintenance Personnel
Laboratory technicians operating fume hood systems and other Labconco equipment faced particularly high exposure risks during routine operations. Maintenance workers servicing this equipment encountered dangerous levels of asbestos fibers when accessing internal components, replacing parts, or conducting repairs. Electricians, plumbers, carpenters, and engineers involved in equipment installation, modification, or facility operations also faced significant exposure risks.
- Military and Government Personnel
Labconco supplied significant amounts of equipment to government research laboratories, military medical facilities, and federally funded educational institutions. Veterans from all service branches—Air Force, Army, Navy, and Coast Guard—who worked in research facilities equipped with Labconco products faced exposure risks. Industrial workers in government laboratories and personnel at military research installations also encountered dangerous asbestos fibers during equipment operation and maintenance.
- Secondary Exposure Victims
Beyond direct occupational exposure, asbestos posed serious risks to family members through secondary contamination. When laboratory workers, educators, and maintenance personnel returned home with asbestos fibers clinging to their clothing, hair, and skin, they unknowingly contaminated family vehicles and homes. Spouses laundering work garments, parents and children embracing family members upon their return from work or school each day, and household members sharing contaminated environments faced significant risks of indirect exposure to these dangerous mineral fibers. Many cases of mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases have been attributed to secondary asbestos exposure.
Contemporary Exposure Concerns
Though Labconco stopped using asbestos in its equipment decades ago, many facilities still have and use the company’s legacy asbestos-containing equipment that was installed before the 1980s. Current workers in older educational institutions, research facilities, and industrial laboratories may still be at risk from these systems during routine operations or facility modifications. Anybody who suspects that they’re working with asbestos-containing equipment should consult certified asbestos professionals for proper assessment and safe handling procedures.
Victims of Asbestos Exposure Can Take Legal Action Against Labconco Corporation
Like other companies that used asbestos in their products or distributed asbestos-containing equipment, Labconco Corporation has seen many victims diagnosed with asbestos-related diseases pursue them for compensation. Most of the personal injury lawsuits filed against the company center on exposure from asbestos-contaminated components in laboratory equipment, with victims or their families accusing Labconco of negligence for having failed to provide adequate warnings about health risks or sufficient guidance on how best to protect themselves.
Lawsuits have been filed by former employees of institutions that used Labconco equipment, researchers who worked with the company’s asbestos-containing products, educators exposed in laboratory settings, and family members who suffered secondary exposure. These cases often focus on establishing that the company knew or should have known about the dangers of asbestos and whether appropriate warnings were provided to equipment users.
Successful personal injury and wrongful death lawsuits filed against manufacturers of asbestos equipment have shown juries significant documentation that was available to companies like Labconco, detailing the risks of asbestos. Because the company continued using the mineral in laboratory equipment, exposing laboratory personnel and other users to significant health risks, juries have awarded substantial compensation for victims through settlement agreements and jury awards.
Were You Exposed to Asbestos in Labconco Corporation Products?
If you worked in a laboratory that used Labconco Corporation equipment, attended school in a facility that had the company’s asbestos-containing products installed, or lived with someone who experienced this type of exposure, you may be at risk for developing asbestos-related health conditions such as mesothelioma, asbestosis, or asbestos-related lung cancer.
These conditions have long latency periods and often don’t develop symptoms until 20 to 50 years after contact with asbestos fibers. Since Labconco’s products were in use well into the 1980s, many people exposed to them may only now be developing symptoms. Even if you currently feel healthy, familiarizing yourself with the symptoms of these diseases and informing your healthcare provider about your exposure history is crucial for proper health monitoring and appropriate screening. Informed medical surveillance leads to earlier detection and can make a real difference in the treatment options available to you.
Help for People Diagnosed with Mesothelioma and Other Asbestos-Related Diseases
Specialized Treatment
Being diagnosed with mesothelioma, lung cancer, asbestosis, or other asbestos-related conditions can be overwhelming, but comprehensive support systems exist for patients and their families. Some of the country’s leading teaching hospitals and cancer centers offer advanced treatments, including targeted therapies, immunotherapy, surgical interventions, and multimodal treatment approaches that combine various therapeutic strategies for optimal outcomes.
Legal and Financial Relief
For many of those diagnosed with mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases, arranging for medical treatment is only the beginning of their journey. The emotional impact of diagnosis, combined with concerns about mounting medical expenses and family financial security, often leads people to seek guidance from experienced mesothelioma attorneys who specialize in asbestos-related cases.
A knowledgeable asbestos lawyer will sit down and patiently evaluate your specific circumstances. They’ll answer all of your questions, address your concerns, and help assess whether pursuing legal remedies against Labconco Corporation, or any other potentially responsible companies, is appropriate for your situation. This is an important aspect of legal guidance: Many people diagnosed with asbestos-related diseases have been exposed to multiple products throughout their lifetime, in a range of settings. Going through all of your possible exposures and identifying every company that placed an asbestos-containing product into your environment at the time that you were there is a big part of what asbestos attorneys do, and how they maximize the compensation that you will receive.
This compensation can come in many ways. Most people are familiar with filing a personal injury lawsuit against multiple companies, seeking damages for the harm they have caused. But some companies have established asbestos trust funds to provide compensation to victims without having to go through lengthy court proceedings. While these funds typically offer lower compensation amounts than successful lawsuits, the process is generally less complex and stressful, with payments usually available more quickly.
For many victims of asbestos exposure, the primary motivation for pursuing legal action is holding companies accountable for creating the dangerous conditions that led to their illness. Regardless of your specific goal, consulting with a qualified asbestos attorney as soon as possible is essential. Strict time limitations govern the filing of these types of claims, and your legal representative will ensure that you know those deadlines and that all documentation is submitted properly and on time to achieve the best possible outcome for your case.
