Lauter Tuns — Asbestos Exposure Crosswalk
What This Equipment Is
The lauter tun is the brewhouse vessel that separates the sweet liquid wort from the spent grain after mashing. Wort drains through a perforated false bottom while raking arms slowly turn through the grain bed to keep flow even. Once the grain bed has been sparged with hot rinse water to extract residual sugars, the wort transfers to the brew kettle for boiling.
Lauter tuns operate at brewing temperatures (typically around 168°F) and are jacketed or otherwise insulated to maintain temperature throughout the long lauter cycle. The rotating rake mechanism passes through a packed shaft seal at the top or bottom of the vessel — historically packed with braided asbestos rope. The vessel manways, racking arms, and underback transfer lines were gasketed and insulated using the same product families as the rest of the brewhouse.
Asbestos Products Historically Used Around Lauter Tuns
| Product Category | Where on the Vessel | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Block insulation | Vessel exterior | Calcium silicate or magnesia |
| Pipe covering | Wort transfer lines, sparge-water lines | Magnesia, calcium silicate |
| Insulating cement | Joints and irregular surfaces | Mixed dry, hand-applied |
| Gaskets | Manway covers, racking flanges, false-bottom plates | Asbestos sheet gasket material |
| Rake-shaft packing | Stuffing box around the rake drive shaft | Braided asbestos rope packing |
| Valve packing | Transfer and CIP valves | Braided asbestos rope packing |
Manufacturers Named in Litigation Involving These Products
- Johns-Manville — pipe covering, block insulation
- Owens-Corning / Fibreboard — pipe covering, block insulation
- Armstrong World Industries — calcium silicate insulation
- Garlock Sealing Technologies — sheet gaskets
- A.W. Chesterton — braided asbestos rope packing
- Crane Co. — valves and ancillary equipment
Documented Product References
Images sourced from publicly available product-identification reference materials. Inclusion does not constitute a finding of liability against any company.
Trust Funds That May Apply
- Manville Personal Injury Settlement Trust
- Owens-Corning / Fibreboard Asbestos PI Trust
- Armstrong World Industries Asbestos PI Settlement Trust
- Garlock Sealing Technologies LLC Asbestos PI Trust
Trades Most Exposed at Lauter Tun Work
Pipefitters, insulators (Heat & Frost), brewers’ mechanics, millwrights during rake-drive rebuilds, plant operators repacking shaft seals.
Jobsites in the Network Documenting Lauter Tuns
- Anheuser-Busch Brewery, St. Louis, Missouri
- See companion pages: Mash Tuns, Brew Kettles, Fermentation Tanks
Compiled from publicly filed asbestos litigation, EPA / state-DNR records, and industry-publication histories. Product and company references reflect what has been alleged or documented in publicly filed litigation. This page does not constitute a finding of liability against any company. Not legal advice; consult a licensed attorney about your specific situation.