Product Description
Warren Rupp, Inc., headquartered in Mansfield, Ohio, manufactured the SandPIPER line of air-operated double-diaphragm (AODD) pumps used for transferring slurries, corrosive chemicals, paints, adhesives, wastewater, and abrasive fluids at industrial facilities across the United States. SandPIPER metallic and non-metallic AODD pumps were installed at chemical plants, refineries, paper mills, mining operations, paint and coatings plants, and municipal wastewater treatment facilities.
Plaintiffs alleged in publicly filed U.S. asbestos personal-injury and wrongful-death litigation that Warren Rupp / SandPIPER AODD pumps used during the asbestos era incorporated asbestos-containing flange gaskets between the pump body halves, at the inlet and outlet manifolds, and at air-valve interface plates. Sheet gasket material was allegedly cut to shape by plant maintenance crews from asbestos gasket stock supplied by Garlock, John Crane, and Anchor Packing.
Workers Exposed
Plaintiffs alleged that workers exposed to asbestos through Warren Rupp / SandPIPER pumps included:
- Chemical-plant and refinery millwrights who disassembled AODD pumps for diaphragm replacement and manifold cleaning
- Pipefitters and maintenance mechanics who scraped, replaced, and cut asbestos flange gaskets during pump rebuilds
- Paint-plant and coatings-plant operators who serviced SandPIPER transfer pumps in solvent and pigment lines
- Wastewater and mining maintenance crews who broke down AODD pumps handling abrasive slurries