Editing Pittsburgh Corning Trust (section)

== What Was Pittsburgh Corning and Why Is UNIBESTOS So Dangerous? ==

Pittsburgh Corning Corporation was a major manufacturer of industrial insulation products, best known for its UNIBESTOS line of asbestos-containing insulation that was installed in commercial buildings, power plants, refineries, and industrial facilities across America during the 1960s and early 1970s.

=== How Was Pittsburgh Corning Formed? ===

[https://mesothelioma.net/pittsburgh-corning/ Pittsburgh Corning Corporation] was established in '''1937''' as a '''50-50 joint venture''' between two prominent American glassmakers:

* '''PPG Industries''' (Pittsburgh Plate Glass Company) — Major glass and coatings manufacturer
* '''Corning Glass Works''' (now Corning Incorporated) — Specialty glass and ceramics company

This joint venture structure would later become significant during bankruptcy proceedings, as both parent companies were required to contribute billions of dollars to fund the asbestos trust.

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| style="padding:15px; color:#004085;" | '''ℹ️ Corporate Note:''' In July 2017, after Pittsburgh Corning emerged from bankruptcy, '''Owens Corning acquired Pittsburgh Corning for $560 million''' in cash. The asbestos trust remains separate and continues to process claims independently.
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=== What Was UNIBESTOS and Why Was It So Widely Used? ===

UNIBESTOS was Pittsburgh Corning's signature asbestos insulation product, originally developed by UNARCO (Union Asbestos and Rubber Company) before Pittsburgh Corning acquired the product line. The product became enormously popular during a critical period of American industrial expansion.

'''UNIBESTOS Product Characteristics:'''
* High-temperature thermal insulation
* Pipe covering and block insulation
* Used in boilers, pipes, and industrial equipment
* Contained significant percentages of asbestos fiber
* Easy to cut, shape, and install

'''Peak Use Period: 1962-1972'''

The heaviest use of UNIBESTOS coincided with an intense period of industrial development in the United States. During this decade, the product was installed in:
* Power generation plants
* Oil refineries
* Chemical processing facilities
* Commercial buildings
* Naval and maritime vessels
* Manufacturing plants

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| style="padding:10px;" | "''UNIBESTOS was everywhere in the 1960s. Our clients describe working in clouds of asbestos dust when cutting and fitting this insulation. The companies knew it was dangerous—their own hygienists warned them—but they kept selling it anyway.''" — '''Paul Danziger''', Founding Partner, [https://dandell.com/advocates/ Danziger & De Llano]
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=== What Did Pittsburgh Corning Know About the Dangers? ===

Court documents and corporate records reveal that Pittsburgh Corning was warned about asbestos hazards but failed to adequately protect workers.

'''The Morton Corn Investigation (1964-1971):'''

Between 1964 and 1971, Pittsburgh Corning employed industrial hygiene engineering consultant '''Morton Corn''' to evaluate conditions at both manufacturing plants:
* Corn found '''both plants posed significantly hazardous exposure''' to asbestos
* He recommended engineering control measures to reduce risk
* '''The majority of his recommendations were NOT implemented'''

Workers at the plants sometimes used respirators, but these '''quickly became clogged with asbestos fibers''', rendering them ineffective.

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| style="padding:15px; color:#856404;" | '''⚠️ Historical Evidence:''' Because of the widespread use of UNIBESTOS during a particularly intense period of industrial development (1962-1972), many workers and their families were injured by Pittsburgh Corning's negligent failure to warn about asbestos dangers. Internal company documents showing this knowledge have been used in thousands of successful lawsuits.
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