In 1892, Thomas Robins, Jr., invented a heavy-duty conveyor belt for carrying coal and ore, and in 1896, he founded the Robins Conveying Belt Company. The company later became known as Hewitt-Robins Inc., which was formed through a merger of the Robins Conveying Belt Company and the Hewitt Rubber Corporation of Buffalo.  Hewitt-Robins manufactured conveyor belting and machinery, industrial hoses, power transmission machinery, foam rubber and other molded rubber products.  The company also designed, engineered and erected complete belt conveyor systems. Hewitt-Robins operated plants in the East and throughout the Midwest, and its largest plant, the Rubber Division plant, located at 240 Kensington Avenue in Buffalo, New York, employed approximately 750 people during its peak years.  In 1964, Hewitt-Robins and Litton Industries announced a merger between the two companies.  By July 1974, Hewitt-Robins closed its Buffalo plant and announced that it would liquidate its assets after several failed attempts to sell the Buffalo facility. 

Prior to the late 1970s, asbestos-containing materials were utilized in the manufacturing process and in maintenance procedures at Hewitt-Robins (Litton Industries) in Buffalo, New York. Inhaling dust and particles from the application and removal of asbestos-containing materials placed workers at risk for developing serious health problems, such as mesothelioma and lung cancer. Even those who were not in direct contact with asbestos materials remain at risk for the development of asbestos-related diseases. If you or a loved one were once employed at Hewitt-Robins in Buffalo, New York, and have been diagnosed with mesothelioma, lung cancer or another asbestos-related disease, we urge you to contact us regarding your legal rights.