Akron Porcelain and Plastics Company was originally established as Akron Pottery by Edwin H. Merrill and Henry E. Merrill in 1861 at South Main and State Streets in Akron, Ohio. The company was incorporated in 1887, and it manufactured stoneware products. By 1880, Akron pottery began to diversify because traditional pottery and stoneware experienced a rapid decline in sales.  The Merrill brothers expanded their molding capabilities and began to manufacture clay pipes, which brought about a series of name changes for the company.  Akron Pottery became The Akron Smoking Pipe Company in 1890. After consolidating and buying out five other companies, Akron Smoking Pipe Company became the Mogadore Insulator Company in 1920, and the Akron Porcelain Company in 1928. Throughout the series of name changes, the company’s product line grew to include innovative products, including electrical insulators and molded plastics.  

Akron Porcelain Company intended to stay true to porcelain, however, it could not keep up with its competitors who were using plastics. By 1958, Akron Porcelain Company began to manufacture plastic parts for the electrical and automotive industries. The company legally became Akron Porcelain and Plastics in 1984 and is still open today after 125 years of business.        

Prior to the mid-1980s, many of Akron Porcelain Company’s plastic products utilized asbestos-containing plastic molding compounds. When manipulated, drilled or sanded, asbestos-containing molded plastic products produce asbestos-laden dust that becomes airborne and unavoidably inhaled and/or ingested.  Molders, finishers and other laborers were exposed to asbestos during the manufacturing process of asbestos-containing plastic parts. Workers who did not have direct contact with asbestos-containing materials but were in the vicinity where it was manufactured or molded may also have been subjected to asbestos exposure.  No matter the course or duration, any exposure to asbestos for any amount of time puts an individual at an increased risk of developing mesothelioma or lung cancer. 

Our clients understand the importance of securing legal representation as soon as possible after a diagnosis of mesothelioma or lung cancer. If you or a loved one worked at Akron Porcelain and Plastics Company in Akron, Ohio, and have been diagnosed with mesothelioma or lung cancer, we urge you to contact us regarding your legal rights.


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