Manufacturing

Combustion Engineering Windsor Plant

Combustion Engineering Windsor Plant Combustion Engineering's Windsor Plant manufactured large-scale boilers and power generation equipment that incorporated extensive asbestos insulation and refractory materials. The facility was a major employer in the Hartford, Connecticut area.

Last verified: 2026-03-09

Legal & editorial

Written by Paul Danziger, J.D. · Edited by Rod De Llano, J.D. · Legally reviewed by Michelle Whitman (affiliated firm)

Editorial Policy & Advisory Board

Location: Windsor, CT
Industry: Power Generation Equipment Manufacturing
Exposure Era: 1930s–1980s
Primary Asbestos Products: Boiler insulation, Refractory materials, Gaskets, Turbine insulation, High-temperature seals
Job Categories at Risk: Boilermakers, Welders, Insulators, Machine operators, Maintenance workers

History & Asbestos Use

Combustion Engineering, Inc. operated its primary manufacturing facility in Windsor, Connecticut, producing industrial boilers, steam generators, and power plant equipment. The company's products were heavily insulated with asbestos for thermal protection and fire resistance. Combustion Engineering boilers were installed in power plants, refineries, and industrial facilities across the United States and internationally. The company was acquired by ABB in 1990 and later faced massive asbestos liabilities. A trust was established through bankruptcy proceedings to compensate asbestos victims.

Exposure Details

Workers at the Windsor plant were exposed to asbestos during the fabrication, insulation, and assembly of boilers and steam generators. Insulators applied asbestos-containing insulation, gaskets, and refractory materials to boiler components in the manufacturing area. Field service workers who installed and maintained Combustion Engineering boilers at power plants and industrial sites across the country also faced severe asbestos exposure during installation, repair, and overhaul work.

Workers at Risk

The following job categories at Combustion Engineering Windsor Plant had the highest risk of asbestos exposure:

Boilermakers
Welders
Insulators
Machine operators
Maintenance workers

Health Effects

Former Combustion Engineering workers—both at the Windsor plant and in field service—have developed mesothelioma, lung cancer, and asbestosis at elevated rates. Boilermakers and insulators who worked on Combustion Engineering equipment at power plants and industrial facilities throughout the country have filed thousands of asbestos claims. The company was one of the most frequently named defendants in asbestos litigation.

Health information is based on established medical research on asbestos exposure. Asbestos is classified as a known human carcinogen by the National Cancer Institute, the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Consult a physician for medical advice specific to your situation.

Compensation May Be Available

Workers exposed to asbestos at Combustion Engineering Windsor Plant may be entitled to compensation through asbestos trust funds, personal injury lawsuits, or veterans benefits. Mesothelioma patients and their families have recovered billions in compensation from companies that manufactured or used asbestos products.

1 asbestos trust fund have been identified as potentially related to exposure at this site. Many mesothelioma patients qualify to file claims with multiple trusts simultaneously.

Find Out If You Qualify

Were You Exposed to Asbestos at Combustion Engineering Windsor Plant?

Workers who were employed at Combustion Engineering Windsor Plant between 1930s–1980s may have been exposed to asbestos-containing materials. If you've been diagnosed with mesothelioma, lung cancer, or asbestosis, you may have legal options including trust fund claims and lawsuits.

Speak with an Attorney — Free Request a Free Case Evaluation

Related Asbestos Trust Funds

Workers exposed to asbestos at Combustion Engineering Windsor Plant may be eligible to file claims with the following trust funds:

Frequently Asked Questions

What did Combustion Engineering manufacture?

Combustion Engineering manufactured industrial boilers, steam generators, and power generation equipment that were installed in power plants, refineries, and industrial facilities. These products incorporated extensive asbestos insulation and refractory materials.

Who was exposed to asbestos from Combustion Engineering products?

Both factory workers at the Windsor plant and the thousands of boilermakers, insulators, and pipefitters who installed and maintained Combustion Engineering equipment at power plants and industrial sites nationwide were exposed to asbestos.

Is there a Combustion Engineering asbestos trust?

Yes, the Combustion Engineering Asbestos Trust was established to compensate workers and others who developed asbestos-related diseases from exposure to asbestos in Combustion Engineering products and at its facilities.

I worked here but I have no employment records. Does that end it?

No. Missing paperwork is normal after this long, and it is not what decides a claim. A Social Security earnings statement lists every employer you had, by year, and can usually be requested directly. Union records, W-2s and a DD-214 for military service do similar work. Coworkers who were there can also confirm conditions. What matters most is what you remember, written down in your own words.

My father or husband worked here and has since died. Can the family still file?

Yes. A wrongful death claim can be brought by the estate or eligible family members, and it is a separate route from a claim the patient would have brought themselves. It also runs on a different clock: the deadline generally starts at the date of death rather than the date of diagnosis, which means families are sometimes still in time when they assume they are not. Deadlines are set by each state, so confirm the one that applies to yours.

I never worked here, but a family member did. Could I have been exposed?

Possibly. Asbestos fibres travelled home on work clothes, in hair and in vehicles, and household members were exposed while washing laundry or greeting someone at the end of a shift. This is called secondhand or take-home exposure and it is a recognised route to a claim in its own right, not an exception. If you are documenting a family member's work history, write down your own contact with their work clothing as well.

Did you work at Combustion Engineering Windsor Plant? Write this down now

You do not need a lawyer, a diagnosis, or a decision to do this. You need a piece of paper. Memory is the part of a claim nobody else can reconstruct for you, and it is the part that fades.

The years you worked there — approximate is fine, and a range is fine
Your trade or job title, and what you actually did day to day
Which building, unit, ship or area you spent your time in
Who else was there — names of crew, foremen, or anyone who could confirm it later
Anything you remember about the materials — write what you recall on your own, before looking anything up. Details you remember unprompted are the ones that hold up years later when you are asked under oath. Details you read on a website do not.

If you are doing this for a relative who has died, write down what you remember too, including work clothes brought home to be washed. Household exposure is a real claim, not an edge case.

Worked at Combustion Engineering Windsor Plant? Tell us the years and your trade

That is usually enough to work out which claims are open to you — trust funds, a lawsuit, or VA benefits if the exposure happened in service. You do not need records, dates you are certain of, or the name of a product. If you are asking on behalf of someone who has died, a family member can file and the deadline runs differently. No cost, no obligation, and no pressure to decide anything today.

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Sources:

ABB/Combustion Engineering bankruptcy filings — accessed 2026-03-09
OSHA compliance records — accessed 2026-03-09
Connecticut DEEP records — accessed 2026-03-09
Power industry historical records — accessed 2026-03-09

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