Monsanto Chemical Corporation — Resinox
Monsanto Chemical Corporation, headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri, produced the Resinox line of phenolic molding compounds during the asbestos era. Resinox grades — including RI-4052 and electrical-grade variants — were widely specified for circuit-breaker components, electrical assemblies, and industrial molded parts. Monsanto’s St. Louis location and Missouri/Illinois market presence make it a particularly important defendant for workers in the central-U.S. industrial corridor.
Asbestos use period
Monsanto’s Resinox phenolic compound line included asbestos-filled grades through the standard 1930s–late 1970s window. Specific grades such as RI-4052 are documented in publicly filed litigation records as having contained asbestos fiber as a reinforcing filler.
Products
The Resinox line included:
- Electrical-grade phenolic compounds — for arc chutes, phase barriers, switchgear, and circuit breaker components
- General-purpose molding compounds — for industrial and consumer applications
- Aerospace-grade compounds — meeting MIL-M-14 specification
Downstream consumers of Monsanto Resinox included regional molding shops throughout Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, and Kansas — including the Koller Craft LLC plant in Fenton, Missouri (a documented mesothelioma-exposure jobsite covered in the Missouri Asbestos archive).
St. Louis headquarters
Monsanto’s St. Louis presence is significant for workers in the regional industrial economy. Workers at Monsanto’s St. Louis facilities (including the John F. Queeny Plant and W.G. Krummrich Plant) had direct exposure to phenolic compound manufacturing operations. Downstream molding-shop workers across Missouri and Metro East Illinois worked with Monsanto-supplied Resinox compound throughout the asbestos era.
Litigation history
Monsanto has been named as a defendant in asbestos-phenolic compound cases involving both compound-manufacturing employees and downstream molding-shop workers. Settlements and verdicts in this category remain a subject of active litigation.
Worker exposure pathways at Monsanto Resinox plants
Workers at Monsanto’s St. Louis compound-manufacturing operations were exposed during raw asbestos handling (bagging, mixing), Resinox compound formulation, pelletizing, packaging, and shipping. Bystander exposure included maintenance crews, lab technicians, and plant supervision. Downstream molding-shop workers experienced exposure during compound handling, hopper loading, compression molding, flash trimming, tumbling/deflashing, and finishing operations.
If you worked with this company’s asbestos-phenolic compounds
Worker exposure documentation typically includes: pay stubs and W-2s showing employment dates, union dispatch records (for union-shop members), social security earnings statements, and any company-issued product or material safety information you may have retained. With these records, an attorney can evaluate which trust funds may apply and whether a civil claim is viable.
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References to manufacturers, products, and litigation history reflect what has been alleged or documented in publicly filed asbestos litigation, federal regulatory records, and industry archives. This information does not constitute a finding of fact or liability. This site does not provide legal or medical advice. No attorney-client relationship is created by use of this site.