Derick D. Kruger, who previously worked for Markus Cabinet Manufacturing Company in Aviston, Ill., filed a lawsuit in the St. Clair County Circuit Court on April 9 against Delmac Machinery Group Inc., SCM Group North America, and Jowat Corporation. He says he developed respiratory problems after he was exposed to toxic chemicals on the job.
According to the complaint, the company bought an edgebander from Delmac Machinery and had it installed in January 2009. The equipment was allegedly put in by Delmac Machinery employees, who also provided training and instruction on how to use the machine.
Kruger claims the edgebander required a special adhesive known as Jowatherm Reactant, made by Jowat Corporation and distributed by Westlund Distributing. The glue is polyurethane supplied in solid form that must be heated to a liquid within the edgebander to attach the veneer, according to the petition. Kruger claims the adhesive contained diphenyl methane diisocyanate, which caused his lungs to be damaged because of overexposure to the chemical.
Kruger, who is asking for more than $150,000 in damages for medical bills, loss of income and court fees, is accusing the defendants of negligence. He claims other hot melt adhesives could have been used in the edgebander instead of one that contained MDI. He contends the damage to his lungs has kept him from returning to any kind of work that may irritate his condition.
Attorney Eric J. Carlson of Edwardsville, Ill., is representing Kruger.