When people were evacuated from their homes during the recent flooding in California, many left with nothing but the clothes on their backs. That's where the American Red Cross stepped in to provide assistance. One company was able to help by donating 4,400 of its Pocket Brush-Ups - molded polypropylene, folding toothbrushes - to the Orange County Chapter of the Red Cross in Santa Ana, Calif. Springfield Tool & Die in Springfield, N.J., built the molds and holds an exclusive license to manufacture the toothbrushes for Pocket Brush-Ups Inc.
William R. Francen, vice president of engineering and product development for Springfield Tool & Die, also is a partner and operations director. He said the value of the donated toothbrushes is $1,140.
They were shipped in bulk for the Orange County Red Cross personnel to use in their disaster kits.
``We believe that what goes around comes around and we feel it's a good way to get the product out there and help people at the same time,'' said Dennis Rolleri, Pocket Brush-Ups' inventor and president of Pocket Brush-Ups Inc., also of Springfield.
Springfield Tool & Die operates 11 presses with clamping forces of 15-375 tons. The company specializes in working with companies in new product development and marketing. Springfield also produces pet products through its subsidiary Lustar Products Inc.
It also provides metal injection molding capabilities through another division, Nextech Inc. in Westmont, Ill.
