Lloyd Cartwright establishes the Minto Toothpick Company in Saginaw, MI where he produces and sells mint-flavored toothpicks. 1920 brought a change of plan when toothpicks became difficult to find in Saginaw. The production operation was moved to Guilford, Maine where the needed white birch was plentiful. This move allowed for an expanded product line and soon thereafter a name change as well, to Hardwood Products Company.

Puritan starts developing a range of products, such as ice cream sticks and spoons, candy sticks, steak markers, cocktail forks, tongue blades and manicure sticks. Products were sold under the brand names GoldBond and Trophy, which are the same brands used today by our sister company Hardwood Product Co., LLC.

Puritan enters the medical woodenware market with the introduction of tongue depressors and aseptic wood applicators.

Hardwood Products Company trademarks the well-known Puritan® brand. All Puritan medical products bear the name and logo.

The Hardwood Products Co. maintained its sales and administration office in Michigan until 1950. It was then decided to consolidate the company’s administrative, sales and manufacturing divisions and locate all operations to Guilford, ME.

After fire in 1958 destroys the plant and warehouse, dedicated owners and employees immediately start building a new facility that opens in 1960. Most of the specialized machinery was built by company personnel on site as it was not available for purchase on the open market.

Puritan decides to become more heavily involved in the production of medical and healthcare products. The decision is made to enter the cotton tipping and sterile pack market laying the groundwork for a future in the development of swabs and specimen collection devices.

Puritan registers as a medical device manufacturer with the federal Food and Drug Administration.

Puritan brings fiber carding equipment online to more efficiently prepare cotton, rayon and polyester fibers to better address the needs of the healthcare industry.

The pilgrim hat is added to the Puritan logo to reflect and embody the dedication, honor and determination of the Puritan pilgrims.

Puritan rolls out new technology, producing foam-tipped applicators for industrial uses, as well as for medical and specimen collection applications.

The global International Standard Organization (ISO) certifies Puritan’s production facilities. CE marking, signifying approval under European Union standards, follows in 1998.

Puritan releases its second patented product, the DM™ Wound Measuring device. It joins the Popule®, a sterile foam swab for use in the field for collection of trace DNA.

Hardwood Products Company remains as Hardwood Products Company LP but restructures to manufacture product as two separate but affiliated companies in Guilford. Puritan Medical Products Company LLC is born. Production remains in Guilford and under founding family ownership.

Puritan introduces Cap-Shure® DNA specimen collection device to the world of forensics.

Puritan’s PurSwab line expands, adding a new array of specialty swabs for lint-sensitive applications.

DNA collection devices are now offered “free” of human DNA contamination.

Puritan debuts its patented line of high-performance flocked swabs. PurFlock Ultra ® and HydraFlock ® swabs offer superior collection and rapid release properties. EnviroMax ®, EnviroMax Plus ®, and ESK ® Sampling Kit products address the environmental sampling needs of the food and drug industries.

UniTranz-RT® and Opti-Swab® — Puritan’s superior media for viral and bacterial transport, coupled with Puritan’s well-established specimen collection swabs, are launched.

Puritan unveils its transport media system while also receiving an Innovation & Technology Award from the Institute for Maine Family-Owned Businesses.

Unveiling a 100-year anniversary logo and a yearlong celebration campaign, while charging ahead with continuously improving manufacturing capabilities and growing our workforce.

Puritan faced the challenge head-on when called upon by the White House to increase capacity to meet the needs of the US COVID-19 testing program. With the support of the Task Force, bringing both financial and technological assets, we have expanded production into two new manufacturing facilities focused on producing foam and our patented flocked swabs.

Puritan will always be in the forefront, meeting the needs of emerging technologies. Our continuing R&D and facility expansion allows our continued leadership in single-use products for patient care, diagnostics, controlled environments, environmental sampling and forensic and genetics markets.