 About Sheffield Pharmaceuticals
Inventor of Toothpaste
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In 1850, at the age of 23, Dr. Sheffield invented the world's first toothpaste, a formula that was manufactured in a small laboratory at 170 Broad Street, the actual site of the Sheffield factory today. It is given to but a few to attain the eminence in their vocations that Dr. Sheffield has in his profession, and his practice has been one of the largest and most successful ever received by a New England Dentist. For some time, in his private practice, he had been using the preparation now known to the world as Creme Dentifrice, and with such a single and pleasing results that the demand prompted its making on a larger scale. This led to the erection of the laboratory on Waller Street, and quickly following the preparation being placed on the market and its qualities becoming known a marked increase in the demand was felt. Creme Dentifrice is unlike any other dental preparation in the market; it has been used in caring for the teeth by most critical people for years, and always with the best results. It is absolutely harmless and while not intended as a "cure-all", is has many valuable properties other than the one mentioned This, however, is only one of the laboratory's preparations, and as an adjunct to it the Elixer Balm is most valuable for healing, hardening, and strengthening the gums as well as giving sweetness and purity to the breath. When it is used in conjunction with Creme, tartar and other affections are quickly removed or wholly prevented.
First To Package Toothpaste in Tubes
Dr. W. W. Sheffield's son, Dr. Lucius Tracy Sheffield, was a graduate of Norwich Academy of Norwich, Connecticut, and of Harvard University. Following two years of study in Paris, France, where he observed the use of collapsible metal tubes for paints and inks, he originated the idea of putting his father's jar-packaged dentifrice in collapsible metal tubes.
Starting Over
Sheffield Tube had been in business since 1850 and was primarily engaged in manufacturing tin and aluminum tubes and filling them with toothpaste. As many as 600 employees worked at the facility in its prime. Thomas G. Faria purchased the company in 1986 at bankruptcy court. After assuming ownership, he managed the company with a work force of only 60 people. Within a few years he made the company a profitable corporation. This success was attributed to the automation that Tom quickly implemented and the redesign of facilities. Overseeing various facets of the company - from engineering to automating equipment to exploring new markets for Sheffield's manufacturing capabilities - he was quick to recognize and implement changes to meet demands. Sheffield expanded from a tube and toothpaste manufacturer to hold a leadership position in the private label and contract manufacturing of creams, lotions, ointments, and oral healthcare products.
Still Going Strong
In 2003, Thomas H. Faria, also an Industrial Engineer and a graduate of the University of Michigan, took over the company from his late father. Tom is dedicated and committed to growing the company while maintaining the traditions and products that have made Sheffield successful. Already in a short time period Tom has refocused the company product offering to include bottle and sachet filling and has aggressively entered the generic pharmaceutical industry. Tom has also focused on reinvesting internally. Since taking over, Sheffield purchased numerous new filling and packaging equipment to further automate and improve production efficiencies. Additional facility expansions and system modifications ensure the future growth of the company and continue Sheffield's long-standing reputation as a quality, on time supplier.
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