NASA orders Springfield company's device to go in its bathrooms

A Springfield-based company recently added NASA to its list of customers, which already includes major companies such as Google, YouTube, Boeing, Walmart and Ford.

StepNpull is a simple device which allows bathroom-goers to open a door without dirtying their freshly washed hands.

Creators of the foot-operated door opener — Mike Sewell, Rony Ely and Kelly Coddington — are local residents and work in Springfield.

"It's not rocket science," the company tweeted on Friday with news that StepNpull will be used at the Langley Research Center, which is located in Virginia and is NASA's oldest field center. "Infection control and sustainable practices can be low cost and effective at the same time."

The company had one more space-related pun for the occasion.

"One small StepNpull for man, one giant leap for mankind," proclaimed a news release.

The StepNpull is a small piece of metal, made from 70 percent recycled aluminum, that attaches to the bottom of bathroom doors. Installation takes about five minutes, the release said.

Other StepNpull customers include IKEA, U.S. Navy, U.S. Army, Top Golf and Buffalo Wild Wings, the release said. Locally, they can be found at Gailey's, Pappo's Pizzeria, Civil Kitchen, UPS and other establishments.

Co-owner Mike Sewell said more than 30,000 StepNpulls have been sold since the product was introduced in 2007.

The first three months of this year have broken sales records, according to Sewell.

"It's definitely exciting and it's been a lot of fun to be part of," Sewell said. "We see many years ahead of just continuing growth .... There are still millions of doors out there that can use them."

A StepNpull retails for $29.95, according to its website.