3M

3M Company provides diversified technology services in the United States and internationally. The company operates through four segments: Safety and Industrial; Transportation and Electronics; Health Care; and Consumer. The Safety and Industrial segment offers industrial abrasives and finishing for metalworking applications; autobody repair solutions; closure systems for personal hygiene products, masking, and packaging materials; electrical products and materials for construction and maintenance, power distribution, and electrical original equipment manufacturers; structural adhesives and tapes; respiratory, hearing, eye, and fall protection solutions; and natural and color-coated mineral granules for shingles. The Transportation and Electronics segment provides ceramic solutions; attachment tapes, films, sound, and temperature management for transportation vehicles; premium large format graphic films for advertising and fleet signage; light management films and electronics assembly solutions; packaging and interconnection solutions; and reflective signage for highway, and vehicle safety. The Healthcare segment offers health care procedure coding and reimbursement software; skin, wound care, and infection prevention products and solutions; dentistry and orthodontia solutions; and filtration and purification systems. The Consumer segment provides consumer bandages, braces, supports, and consumer respirators; cleaning products for the home; retail abrasives, paint accessories, car care DIY products, picture hanging, and consumer air quality solutions; and stationery products. It offers its products through e-commerce and traditional wholesalers, retailers, jobbers, distributors, and dealers. 3M Company was founded in 1902 and is headquartered in St. Paul, Minnesota.

1902 - Five businessmen from Minnesota, including a doctor, a lawyer, and a meat market owner, found the Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company (3M) to mine corundum, a mineral used in sandpaper.

1916 - 3M invents waterproof sandpaper, which is used for wet sanding and produces a smoother finish than traditional sandpaper.

1925 - 3M introduces the first masking tape, which is designed to help automotive painters create clean lines and edges.

1930 - 3M introduces Scotch Brand Cellulose Tape, a transparent tape that quickly becomes popular for sealing packages and wrapping gifts.

1942 - 3M begins producing reflective sheeting for road signs, which improves visibility and safety on the road.

1951 - 3M introduces Thermo-Fax copying technology, which allows users to make copies of documents quickly and easily.

1960 - 3M introduces the first audio cassette tape, which revolutionizes the music industry by making it easy to record and playback music at home.

1977 - 3M introduces Post-it Notes, small adhesive notes that can be used to jot down reminders and messages.

1990 - 3M acquires the medical products company, McGhan Medical, which expands its portfolio to include products for surgical and wound care.

2001 - 3M introduces the first battery-powered air-purifying respirator, which provides workers with clean air and protection from airborne particles.

2011 - 3M introduces the 3M True Definition Scanner, a digital impression system used in dentistry to create accurate and detailed models of teeth and gums.

2017 - 3M acquires Scott Safety, a company that specializes in personal protective equipment and safety products.

3M’s mission is to solve unsolved problems innovatively, while inspiring creative thinking and teaming up with customers to make the products and solutions that help make the world safer, cleaner, and greener.

3M’s vision is to be a company that understands its customers, meets their needs, manages global resources, and creates the products that positively affect the lives of millions of people worldwide.