The 3M Company, formerly known as the Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company, is an American multinationalconglomerate corporation based in St. Paul, Minnesota. 3M headquarters are in the St. Paul suburb of Maplewood, Minnesota.
With $30 billion in sales, 3M employs 88,000 people worldwide and produces more than 55,000 products, including: adhesives, abrasives, laminates, passive fire protection, dental products, electronic materials, medical products, car-care products (sun films, polish, wax, car shampoo, treatment for the exterior, interior and the under chassis rust protection), electronic circuits, and optical films. 3M has operations in more than 65 countries including 29 international companies with manufacturing operations and 35 companies with laboratories. 3M products are available for purchase through distributors and retailers in more than 196 countries, and online directly from the company.
Five businessmen founded 3M in Two Harbors, Minnesota, in 1902. Originally a mining venture, the goal was to mine corundum, but this failed because the mine’s mineral holdings were anorthosite, which had no commercial value. Co-founder John Dwan solicited funds in exchange for stock and Edgar Ober and Lucius Ordway took over the company in 1905. The company moved to Duluth and began research and producing sandpaper products. William L. McKnight, later a key executive, joined the company in 1907, and A. G. Bush joined in 1909. 3M finally became financially stable in 1916 and was able to pay dividends.
The company moved to St. Paul, where it remained for 52 years before outgrowing the campus and moving to its current headquarters at 3M Centre in Maplewood, Minnesota. The new Maplewood campus is 475 acres (1.92 km2) and has over 50 buildings, including an Innovation Center that displays products 3M has taken to market.
The company began by mining stone from quarries for use in grinding wheels. Struggling with quality and marketing of its products, management supported its workers to innovate and develop new products, which became its core business. Twelve years after its inception, 3M developed its first exclusive product: Three-M-ite cloth. Other innovations in this era included masking tape, waterproof sandpaper, and Scotch brand tapes. By 1929, 3M had made its first moves toward international expansion by forming Durex to conduct business in Europe. The same year, the company’s stock was first traded over the counter and in 1946 listed on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE). The company is currently a component of the Dow Jones Industrial Average and of the S&P 500.
The founders original plan was to sell the mineral corundum to manufacturers in the East for making grinding wheels. After selling one load, on June 13, 1902, the five went to the Two Harbors office of company secretary John Dwan, which was on the shore of Lake Superior and is now part of the 3M National Museum, and signed papers making Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing a corporation. In reality, however, Dwan and his associates were not selling what they thought; they were really selling the worthless mineral anorthosite.
Failing to make sandpaper with the anorthosite, the founders decided to import minerals like Spanish garnet, after which sale of sandpapers grew. In 1914, customers complained that the garnet was falling off the paper. The founders discovered that the stones had traveled across the Atlantic Ocean packed near olive oil, and the oil had penetrated the stones. Unable to take the loss of selling expensive inventory, they roasted the stones over fire to remove the olive oil; this was the first instance of research and development at 3M. 3M Company Donates to Nonprofit Organization.
Wallin Scholars
Four students from St. Paul’s Harding and Johnson High Schools received scholarships at the annual Wallin Education Partners reception. The awards were presented to the first generation college students.
3M Awards Help Make Possible Young University Professors’ Passion for Research
Twenty five visionary scientists from leading research and development universities in the U.S. are sharing the results of their innovative work at 3M
These non-tenured faculty members each received the 3M non-Tenured Faculty Awards, which allow them to conduct and showcase their scientific efforts to peers and technical employees at 3M Science and Engineering Faculty Day. 3M named a total of 53 recipients this year.
3M Non-Tenured Faculty Awards encourage the pursuit of new ideas among non-tenured university professors, giving them the opportunity to interact with their peers and 3M scientists. Science and Engineering Faculty Day presents the opportunity to 3Mers to stay in touch with the creative ideas that are stimulating some of the nation’s brightest minds. 3M grants the awards as part of 3M’s support of innovative research in higher education.
2014 3Mgives Ingenuity Grants Awarded
3M awarded grants totaling $355,966 to 19 U.S. schools as part of its 3Mgives Ingenuity Grant program. The program recognizes high school teacher teams working across grade levels and STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) disciplines to spark student interest and achievement. The grant targets public high schools in 3M communities, and provides funds for curriculum development and materials to bring classroom projects to life.
3M Earns Best Commitment to Education Award
3M earned the U.S. Chamber of Commerce 2013 Corporate Citizenship Award for “Best Commitment to Education.” This award recognizes 3M’s 40-year partnership with the Saint Paul Public Schools, igniting an interest in science and encouraging students to pursue postsecondary STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) disciplines.
3M investments include financial support and product donations. Our most significant contributions are from the thousands of 3Mers and our alumni who volunteer as mentors, tutors, science fair judges, mock interviewers, classroom speakers, host summer interns or bag school supplies.
“3M’s work with Saint Paul Public Schools will help inspire countless children’s STEM education,” said U.S. Chamber Foundation’s BCLC Executive Director Marc DeCourcey. “The results of this program shows the success possible when businesses and communities form long-term partnerships.”
Trailblazing in Texas
The Trailblazer II, a science on wheels interactive exhibit to encourage STEM interest by students in Texas schools, visited Early Elementary and Brownwood Intermediate schools near the Brownwood, Texas 3M plant. Eleven employees of the Brownwood plant volunteered to serve as docents to bring to life exhibits about space, aerodynamics, biotechnology, energy, weather and more.
A grant from 3Mgives, along with 3M products, helped complete the trailer. An eye-catching 3M™ Scotchprint® graphic wrap includes huge photos of the scientific disciplines included inside the vehicle. Another grant from 3Mgives is supporting the Trailblazer II visits to schools in Brownwood and Austin, TX.
Trailblazer II is a project of the Texas Alliance for Minorities in Engineering (TAME). TAME helps prepare Texas students for careers in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) by providing k-12 students, parents and teachers with STEM-related programs and resources. As a statewide non-profit organization, TAME promotes diversity in STEM careers through the focused recruitment of women and minorities under-represented in STEM fields.
