• Company Name: 3M Company
• Former Name: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
• Founded: 13 June 1902
• Headquarters: Maplewood
• Industry: Industrial manufacturing, materials science, consumer products, safety equipment, electronics
• Type: Public company
• Stock Exchange: New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: MMM)
• Operating Regions: Worldwide

3M’s corporate mission centres on applying science and innovation to solve real-world problems. The company’s technologies are utilised in applications ranging from household products and automotive manufacturing to semiconductor production and workplace safety.2

3M was established in 1902 in Two Harbors by five businessmen who intended to mine corundum, a mineral used to manufacture abrasives. However, the mine contained little valuable corundum, and the business initially struggled.

Rather than shutting down, the company shifted its focus from mining to manufacturing abrasive products by sourcing raw materials elsewhere. This strategic pivot became the foundation for 3M’s transformation into an innovation-driven company.

Key milestones in the company’s history include:

• 1905: Relocated manufacturing operations to Duluth, Minnesota.
• 1910: Headquarters moved to St Paul, Minnesota.
• 1921: Introduced the world’s first waterproof sandpaper.
• 1925: Invented masking tape, launching the famous Scotch® brand.
• 1930: Introduced Scotch® Transparent Tape.
• 1946: Listed on the New York Stock Exchange.
• 1980: Commercialised Post-it® Notes after years of product development.
• 2002: Officially changed its legal name from Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company to 3M Company.
• 2024: Completed the spin-off of its healthcare business into an independent company, Solventum.3

Following the healthcare spin-off, 3M primarily operates through three business groups:

1. Safety and Industrial
   * Industrial adhesives
   * Abrasives
   * Personal protective equipment (PPE)
   * Electrical products
   * Automotive materials
2. Transportation and Electronics
   * Electronic materials
   * Semiconductor technologies
   * Automotive solutions
   * Display technologies
   * Data centre connectivity
3. Consumer
   * Home improvement products
   * Office supplies
   * Cleaning products
   * Stationery
   * Adhesive tapes

These businesses serve customers ranging from individual consumers to Fortune 500 manufacturers.4

3M owns numerous globally recognised brands, including:

• Scotch® adhesive tapes
• Post-it® Notes
• Scotch-Brite® cleaning products
• Command™ adhesive hooks
• Nexcare™ first aid products
• Filtrete™ air filters
• Cubitron™ industrial abrasives
• PELTOR™ hearing protection

Many of these products have become market leaders within their respective categories.5

Innovation has always been central to 3M’s identity. Key aspects of its research capabilities include:

• More than a century of research and development.
• Tens of thousands of patents worldwide, with the company having surpassed 100,000 patents.
• Thousands of scientists, engineers and researchers employed globally.
• Continuous investment in advanced materials, adhesives, optics, filtration, electronics and sustainability.

Historically, a significant share of 3M’s annual revenue has come from products introduced within the previous five years, reflecting its emphasis on continual innovation.6

3M manufactures over 60,000 products, including:

• Adhesives and tapes
• Sandpaper and abrasives
• Industrial coatings
• Respirators and face masks
• Medical dressings
• Optical films
• Electronic materials
• Reflective road signs
• Cleaning products
• Office supplies
• Air and water filtration systems
• Automotive repair materials

Its technologies are used in sectors such as aerospace, healthcare, electronics, construction, mining, telecommunications and renewable energy.7

3M maintains a substantial international footprint, characterised by:

• Manufacturing facilities across multiple continents.
• Operations in more than 70 countries.
• Customers in over 200 countries and territories.
• Research laboratories located around the world.

Its products are used daily by consumers, hospitals, factories, schools, governments and technology companies.8

3M is widely known for encouraging employee creativity and experimentation. One hallmark of its culture has been allowing researchers dedicated time to pursue innovative ideas, an approach that contributed to inventions such as the Post-it® Note. The company emphasises collaboration across scientific disciplines to develop practical solutions.9

In recent years, 3M has faced significant scrutiny over the production and historical use of PFAS (‘forever chemicals’), which have been linked to environmental contamination. The company has entered into major legal settlements related to water pollution and has announced plans to discontinue PFAS manufacturing while pursuing remediation and sustainability initiatives.10

Today, 3M is concentrating on:

• Advanced industrial materials
• Electronics and semiconductor technologies
• Data centre connectivity
• Workplace safety
• Sustainable manufacturing
• Digital transformation and AI-assisted innovation

Recent financial results indicate growth in its industrial and electronics businesses, supported by investments in higher-growth technologies.11

3M is one of the world’s most diversified science and manufacturing companies. From its origins as a small Minnesota mining venture, it has evolved into a global enterprise known for innovation in adhesives, safety equipment, electronics, abrasives, filtration and consumer products. Iconic brands such as Scotch®, Post-it® and Scotch-Brite® have made 3M a familiar name in homes and workplaces, while its industrial technologies continue to support sectors ranging from manufacturing to advanced electronics.

1. Explore 3M’s Rich History: Innovation Through the Years
2. Learn About 3M: Innovation, History & Core Values
3. 3M boosts annual profit forecast driven by resilient industrial unit
4. 3M Raises Full-Year Forecast as Safety and Electronics Lift Sales
5. 3M Company (MMM)
6. About 3M | 3M Philippines
7. Technologies | 3M Philippines
8. 3M Science. Applied to Life. 3M United States
9. The History of 3M | From Humble Beginnings to Fortune 500
10. About 3M | 3M United Kingdom
11. 역사 | 3M 한국