A Guide to the 3M Company
3M Company was started as a small venture by a group of five people more than a century ago. The company has a very inspiring story since its inception, and has witnessed remarkable growth over the years to become a multinational corporation. It was initially called the Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company but the name was changed to 3M in the year 2002. The founders did not envision it grow to such a big organization as it is currently, because their main objective was only to harvest minerals from a local mine in Minnesota. Their first mineral to excavate was called corundum, which was used to create grinding stones. This product didn't do very well in the market and therefore they focused their attention to Spanish garnet, a mineral that was used to make sandpaper. This idea turned out very well and they were able to make good sales.
As the company grew over the years, its directors realized the importance of establishing a department of research and development within the company. This department was tasked with the role of carrying out research on the most suitable way to produce and present products that the market needed. As a matter of fact, every time the research and development labs designed a new product, it made very impressive sales. Currently, the company has research labs and production facilities in many parts of the world. 3M is has become an international conglomerate best recognized for its innovativeness. Know All about 3M here!
Other products that 3M produced include waterproof sandpaper, which was released in 1921. It also created the masking tape, a product that was released in 1925. Actually, the company was so successful in making and selling masking tape that it was best known for it. It also created the magnetic sound recording tape that revolutionized the electronics industry. Between 1950s and 1960s, the company introduced new products such as the photographic films, projection systems as well as various elector-magnetic products. During the 1970s, the company diversified its product range and started producing pharmaceuticals and radiology products. In 2009, researchers in 3M designed an Electronic Stethoscope and ultra-modern auscultation machine that can transmit sound signals wirelessly from body organs such as heart, lungs among others, into a software for advanced scrutiny, check it out!
3M's success is so impressive that by the year 2014, scientists in 3M had earned it the 100,000th patent. The achievement can only be explained by the huge investment that the company has made in research and development. Recently, 3M Company developed a high-tech research and development lab on its offices at Minnesota.