What was born as a small-scale mining venture in 1902 has grown into a global powerhouse whose products improve the daily lives of people around the world. When the Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Co.—as the company that would grow into 3M was known at the time—began more than a century ago, the five founders had a simple goal: to harvest a mineral known as corundum from a mine called Crystal Bay.
Ultimately, the mine didn’t produce much corundum, but something more important was born that year: the spirit of innovation and collaboration that forms the foundation of today’s 3M. The fledgling company turned to other materials and other products, building up sales little by little. Technical and marketing innovations began to produce success upon success. Today’s 3M is responsible for 60,000 products used in homes, businesses, schools, hospitals and more.
Today, one third of 3M’s sales come from products that were invented within the past five years. The company employs thousands of researchers and scientists around the world. With operations in 70 countries and sales in 200, the global 3M team is still committed to creating the technology and products that advance every company, enhance every home and improve every life.