3M or Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company, started as a mining company, but has made a name for itself as one of the leading diversified companies across the globe. This article identifies the various steps and milestones achieved in the company’s history, particularly focusing on its relentless execution across various industries, along with thorough determination towards providing advanced technology solutions. From starting as a small business for mining required minerals for grinding wheels, 3M has achieved international recognition for its unparalleled technological mastery. The purpose of the current article is to familiarize readers regarding 3M’s unprecedented methods of research and development which have been instrumental towards crafting this company’s history along with the legacy of unparalleled innovations.
What Is The Origin 3M?
3M was founded in Two Harbors, Minnesota, in 1902 when five businessmen came together to start a company which they named the Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company. Their original plan was to mine corundum, a mineral that they thought would be useful in the production of grinding wheels. However, the mineral they discovered turned out to be anorthosite which was worthless to them. Instead of going bankrupt, the firm shifted their focus which allowed them to become more resilient in the long run and become innovators. This changing focus eventually helped them produce sandpaper, masking tape and the Scotch™ brand, which helped the firm become a leading technological company.
3M Historical Background
Throughout the 1920’s, 3M made strides into innovative manufacturing after coming up with their first successful and well known product: Three-M-ite™ abrasive cloth. This product helped 3M expand their product range. To follow up on this success, 3M also invented masking tape which was designed for automotive paint precision in two tone paints in 1925. During this time, 3M experienced a steep growth in their operational capabilities, being able to employ just over 100 people and increasing that number to nearly 1000 by the early 1930’s.
At this time, 3M made extensive investments in R&D. By 1940, about 10% of the company’s employees worked in R&D which was unprecedented at the time. This effort led to the development of more than a dozen new products and most of them met new industrial requirements and were pioneering in the field of material science. This kind of research was geared toward making 3M an industry leader in technology and has been, and continues to be, a hallmark of the company’s legacy.
What Role Did Two Harbors Play in 3M’s Origin
Founding Location: 3M (Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company) was set up in Two Harbors, Minnesota in 1902. The town served as a base for carrying out the company’s initial operations and marked its history.
Initial Investment: The business began with a very small funding of $12,000 from five investors wishing to exploit corundum, a mineral useful for abrasive purposes, and set up a mine.
Natural Resources: Two Harbors was selected on the basis that there were nearby mineral resources that were expected to yield good quality corundum. While the attempt to find extractable materials was not successful, it provided new opportunities for 3M.
Adverse Beginnings: Although enduring financial losses and searching for viable corundum proved difficult, the company’s perseverance in Two Harbors supported its later success and diversification.
First Manufacturing Efforts: Inventions such as sandpaper, one of 3M’s main products, were patented and manufactured during this time. The town was home to some of 3M’s earliest manufacturing experiments.
Infrastructure Support: The proximity of Two Harbors to resources like Lake Superior aided in shipping and distributing various goods and products. The rail system within the region was also critical in supporting resource transportation, which aided in product development and market entry.
While turbulent, the early years in Two Harbors were critical in defining 3M’s innovative approach and enduring challenges, attributes that the company still holds to this day.
3M’s Initial Corundum Mining Attempts and the Issues Experienced
3M’s first mining attempts during the early 1900s involved the extraction of corundum because it was believed that the mineral could be used for products like sandpaper. Unfortunately, more in-depth examination showed that the corundum was actually anorthosite, a much less valuable mineral that would not be useful for abrasives. This plan failure required 3M to change its plans and look for other resources and products.
All is not lost though as the company continued to work because of the beneficial positioning of Two Harbors. Statistical records showed that during the first 5 years the company invested heavily into the infrastructure and acquiring raw materials, spending almost $30,000, which was is very large cost back then, After achieving some profitability, these investments aided the company in creating unique manufacturing processes and diversified their product offerings. To add on, the extensive collaboration between the engineers and scientists with the company paved way for groundbreaking technologies that guided the company towards success.
Who Were the Key Figures in the 3M Story?
The Effects of 3M’s Influence
It is common to recognize McKnight as one of the most important figures of 3M. In 1907, he started working for the company as an assistant bookkeeper. In no time, he was promoted to the position of president in 1929.
McKnight’s leadership principles were often regarded as progressive. He adopted a laissez-faire style of management, where the company’s entire aid was divided into different branches. This enabled greater evolution, such as coming up with Scotch Tape and Post-it Notes, because employees operated with less restriction.
3Ms industrialization and innovations were not only carried out due to McKnight’s leadership and innovations, but through the collaborations the company adopted.
Ordway’s Influence and Contributions to 3M
His investment accelerated the timeline for 3M to shift focus from mining for minerals to producing sandpaper. Ordway provided vital investment to sandpaper product development. In 1910, he also aided in moving the entire subsidiary to Saint Paul, which gave access to better marked and skilled workers. Ordway opened new avenues and inspired creative thinking by encouraging diversification to other products aside from abrasives.
This single-handedly put 3M on the world’s industrial map, allowing it to be known globally.
McKnight’s influence on 3M can not be neglected. The decisions he made impacted the culture and spirit of the institution for decades to come, shaping up what is known 3M today.
Through Ordway’s direction, the firm directed its capital towards better manufacturing plants and equipments which resulted in higher product quality, as well as an increase in the production capacity of the firm.
His initiative developed the primary focus of 3M on R&D, which later became a hallmark of 3M and its subsidiaries and fueled growth through innovation.
Walch’s efforts were critical in shaping the early stability and growth infrastructure of 3M, and in due course, integrating 3M into a multination corporation that expanded globally and became a leader in scientifc methods based solutions.
The Role 3M Employees Played On The Company
The firm’s employees put in a lot of innovative effort that shaped 3M as we know it today. A good example of this is in 1925 when Richard Drew, a lab assistant at 3M, invented masking tape which became one of the company’s first significant products. The invention was able to satisfy the demand for an adhesive safe to use with paintings. There is a 125,000 patents of 3M filed by 2023 which proves that the firm’s employees have furthered a lot in their in-house research and experiments.
The company’s workforce has been reported to be supported by a strong research infrastructure as 3M spends a estimated $2.5 billion on research and development each year, accounting for around 5.8 percent of its revenue. This along with 3M’s employee culture where workers are encouraged to innovate, enables advancements in a multitude of sectors, including health care, automotive, and consumer goods. Hybrid work models further strengthen 3M’s collaborative culture and improves cross-team developments. This has facilitated major breakthroughs like Post-it Notes and advanced filtration systems. Through employee collaboration like this, 3M has expanded its business operations to over 200 countries and generated a revenue of 34 billion dollars in 2022.
What Innovations Did 3M Company Introduce?
The Waterproof Sandpaper Innovation
Through addressing a plethora of industry problems, 3M has demonstrated a history of innovation with product development. These are some of the major innovations put forth by 3M:
- Pollution from sanding was reduced.
- Improved performance across industrial and personal sectors.
- Provided reliable solutions to packaging and sealing adhesives.
- Widely accepted for strength and clarity across multiple industries.
- Transformative workplace and personal organizational tools.
- Offered innovative products with the unique moveable adhesive.
- Produced respirators capable of capturing airborne particles.
- Provided to the healthcare and public protective sectors globally.
- Incorporated into construction signage and personal safety equipment.
- Improved security for working and traveling in hazardous environments.
- Advanced industrial, air and water filtration services.
- Enhanced conservation and sustainable energy use.
- Eliminated damage when securing items to surfaces.
- Adhesive materials simplified use and ensured flexibility.
3M is known for its ability to fuse creativity and science, a claimed reputation that is over every global market, accomplished through the above listed innovations.
Progress on Scotch Tape and Masking Tape
These solutions came from work done by 3M when they invented Scotch Tape and Masking Tape, changing various industries’ uses for adhesive solutions. 3M launched Scotch Tape in 1930, advertising it as a backingless, pressure sensitive tape whose functionality was wholesale sealing for packaging and wrapping. Adopted widely because of its unparalleled usefulness and even ease of use in households, it quickly became a household necessity. Masking Tape, developed earlier in 1925, had unique removable adhesion tailored toward single-handed use which made it the go to fixing strip for paint and other surface protection implements.
Data from the market reports show winners and losers, usually these products are the winners. As far as niche markets are concerned, Masking Tape reigns supreme among those related with constructive painting and automotive works. Commanding a sizeable chunk of business concerning sales-related issues, Scotch Tape on its end single-handedly dominates the worldwide adhesive tape market, claiming an estimated 40% share while thirty million rolls are produced a year, making it the most depended on for paper bindings. With these products alone, 3M is further fueled on relying upon their faith to offer trustworthy innovative solutions tailored correctly to consumers and industrials.
- In Communication, How Post-it Note Revolutionized 3M
- Right after the slash there follows a section showing the most crucial data of performance and usage for one of the highly reputed 3M adhesive products, including these numbers:
- Estimated Annual Production: Over 30 million rolls.
- Primary Areas of Interest: Office, home and gift-wrap applications.
- Market Controlled: Over 45% of the adhesive tape market with these numbers.
- Annual Production: Around 25 million rolls.
- Key Industries: Painting, automotive, and construction.
- Durability: Heat resistant varieties are available up to 300°F.
- Annual Production: Over 50 billion individual notes issued worldwide.
- Color Options: Choices include more than 60 vibrant shades.
- User Demographics: Students, professionals, as well as those in the creative professions.
- Applications: Note-taking, brainstorming, and project management.
When Did 3M Become a Fortune 500 Company?
Milestones 3M Reached Throughout Their Corporate History
3M made it to the Fortune 500 list in 1954, just two years after the list was started in 1955. Over this period, the organization has never failed to do remarkable working and remained as one of the top performing company showing constant progress and innovation emerging from various markets. In the bulk of the years, 3M has continued to strengthen its position internationally through technological innovations, successful diversification of products, and dominance in sectors like healthcare, consumer products, and industrial solutions. This makes it clear as to why these companies have continued to succeed, their fundamental strength and responsiveness to a changing environment and economy.
Influence of 3M Innovation Strategy
3M has a defined culture of innovation as demonstrated by the corporation’s unwavering focus on or allocating resources to the company’s R&D divisions. This is owing to the corporation’s investment policy where the company spends approximately six percent to the dollar value of billions of dollars to R&D in attempt to sustain a competitive advantage over other firms. Furthermore, this enables to 3M sustain a large portfolio of intellectual property documents with a record of having granted over 122000 patents deeming it to be a market leader in innovation as up to the year 2023 and continues to shelter over 8000 researchers and scientists in more than fifty laboratories scattered across the globe. This paradigm shift on innovation also means that 3M can annually introduce thousands of items through innovation which are heavily relied on for the company’s income and dominance over seventy nations.
Where Did 3M Move its Headquarters?
The Transition to Duluth and Subsequently to Saint Paul
Current Head Office Location: Duluth, Minnesota, United States
Former Head Office: Duluth, Minnesota, United States (company’s initial years until migrating to Saint Paul)
Total Workforce Globally: Roughly 95,000
Global R&D Presence: Over 50 research laboratories in different regions of the world
Total Market New Product Introductions: Thousands launched every year from different markets
Presence in Other Nations/Regions: Operates in more than seventy countries and provides services to over two hundred countries
Estimated Revenue in Dollars: $34 billion for the year 2023
Core Centered Industries:
Manufactured Goods
Healthcare
Industrial Safety
Transportation and Electronics
The composition above showcases how 3M has the capability of expanding internationally alongside a firm base of innovation at the company’s headquarters.
Investments in Research and Development
3M dedicates around 6% of its annual revenue to research and development, which represents more than $2 billion in 2023. The company has maintained over 50 global R&D laboratories, alongside employing over 8,100 researchers, allowing them to consistently pioneer new solutions that meet the needs of consumers in various industries. This reliable dedication is reinforced further with a strong innovation asset backbone that holds over 122,000 patents as of 2023.
To achieve global goals that promote sustainable operations while delivering values to communities and customers, 3M has advanced its sustainability objectives to become carbon neutral by 2050, alleviate water use by 25 percent within its facilities by 2030, and enhance circularity by vowing to design all new products with a 100 percent commitment towards environmentally responsible outcomes.
Why Is 3M Known for Its Consumer Products?
Success of Cleaning Products and Other Essentials
The stern reputation of 3M’s Scotch™ Tapes, Post-It® Notes, and Scotch-Brite™ Cleaning Tools reflects the utmost and consistent quality of their products. They are known for their desperate and dynamic innovation, as well as for being user-friendly. These products exemplify the sophistication of their solutions to everyday problems. Their unbounded dedication to practicality has earned them the astonishing ability and reputation of calling these products household staples.
How 3M Products Became Household Names
Household names only become household names because of their immense and dedicated focus towards innovative R&D, quite like 3M, who sets aside a whopping 6% of the company’s revenue every year towards new solutions – and successfully thrives with the advanced application of materials science. 3M’s ability to expand into numerous industries while also remaining adaptable to day-to-day applications demonstrates overwhelming versatility. On top of that, 3M remains an industry leader due to their intelligent branding and strategic marketing, ensuring untainted trust by consumers. The combination of all these factors simplycements this industry leader’s boundless esteem.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q: What is the history of 3M and how did it begin?
A: The 3M history traces back to 1902 when the company commenced operations as a small scale mining business in northern Minnesota. The company started as the Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company and its founders included John Dwan and William L. McKnight. Corundum mining was the initial focus, but the company later pivoted towards sandpaper product manufacturing.
Q: Who were key figures in the early history of 3M?
A: Other key figures of 3M’s early years include William L. McKnight who aggressively pursued growth of the company, and John Dwan who was one of the founding members. Also investing in the company and relocating it to Duluth in 1910, Ordway helped significantly.
Q: How did 3M’s relocation to Duluth impact its development?
A: The 3M move to Duluth in 1910 positioned the company closer to potential customers and access to required resources which greatly supported the company’s growth. Supported by Ordway’s investment, the move marked an important turn for the company’s fortunes towards eventual success.
Q: When did 3M become publicly traded, and on which stock exchange?
A: 3M was listed on the New York Stock Exchange in 1946 and this step marked its growth as a global firm. This was a pivotal moment in its expansion trajectory.
Q: What significant product innovations has 3M introduced?
3M’s product innovations include the Scotchguard in the 1950’s and Post-it® Notes in the 1980’s. It is a testament to the company’s devotion to innovation that these products became timeless staples.
Q: When did 3M open its headquarters in Maplewood, Minnesota?
A: In 1962, 3M established its global headquarters in Maplewood, Minnesota. The site serves as the operational center for the company and stands as a testament to its dedication to Minnesota.
Q: What is the Pollution Prevention Pays program at 3M?
A: 3M initiated the Pollution Prevention Pays program in 1975 with the focus of trying to minimize pollution and waste for its manufacturer processes. It demonstrates 3M’s sustainability initiatives along with being a responsible corporate citizen.
Q: How has 3M contributed to the Minnesota Historical Society?
A: 3M has helped the Minnesota Historical Society in a number of ways, for instance, through the funding of the industrial history of the state. It highlights 3M’s partnership with the state’s economic and cultural history.
Q: What is the significance of the year 1916 in 3M’s history?
A: 1916 is an important year in 3M’s history because it marks the point the company achieved its initial financial milestones which allowed scuba divers to continue developing and burgeoning business and diversification opportunities.
Q: What is the connection of 3M to Dow Jones Industrial Average?
A: 3M is included in the Dow Jones Industrial Average which is a stock market index comprising 30 of America’s largest and most impactful firms. Their inclusion in this index is a reflection of 3M’s relevance and consistency in the international marketplace.
Reference Sources
- Natural history of facial and skeletal features from neonatal period to adulthood in a 3M syndrome cohort with biallelic CUL7 or OBSL1 variants (Tuysuz et al., 2021, p. 104346)
- Key Findings:
- Three new early-diagnostic signs were observed in infants: infraorbital swelling of the lower lid and facial infantile hemangioma, both of which became less pronounced with aging.
- Methodology:
- This was a journal article published in 2021 that analyzed the natural history of facial and skeletal features in patients with 3M syndrome.
- Key Findings:
- An Update on 3M Syndrome: Review of Clinical and Molecular Aspects and Report of Additional Families (Elsayed et al., 2025, p. e64068)
- Key Findings:
- The history, epidemiology, molecular basis, clinical features, and management strategies for 3M syndrome are discussed, and 11 new patients with short stature and dysmorphic features consistent with 3M syndrome are reported on.
- Methodology:
- This was a review article published in 2025 that provided an update on the clinical and molecular aspects of 3M syndrome and reported on additional families with the condition.
- Key Findings:
- Peningkatan dan Optimalisasi Kesehatan Lansia di Masa Pandemi Covid-19 di Binjai melalui Gerakan 3M (Achmad, 2022)
- Key Findings:
- With this activity, the participants understood how to maintain cleanliness and health and started implementing the 3M Movement (washing hands, wearing masks, and diligently consuming herbal herbs) to improve the quality of life of the elderly during the Covid-19 pandemic.
- Methodology:
- This was a journal article published in 2022 that described an empowerment activity to optimize the health of the elderly in Binjai, Indonesia during the Covid-19 pandemic through the 3M Movement.
- Key Findings:
