3M

3M, located in St. Paul, Minnesota, has since dropped its original name Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Co. It sells its products worldwide with annual revenues of $22.9 billion - 2/3 of sales are outside the US. It makes products such as reflective materials for highway signs and license plates, circuits used in inkjet printers and cell phones, dental and medical supplies, safety products such as respirators, and industrial materials, tapes, and adhesives. More familiar products are Scotch tape, Post-it notes, and Scotch-Brite cleaning products.

Ties to the American Legislative Exchange Council
3M has been a corporate funder of the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC). See ALEC Corporations for more.

History

 * 3M was founded in 1902 in Minnesota, USA with the name Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Co. It mined a mineral deposit for making grinding-wheel abrasives.
 * In the early 1920s waterproof sandpaper was developed.
 * In 1925 masking tape was invented.
 * In the 1970s and 1980s it expanded into pharmaceuticals, radiology and energy control.

Political contributions
3M gave $153,123 to federal candidates in the 05/06 election period through its political action committee - 21% to Democrats, 79% to Republicans.

Personnel
Selected executives:
 * George W. Buckley, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer
 * Frederick J. Palensky, Executive Vice President, Research and Development
 * Inge G. Thulin Executive, Vice President, International Operations

Selected board members:
 * Vance D. Coffman, Retired Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer, Lockheed Martin Corporation
 * Michael L. Eskew, Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer, United Parcel Service Inc.
 * Edward M. Liddy, Chairman and former Chief Executive Officer, The Allstate Corporation

Contact details
3M Center St. Paul, MN 55144 Phone: 651-733-1110 Fax: 651-733-9973 Web: http://www.mmm.com

Related Sourcewatch articles

 * W. James McNerney, Jr.