Key facts
Company history: from 1902 to the present
The history of 3M begins at the beginning of the 20th century in the state of Minnesota, which, thanks to its natural resources and industrial spirit, became the birthplace of one of the most influential companies in the world. On June 13, 1902, five entrepreneurs founded the Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company in the small town of Two Harbors on the shores of Lake Superior.
The original business plan was to mine corundum for grinding wheels. However, the local deposits proved unsuitable—they contained anorthosite instead of corundum. This failure forced the founders to refocus on producing abrasives from purchased raw materials, which eventually became the beginning of the 3M abrasives empire.
Key development milestones
3M is unique in its unparalleled culture of innovation. The company is known for its “15% rule”—each engineer can spend 15% of their time on their own projects. This practice has led to products like Post-it Notes and Scotch-Brite. The abrasives division, which started it all, remains one of the company’s core businesses and is part of 3M’s Industrial segment.
The company today
| Parameter | Data |
|---|---|
| Legal name | 3M Company |
| Full historical name | Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company |
| Headquarters | 3M Center, Maplewood, Minnesota 55144, USA |
| CEO | William Brown, from 2024 |
| Company type | Public (NYSE: MMM) |
| Employees | ~85,000 worldwide (after Solventum spin-off) |
| Annual income | $24.6 billion (2024, total 3M) |
| Abrasive division | Part of the Industrial segment |
| Workers in abrasives | Several thousand around the world |
| Production sites | 80+ factories globally |
| Sales geography | 200+ countries, all continents |
| Certifications | ISO 9001, ISO 14001, oSa, FEPA |
Production sites
3M operates more than 80 manufacturing sites worldwide. Abrasive products are manufactured in specialized plants in several countries, each focused on specific product groups and regional markets.
| № | Country | Region | Specialization in abrasive production |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | USA | Minnesota, other states | Main abrasive production, R&D center, Cubitron, Scotch-Brite |
| 2 | Germany | Noyce and others | Abrasives for the European market, grinding wheels |
| 3 | Spain | Multiple platforms | Production of abrasive products |
| 4 | Great Britain | Multiple platforms | Abrasive materials, non-woven abrasive |
| 5 | Brazil | Sao Paulo and others | Abrasives for the Latin American market |
| 6 | China | Shanghai and others | Abrasive products for the Asian market |
| 7 | India | Bangalore and others | Production of abrasives for the Indian and Asian markets |
Product line
The 3M Abrasives Division produces a full range of abrasive products for industrial and professional use:
- Grinding and cutting wheels - Bakelite reinforced wheels for angle grinders and stationary machines
- Flap Discs - Cubitron II and Cubitron 3 Series for High-Performance Grinding
- Fiber discs— with ceramic and zirconia grain for aggressive material removal
- Sanding belts and sheets - wide range of grits from P24 to P2500
- Scotch-Brite non-woven abrasive - for finishing, stripping, matting, polishing
- Polishing materials - pastes, foams, microabrasive films for mirror polishing
- Diamond tools - diamond grinding wheels and special purpose tools
- 3M Xtract Dust-Free Sanding Systems - Discs with holes for connecting to dust extraction
Key brands and series
| Brand / Series | Product type | Feature |
|---|---|---|
| Cubitron 3 | Circles, flap discs, fiber discs, tapes | Latest generation PSG (2022). Cutting speed 20-50% higher than Cubitron II |
| Cubitron II | Full range of abrasive products | First Generation Precision Shaped Grain (2009). Triangular Ceramic Grain |
| Scotch-Brite | Non-woven abrasive | Fibrous material for finishing, stripping, polishing. One of the most famous 3M brands |
| Green Corps | Cutting and grinding wheels | Green wheels for heavy duty: aggressive cutting and metal removal |
| Silver | Circles, discs, ribbons | Ceramic grain line: optimal price/performance ratio |
| Purple+ | Grinding wheels and discs | Premium line for the automotive and aerospace industries |
| 3M Xtract | Discs with holes for dust extraction | Dust-free grinding system: operator health + surface cleanliness |
Technology and innovation
3M is a recognized global leader in abrasives technology. The company invests more than $1.8 billion annually in research and development and holds more than 118,000 patents in various technological fields. In the abrasives direction, a key innovation was Precision Shaped Grain technology.
Precision Shaped Grain (PSG) — precision grain technology
PSG technology is the basis of the Cubitron II and Cubitron 3 lines. Each abrasive grain has an identical triangular shape, formed from microcrystalline ceramic aluminum oxide. Unlike conventional abrasive grains, which are randomly shaped and scratch the surface, PSG grains act as microscopic cutting tools. The result: faster cutting, less heat to the workpiece, longer disc life and less operator effort.
Cubitron — the evolution of technology
The Cubitron line has gone through three generations:
- Cubitron (original)— first application of alumina ceramic in the 1980s
- Cubitron II (2009)— revolutionary introduction of Precision Shaped Grain. Triangular grains provided 2–3 times the performance of conventional abrasives
- Cubitron 3 (2022) - improved grain geometry and improved application. Productivity is 20-50% higher than Cubitron II depending on the application
Scotch-Brite is a non-woven abrasive.
Scotch-Brite is one of the most well-known 3M brands worldwide. Non-woven abrasive technology combines synthetic fibers with abrasive grains, creating a flexible and durable material. The Scotch-Brite industrial line is used for cleaning welds, matting surfaces before painting, finishing stainless steel and decorative polishing.
3M Xtract - dust-free sanding
The 3M Xtract system includes abrasive discs with a special configuration of holes for dust extraction. When connected to a dust extraction system, the system ensures a clean work area, protection of the operator's health and better surface quality due to the absence of dust particles between the disc and the workpiece.
Certifications and standards
- ISO 9001— quality management system (all production sites)
- ISO 14001— environmental management system
- oSa— Organization for the Safety of Abrasives (safety of abrasive tools)
- FEPA— Federation of European Producers of Abrasives (grain size and marking standards)
- Numerous industry certifications for aviation, automotive, medical and other industries
Markets and distribution
3M is present in more than 200 countries on every continent through an extensive network of subsidiaries, distributors and sales representatives. 3M abrasive products are available in virtually any country in the world thanks to the company's extensive global infrastructure.
3M subsidiaries operate in most major industrial countries: the United States, Canada, Mexico, Brazil, Argentina, the United Kingdom, Germany, France, Spain, Italy, Sweden, Poland, Turkey, the UAE, India, China, Japan, South Korea, Australia, and dozens of others.
Target industries
- Automotive industry - from body grinding to paint polishing
- Aerospace industry - processing of composite materials, titanium and special alloys
- Metalworking - cutting, grinding, stripping, finishing of metals
- Shipbuilding and marine industry - surface preparation, anti-corrosion treatment
- Woodworking - sanding wood, preparing it for varnishing
- Construction - cutting and processing of building materials
- Electronics - microabrasives for precision machining of components
- Medical industry - abrasives for the production of medical instruments and implants
Latest news (2024–2026)
- April 2024— completion of the spin-off of Solventum (healthcare division) as a separate public company
- May 2024— Bill Brown becomes the new CEO of 3M Company
- 2024— continued expansion of the Cubitron 3 line into new product categories
- 2024— launch of new 3M Xtract products for dust-free sanding
- 2024— the company's annual revenue amounted to $24.6 billion
- 2025— further expansion of Cubitron 3 and Xtract, optimization of production processes