3M

is an American concern operating in the broadly understood chemical industry. The company produces about 55,000 products that are used in many fields. The company's offer includes an assortment from five general business groups: healthcare, industry, electronics, energy, security and advertising graphics, and consumer products. 3M products include: office supplies, foils, cleaning agents, various types of tapes and many others. 3M was founded in 1902 by Henry S. Bryan, Ph.D. J. Danley Budd, Harmon Cable, William A. McGonagle, and John Dwan as the Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company in the town of Two Harbors. The success of the company was ensured by the production of sandpaper made of granite, which the creators imported from Spain. 3M went public on the American stock exchange in the 1920s. In the following decades, the company began producing other gadgets. The assortment included board games, sticky notes, cleaning products and other household products. Interestingly, Neil Armstrong, landing on the moon in 1969, was wearing shoes made of a material obtained by 3M. Currently, the company operates in 70 countries around the world. It has over 3,000 patents, 132 factories, and employs over 67,000 employees (including approximately 12,000 scientists). About 2,000 people work for 3M in Poland. Production centers are located in Wrocław, Janinów and Skomielna near Rabka. In our country, 3M focuses primarily on the production of medical adhesive tapes, emergency plasters and special-purpose medical devices, cosmetic tissues, protective tapes and abrasives, labor protection products, industrial tapes, adhesives and household cleaning products. 3M is the winner of many prestigious awards. In Poland, the company was honored with, among others the title of Company of the Year 2000, Investor of the Year 2004, Business Superbrand 2007, Pearls of Polish Innovation Progress 2013 and Reliable Employer 2012 and 2013.