3M

More About 3M

3M first began in 1902, at the dawn of the twentieth century. In the beginning, their founders had a simple goal: to mine for corundum, a mineral used for making sandpaper and grinding wheels. In the end, what they thought was corundum, was another low grade mineral called anorthosite. Scientific and technological innovation would continue to drive 3M into the twentieth century, making them a constant name on the Fortune 500 list. In 1914, the first 3M exclusive was launched, “3M Three-M-ite Abrasive Cloth,” then came Masking Tape in 1925, Micropore™ Surgical Tape in 1960, Post-it® Notes in 1980 and Scotch® Pop-Up Tape Strips in 1997.

Today, more than 55,000 3M products are used in homes, businesses, schools, hospitals and other industries. One third of their sales comes from products invented within the past 5 years. From humble origins in the mining world in Northern Minnesota to a globally recognised and used brand industry wide today, 3M are an example of persistence, innovation and scientific solutions. Explore our range of Post-it® Notes for everyday inspiration and productivity.