From humble beginnings to Fortune 500
3M uses science and innovation to make a real impact, driving progress and inspiring innovations in life and communities around the world.
When 3M was founded in 1902, our five founders had a simple goal: to mine corundum, a mineral ideal for making sandpaper and grinding wheels. It turned out that what they thought was corundum was actually another inferior mineral called anorthosite.
The discovery of the inferior mineral could have meant the early end of our young company, but our founders remained persistent. And why? Because in that first year something much more important was born: the spirit of innovation and collaboration, which today forms the foundation of 3M. Instead of giving up, we turned to other materials, applied them to other products, gained the trust of key investors, and gradually built up revenue.
Scientific, technical, and marketing innovations brought one success after another over the years, eventually making 3M a major player in the Fortune 500 list. Today, more than 60,000 3M products are used in households, businesses, schools, hospitals, and other industries. One-third of our revenue comes from products invented in the past five years, thanks to the innovations of thousands of researchers and scientists we employ worldwide.
With branches in 70 countries and sales in 200 countries, we are committed to developing technologies and products that advance every business, enhance every home, and improve every life.