Minnesota Mining & Manufacturing Company

The Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company, also known as 3M, is a corporation that manufactures a wide array of products including the following:

• Medical products
• Electronic circuits
• Fire protection materials
• Adhesives
• Abrasives
• Laminates
• Car care products
• Dental products
• Optical films
• Electrical materials

The corporation is headquartered in Maplewood, Minnesota, and employs approximately 79,000 employees in more than 60 countries.

Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing and Asbestos

Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing previously incorporated asbestos materials into some of its products that were manufactured during the 1960s and 1970s such as:

• Caulk (including sticky tar caulking)
• Adhesives (including wet adhesives)

Although masks and respirators produced by the company did not contain asbestos, the products were found to ineffectively protect individuals from dust created at a work site such as asbestos dust. The 3M 8500 Comfort Mask disposable mask and the 3M 8710 disposable respirator were marketed for dust and pollutant protection.

Allegations from claimants stated that the masks and respirators were falsely marketed as an adequate protection from asbestos fibers. Those who used the product may have been exposed to asbestos and other hazardous materials that are associated with cancers and other illnesses.

Asbestos Lawsuits

The Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company has stated that their masks and respirator products did not specifically indicate the protection against common dust and similar hazardous carcinogens. The corporation was also found to manufacture asbestos-containing duct tape products in 2007.

For individuals who have used Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company's asbestos materials, an early diagnosis may be vital. If you are currently suffering from mesothelioma or exhibiting symptoms of any asbestos-related condition, please consider finding out more about your options. Please take a moment to fill out the form on this page or call (800) 615-2270 to receive an informative packet in the mail.

Company History

In 1902, Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing was founded by five businessmen from unrelated industrial fields. In 1916, the company purchased its first lab and focused its creative momentum on inventions.

Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing pioneered waterproof sandpaper in 1920 and began to produce masking tape five years later. The company's signature cellophane Scotch tape was invented in 1930s and became a bestseller.

During World War II, Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing began to produce products for military defense and heavier industrial products such as:

• Heavy-duty adhesives
• Soundproofing
• Roofing
• Sheeting
• Plating

Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing also began to produce materials and applications that served a broader range of industries.

The end of World War II brought about an unprecedented growth for the company, as it started new plants across the U.S. A few years later, Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing opened facilities in Canada, Mexico, France, Germany, Australia and the United Kingdom. By 1951, the company's international sales had reached $20 million.

By the end of the 1970s, the company was manufacturing digital recording, medical and dental equipment, which catered to pharmaceutical and radiology industries. Currently, Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing's annual sales total $20 billion, with 42 percent domestic and 58 percent international revenue.