1902 — Founded in Two Harbors, Minnesota, USA as Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company (3M), initially to mine minerals for abrasives

1905 — Operations move to Duluth, Minnesota after early mining efforts prove unviable; pivots toward manufacturing sandpaper/abrasives

1910 — Headquarters and main operations relocate to St. Paul, Minnesota, establishing a stronger base for manufacturing and R&D

1914–1916 — Product quality improvements and growing industrial demand stabilize the business and support reinvestment in experimentation

Early survival depended on relocation, a strategic pivot from mining to manufacturing, and reinvestment in quality and experimentation

1921 — Launches Three-M-ite cloth-backed sandpaper, improving durability and performance for industrial finishing

1925 — Introduces masking tape, enabling cleaner paint lines and becoming a major early consumer/industrial success

Late 1920s — Expands adhesive and coating capabilities, laying groundwork for future tape and film-based innovations

1930 — Introduces Scotch™ Cellulose Tape (transparent tape), widely adopted by homes and businesses

1930s — Broadens product lines beyond abrasives into adhesives and related technologies, strengthening resilience during the Great Depression

1940s — Scales manufacturing and develops materials for wartime needs, accelerating expertise in coatings, films, and industrial supplies

Late 1940s — Postwar demand supports expansion of industrial product families and internal research capabilities

1950s — Builds a broader international footprint through overseas operations and sales presence

1950s — Strengthens a culture of applied research and product development across multiple business lines, formalizing innovation as a core strategy

1960s — Expands into healthcare, electronics, and advanced industrial markets, leveraging adhesives, films, and engineered materials

1965 — Develops the basis for Scotchgard™ fabric protector, extending consumer and industrial chemical/coating technologies

1960s — Continues creating proprietary platforms (adhesives, abrasives, films) that can be recombined into many products

1974 — Scientist Spencer Silver invents a low-tack, reusable pressure-sensitive adhesive

1977 — Test-markets Post-it® products (early limited launch), exploring commercial viability of repositionable adhesive

1980 — Wide launch of Post-it® Notes, becoming a global iconic product and reinforcing 3M’s reputation for practical innovation

1980s — Broadens global manufacturing and distribution; strengthens brand portfolio across office, consumer, and industrial categories

1980s — Advances in specialty materials and electronics-related products align with growing high-tech supply chains

1990s — Expands technology-based business groups and improves operational systems to manage a large, diversified product portfolio

1990s — Increased emphasis on quality, productivity, and global coordination to support scale and competitiveness

2002 — Marks 100th anniversary; highlights innovation-led identity rooted in U.S. origins and global reach

2000s — Continues acquisitions and internal development to deepen positions in healthcare, safety, industrial, and consumer markets

2000s — Strengthens sustainability and environmental programs, building on earlier pollution-prevention and waste-reduction initiatives

2010s — Expands offerings in safety, healthcare, electronics materials, and industrial solutions; ongoing R&D investment remains central

2010s — Modernizes manufacturing and supply chain; increases focus on efficiency, globalization, and product platform leverage

2020–2022 — Navigates pandemic-era demand shifts across healthcare and safety markets while managing global supply chain disruption

2022–2024 — Pursues portfolio sharpening and restructuring to improve performance and focus resources on core growth platforms

2020s (ongoing) — Continues operating as a leading global innovation and industrial products company, with roots dating to its 1902 U.S. founding