3M 2006 Annual Report Download - page 15

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New signs of the times
When it comes to transportation safety, we’re always watching
the signs ahead. An aging population, increased road congestion
and new headlight designs that reduce the amount of illumination
directed at highway signs spell the need for brighter sign materials.
3M™Diamond Grade™ DG3 Refl ective Sheeting, engineered with
thousands of identical microscopic cube corners per square inch,
returns nearly twice as much refl ected light from signs to drivers
as the brightest materials previously available, helping drivers
make timely and correct decisions.
The safety difference of this advanced sheeting is clearly visible to
transpor tation agencies around the world, and extends our innova-
tion in a product category we invented more than 65 years ago.
1) Your pipelines are protected. Corrosion
can wreak havoc on steel pipelines. 3M™
Scotchkote™ 323 Liquid Epoxy Coating helps
pipelines and other steel structures around the
world stand up to the harshest environments,
including saltwater, wastewater, petrochemicals,
solvents and corrosive gases. All to keep gas,
oil, water – and business – fl owing.
3)
Your license plate could be a lifesaver. 3M™
Internally Illuminated License Plates eliminate
the need for an external light source to make
license plates visible. They simplify car design,
improve auto appearance and enhance driver
safety. This bright new idea recently was
embraced by transportation authorities, auto-
makers and drivers in Germany, and a world
of market potential awaits.
3
Can road signs be made more visible –
under the most challenging conditions?
2) Aiding deepwater oil operations. Today’s
oil and gas discoveries take energy operators
into ultra-deepwater – in many cases, more
than one mile deep – creating the need for
insulations that can withstand extreme pres-
sures. Composites using 3M™ Glass Bubbles
provide the structural integrity required to
resist crushing, as well as the insulation capa-
bilities needed to maintain the fl ow of oil from
subsea wells to fl oating platforms that may be
20 miles or more apart.
Working Our Magic 13
How can deepwater oil producers
help protect their pipelines?
2