3M 2011 Annual Report Download - page 12

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Research and Patents
Research and product development constitutes an important part of 3M’s activities and has been a major driver of
3M’s sales growth. Research, development and related expenses totaled $1.570 billion in 2011, $1.434 billion in
2010 and $1.293 billion in 2009. Research and development, covering basic scientific research and the application of
scientific advances in the development of new and improved products and their uses, totaled $1.036 billion in 2011,
$919 million in 2010 and $838 million in 2009. Related expenses primarily include technical support provided by 3M
to customers who are using existing 3M products; internally developed patent costs, which include costs and fees
incurred to prepare, file, secure and maintain patents; and amortization of acquired patents.
The Company’s products are sold around the world under various trademarks. The Company also owns, or holds
licenses to use, numerous U.S. and foreign patents. The Company’s research and development activities generate a
steady stream of inventions that are covered by new patents. Patents applicable to specific products extend for
varying periods according to the date of patent application filing or patent grant and the legal term of patents in the
various countries where patent protection is obtained. The actual protection afforded by a patent, which can vary
from country to country, depends upon the type of patent, the scope of its coverage and the availability of legal
remedies in the country.
The Company believes that its patents provide an important competitive advantage in many of its businesses. In
general, no single patent or group of related patents is in itself essential to the Company as a whole or to any of the
Company’s business segments. The importance of patents in the Display and Graphics segment is described in
“Performance by Business Segment” — “Display and Graphics Business” in Part II, Item 7, of this Form 10-K.
Raw Materials
In 2011, the Company experienced cost increases in most raw materials and transportation fuel costs. This was
driven by higher basic feedstock costs, including petroleum based materials, metals, minerals and woodpulp-based
products. To date, the Company is receiving sufficient quantities of all raw materials to meet its reasonably
foreseeable production requirements. It is impossible to predict future shortages of raw materials or the impact any
such shortages would have. 3M has avoided disruption to its manufacturing operations through careful management
of existing raw material inventories and development and qualification of additional supply sources. 3M manages
commodity price risks through negotiated supply contracts, price protection agreements and forward physical
contracts.
Environmental Law Compliance
3M’s manufacturing operations are affected by national, state and local environmental laws around the world. 3M has
made, and plans to continue making, necessary expenditures for compliance with applicable laws. 3M is also
involved in remediation actions relating to environmental matters from past operations at certain sites. Refer to the
“Environmental Matters and Litigation” section in Note 14, Commitments and Contingencies, for more detail.
Environmental expenditures relating to existing conditions caused by past operations that do not contribute to current
or future revenues are expensed. Reserves for liabilities related to anticipated remediation costs are recorded on an
undiscounted basis when they are probable and reasonably estimable, generally no later than the completion of
feasibility studies or the Company’s commitment to a plan of action. Environmental expenditures for capital projects
that contribute to current or future operations generally are capitalized and depreciated over their estimated useful
lives.
In 2011, 3M invested about $15 million in capital projects to protect the environment. This amount excludes
expenditures for remediation actions relating to existing matters caused by past operations that do not contribute to
current or future revenues, which are expensed. Capital expenditures for environmental purposes have included
pollution control devices — such as wastewater treatment plant improvements, scrubbers, containment structures,
solvent recovery units and thermal oxidizers — at new and existing facilities constructed or upgraded in the normal
course of business. Consistent with the Company’s policies stressing environmental responsibility, capital
expenditures (other than for remediation projects) for known projects are presently expected to be about $31 million
over the next two years for new or expanded programs to build facilities or modify manufacturing processes to
minimize waste and reduce emissions.
While the Company cannot predict with certainty the future costs of such cleanup activities, capital expenditures or
operating costs for environmental compliance, the Company does not believe they will have a material effect on its
capital expenditures, earnings or competitive position.