3M 2014 Annual Report Download - page 10

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Industrial Business: The Industrial segment serves a broad range of markets, such as automotive original equipment
manufacturer (OEM) and automotive aftermarket (auto body shops and retail), electronics, appliance, paper and printing,
packaging, food and beverage, and construction. Industrial products include tapes, a wide variety of coated, non-woven
and bonded abrasives, adhesives, advanced ceramics, sealants, specialty materials, 3M Purification Inc. (filtration
products), closure systems for personal hygiene products, acoustic systems products, and components and products that
are used in the manufacture, repair and maintenance of automotive, marine, aircraft and specialty vehicles. 3M is also a
leading global supplier of precision grinding technology serving customers in the area of hard-to-grind precision
applications in industrial, automotive, aircraft and cutting tools. In the fourth quarter of 2012, 3M acquired Ceradyne, Inc.,
which develops and produces advanced technical ceramics for demanding applications in the automotive, oil and gas,
solar, industrial, electronics and defense industries.
Major industrial products include vinyl, polyester, foil and specialty industrial tapes and adhesives; Scotch® Masking
Tape, Scotch® Filament Tape and Scotch® Packaging Tape; packaging equipment; 3M™ VHB™ Bonding Tapes;
conductive, low surface energy, sealants, hot melt, spray and structural adhesives; reclosable fasteners; label materials
for durable goods; and coated, nonwoven and microstructured surface finishing and grinding abrasives for the industrial
market. 3M Purification Inc. provides a comprehensive line of filtration products for the separation, clarification and
purification of fluids and gases. Other industrial products include fluoroelastomers for seals, tubes and gaskets in engines.
Major transportation products include insulation components, including Thinsulate™ Acoustic Insulation and components
for cabin noise reduction and catalytic converters; functional and decorative graphics; abrasion-resistant films; adhesives;
sealants; masking tapes; fasteners and tapes for attaching nameplates, trim, moldings, interior panels and carpeting;
coated, nonwoven and microstructured finishing and grinding abrasives; structural adhesives; and other specialty
materials. In addition, 3M provides paint finishing and detailing products, including a complete system of cleaners,
dressings, polishes, waxes and other products.
Safety and Graphics Business: The Safety and Graphics segment serves a broad range of markets that increase the
safety, security and productivity of people, facilities and systems. Major product offerings include personal protection
products; traffic safety and security products, including border and civil security solutions; commercial solutions, including
commercial graphics sheeting and systems, architectural surface and lighting solutions, and cleaning and protection
products for commercial establishments; and roofing granules for asphalt shingles.
This segment’s products include personal protection products, such as certain maintenance-free and reusable respirators,
personal protective equipment, head and face protection, body protection, hearing protection and protective eyewear. In
traffic safety and security, 3M provides reflective sheeting used on highway signs, vehicle license plates, construction
work-zone devices, trucks and other vehicles, and also provides pavement marking systems, in addition to electronic
surveillance products, films that protect against counterfeiting, and reflective materials that are widely used on apparel,
footwear and accessories, enhancing visibility in low-light situations. Traffic safety and security also provides finger, palm,
face and iris biometric systems for governments, law enforcement agencies, and commercial enterprises, in addition to
remote people-monitoring technologies used for offender-monitoring applications. Major commercial graphics products
include films, inks, digital signage systems and related products used to produce graphics for vehicles, signs and interior
surfaces. Other products include spill-control sorbents; nonwoven abrasive materials for floor maintenance and
commercial cleaning; floor matting; and natural and color-coated mineral granules for asphalt shingles.
Electronics and Energy Business: The Electronics and Energy segment serves customers in electronics and energy
markets, including solutions that improve the dependability, cost-effectiveness, and performance of electronic devices;
electrical products, including infrastructure protection; telecommunications networks, and power generation and
distribution.
This segment’s electronics solutions include the display materials and systems business, which provides films that serve
numerous market segments of the electronic display industry. 3M provides distinct products for five market segments,
including products for: 1) LCD computer monitors 2) LCD televisions 3) handheld devices such as cellular phones and
tablets 4) notebook PCs and 5) automotive displays. This segment also provides desktop and notebook computer screen
filters that address display light control, privacy, and glare reduction needs. Major electronics products also include
packaging and interconnection devices; high performance fluids and abrasives used in the manufacture of computer
chips, and for cooling electronics and lubricating computer hard disk drives; and high-temperature and display tapes.
Flexible circuits use electronic packaging and interconnection technology, providing more connections in less space, and
are used in ink-jet printer cartridges, cell phones and electronic devices. This segment also includes the touch systems
products, including touch screens, touch monitors, and touch sensor components.