3M 2014 Annual Report Download - page 11

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This segment’s energy solutions include electrical products, including infrastructure protection, telecommunications, and
renewable energy. This segment serves the worlds electrical and telecommunications markets, including electrical
utilities, electrical construction, maintenance and repair, original equipment manufacturers (OEM), telecommunications
central office, outside plant and enterprise, as well as aerospace, military, automotive and medical markets, with products
that enable the efficient transmission of electrical power and speed the delivery of information. Products in this segment
include pressure sensitive tapes and resins, electrical insulation, a wide array of fiber-optic and copper-based
telecommunications systems for rapid deployment of fixed and wireless networks, as well as the 3M™ Aluminum
Conductor Composite Reinforced (ACCR) electrical power cable that increases transmission capacity for existing power
lines. This segment also includes renewable energy component solutions for the solar and wind power industries, as well
as infrastructure products solutions that provide municipalities both protection and detection solutions for electrical, oil,
natural gas, water, rebar and other infrastructure assets.
Health Care Business: The Health Care segment serves markets that include medical clinics and hospitals,
pharmaceuticals, dental and orthodontic practitioners, health information systems, and food manufacturing and testing.
Products and services provided to these and other markets include medical and surgical supplies, skin health and
infection prevention products, inhalation and transdermal drug delivery systems, dental and orthodontic products (oral
care), health information systems, and food safety products. In April 2014, 3M (Health Care Business) purchased all of the
outstanding equity interests of Treo Solutions LLC, headquartered in Troy, New York. Treo Solutions LLC is a provider of
data analytics and business intelligence to healthcare payers and providers.
In the medical and surgical areas, 3M is a supplier of medical tapes, dressings, wound closure products, orthopedic
casting materials, electrodes and stethoscopes. In infection prevention, 3M markets a variety of surgical drapes, masks
and preps, as well as sterilization assurance equipment and patient warming solutions designed to prevent hypothermia in
surgical settings. Other products include drug delivery systems, such as metered-dose inhalers, transdermal skin patches
and related components. Dental and orthodontic products include restoratives, adhesives, finishing and polishing
products, crowns, impression materials, preventive sealants, professional tooth whiteners, prophylaxis and orthodontic
appliances, as well as digital workflow solutions to transform traditional impression and analog processes. In health
information systems, 3M develops and markets computer software for hospital coding and data classification, and
provides related consulting services. 3M provides food safety products that make it faster and easier for food processors
to test the microbiological quality of food.
Consumer Business: The Consumer segment serves markets that include consumer retail, office retail, office business to
business, home improvement, drug and pharmacy retail, and other markets. Products in this segment include office
supply products, stationery products, construction and home improvement products (do-it-yourself), home care products,
protective material products, certain consumer retail personal safety products, and consumer health care products.
Major consumer products include Scotch® brand products, such as Scotch® Magic™ Tape, Scotch® Glue Stick and
Scotch® Cushioned Mailer; Post-it® Products, such as Post-it® Flags, Post-it® Note Pads, Post-it® Labeling & Cover-up
Tape, and Post-it® Pop-up Notes and Dispensers; construction and home improvement products, including surface-
preparation and wood-finishing materials, Command™ Adhesive Products and Filtrete™ Filters for furnaces and air
conditioners; home care products, including Scotch-Brite® Scour Pads, Scotch-Brite® Scrub Sponges, Scotch-Brite™
Microfiber Cloth products, O-Cel-O™ Sponges; protective material products, such as Scotchgard™ Fabric Protectors;
certain maintenance-free respirators; certain consumer retail personal safety products, including safety glasses, hearing
protectors, and 3M™ Thinsulate™ Insulation, which is used in jackets, pants, gloves, hats and boots to keep people
warm; Nexcare™ Adhesive Bandages; and ACE® branded (and related brands) elastic bandage, supports and
thermometer product lines.
Distribution
3M products are sold through numerous distribution channels, including directly to users and through numerous
wholesalers, retailers, jobbers, distributors and dealers in a wide variety of trades in many countries around the world.
Management believes the confidence of wholesalers, retailers, jobbers, distributors and dealers in 3M and its products —
a confidence developed through long association with skilled marketing and sales representatives — has contributed
significantly to 3M’s position in the marketplace and to its growth.