3M 2006 Annual Report Download - page 29

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3M COMPANY
ANNUAL REPORT ON FORM 10-K
For the Year Ended December 31, 2006
PART I
Item 1. Business.
3M Company, formerly known as Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company, was incorporated in 1929 under the
laws of the State of Delaware to continue operations EHJXQLQ7KH&RPSDQ\¶VWLFNHUV\PEROLV000$VXVHG
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addition, for any references to Note 1 through Note 19, refer to the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in Item 8
of this document.
Available Information
The SEC maintains a website that contains reports, proxy and information statements, and other information regarding
issuers, including the Company, that file electronically with the SEC. The public can obtain any documents that the
Company files with the SEC at http://www.sec.gov. The Company files annual reports, quarterly reports, proxy
statements and other documents with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) under the Securities Exchange
$FWRI([FKDQJH$FW7KHSXEOLFPD\read and copy any materials that the Company files with the SEC at the
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3M also makes available free of charge through its website (http://investor.3M.comWKH&RPSDQ\¶V$QQXDO5HSRUWRQ
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reports filed or furnished pursuant WRWKH([FKDQJH$FWDVVRRQDVUHDVonably practicable after the Company
electronically files such material with, or furnishes it to, the SEC.
General
3M is a diversified technology company with a global presence in the following businesses: industrial and transportation;
health care; display and graphics; consumer and office; safety, security and protection services; and electro and
communications. 3M is among the leading manufacturers of products for many of the markets it serves. Most 3M
products involve expertise in product development, manufacturing and marketing, and are subject to competition from
products manufactured and sold by other technologically oriented companies.
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Business Segments
3M manages its operations in six operating business segments: Industrial and Transportation; Health Care; Display and
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business segments bring together common or related 3M technologies, enhancing the development of innovative
products and services and providing for efficient sharing of business resources. These segments have worldwide
responsibility for virtually all 3M product lines. Certain smaOOEXVLQHVVHVDQGVWDIIVSRQVRUHGproducts, as well as various
corporate assets and expenses, are not allocated to the business segments. Financial information and other disclosures
UHODWLQJWR0¶VEXVLQHVVVHJPHQWVDQGRSHUDWLRQVLQPDMRUgeographic areas are provided in the Notes to Consolidated
Financial Statements.
Industrial and Transportation Business: The Industrial and Transportation Business segment serves a broad range of
markets, such as appliance, paper and packaging, food and beverage, personal care and automotive. Industrial and
Transportation products include tapes, a wide variety of coated and nonwoven abrasives, adhesives, specialty materials,
supply chain execution software solutions, closures for disposable diapers, and components and products that are used in
the manufacture, repair, and maintenance of automotive, marine, aircraft DQGVSHFLDOW\YHKLFOHV7KH$XJXVW
DFTXLVLWLRQRI&812,QFRUSRUDWHG³&812´DGGHGDFRPSUehensive line of filtration products for the separation,
clarification and purification of fluids and gases.
Major industrial products include vinyl, polyester, foil and specialty industrial tapes and adhesives; Scotch® Masking
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conductive, low surface energy, 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.
Other products include a comprehensive line of filtration products for the separation, clarification and purification of
fluids and gases; fluoroelastomers for seals, tubes and gaskets in engines; engineering fluids; supply chain execution
software and solutions; and closures for disposable diapers.