3M establishes dedicated construction division

3M reveals new construction industry strategy at Interbuild 2008, aiming to bring world-class innovations to the industry.

A company that has brought savings of hundreds of millions of pounds to industries from aerospace to IT is launching a new division to bring world-class innovations to the construction industry.

3M, the diversified technology company, contributed technology that allowed Neil Armstrong to leave footprints on the moon, invented the Post-It note and introduced the Scotch brand into just about all facets of everyday life.

The new division, launched in the UK at Interbuild 2008, will be dedicated to helping the construction industry deliver competitive products faster and more efficiently, alongside improvements in environmental protection and health and safety.

"Last year 3M spent $1.4 billion on RandD, developing new ways of doing things more efficiently and more cost effectively for a vast range of industries".

"Now we are making that considerable resource and expertise available to the UK construction industry," explains construction industry business development manager James Gravestock.

Examples of how 3M has helped other industries include a new paint mixing and spraying system that significantly reduced cycle times and improved environmental protection at automotive body shops; a new cold-shrink technology that saves time and improves durability for sealing medium-voltage cable joints; and terminations and new bonding systems that have helped enable a revolution in automotive construction.

"We are starting by introducing a carefully selected portfolio of innovative and, in many cases, sustainable products that we believe will bring immediate benefits to the construction industry, for both on site and off-site application," explains Gravestock.

"But we are also inviting the industry to bring us their problems and tell us about processes they would like to improve".

An example is the bonding of large cladding and glazing panels.

The industry currently uses time consuming mechanical bonding systems or messy adhesive application systems, but switching to 3M's structural tapes removes variability in the bond quality, virtually eliminates the time required for curing and provides a consistently high quality and aesthetically pleasing finish.

The initial product portfolio includes:.

* Advanced adhesive systems that enable far more cost-effective off-site cladding and glazing fabrication.

* Window films that offer enhanced solar control and impact resistance.

* Advanced traceability components for underground assets.

* Cabling and coating products, offering functional and aesthetic protection to valuable structures and installations.

* Personal-protection equipment helping to ensure greater safety and visibility for on-site workforces.

* Advanced fire-fighting fluids with minimal ozone depletion potential.

"As 3M's construction division expands, so will its product portfolio, as more and more suitable technologies and products prove themselves in the construction arena," Gravestock concludes.

"With such a diverse array of products and technologies, 3M will be feeding the UK's construction industry with new approaches, new ideas and new technologies for many years to come.

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