Innovation Awards 2017

The science behind
big ideas.
At 3M, we believe the right science
applied the right way touches people
worldwide, generating breakthroughs
that make lives better, easier and more
complete.
We are a company of curious minds
and problem solvers working together
to meet the needs of our customers
and the world around us. We embrace
creativity and risk taking to make
progress and to innovate.
Ideas have
the power to
change the
world.
The Grammy Man.
John Billings from Ridgway, Colorado
has earned the nickname “The Grammy
Man”. He and just three employees
complete the daunting task of creating
over 600 Grammy Awards each year.
Using 3M Trizact a microreplicated
abrasive, he sands the surface of each
Grammy to create a finished product
that is so shiny that it allows you to see
your reflection.
How To Get Noticed In NYC.
Treatment Inspired By Nature.
Giraffes are amazing. Did you know
that giraffe’s feet are the size of a
dinner plate? And did you know that the
distance from their legs to their heart
is twice that of a humans, requiring
much higher blood pressure, thereby
putting way more stress on their veins?
Scientists at 3M figured out that the
giraffe’s thick and tight skin which
prevents the stagnation of blood in their
lower extremities functions like nature’s
best compression bandage. This
inspired them to develop 3M Coban,
a leading two-layer compression
system that mimics the skin of a giraffe.
It’s bringing relief to millions of people
who suffer from uncontrolled high
pressure in the veins of the lower leg.
Scientists are amazing, too.
Mike Cherman was riding home in
Manhattan when he was hit by an SUV.
Injured, Mike cursed the dark clothing
he was wearing which made him all but
invisible to the driver. So, he cut out
reflective tape from 3M and decorated
his socks with polka dots. In a moment
of reflection he created the genesis
of ICNY, a line of active wear sold in
more than 200 retailers worldwide
that creates a strobe-like effect when
illuminated. “As far as riding at night, he
has not had an accident since”.
Space Station House Call.
200 miles above earth on the
International Space Station an
astronaut used the 3M Littmann
Bluetooth-enabled electronic
stethoscope to transmit his heartbeat
from space to a doctor at Ground
Control. It sounded as if he was there
in person.
An Unlikely Scientist.
Richard Drew, the banjo player who
solved the painter’s problem with the
invention of masking tape. Scotch
masking tape celebrated its 90th
anniversary on 25 June, 2015.
You’re rarely more than 3 metres away
from 3M Science. Discover why at:
3M.co.nz | 3Mparticles.com