HomeMy WebLinkAbout2016 03-16 3M celebrates opening new R&D lab MAPLEWOOD REVIEW 3/16/2016 3M celebrates opening new R&D lab I Lillie Suburban Newspapers-LillieNews.com
3 M celebrates opening new
R& D lab
Submitted by admin on Wed,03/16/2016- 12:OOam
By: Marjorie Otto
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3/16/2016 3M celebrates opening new R&D lab Lillie Suburban Newspapers-LillieNews.com
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devs:„leas in their new lab facility, (Marjorie Otto/Review)
Building 280 is the latest addition to 3M's Maplewood campus
3M opened its new research and development laboratory for viewing on Friday, March 11,during a grand opening event.
Attendees included Gov.Mark Dayton, U.S.Sen.Amy Klobuchar, U.S. Reps. Betty McCollum, Keith Ellison and Tom Emmer,
Maplewood Mayor Nora Slawik, Maplewood City Council members,top leaders from the Legislature and Mattias Fyrenius
from the Nobel Organization.
Building 280,the newest addition to the Maplewood-based company's campus,cost$150 million.The four-story building is
approximately 470,000 square feet,which is about the size of eight football fields in area.About 700 scientists and
researchers will occupy the high-tech building.
Construction on the new facility began in August of 2013.The building is LEED sustainability certified and incorporates more
than 100 3M products.
Ashish Khandpur,3M senior vice president of R&D and chief technology officer, led the state politicians on tours of the
research labs and office areas.
Khandpur explained that this new facility implements a more open layout,which will foster 3M's collaborative atmosphere
between scientists and researchers.
The tour included stops in adhesives and abrasives,films,dental technology,and a department where safety equipment is
designed for utility workers and heavy equipment operators,such as Iron Range workers.
The event also included an announcement from 3M CEO Inge Thulin regarding a partnership between 3M and the Nobel
Organization.While Fyrenius and Thulin were vague on the specifics of the partnership,they said it would be a great source
for inspiration and a way to organize collaborative events globally.
"Don't think about it like Minnesota 3M, Nobel Stockholm. Don't think about it like that,”said Thulin. He said instead, people
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3/16/2016 3M celebrates opening new R&D lab I Lillie Suburban Newspapers-LillieNews.com
should think of the partnership globally and how 3M and its employees can inspire around the world.
After the tours,the ribbon-cutting ceremony included remarks from some of the attendees.
"Your astounding success has been our success," Dayton said. He expressed gratitude that 3M has kept the"brainpower
state of Minnesota"as its home.
McCollum added to the sentiments about 3M's deep Minnesota roots and shared her childhood memories of seeing 3M's
tallest building's office lights form a Christmas tree every holiday season,a tradition that continues every December.
Klobuchar told the crowd,"This is an incredible tour de force of bipartisan legislative support for 3M and the place where all
this magic happens."
She added,"3M didn'tjust invest in this building here. 3M invested in imagination and a shared future,and we are so proud
to be a part of it."
Marjorie Otto can be reached at 651-748-7816 or at eastside&lillienews.com. Follow her on Twitter at QEastSideM Otto.
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