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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2014 06-26 April 23: Scratch a Tesla, you'll find 3M STAR TRIBUNE z Staerrlbune April 23: Scratch a Tesla, you'll find 3M 4 Article by:Dee DePass Star Tribune - - Apn123,2014-11.20 AM JUN 2'6 2014 3M Co.,maker of all things Post-it notes,Scotch tape and a boatload of everything else,also happens to have a piece of a car • company creating a lot of buzz. Maplewood-based 3M celebrated its burgeoning partnership with electric caretaker Testa Motors on Tuesday as it hosted an event 3M employees looked at the Testa S electric car as part of the 3M celebration of Earth Day with displays of other sustainable to showcase an assortment of energy-saving technologies that 3M products including Noses Enginered Fluids,LED lighting and 3M window films.on 4/22114 et 3M headquarters in drew honors from the U.S.Environmental Protection Agency, Maplewood.3M also received an award from the EPA for its including LED light bulbs and window films. work in energy efficiency.)Bruce B&sping,SWr Tribune bbispingt§stadn W ine.com But the sparkling-white 2014 Tesla Model S sedan clearly took Bruce Bispng•bblspinegstarlrihune.com, center stage,as gawkers posed for photos,hopped behind the • wheel,pushed buttons,kicked tires and searched fruitlessly for a motor that was completely hidden.The more startling discovery, however,was that 3M makes more than a dozen products for the .14 41111014444 upscale,all-electric car,everything from lining adhesives and fasteners to a new kind of non-lead wheel weight that keeps tires balanced. "We feel it's been a game-changer in the fire industry,and Testa has embraced that.They are one of the first of three original equipment[auto]manufacturers to embrace it,"said Tracy Termini, 3M's account manager for Testa. A day to celebrele.3M e; yeas._top,locked at the Testa S 3M,which also celebrated Earth Day on Tuesday,has worked with electric car as part of the 3M relebrahon or Earth Dayy,which Tesla since at least 2008,but its relationship has blossomed over ieaturad displays of other suetainahle 3M trrodods.Above, P 3M ompioinco Oredsis Taylor held ova of Iha LED lights the years and culminated in the Tesla Model S.In many cases,3M "seem ed oy 3M enwioyaes as part of the 3Mgivas-Team Afiica and New Vsion p igrem,wMle sohware engineer Elise products replaced traditional steel nuts and bolts that are common Collins got rota the cockpit of the 2014 Tasks Motei S sedan in steel cars.Because the Testa is made of aluminum,3M created Swot,Sloping•bnispinggslandbune,ront a host of lightweight adhesives,Thinsulate sound proofing materials and fabric fasteners that could work with Tesla's body - - without adding pounds. That helped Tesla promise customers up to 285 miles of driving on one battery charge,provided temperatures were above freezing, said Gayle Schueller,3M vice president of global sustainability. The Tesla is just one example of 3M's sustainability efforts, Schueller said,noting that 3M cut 2 million tons of waste,from its global plants and operations between 2000 and 2012.The reduction,which is part of 3M's Pollution Prevention Pays program, includes greenhouse gases,water and raw materials,Schueller said.3M has worked to share its waste-saving practices with partners like Tesla,she said. To demonstrate how the non-lead wheel-weight technology works, 3M's Fred Koerschner,rolled a large tire rim into a conference room for a visitor to see. "This is the rim for the Testa,"said Koerschner,who heads global marketing operations for 3M's automotive division."Usually whenever you get new tires on your car,they have to rebalance ! the wheels and use clip-on lead weights.That requires storage • costs...and if they come loose,that lead is in the environment." Fred Koerschner,3M Global Marketing Operations Automotive Division.explained how the 3M wheel weights But he said 3M worked with its customers to develop a lead-free balancing tape is used on the wheels of Testa's and other car makes.3M employees looked at the Testa S electric car es metal-alloy tape that is attached with a high-performance adhesive. pan of the 3M a+btmdion ut Earth Day with displays of olhor sustaightin 3M 3M window NS 4/2/14p at tM Fluids, The company puts it inside the wheel well so it's less likely to come 'ED lighting and 3M wirxlew Airs,on 4/22n4 at 3M headquarters in Maplewood.3M also received an award from off. the EPA for its work or energy efficiency.Bruce&spina/Star Tribune bhispingestarintxme.con,Fred Koerschner/source. "We introduced the tape five years ago for the aftermarket auto Bruce Blspng•bb spingtstadtnbune.corn [shops].But today,we are slowly getting added to automakers' factories,"Koerschner said.General Motors and BMW are now ,. customers in addition to Tesla v - - Determined to shine the spotlight on more than just cars,18 3M rtt._"^+ employees gathered in the middle of the display hall to assemble �T 100 solar-powered lights and battery kits."These LED light kits will go to Ethiopia,"said 3M manufacturing engineer Oredola Taylor. "They will go to 100 students who go to school every day but who ,. live in two rural villages with no electricity.They either use ' kerosene or that's it,they just go to bed." With the 3M light kits,the students will recharge the small battery Elise Collins,3M soliwere engineer sat in the Testa S electric pack using the sun.At night,they can use the battery to turn on car as pert of the 3M celebration of Earth Day with displays of their light to do homework or they can recharge their cellphones. other ing n products 33iincluding ines,on 4ri�4 at 3M Each light,which consists of a small solar board fastened with 33 headouarters in M,a.lewoof.3M also received an award Born the EPA for iv work in energy ethaency.I Bnrce Bisping!Ster LED lights,emits five hours of light per charge that is equal to a Tribune Wxsping§stertnbune.com Eliss Colans/source. 100-Watt incandescent bulb. Bruce Btspng•bbispingrgistertribune.cart, 3M,which is partnering with the nonprofit New Vision,made the solar reflective film as well as the LED lights. , It's just one initiative designed to get employees involved in addressing the world's energy problems,said 3M's corporate .t energy manager,Steve Schultz."We encourage employees to sign {J 1 up for a pledge drive with Energy Star.They can change to energy-efficient light bulbs,buy a more efficient appliance,ride a bike to work"or help put together light kits for Ethiopia."About 20 L percent of the world's population has no lights." I 3M employees looked at the Teale 5 eleotnc ear es pert of the 3M celebration of Earth Day with displays of other sustainable 3M products. Dee DePass•612-673-7725 Bruce Blame•bbspinq(rilslartnb une.conn.