History of 3M New Zealand

HISTORY
3M began doing business in New Zealand through a local agent in 1953 and in 1956 officially opened a branch office of 3M Australia Pty Ltd in Auckland city. There were just 4 employees in those early days, operating a business based on sales of imported finished rolls of Scotch brand pressure sensitive adhesive tapes and Thermo-Fax brand copying machines.

Severe import restrictions imposed by the government late in 1957 led to a decision being made to start up a local manufacturing operation the following year, which necessitated a shift from the original office to a small leased building in the Penrose industrial area. At first, local manufacturing was limited to converting imported tape jumbos into finished rolls and the production of Underseal brand automotive underbody protective coating.

By 1962 there was sufficient confidence in the growth potential of 3M’s business in New Zealand to justify the purchase of an 11 acre site in the Wairau Valley of Auckland’s North Shore and the building of 20,000 square feet of office, manufacturing and warehouse facilities. This move enabled production activities to expand into tape coating and abrasive disc making by 1967 and by then employee headcount had risen to 80. Business and the organization continued to grow, new buildings increased the total complex to 56,000 square feet, and by 1973 180 people were employed. In that year 3M New Zealand Ltd became a fully autonomous subsidiary.

Further building expansion and the employment of an additional 40 people were necessary over the next two decades to cope with growing sales of a highly diversified range of 3M products, the acquisition of 4 companies (Microfilm Services Ltd, Riker Laboratories Ltd, NZ Posters Ltd and Transport Publicity Ltd) and new production operations for Scotchbrite brand cleaning and finishing materials, coated abrasive sheeting and aluminium foil tape - the first New Zealand made product to be exported in significant quantity.

With the completion of a modern, 24,000 square feet distribution centre in 1988, the Auckland facilities now comprise approximately 94,000 square feet of buildings, together with leased sales offices in Wellington and Christchurch.

PRESENT
3M New Zealand today employs approximately 220 employees in all business fields - technical, accounting, sales, marketing, production and many other specialist roles. Our export business in specialty foil tape now extends to many 3M subsidiaries and the significant growth of this business has seen us as a finalist for three years in the New Zealand Export Awards. Recognition by the International Standards Organisation as conforming to ISO 9001-2000 quality management system and registered in ISO 14001 Environmental Management. 3M New Zealand’s strong local presence, efficiency through continuous improvement, strong presence in the industrial, commercial, healthcare and consumer markets, combined with a continuous flow of new products, has the company well positioned for sustainable growth in the future.

Our tradition of innovation has become part of the company’s vision and self-image. We are always producing solutions in response to a specific customer need because we have always done business at 3M in close cooperation with our customers. We have the ability to serve our customers locally with the diversified breadth of our product line so if you have a business need that requires a solution, why not give us a call.