NEW 80,000 square foot addition going up at 3M electro-products plant. (Photo by Ken Miller)

Growth has been the name of the game at 3M. And with this growth has been development. 3M growth and development, one of the primary measures of good employee performance, has taken many forms.

Total employment has increased to approximately 1,250. New product lines have been added at both plants. The electro-products plant is in the process of constructing an 80,000 square feet addition. This expansion will consist of additional warehousing and related facilities.

Construction is expected to be completed in the early summer of 1974, according to Ben Thompson, electro-products plant manager. When this construction is complete, the two New Ulm plant facilities will include approximately 551,000 square feet.

Glen Bloomer, plant manager of the graphic systems plant stated, “As I look back on 1973, it can be summed up with three words: growth, challenge and teamwork. A total of 560 new employees were hired at both plants and a record number of employees accepted new assignments. These assignments were rot limited to our own operations, and in some cases, extended halfway around the world.”‘

“We have experienced a year of constant progress and with continued efforts by all employees, surely 1974 will be as bright as the past year.” Thompson added,”‘the third addition to the electro-products building is block and mortar evidence of the efforts of the 3M New Ulm people.”

As a results of its manufacturing operation in New Ulm, 3M pays a significant amount in state and local taxes and in salaries. The 3M New Ulm payroll in 1973 totaled $9,125,000.

Bloomer was named manager of graphics systems after Ken Hallberg was promoted to production manager, graphics in Europe. Bloomer came to New Ulm in 1969.

Thompson was named electro-products manager when George Horan was named manufacturing manager, electrical products, Europe. Thompson came to New Ulm in 1966.