Managers at 3M confirm plant's staying open

Nevada Daily Mail

It's something that seems to come around a couple of times a year. Like Jason from the "Friday the 13th" movies, rumors about the future of Nevada's 3M plant never seem to die. The latest rumor that 3M is leaving Nevada appears to be false and the plant is actually expanding, but that doesn't stop the tongues wagging.

"That's not the case, there's absolutely no truth to that rumor," Jackie Berry, 3M public relations in St. Paul, Minn., said.

"This rumor seems to come up every six months or so," plant manager David Clauss said. "It isn't true; we're doing very well."

Clauss went further, saying that the plant was not only keeping the workers it has but hiring new ones.

"The plant is seeing the strongest growth in six years," Clauss said. "We're expanding the plant facilities and hiring new employees."

Clauss reiterated the fact the plant was in no danger of closing.

"There are no plans to close the plant," Clauss said.

The 3M facility in Nevada, Mo., produces a wide array of products, including decorative and specialty films, for the global graphics industry. According to the EPA, which named the Nevada 3M plant a Performance Track awardee, 3M Nevada is showing impressive progress towards its commitments to reducing energy use, solid waste, and toxic emissions to the air.

3M (Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing) began in Two Harbors, Minn., in 1902, by mining an abrasive, but soon moved to Duluth, Minn., where it changed focus and began manufacturing sandpaper. In 1910 the company moved to St. Paul, Minn., which is still the company headquarters.

3M is a highly diversified manufacturer whose creations include masking tape, Scotch Magic Tape, Scotchguard Fabric Protector and Post-it Notes. It also markets computer based projection, medical devices, reflective materials, specialty chemicals and major automotive parts.

According to Forbes, a financial magazine, the company recently announced record first-quarter profits of $889 million dollars or $1.17 per share. In the article 3M chief executive officer George W. Buckley expressed confidence that the company would continue to perform well through the rest of the year.

"This was an outstanding quarter for 3M," Buckley said. "Looking ahead, we expect continued strong sales and earnings growth through the rest of 2006."