The 3M plant in Hutchinson, Minnesota, has been in operation for 75 years.  

The plant opened its doors in February of 1947 with 10 employees. Today there are 1,600 working at the plant.  

3M Hutchinson makes a variety of well-known 3M products, including adhesives, films and tape – lots of tape. In fact, the plant makes over 11 million miles of tape per year – that’s enough to travel from the earth to the moon and back 24 times. 

Here’s a look at some of the milestones over the plant’s 75 years:  

1947 

Business leaders from Hutchinson, Minnesota, travelled to St. Paul in search of new opportunities for an abandoned 10,000 square foot hemp rope plant in their hometown. Their timing was perfect for 3M, whose leaders were looking for a new manufacturing site for the company’s line of tapes. On the first day of operation, 3M Hutchinson processed 10,000 rolls of 3/4” Scotch™ Brand transparent tape. 

1952 

After a fire in 1951 destroyed a warehouse, 3M completed a 64,000 square foot addition. The number of employees had grown to just over 300.  

1960 

Another major construction project added a 40,000 square foot addition to allow for expansion of the plant’s production areas. A 5,000 square foot addition also expanded the plant’s office space.  

1979 

The 1960s and 70s were a time of growth for the Hutchinson plant. Numerous building additions were completed. By the late-1970s, the site covered about 90 acres.

2005 

The plant’s north and south facilities are physically linked into one continuous building, creating a 1.4 million square foot facility.  

2022 

The employees of 3M Hutchinson mark the plant’s 75th anniversary with 3,000 members of the community during an open house celebration at the facility.