[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 131 (Tuesday, October 8, 2002)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1783]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             CONGRATULATING 3M FOR 100 YEARS OF INNOVATION

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. LAMAR S. SMITH

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                        Monday, October 7, 2002

  Mr. SMITH of Texas. Mr. Speaker, for the past century 3M has been a 
leader of innovative products. The company's achievements in 
technology, medicine and safety, have improved lives around the world.
  In 1925, a young researcher by the name of Dick Drew, acting on his 
own initiative, developed the Scotch Tape Product line.
  In 1937, the first traffic sign of 3M Scotchlite Reflective Sheeting 
went up in Minneapolis. In addition, the first electrical tape with 
vinyl plastic backing was introduced and Scotch Magnetic Tape (which 
was later designed to use in the first recording of television 
pictures) was introduced.
  Other innovative ideas include Scotch Magic Transparent Tape, Tartan 
Track (the first synthetic running track), and the introduction of Dry 
Silver technology.
  As the decades went by, the success of 3M only increased with the 
discovery of medical x-ray film, fire barrier sealant, and the 
introduction of the 3M Pollution Prevention Pays.
  In 1985, the first successful optical disk for information storage, 
video, and audio reproduction was implemented.
  A few years later, 3M Fibrlok Fiber Optics Splices reduced splicing 
time drastically. And the first commercial automatic book check-out 
systems for libraries, known as the 3M Self-Check Automated Library 
System, was introduced.
  In closing, I commend the employees at 3M's Austin, Texas, facility, 
which is in the new 21st Congressional District. Their work has 
contributed much to America's technological innovations and to Austin's 
economy.

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