3M opened the doors of its Innovation Center to showcase how the company combines advanced manufacturing, technological innovation, and consumer insights into its product portfolio.
With more than 78 years of history in Mexico, Javier Lostao, Business Director of Consumer Group Mexico, emphasized that 3M is a diversified company whose main objective is innovation, and that 60% of the company’s consumer business is produced in Mexican plants.
“Mexico is not just a manufacturing center, it’s a technological hub of global importance,” he emphasized.
3M is a global company dedicated to the science of everyday life, founded more than 120 years ago in the United States. The company has grown into a diversified conglomerate operating in sectors such as transportation and electronics, industrial safety, healthcare, and consumer products , with a portfolio that includes more than 60,000 products, many of which are present in everyday life, from adhesive tapes, Post-it notes, and Scotch-Brite fibers.
In this sense, with a presence in San Luis Potosí, Ciudad Juárez and Ensenada , 3M plants supply both the local market and various countries in America.
The nearshoring strategy has strengthened the flexibility and efficiency of these operations, integrating manufacturing with innovation to quickly respond to the needs of different markets.
Examples of this capability range from everyday products such as Scotch-Brite pads, lint rollers and Post-it notes to high-tech developments applied in the automotive, aerospace and infrastructure sectors.
“What we produce in Mexico doesn’t stay only here; we export around 60% of the consumer products manufactured in our plants,” Lostao explained.
One of the Innovation Center’s focuses is understanding and adapting to the habits of Mexican and Latin American consumers . Thus, global technologies are adapted to local needs, from sponges designed to remove grease from traditional pots to more affordable versions of premium products with the goal of reaching every home.
The company also highlighted its efforts in the circular economy and sustainability , reincorporating between 5% and 40% of production waste into new processes, and promoting the transition to recycled packaging and less plastic use.
In terms of logistics, the combination of advanced manufacturing and automated processes has allowed for reduced production, packaging, and distribution times, increasing supply efficiency both in Mexico and abroad.
3M’s strategy also relies on omnichannel campaigns , integrating point-of-sale presence with digital and e-commerce platforms to respond to new consumer purchasing behaviors.
“We want to be in every home in Mexico, offering solutions that make life easier, but always with innovation, quality, and environmental responsibility,” Lostao emphasized.
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