3M Pursues Paint-less Cars with New Partnership
By John D. Stoll
3M Co (MMM.N) has signed a five-year commercial pact with a relatively new stainless steel and aluminum distributor to create a stable of so-called disruptive products, including technology that could eliminate the need for paint on automobiles.
The partnership, being announced on Monday with Chicago-based Shale-Inland, is the latest in a consistent string of acquisitions and joint-ventures that 3M has assembled in pursuit of reaching $50 billion in revenue. The Minneapolis diversified conglomerate wants to grow twice as fast as its fastest-growing competitors.