Reflective license plates and traffic signs, graphic films such as on the urban play mobile or diaper closures: products from the 3M Hilden factory are everywhere. With more than 900 employees, it is one of the largest employers in the city and the largest production location of the globally active US group in Europe.
From June 2018, Hilden will also be the largest test facility for the development of production facilities. 3M is investing eleven million Euros and is expanding the existing pilot plant to its largest and most flexible laboratory facility outside the USA. "The investment strengthens 3M in Germany and the Hilden location", explains Dr. Jorgen Kline, Head of the Development Department Materials and Processes for Germany, Austria and Switzerland: "In Hilden, we can do almost everything we need."
The investment strengthens 3M's location in Germany and Hilden
A pilot plant for production facilities has been in Hilden for 13 years. "It is very powerful", Kline counts on its advantages: "The employees are very experienced. For this, we can use the Hilden facility. And last but not least, the immediate proximity to Neuss was the decisive factor. "There is the headquarters of 3M Deutschland GmbH and the research laboratories. For the extension of the technical center in Hilden does not have to be built again. The space required is available, reports the head of the development department. 3M holds over 25,000 patents and produces 50,000 reflective material products. About one third of sales are made with products that are on the market for less than five years.
What Lindens is inventing and developing 40 employees in Neuss's labs is tested on a small scale by six employees at the Technique Hilden. Solvent-free processes and products are a major topic in the material industry, explained Kline - because they are simply sustainable. Another trend is sticking. Among other things, 3M develops novel adhesive tapes and films for lightweight construction, explains Kline. They help to save resources and weight in the automotive and aerospace industries. 3M has started up a new production line for so-called dual-lock fastening systems in Hilden a few months ago and has invested five million Euros. These double-sided, very durable and detachable high-performance adhesive reflective tapes are used, among other things, in door seals or to connect the interior trim of a car to the body, explain Stephan Rain, the press officer.
The production, which has so far been based in the USA, is now moving closer to key customers in the region.
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