As a "full attendee" of the past five China International Import Expo (hereinafter referred to as the "Expo"), 3M, the world's leading diversified technology innovation company, once again appeared in the technology and equipment exhibition area of the 6th CIIE.
3M has a history of 100 years in the field of material research and development, material manufacturing; Today, more than 60,000 products have been launched, serving a variety of market segments. As a diversified technology company that produces thousands of products in a wide variety of products, 3M's products range from household goods to medical products, from transportation and construction to commerce; From education to electronics, communications; From protective masks to wound care products. In China, 3M has established nine manufacturing facilities, and the 3M China R&D Center in Shanghai is one of the four major 3M R&D centers in the world.
Hongyu Ding is 3M's No. 299 employee in China. From joining 3M China in 1993 to being promoted to Senior Vice President and President of 3M China in December 2021, Ding Hongyu has held key positions in 3M's business units in China, the United States, Singapore and other regions. As a 30-year 30-year 3M veteran, Ding believes that innovation and sustainability, as the core elements of each of 3M's business units, will help 3M better meet the needs of the Chinese and global markets.
In an interview with The Economic Observer, Ding Hongyu said, "The development of 3M in the Chinese market, from infrastructure construction to manufacturing, from export to domestic consumption, to high-quality development driven by green environmental protection, the company's development strategy is becoming more and more in line with the Chinese market, and the requirements for innovation, environmental protection and sustainable development are also higher. He believes that with China's goals of "carbon peak" and "carbon neutrality" and the promotion of the concept of sustainable development, 3M is ushering in new opportunities in the Chinese market.
At the 6th CIIE this year, 3M released a number of innovative products using recycled and environmentally friendly materials, in addition to the new 3M™ multi-functional ™ scouring pad made of 100% recycled fiber materials, which is familiar to consumers; 3M™ Post it™ stickers made from 30% recycled paper, etc. A number of new products of the "world premiere" and "China premiere" are also closely related to the needs of the Chinese market.
3M exhibition area of the 6th CIIE
Ding Hongyu said, "Even if it is a new product, new material and new technology introduced from abroad, we will carry out some application development and innovation according to the needs of local customers to ensure that our innovation results can better serve this market." "Following the official opening of 3M's China Structural Adhesive Testing and Experimental Center at the Jinshan plant in Shanghai last year, 3M will continue to increase its investment in the structural adhesive production line at the Jinshan plant in 2023, after the local mass production of 3M Tegaderm™ wound dressings has been achieved on the new production line at 3M's™ Pujiang plant. At present, more local production lines for medical and health products are also under construction, and it is expected to be successfully put into operation in the next two years.
3M hopes to respond faster and better to the innovative product development and production needs of the Chinese market, grasp every development opportunity in the Chinese market, and co-innovate with partners from all walks of life. As Ding Hongyu said, "When we combine material science and innovation culture with the needs of energy conservation, environmental protection, green and sustainable development, the cost of the entire industrial chain can be reduced." This is actually a significant opportunity for 3M as well. ”
Interview:
Shen Jianyuan: In an environment full of uncertainty, how do you view the new opportunities and challenges in the Chinese market?
Ding Hongyu: From the perspective of 3M's development experience in China for nearly 40 years, the Chinese market has always been an ever-changing market. Challenges are there all the time, but I think it's better to spend more time looking at where the opportunities are instead of talking about them.
In 3M's forward-looking trends report released in May this year, three key points were summarized. First, climate change and energy shortages, which are a challenge we face. The second is population ageing, social change and urbanization. Third, the combination of the digital and physical worlds. 3M's future development and investment revolve around these three trends. There will be very good opportunities in these areas in the future, so we will further invest in R&D, manufacturing and localization.
In recent years, 3M has been paying great attention to digitalization, intelligent manufacturing and other fields, and digital equipment and systems have been widely introduced into our factories for automation upgrades. We also help our customers to achieve industrial upgrading through digital technology. For example, some automation solutions for the painting process in the automotive industry. There is also a lot of R&D investment in areas related to personal health, such as wound care and water purification. At this year's CIIE, we will launch a water purification product for the first time in the world.
China's market demand is very diverse and changing very quickly. But no matter how diverse and varied, from 3M's point of view, one thing will not change. That is, no matter how the market changes, we need to be close to the market and maintain close contact with our customers, so as to ensure that our innovations can better serve the market, which is our core competitiveness in China in the long term.
Shen Jianyuan: What other layouts will there be in terms of continuing to strengthen the localization strategy?
Ding Hongyu: 3M is a company focusing on material R&D and manufacturing, and how to use new technologies to promote the innovative application of materials is the direction we consider, such as through the collection and analysis of big data, human-computer interaction, and even AI technology to speed up the R&D cycle and improve efficiency. We have recently invested in a number of application centers in China, such as the 3M Global Bonding Application Experience Center, the 3M China Robot Grinding Laboratory, and the 3M World's First Automotive Materials Science Institute, which can become a platform for 3M to jointly develop new materials and solutions with customers, so as to improve the production capacity of the entire industry chain.
And this is where the advantages of the Chinese market lie. Because some technological innovations are promoted to the world precisely because of the breakthroughs from China. For example, a respiratory protection mask starts from the design process to consider how to maintain performance while low-carbon and environmentally friendly in materials. We also use the concept of sustainable development in the production process to reduce carbon emissions. From design to manufacturing to supplier management, to upstream and downstream integration, this simple product has reduced carbon emissions by more than 2,000 tons in the past two years – equivalent to planting 120,000 trees, or 1,444 acres of forest. Such locally developed products are being rolled out around the world and are used by consumers around the world. This is a good example of China's local R&D capabilities going global.
Shen Jianyuan: Based on 3M's core competitiveness and application platform, which industries or fields will give birth to local innovations from China?
Ding Hongyu: China's major pillar industries are leading in the world. the first consumer electronics (including consumer electronics, home appliances, 5G, etc.), the second transportation (including automobile manufacturing, high-speed rail, commercial transportation vehicles, etc.); There is also the health industry, including medical-related fields, which we will focus on in the future. Of course, every industry has some bright spots. For example, for the rapid development of new energy vehicles in the automobile manufacturing industry in China, we have recently developed some new materials in local laboratories.
The application centers and application laboratories we have established in the local area are all investments in local applications. For example, the power battery box lid sealant developed for the Chinese market for electric vehicle battery packaging was developed in 3M's domestic laboratory. In addition to successfully serving domestic customers, it has also been welcomed by overseas automotive customers. This solution is the result of our cooperation with vehicle manufacturers, battery manufacturers and battery packaging manufacturers, which will lead to innovative technologies and innovative materials. It's also a great example of 3M's global collaboration and innovation model. Another material used for waterproof needs of high-end mobile phones is also developed by 3M in a local laboratory and produced at the Jinshan factory, and has been cooperated with a well-known domestic mobile phone brand.
Of course, whether it is local R&D or local application, it is inseparable from our close cooperation with local customers and our close understanding of the local market. And of course, let's not forget that the most fundamental cornerstone of 3M, our ability to innovate, our ability to always be curious, is one of the cornerstones that has been able to grow us to where we are today over the past 100 years. On this basis, we must grasp the cutting-edge technologies in the field of digitalization, intelligence and automation as soon as possible, and combine them with the concept of sustainable development. That's what I hope our local teams will focus more on.
Shen Jianyuan: In the past five years, 3M has unveiled a number of products that have made their world debut or China's first debut at the CIIE every year.
Ding Hongyu: A very important reason why 3M is a "full-time student" at the CIIE is that we have always regarded the CIIE as an opportunity to fully demonstrate our strength. In the past five years, many exhibits at the CIIE have successively become some of 3M's flagship products in China. 3M has "introduced" a number of innovative products through the debut platform of the Expo, effectively meeting the diverse needs of local customers.
The new products of this year's CIIE include "introduced" products, such as the 3M Cubitron™ 3 grinding technology, which has ushered in a breakthrough upgrade compared with the previous generation, and the fiber abrasive disc equipped with this revolutionary technology will be unveiled during this year's CIIE; There are also more products from the local source, produced locally, and facing the world, hoping to "go global" with the help of the CIIE platform, such as the innovative adjustable dual-outlet commercial water purifier 3M™ ScaleGard HFRO-F1220 series from China will make its world premiere at the CIIE. In addition, 3M's water purification product with the largest flux, the 3M P2200M™ series 900GPD water purifier, was also unveiled at this year's CIIE.
Relying on the strong platform effect and spillover effect of the CIIE, 3M hopes to continuously introduce more sustainable and high-quality innovations to the Chinese market in the future, and at the same time let more "Chinese innovations" go to the world and benefit the world.
Shen Jianyuan/text