3M Technologies Receive Top Honors at 2015 Edison Awards

ST. PAUL, Minn.

3M, a science-based company that inspires creative collaboration, announced today that two of its powerful technologies have been selected to receive a 2015 Edison Award — a prestigious global honors program highlighting excellence in creative innovation. The 3M™ True Definition Scanner from 3M ESPE Dental earned a silver Edison Award in the Science and Health category, and the 3M™ Petrifilm™ Rapid Yeast & Mold Count Plate from 3M Food Safety received a bronze Edison Award in the Research & Education category.

More than 3,000 leading business executives comprised of previous winners, academia, and leaders in the fields of product development, design, engineering, science and medicine made up this year’s panel of judges. Winners were chosen based on concept, value, delivery and impact.

Silver Award-Winning 3M True Definition Scanner
R&D minds at 3M are constantly using new sciences to make a better world, and with the 3M True Definition Scanner, they are revolutionizing the consumer’s experience at the dentist. The 3M True Definition Scanner is an intraoral optical impression system that quickly captures a 3D video “impression” of teeth — eliminating the need for traditional dental impressions for various orthodontic and dental procedures like crowns, bridges and braces. This scanner, born of advanced optics and data analysis algorithms, is the most consistently accurate system and has the smallest handpiece on the market, resulting in ease of use for the dentist and comfort for the patient. With secure cloud-based data storage and validated workflows, the system integrates seamlessly to allow access to many treatment options. With the affordable 3M True Definition Scanner, digital impressions are not only fast and easy, but are changing the way dentistry is practiced.

“With new systems in use in more than a dozen countries, the 3M True Definition Scanner is bringing advanced digital oral care and truly accurate results to patients and dentists across the globe,” said David Frazee, vice president of digital, at 3M ESPE Dental. “Recognition from the prestigious Edison Awards is an honor, and validates the commitment to research, development and innovation that is so important at 3M.”

Bronze Award-Winning 3M Petrifilm Rapid Yeast & Mold Count Plate
The 3M Petrifilm Rapid Yeast & Mold Count Plate technology detects the presence of yeasts and molds in food and the environment in as little as 48 hours — days faster than conventional testing methods. This new indicator test greatly improves time-to-result, product quality, freshness and shelf life, breaking the mold on the worldwide standard of Plate technology and offering food processors a simplified and consistent solution for ensuring food safety.

This is the fourth year in a row 3M Food Safety has received an Edison Award. Other technologies previously receiving honors include the 3M™ Petrifilm™ Salmonella Express System, 3M™ Molecular Detection System, and the Aerobic Procedure for Lactic Acid Bacteria with 3M™ Petrifilm™ Aerobic Count Plate.

“3M strives for innovative solutions that are faster, simpler and more accurate, so we’re especially honored to receive this award,” said Eric Amann, global marketing manager for 3M Food Safety. “We desire to protect brands and ensure the safety of our food supply. We are committed to working toward this end.”

About the Edison Awards
The Edison Awards, conducted by the non-profit, 501(c)(3) organization Edison Universe, are sponsored by Ipsos and dedicated to fostering future innovators including projects bridging students to industry. The awards are named after Thomas Alva Edison (1847-1931) whose inventions, new product development methods and innovative achievements literally changed the world, garnered him 1,093 U.S. patents, and made him a household name. For more information about the Edison Awards and its lists of winners, visit www.edisonawards.com.

About 3M
At 3M, we apply science in collaborative ways to improve lives daily. With $32 billion in sales, our 90,000 employees connect with customers all around the world. Learn more about 3M’s creative solutions to the world’s problems at www.3M.com or on Twitter @3M or @3MNewsroom.

3M Food Safety:
Angela Deeney, 651-789-1277
Kohnstamm Communications
angela@kohnstamm.com
or
3M ESPE Dental:
Vanessa de Bruijn, 612-342-9670
Karwoski & Courage Public Relations
v.debruijn@creativepr.com