3M Alexandria was established in 1967 and operated that first year from a 3,000 sq ft leased space while our current site was under construction. Over the years there have been five major additions to the facility, expanding the total area of our production, warehouse, and office spaces to more than 300,000 sq ft. The plant is part of 3M Abrasive Systems Division and manufactures more than 20,000 abrasive products that are available in many different shapes, sizes and product constructions.
 
While 3M offers a wide variety of sandpaper products that are commonly found in our homes, the abrasives made at the Alexandria plant are primarily sold for industrial use. Our customers’ businesses are typically related to metal working, woodworking or automotive industries, and they use our products as an abrasive belt, disc, or roll. While the specific use for our products varies by customer, common uses include sanding, grinding, deburring, blending, finishing and polishing applications.
 
3M is a science-based technology company, and the innovations made to our abrasive products during the past 20 years have made us a global leader in coated abrasives. Our combination of backings, resin systems, and precision shaped mineral grains result in high-performance products that meet a wide range of requirements on the surfaces in which they’re used. Two examples of the products made at 3M Alexandria include Fibre and Flap Discs, which are used for weld removal, grinding, and blending of metal surfaces. These products are designed to quickly cut and remove metal and are the top choice for customers who need large amounts of metal to be removed from their work surfaces. On the other end of the spectrum, 3M Alexandria also manufactures a brand of abrasives called Trizact^TM.  Trizact abrasives are available on cloth, film and foam backings, and are used to provide a very fine, consistent finish for automotive and metal polishing applications used by our customers.
 
What began as a cloth treating and converting facility more than 50 years ago, has become an advanced factory with state-of-the-art coating, laser converting, and robotic material handling & packaging equipment located throughout the site. While 3M Company has more 70 manufacturing sites in the US and more than 90,000 employees globally, the 400 salaried & hourly employees at 3M Alexandria are closely knit and have a family-like atmosphere at the plant. At 3M Alexandria we are proud of our employees, the contributions we’ve been able to deliver to 3M and our customers, and we’re especially grateful and proud to be part of the Alexandria community.

Contact: 
Todd L. Peterson,  Value Stream Manager 
3M Abrasives Systems Division
3M Alexandria, 2115 S. Broadway, Alexandria, MN 56308
Office: 320 759 0277  Mobile: 937 824 0266
tlpeterson@mmm.com