3M Health Care

What 3M Health Care does

3M Health Care was a major business segment of 3M Company (NYSE: MMM), providing medical, dental, and orthodontic solutions, health information systems, food safety, and drug delivery technologies. Its product portfolio spanned advanced wound care (including chronic wound and pressure ulcer management), medical devices, surgical products, oral care, and healthcare IT, with the company listed as a key player in the $14.95B wound cleanser market alongside Smith & Nephew, ConvaTec, B. Braun, Coloplast, Medline, and Johnson & Johnson. Underlying technologies leveraged 3M's broader 13+ core technology platforms including adhesives, ceramics, films, filtering, genomics, healthcare IT, industrial microbiology, nanomaterials, non-wovens, optics, and sealants.

The business model combined hardware sales of medical and surgical supplies into healthcare providers and medical facilities with broader B2B distribution through authorized distributors, field sales representatives for enterprise accounts, and direct-to-consumer e-commerce via 3M.com. Pricing is quote-based for enterprise customers with volume discounts through authorized distributors; most B2B healthcare pricing is not publicly disclosed. The customer base is diversified across healthcare providers (addressing chronic wound and pressure injury challenges affecting 8.5% of adult patients), medical facilities, manufacturing/industrial customers, and consumer markets.

In April 2024, 3M completed the spin-off of its Health Care division as Solventum, a separate independent company headquartered in Eagan, Minnesota. The carve-out is executing a hub consolidation at a former Blue Cross Blue Shield site, has appointed a Global Chief Medical Officer (Sandeep Wadhwa) to anchor clinical strategy, and operates within ISO 9001, NSF/ANSI 61, IAPMO, and UL certified frameworks for regulated product lines.

Name

3M Health Care

Legal name

3M Health Care

Website

https://3m.com

Company type

Public

Founded year

1902

Operating status

Acquired

Headcount range

5,001–10,000 employees

Short description

3M Health Care (now Solventum following its 2024 spin-off from 3M Company) provides medical, dental, wound care, surgical, and healthcare IT solutions to hospitals, clinics, and medical facilities worldwide.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Medical Supplies and Devices

NAICS

Surgical and Medical Instrument Manufacturing (339112), Dental Equipment and Supplies Manufacturing (339114), Medical Equipment and Supplies Manufacturing (3391), Medical, Dental, and Hospital Equipment and Supplies Merchant Wholesalers (423450)

SIC

Surgical & Medical Instruments & Apparatus (3841), Dental Equipment & Supplies (3843), Wholesale-Medical, Dental & Hospital Equipment & Supplies (5047)

akta.pro primary industry

First Aid & Wound Care (Bandages, Dressings, Antiseptics, Burn Care) (CRADAMAB)

akta.pro secondary industry

Medical & Healthcare Hygiene Disposables (Patient Wipes, Underpads) (IMAMAGAF)

Keywords

• Medical supplies
• Wound care products
• Surgical products
• Health information systems
• Dental and orthodontic solutions

Headquarters

HQ city

Saint Paul

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Healthcare Products: 3M Healthcare division provides medical supplies, surgical products, and healthcare IT solutions including wound care, oral care, and medical device products
2. Industrial and Safety Products: 3M sells industrial abrasives, adhesives, tapes, safety equipment, and infrastructure products to manufacturing, construction, and healthcare facilities
3. Consumer Products: Direct-to-consumer sales through 3M.com and retail channels including office supplies, home improvement products, and personal protective equipment

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

3M Health Care supplies medical, dental and orthodontic solutions, advanced wound care, surgical products, medical devices, health information systems, food safety, and drug delivery systems to hospitals, clinics, and medical practices. It also offers personal health care products to consumers. The business is supported by proprietary material science platforms including adhesives, non-woven materials, filtration, and healthcare IT.

Product overview

3M Health Care (now Solventum as of 2024) offers a diversified portfolio of healthcare and technology products. The 3M company overall provides graphic films (including Scotchcal™, Envision™, Print Wrap Film, and Scotchlite™ reflective films), electrical construction and maintenance solutions, communications infrastructure materials for 5G networks, infrastructure asset management tools, and roofing granules. In the healthcare sector, 3M offers medical products and personal health care solutions. The product portfolio spans multiple industries including healthcare, manufacturing, transportation, electronics, and construction, with flagship brands like Scotchgard™ for roofing protection and Comply™ adhesive technology for graphic films.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Medical Products Medical supplies and equipment for healthcare applications, including wound care, surgical products, and medical devices sold to hospitals, clinics, and medical practices.
• Personal Health Care Personal health care products marketed to individual consumers for home and personal use.

Quantifiable outcome

• 3M Healthcare listed as key player in wound cleanser market valued at $14.95 billion in 2025

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• ISO (International Organization for Standardization)coreTechnology or Integration3M Corrosion Protection Products and 3M Water Infrastructure maintain ISO 9001 quality management certification, demonstrating commitment to product quality and continuous improvement. ISO 9001 registration applies to processes that create and control products and services.
• NSF InternationalcoreTechnology or Integration3M Water Infrastructure products are certified through NSF/ANSI 61 for drinking water system components, ensuring safety standards for products in contact with potable water.
• IAPMO (International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials)coreTechnology or Integration3M Water Infrastructure and Electrical Markets Division work with IAPMO for product certification and compliance with plumbing and mechanical codes.
• UL (Underwriters Laboratories)coreTechnology or Integration3M products carry UL certification for electrical safety, with Electrical Markets Division working closely with UL on governing bodies related to the markets they serve.
• Center for Underground Infrastructure Research and Education (CUIRE) at University of Texas at ArlingtonminorStrategic or Co-development Partner3M Water Infrastructure collaborates with CUIRE at UT Arlington on research and education initiatives for underground infrastructure.
• Louisiana Tech University Trenchless Technology CenterminorStrategic or Co-development Partner3M Water Infrastructure collaborates with Louisiana Tech University's Trenchless Technology Center for water infrastructure research and development.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Smith & Nephew: Global medical device company with a strong advanced wound care franchise; named alongside 3M as a key player in the wound cleanser market with overlapping wound management and surgical product lines.
• Coloplast: Danish medical company focused on ostomy, continence, wound care, and interventional urology; competes with 3M Health Care in wound cleansers and surgical appliances for chronic care.
• B. Braun: Global medical and pharmaceutical device company with significant wound care, infusion therapy, and surgical products; competes with 3M in hospitals and clinical settings worldwide.
• ConvaTec: Specializes in wound therapeutics, ostomy care, continence care, and infusion devices; competes directly with 3M in advanced wound dressings and chronic wound management.
• Medline: Large private manufacturer and distributor of medical supplies and clinical solutions; competes with 3M Health Care across wound care, exam gloves, drapes, and other hospital consumables.
• Solventum: Solventum is the independent company created from the April 2024 spin-off of 3M's Health Care business; it is the same operating entity as 3M Health Care post-carve-out and is the most direct comparand.
• Mölnlycke Health Care: Swedish specialist in wound care and surgical solutions including Mepilex and Mepitel dressings; direct advanced wound care competitor to 3M Health Care.

Broad incumbents

• Baxter International: Diversified medical products company spanning medication delivery, surgical solutions, and patient care; overlaps with 3M Health Care in hospital supplies and drug delivery systems.
• Cardinal Health: Healthcare services and medical product distributor with significant medical and surgical product lines; comparable to 3M in scale of hospital distribution and breadth of medical consumables.
• Johnson & Johnson MedTech: Diversified medical device and consumer health giant with wound care (Ethicon, Band-Aid brand) and broad surgical franchises; overlaps with 3M Health Care in wound management and surgical products.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about 3M Health Care