3M and M.C. Gill Announce Agreement
ST. PAUL, Minn. – May 23, 2011 – 3M and M.C. Gill Corporation announce the signing of a mutual commercialization and supply agreement that allows M.C. Gill to purchase 3M™ Matrix Resin for use in commercial and military aerospace interior applications. The resulting composite applications are expected to improve M.C. Gill’s product offerings in terms of weight reduction and strength to weight ratios.
“Early in the development of our matrix resin, we envisioned the possibilities it would unlock in the aerospace interiors market, but we had to find the right company to represent our technology in that arena,” said Vic Genco, General Manager for the 3M Engineered Products and Materials Department. “We’re thrilled about the new relationship with M.C. Gill, which has a tremendous reputation in these industries.”
M.C. Gill high-performance composites are used as liners in air freighters and baggage compartments. Additionally, M.C. Gill floor panels and interior panels are standard OEM and replacement equipment on many aircraft. The addition of 3M Matrix Resin is expected to deliver weight reduction in these composites without compromising strength, leading to improved fuel efficiency and better utilization of storage space.
“3M’s matrix resin is a game-changing technology that will make our market-leading solutions even stronger in industries that are primed for this use of high-performance composite,” said Stephen Gill, President and CEO, M.C. Gill Corporation. “Our companies have a shared vision of product excellence, and together we’re bringing that vision to the aerospace market.”
3M Matrix Resin, a proprietary resin technology, enables the production of stronger, lighter, more durable composites. 3M’s proprietary resin technology makes it possible for manufacturers to avoid the traditional tradeoff between toughness / flexibility and stiffness / hardness; instead, the resin improves performance properties on both ends of the scale.
“With our company’s deep experience in nanotechnology and materials science, our matrix resin is just another one of those great 3M stories,” expanded Genco. “The R&D engines have taken these base technologies – used in various divisions of 3M – and have developed a material that is finding numerous applications across multiple industries.”
The M.C. Gill Corporation agreement adds to the list of markets for which 3M is directly supplying its matrix resin for high performance prepreg. The material is currently being used for applications including fishing, cycling, golf, space, marine, oil and gas, and infrastructure. In addition to supplying the resin to companies like M.C. Gill, 3M has also recently launched its own line of prepregs incorporating the matrix resin for sale into the sports and recreation market.
For more information about new 3M™ Matrix Resin 3831, call 800-362-3550 or visit www.3M.com/matrixresin. This product is offered by 3M Engineered Products and Solutions, a department within 3M Industrial Adhesives and Tapes Division.