(Tina Turner, the Publicity Manager of 3M, is having an interview with Paul Smith, a journalist from Business Today. They are talking about the history of the company and its development. ) 

场景：公关部经理办公室    人物：Tina、Paul Smith

Tina: Nice to meet you, Mr Smith.

Paul: Nice to meet you, too.

Tina: Would you like some coffee?

Paul: Yes. Black, if you have it.

Tina: Sure, you can just help yourself.

Paul: Oh, thank you.

Paul: Ms Turner, I know that the 3M brand is recognized and trusted around the globe. Nexcare™, Post-it®, Scotch®, Scotch-Brite®, and the like are popular among the public. Take Post-it® notes for example, students and office clerks use them quite often.

Tina: Ahhha, that’s one of our best-known products, it was invented in 1980.

Paul: Wow, I see. Ms Turner, could you tell me why your company was called 3M, as its name sounds so unique?

Tina: Sure. When our company was founded, it was named as Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company. There are three words beginning with letter M, as you may find. So, later the company was renamed as 3M. Simple and memorable, right?

Paul: Yes, and very impressive too! Ms Turner, would you mind telling me when 3M was founded? And what did it produce then?  

Tina: Certainly. 3M was founded in 1902 at the Lake Superior town of Two Harbors, Minnesota. At the beginning, the company was small, and the business of the company only mined on ore. Because the deposits proved to be of little value, they began manufacturing sandpaper products. This is the beginning of 3M. In 1910, the company moved to Maplewood, Minnesota, which is where our current headquarters are.

Paul: OK, I see. I suppose there were some milestone events of the company?

Tina: Sure. In the early 1920s, 3M developed the world's first waterproof sandpaper, another major milestone occurred in 1925 when masking tape was invented. Although 3M had been focusing on industrial products from the start, masking tape led to the development of a long line of consumer adhesive tape products. It also marked a first initiative step towards product diversification, and set the stage for 3M's movement into the consumer market.

Paul: Wow, those are big events!

Tina: Yeah, the 3M Post-it note removable adhesive notepads that you’ve just mentioned, was invented in 1980, and is one of 3M's best-known products.

Paul: Fine. Could you please tell me what products 3M currently manufacture exactly?

Tina: Sure. We produce more than 55,000 products, including adhesives, abrasives, laminates, passive fire protection, dental products, electronic materials, medical products, car-care products, electronic circuits, and optical films and so on, so on.

Paul: How impressive! As people know, 3M is a multinational conglomerate corporation. And in how many countries does 3M operate?

Tina: 3M has operations in more than 65 countries including 29 international companies with manufacturing operations and 35 companies with laboratories. Customers can purchase 3M products through distributors and retailers in more than 200 countries, and they can also purchase the products online directly from the company.

Paul: That’s amazing. So, Ms Turner, 3M must have got a large number of workforce.

Tina: Yes, that’s right. 3M employs 88,000 people worldwide.

Paul: Wow, that’s great. In your opinion, what makes 3M hold a successful and pioneering position in the world for such a long time?

Tina: 3M is an innovative company that never stops inventing. It has the culture of creative collaboration that inspires a never-ending stream of powerful technologies that make life better. Its inspiration comes from listening to customers and creating new products and solutions for the challenges and opportunities you face. Because we believe that when our customers succeed, we all succeed.  

Paul: That’s a wonderful idea. And I believe that, with such innovative spirits, 3M would surely invent more nice gadgets. Ms Turner, thank you for your talk.

Tina: My pleasure. Goodbye, Mr Smith.

Paul: Goodbye, Ms Turner.