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Richard Drew, 3M's legendary inventor of masking and clear cellophane tapes, was posthumously inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame in Akron, OH, on May 4.
Drew was hired by 3M as a lab technician m 1921, when the company was mainly a sandpaper manufacturer. He overcame myriad problems by experimenting with a variety of substances until he succeeded in 1925, creating a masking-tape adhesive for automobile painting that could be safely removed without damaging the surface it covered. In 1928, he invented the first transparent tape - the precursor to an entire family of Scotch brand tapes.
Those events marked the beginning of 3M's long history of innovation in adhesive and bonding technology, including the creation of an almost infinite variety of products for industrial, medical, and construction uses, as well as home and office applications. Today, that adhesive technology has spawned a line of super-strong adhesives ranging from 3M VHB (Very High Bond) tape to release adhesives.
"Richard Drew embodied the essential spirit of the inventor, a person of vision and unrelenting persistence who refused to give in to adversity," said Dr. Larry Wendling, staff vice president, 3M Corporate Research Laboratories. "He made an enormous contribution, not only to the growth of 3M, but also to advancement of many modern industries vital to worldwide economic growth. We're delighted to see his work recognized for future generations at the Hall of Fame."
Drew, who retired in 1962 and died in 1980, created and launched several signature 3M products. Perhaps the biggest part of his legacy was his approach to new-product development, which defines the standard for 3M Innovation: "Connect a...