New Solutions and a New President for 3M

During a press presentation at the 3M booth during the Automechanika trade show in Frankfurt, the company announced the retirement of Dave Gunderson effective October 1 after 38 years of service with the company. He will be succeeded by Chad M. Carney for 3M’s automotive aftermarket division.

Beyond this significant passing of the torch, the technical team from the global provider of automotive refinishing tools and equipment had several new products to present to visiting international journalists for the occasion.

The presentation’s theme centered on the observation that, in the face of declining vehicle repair volumes due in part to the effectiveness of advanced driver-assistance systems, collision repair facilities must manage their operations with great precision.

As such, a significant portion of time was dedicated to presenting the Repair Stack smart cabinet, accessible to technicians via electronic ID, which measures material usage and inventory levels in real time. As 3M specialists noted, this cabinet enables automated ordering while also assigning used materials to each repair order and identifying training needs for technicians using excessively high volumes of supplies.

The remainder of the presentation highlighted 3M’s technical advancements in spray guns—making them more versatile and easier to maintain—as well as sealant and adhesive application systems with evolved formulations and application methods. Naturally, the tour also included explanations regarding the latest lineup of surface preparation abrasives, a product line whose quality continues to build 3M’s reputation.