3M has “highly successful” 2009

3M, a provider of healthcare products, has announced that it experienced a strong financial year in 2009.

Its worldwide sales totalled $6.1 billion (3.83 billion pounds) during the final quarter – a rise of 11.1 per cent compared to the same time in 2008.

Sales in the firm’s healthcare division were up six per cent in the fourth quarter of the year, while during the full 12-month period, its sales rose by 3.6 per cent in local-currency terms.

Furthermore, the organisation’s profits grew at double-digit rates in each of its six business segments and in all geographic regions, the figures revealed.

George Buckley, chairman, president and chief executive officer of 3M, stated: “We delivered tremendous results while continuing to invest significantly in our future with research and development investments of $1.3 billion and capital investments topping $900 million.”

In December, 3M launched a BlackBerry service designed for use by physicians, allowing them to access their email, services and dictation facilities while on the move.