Sometime way back in the 1950’s a lab guy at 3M was trying to work diligently while the sunlight blasted through his office windows.
What if he could take some Scotch tape on a wide roll and add some color to the clear tape to block the light?
Yes, a dyed layer with 3M tape might do the trick and later imitation of the metalizing of the inside of a potato chip bag might produce a much more stable solution.
3M couldn’t really do the sputtering technique since it was never a core technology, so they contracted that task out with one of the companies that produced those potato chip bags I mentioned earlier.
There were window film producers out in the market, of course.
These companies established a consumer and to a greater degree a commercial appetite for solar control film.
Some specifically targeted the car tinting potential and established dealers throughout the country in the 1960’s and 70’s. (Think LLumar!)
3M looked at the profit and loss of window film and considered Do It Yourself (DIY) window film sold through Sears Home Centers.
This didn’t fly because the skills required to properly conduct an installation were too difficult for novice consumers.
There were too many returns and the inventory gathered dust on the shelves.
The company moved on to more profitable endeavors like Post-It notes and optical films where the volume was far greater, and the materials were strictly a component for another manufacturer.
Think cell phone screens, laptops, etc.
As competitors in the window film business evolved and innovated their product solutions developing advanced metalizing, deposition technology, clear adhesives and nanotechnology required for spectrally selective films 3M stood still.
Nevertheless the international sales grew across the globe since 3M had a unique advantage.
It wasn’t an edge in technology or better window film solutions but rather the channel capabilities in outside the US countries where 3M subsidiaries were in place and protected from outside competition.
So as US sales decreased the OUS sales continued to grow.
The decision was made to limit manufacturing of window film in the US and position 3M as an OEM for some of the actual window film manufacturers.
For nearly two decades a majority of the window film sold under the 3M brand have absolutely no 3M material inside the film boxes.
As an independent window film installation company here in the Tampa Bay region and after spending 33 years at 3M our marketing decision was and is to represent the actual window film manufacturers rather than the re-boxed 3M competition.
Our winning portfolio is led by Eastman Chemicals a spin-off of the Eastman Kodak company with over 100 years of experience.
Leading solutions like LLumar, Vista, Huper Optik, FormulaOne and SunTek.
The Madico solar and solar safety window film and Armorcoat, Solar Gard film manufactured in Southern California.
Advanced Film Solutions has defined our company as the smart alternative to 3M window film in every category other than the graphics, decorative films sold under the Fasara brand made in Japan by 3M’s Japanese subsidiary.
Get a free estimate and compare our alternatives by contacting our customer service team at:
Toll Free: 877-575-3456
Tampa: 813.949.FILM
Sarasota Bradenton: 941-822-8841
Orlando: 407-843-9350
Pinellas County: 727-944-3456
Advanced Film Solutions covers the greater Tampa Bay & Orlando region including Pasco, Hernando, Lakeland, Bradenton and Sarasota.
