Acquisition Strengthens 3M’s Personal Graphics Platform
3M announced today it has acquired Original Wraps Inc., a Golden, Colo.-based company specializing in the creative business development, technology and design of personalization platforms for vehicles and vehicle accessories. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.
This acquisition complements 3M’s Commercial Graphics business and strengthens 3M’s personal graphics platform. The trend and desire for graphics to personalize everything, especially vehicles, is expected to continue to grow exponentially. Original Wraps’ technology, design and business development provides auto manufacturers, car dealers, automotive retailers and wholesalers with a comprehensive selection of front-end vehicle personalization resources in the marketplace. 3M has worked with Original Wraps since January 2010 to provide professional on-demand Scotchprint® Personalized Vehicle Graphics.
“The addition of Original Wraps complements 3M’s service offerings and allows us to enhance the customer experience by establishing a front-end electronic interface for vehicle personalization between dealership customers and vehicle manufacturers, and providing 3M’s graphics manufacturers with more business and opportunity,” said Bob Doughty, vice president and general manager, 3M Commercial Graphics. “Original Wraps also serves as the foundation for a broader on-demand ecosystem for personalization products across 3M.”
Original Wraps products are custom printed on 3M premium films with one of thousands of unique or licensed designs. The product is then coated with a durable finish and custom cut to create a graphic that fits a specific vehicle and results in a long lasting stylized automotive makeover. With Original Wraps products, consumers can personalize their vehicles through thousands of vehicle dealers.
Original Wraps has developed a strong customer base in the vehicle industry by creating web-based technology and design, order management and installation management. Original Wraps currently works with many of 3M’s channel partners. 3M has developed the Scotchprint.com back-end infrastructure, which provides a streamlined workflow, bringing together qualified graphics manufacturers, installers, and designers with automotive dealerships to meet customers’ desire to personalize new consumer and commercial business vehicles. Together, the companies will build global scale for vehicle personalization.
"We are excited about the opportunity to come together with 3M to build global scale into the business we’ve developed," said Tom Stemple, president and CEO, Original Wraps. “3M’s industry network, product technology and global reach will help accelerate the growth of this business." Stemple will remain with the company.
About 3M
3M captures the spark of new ideas and transforms them into thousands of ingenious products. Our culture of creative collaboration inspires a never-ending stream of powerful technologies that make life better. 3M is the innovation company that never stops inventing. With $27 billion in sales, 3M employs about 80,000 people worldwide and has operations in more than 65 countries. For more information, visit www.3M.com or follow @3MNews on Twitter.
Scotchprint is a registered trademark of 3M.
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