3M LED Advanced Light and 3M Molecular Detection System honored as top innovations
3M, the innovation company that never stops inventing, today announced that two of its recent technologies have received prestigious honors from the Edison Awards, a program conducted by the non-profit, 501(c)(3) organization Edison Universe, which is dedicated to fostering future innovators. At an award gala last night in Chicago, the company’s 3M™ LED Advanced Light received a Gold Edison Award in the Lighting category while the 3M™ Molecular Detection System earned a Silver Edison Award within the Diagnostic/Analytic Systems category.
Nominees were judged by a panel of more than 3,000 leading business executives including previous winners, academics, and leaders in the fields of product development, design, engineering, science and medicine. The evaluation criteria used for this comprehensive, peer-reviewed process emphasized themes of concept, value, delivery and impact.
Gold Award-Winning 3M LED Advanced Light
The 3M LED Advanced Light – the company’s first-ever bulb – couldn’t be more appropriate for an innovation award named after Thomas Edison. Just as Edison’s 1879 invention of the safe and practical incandescent light bulb took electric lighting to a newer, more economical level, 3M’s development of a bulb predicated upon light-emitting diodes (LED) further advances the technology. With new federal standards phasing out incandescent light bulbs, the 3M LED Advanced Light provides an option that’s just as bright as a traditional bulb, and with its special Light Guide Technology, it shines in all directions. Developed with 3M multilayer optical film, adhesives and heat management technologies, the stylish bulb provides long-term cost savings but doesn’t compromise on energy efficiency. What’s more is that it has an impressive 25-year product lifespan.
“Informed by 3M’s expertise converting LED into stable backlighting for high-definition TVs, our new bulb offers a more friendly and functional light source at a fraction of the energy,” said Ray Johnston, scientist for the 3M Electronics and Energy Group Lab. “It’s beyond meaningful to receive an award associated with Thomas Edison, someone regarded as the father of the light bulb.”
Silver Award-Winning 3M Molecular Detection System
3M Food Safety’s new 3M™ Molecular Detection System represents a pure and simple approach to detecting dangerous foodborne and food processing environment pathogens like Salmonella, E. coliand Listeriaon the DNA level. Created with global food safety needs in mind, the system saves time for processors, increases their productivity and assures their overall testing accuracy. The system’s unique combination of sophisticated, proprietary technologies – isothermal DNA amplification and bioluminescence detection – yield a simplified testing process that requires fewer steps and starts displaying results in real-time.
“We are honored to receive this award, which embodies 3M Food Safety’s ongoing goal to develop lasting solutions that serve customers on a global basis, protect brands and help ensure the vital safety of our food supply,” said Niki Montgomery, marketing manager for the 3M Molecular Detection System. “Technological progress shouldn’t be difficult to use if it doesn’t need to be. This innovation is built on the idea that simplicity, efficiency and intuitiveness are paramount to lasting innovation success.”
About the Edison Awards
The Edison Awards, conducted by Edison Universe, are sponsored by Nielsen, USA Today, Science Channel and Discovery Communications. The awards are named after Thomas Alva Edison (1847-1931) whose inventions, new product development methods and innovative achievements literally changed the world, garnered him 1,093 U.S. patents, and made him a household name. For more information about the Edison Awards and its lists of winners, visit www.edisonawards.com.
About 3M
3M captures the spark of new ideas and transforms them into thousands of ingenious products. Its 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 $30 billion in sales, 3M employs about 88,000 people worldwide and has operations in more than 70 countries. For more information, visit www.3M.com or follow @3MNews on Twitter.
For 3M:Kohnstamm CommunicationsAaron Berstler, 651-789-1264aaron@kohnstamm.comorCohn and WolfeDana Simone, 212-798-9708dana.simone@cohnwolfe.com
