3M Hutchison Plant, Minnesota

3M’s plant in Hutchinson started out as a hemp plant, making rope for World War II. After the war, it was purchased by 3M and converted to make cellophane tape, famously known as Scotch Tape. In 1956 a second building was constructed next to the original rope/tape plant, and in 1995 the two buildings were connected, making the tape plant the company’s largest single manufacturing plant. It still makes tape today, including blue painters tape, as well as other office and consumer adhesive paper products. 3M (Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing), is based in Maplewood, a suburb of St. Paul, and operates 40 plants around the USA.