3M Exits Touchscreen Monitor Market

By | July 30, 2020

Touch Screen Monitor Suppliers

July 30, 2020

Another entry for the kiosk history file as longtime touchscreen manufacturer 3M is exiting the business.

We read about it first on Sixteen:Nine who heard it from one of the manufacturers. We confirmed with longtime contacts at 3M since then.  We are sure the other self-service technology division are unaffected and that includes ID card readers as well as passport readers for example.  We updated the kiosk history file.

About 3M Touch

3M Touch Systems was created in 2001 though the acquisitions of MicroTouch Systems (Massachusetts) and Dynapro Thin Films (Milwaukee and Vancouver, Canada). MicroTouch Systems was founded in the early-1980s and was the company that patented and commercialized surface capacitive technology, which became and continues to be the preferred touch technology for many heavy-use, public access applications, especially for video slot and card games. Dynapro was a leading supplier of 4- and 8-wire resistive and developed projected capacitive touch solutions for industrial applications. 3M Touch Systems is headquartered in Methuen, Massachusetts, with dedicated technical and sales teams in North America, Europe, Australia and throughout Asia. Within the 3M Company structure, 3M Touch Systems reports to the 3M Electro Communications Business (Austin, Texas), which is one of the five 3M business units.  Link

From Our Kiosk History chronolog

  • 1982 founded
  • 1984 first touchmonitor
  • 1985 introduces capacitive touchscreen
  • 1986 First Mac touchscreen
  • 1988 First Windows touchscreen driver available (2.11 probably)
  • 1999 First e-commerce site selling touchscreen technology
  • 2001 3M Touch purchases Microtouch

Here is the media file for customers

3M Touch Systems Touch Screen Status

3M Touch Systems Touch Screen Status

3M Touch Touch Screens

3M Touch Touch Screens

3M Touch Systems Touch Screen Status

3M Touch Systems Touch Screen Status

Author: Staff Writer

Craig Keefner is the editor and author for Kiosk Association and kiosk industry. With over 30 years in the industry and experience in large and small kiosk solutions, Craig is widely considered to be an expert in the field. Major kiosk projects for him include Verizon Bill Pay kiosk and hundreds of others.