Leading US technology giant 3M (St. Paul, Minnesota; www.mmm.com) has touted plans to build a new facility to manufacture photovoltaic solar materials and renewable energy products in Hefei High-Tech Park, Anhui province in eastern China. The ground-breaking for the new plant, which is to produce a variety of products, including 3M’s “Scotchshield” advanced solar backside barrier film, has been set for Q2 2011. 3M did not provide a start-up date nor did it specify the investment sum.

3M’s 80,000 employees last generated sales of about USD 27 bn. This latest investment follows on the heels of other recent solar material expansions in the US, Germany and Singapore.