What It Means to Be a 3M Preferred Converter

Rathbun is a 3M Preferred Converter, a designation earned through demonstrated technical capability in transforming 3M materials into finished parts. As a preferred converter, Rathbun has access to premium 3M materials for a range of applications. Manufacturers and industrial customers can trust Rathbun to deliver precision parts while meeting 3M’s standards for converting expertise and quality control.

Learn what it means to be a 3M Preferred Converter and why the designation matters when selecting a converting partner like Rathbun.

What Is a 3M Preferred Converter?

A 3M Preferred Converter is a company that 3M has formally recognized for its ability to transform 3M materials into finished components. 3M evaluates a converter's technical capabilities, equipment, quality systems, and depth of experience with 3M materials before granting the status, and it continues to monitor performance to maintain it.

3M Preferred Converters are essential, because 3M manufacturers materials rather than application-ready parts. A roll of 3M tape, foam, or film must be cut, slit, laminated, or shaped into a specific format before it can move onto a production line. 3M relies on Preferred Converters for those processes across the industries it serves.

What Does a 3M Preferred Converter Do?

A 3M Preferred Converter takes raw 3M material and converts it into a usable part: slitting a roll to a specific width, die cutting a custom shape, laminating multiple layers together, or building a kit of parts ready for assembly. The output is defined by the customer's application.

Because the converter works directly with 3M, it has access to the full 3M product catalog, including materials that are harder to source through general distribution. This relationship also gives converters technical resources unavailable to non-preferred suppliers, such as direct lines to 3M's material engineers when a project calls for specialized guidance.

Advantages of Working With a 3M Preferred Converter

Choosing a 3M Preferred Converter for a custom project brings several practical benefits:

• Material guidance: A converter with 3M Preferred status can recommend the right 3M material for a given application.
• Product selection support: With access to 3M's full material range, a preferred converter can compare options across product types to find the best fit.
• Custom part formatting: Raw material gets converted into precise shapes and widths that match a customer's exact specifications.
• Repeatability: Ability to produce consistent parts across every production run.
• Waste reduction: Optimized converting processes produce less scrap material, which lowers cost and supports sustainability goals.
• Prototyping support: Converters can turn a design file into a working sample with quick turnaround.
• Smoother production integration: Parts arrive in a format that fits directly into a customer's existing assembly process.

3M Products That Can Be Converted

3M Preferred Converters work across a wide range of material categories. Each of these materials can be converted into custom widths, shapes, and formats through rotary die cutting, laser cutting, slitting, and lamination processes, depending on the application and production volume. Some of the most common include:

• 3M™ Non Silicone Conductive Pads
• 3M™ Thermally Conductive Tape
• 3M™ Double Coated Tapes
• 3M™ VHB™ Tapes
• 3M™ Single Coated Tapes

Why Work With Rathbun for 3M Converting Services?

Rathbun has been converting materials for industrial manufacturers for decades and today holds 3M Preferred Converter status, giving direct access to 3M's engineers, material specialists, and full product line. Rathbun's 3M converting services cover the full product lifecycle, from early prototypes through high-volume production, with laser cutting and rotary die cutting capabilities built to scale with a project.

For a closer look at the materials available, visit Rathbun's 3M products page. To learn more about the processes used to convert them, see Rathbun's converting services overview or the 3M Converter Markets Selection Guide for a deeper look at how 3M materials are applied across industries.

Contact Us to Start Your 3M Converting Project

Rathbun's team can help identify the right 3M material and converting process for your application, from initial prototype through full production. Reach out to learn more about Rathbun's 3M converting services.

Contact Us to speak with a converting specialist, or Request a Quote to get started on your project.