Salt Lake City, UT, January 22, 2009 – 3M, a leader in research and technology that has helped drive improvements in visibility with the development of 3M™ Scotchlite™ Reflective Material, announces the launch of 360° Enhanced Visibility to help design specifiers increase visibility levels for consumers active in low-light and night time conditions.

The 360° Enhanced Visibility program with 3M™ Scotchlite™ Reflective Material is a great way to help people be seen from nearly every angle – front, back and sideways.  Each year, nearly 5,000 pedestrians – or one every 109 minutes – are killed in traffic crashes and 71,000 – or one every seven minutes – are injured in traffic crashes.  Of the total accidents and injuries, 65 percent of pedestrian fatalities occur between 6:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. Designing high-visibility outdoor athletic apparel helps enhance the visibility and safety of wearers while elevating brand profile.

To meet 360° Enhanced Visibility requirements and qualify for hang tags and in-store marketing support, activewear must meet specific 3M design guidelines.  One such qualifier is Fila’s trendy new Special Edition Melrose women’s shoe featuring highly reflective custom print and color panels made of 3M™ Scotchlite™ Reflective Material in teal, silver and blues.

At the consumer level, 360° Enhanced Visibility will provide increased visibility to the wearer in low-light, conditions, because it requires that 3M™ Scotchlite™ Reflective Material be visible on all sides of the garment or footwear in specific areas and amounts. 

“Reflective material in high-performance apparel and footwear that is placed and designed appropriately doesn’t just enhance the visibility of the active person, it also increases the awareness of the specifier’s brand,” said Paul Amos, global marketing manager for 3M’s Visibility and Insulation Solutions business.

Amos continued, "As more and more consumers have less free time, many are doing their work-outs early morning or late evening.  These enthusiasts are looking for ways to help get noticed when on the road and to increase their level of safety while doing what they love, whether running, biking or walking."

3M design standards for 360° Enhanced Visibility offer specifiers high flexibility in a range of options, including Transfer Films, Fabrics, High Gloss Materials, Pressure-Sensitive Adhesive Films and Graphic Transfers.  Because 3M™ Scotchlite™ Reflective Material is available in a variety of forms, design and application possibilities are countless.  To help meet 360° Enhanced Visibility requirements, 3M provides specifiers with extensive support, education and training.

Fashion, versatility and performance come together with 3M™ Scotchlite™ Reflective Material.  Designers can easily incorporate it into all kinds of high-performance gear, from running and bike wear, to apparel for ski instructors or garments for kids, with fashionable design that gets noticed, day or night.

3M™ Scotchlite™ Reflective Material celebrates 70 years after researchers at 3M first made road signs with Scotchlite Reflective sheeting material that was much brighter than paint. Years later, the reflective technology migrated to fabrics.

To learn more about 3M™ Scotchlite™ Reflective Material, contact your 3M sales representative or visit our website at www.Scotchlite.com.