Summary Box: 3M's better-than-expected 1Q profit Associated Press Copyright 2012 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Published 05:57 a.m., Tuesday, April 24, 2012 WHAT WAS STRONG: Sales in North and South America, and sales to auto and aerospace manufacturers, suggesting that manufacturing is rebounding. WHAT WAS WEAK: Sales in Europe and Asia, and films for flat-panel TVs. THE YEAR AHEAD: After its better-than-expected first-quarter results, 3M raised the low end of its 2012 profit guidance.