H.B. Fuller Completes First Phase of $20 Million Investment and Expands Capabilities in Pune, India

ST. PAUL, Minn., March 22, 2017 -- H.B. Fuller (NYSE:FUL) has officially opened its new Pune, India, business office and a new R&D center in its Shirwal, India manufacturing facility. The facilities were inaugurated by Jim Owens, president and chief executive officer, on March 18 and 19, marking the conclusion of its first phase of investment of $20 million in India. This expansion strengthens H.B. Fuller’s commitment to customers in India and the neighboring areas.

H.B. Fuller’s new Indian R&D facility increases collaboration between the company’s R&D and operations teams.

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/7bf68634-b359-4b26-b884-babea321f2cb

H.B. Fuller has had a local presence in India since 2011 through its 24,000-metric-tons-per-annum manufacturing facility in Shirwal, India, located 65 kilometers from Pune. Through the addition of its new business office in Pune, as well as its new state-of-the-art R&D center, the company will be able to help its customers solve problems, and create new solutions, more rapidly than ever before.

“We are pleased to be expanding our footprint in India. We are optimistic about the new opportunities our new business office and R&D center will provide us – and our customers. By having a state-of-the-art facility and adhesive experts on the ground in India, we will help accelerate innovation in the region and help drive customer performance,” said Owens.

Says Kamal Johari, managing director of Nobel Hygiene, “We’re really looking forward to leveraging H.B. Fuller’s new R&D capabilities in India. Having the strength of this leading global adhesives provider in our local community will be a key competitive advantage for our company.”  

The new Pune, India, business office houses 50 employees in customer support and administrative roles, and offers a modern atmosphere to encourage innovative thinking and to host customer meetings. Spanning 5,000 sq. ft. of the Shirwal manufacturing facility, the new R&D center features dedicated areas to conduct experiments, run demonstrations and train customers on its hot melt, water-based, anaerobic and cyanoacrylate technologies. Its close proximity to the production floor also increases collaboration between the company’s R&D and operations teams.

About H.B. Fuller Company:

For 130 years, H.B. Fuller has been a leading global adhesives provider focusing on perfecting adhesives, sealants and other specialty chemical products to improve products and lives. With fiscal 2016 net revenue of $2.1 billion, H.B. Fuller’s commitment to innovation brings together people, products and processes that answer and solve some of the world’s biggest challenges. Our reliable, responsive service creates lasting, rewarding connections with customers in electronics, disposable hygiene, medical, transportation, clean energy, packaging, construction, woodworking, general industries and other consumer businesses. And our promise to our people connects them with opportunities to innovate and thrive. For more information, visit us at www.hbfuller.com and subscribe to our blog.

Kimberlee Sinclair
Global Communications
+1 651 236 5823
[email protected]