ST. PAUL, Minn., Jan. 21, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- H.B. Fuller (NYSE:FUL) announced today that the company received a Best Innovator China 2015 Award in the Innovating through Chinese M&A category. This award recognizes H.B. Fuller, a global leader in industrial adhesives, for its work to fast-track engineering adhesives innovation in the automotive, electronics, solar, wind, MRO, appliance and heavy machinery markets from China to the rest of the world following the company’s acquisition of TONSAN Adhesive, Inc. in 2015.
With TONSAN, H.B. Fuller is helping manufacturers unlock new design possibilities and gain access to global channels. H.B. Fuller now delivers more choice and value to customers looking for a high level of collaboration through TONSAN’s established manufacturing relationships in China and H.B. Fuller’s global expertise and supply networks.
“For nearly 130 years, H.B. Fuller has been partnering with customers to innovate and solve some of the world’s biggest adhesion challenges. With the addition of TONSAN, a leading Chinese engineering adhesive innovator, we are committed to leveraging our global reach, technical expertise and market knowledge to support our growth around the world,” says Pat Trippel, senior vice president, H.B. Fuller. “Working together, we will respond to changing market demands, develop breakthrough adhesive technology and improve customers’ product performance.”
Since 2003, A.T. Kearney has conducted the Best Innovator program in more than 15 countries around the world, and 2015 marks its second year in China. The award program aims to increase the innovativeness of participating companies through better understanding and sharing of innovation best practices. “Most multinational firms acquire companies in developing markets, especially in China, to tap into their domestic customer base and sell products into that country. H.B. Fuller’s acquisition of TONSAN is a very rare case where a global firm bought a local entrepreneurship team for its innovative products and R&D capacity, and not for its market share or reach. Furthermore, the local team built a competitive start-up and its R&D technology now has become the core innovation of the mother company,” says Dan Starta, managing partner at A.T. Kearney, Greater China.
About H.B. Fuller
For nearly 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 2015 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 engineering adhesives, packaging, hygiene, electronic and assembly materials, paper converting, woodworking, construction, automotive and consumer businesses. And our promise to our people connects them with opportunities to innovate and thrive. For more information, visit us at http://www.hbfuller.com and subscribe to our blog.
About Best Innovator China 2015
After more than ten years conducting the Best Innovator program in many countries around the world, and the first successful China edition in 2014, A.T. Kearney conducts the program in China again. Best Innovator is designed to increase the innovativeness of participating companies through providing feedback on how their innovation achievements and internal practices compare with best practices. At the same time, it also honors those that serve as an example for their unique and successful innovation in China with an award. The program intends to recognize not only innovation achievement, but also the management practices that lead to sustainable innovation success. For more information, visit https://www.atkearney.com/en_US/web/best-innovator-china/welcome.
About A.T. Kearney
A.T. Kearney is a leading global management consulting firm with offices in more than 40 countries. Since 1926, we have been trusted advisors to the world's foremost organizations. A.T. Kearney is a partner-owned firm, committed to helping clients achieve immediate impact and grow advantage on their most mission-critical issues. For more information, visit www.atkearney.com.