H.B. Fuller Integrates Acquired Business in North America

Adhesives producer H.B. Fuller Co., St. Paul, Minn., USA, will close six manufacturing facilities and eliminate approximately 130 positions across its North America adhesives business segment as part of its integration of the recently acquired industrial adhesives business of Forbo Group. The company said the decisions were based on a thorough review of the now-combined operations, and support H.B. Fuller's strategic growth objectives.

The company added that it is continuing integration assessment work in Europe, India Middle East and Africa (EIMEA), and Asia Pacific regions and, upon completion of the analysis in the coming months, will announce any changes to the organizational structures in those regions.

The facilities scheduled for closure by mid-2013 are Pointe-Claire, Que. (Canada) and Morris, Ill; Kansas City, Kan., Eugene, Ore., Jackson, Tenn., and Dallas, Texas, in the U.S. These facility closures will be staggered over the next 15 months and will result in approximately 90 job eliminations. The company will consolidate its North America Adhesives business segment operations within its remaining U.S. facilities in California, Georgia, Illinois, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, Texas, and Washington.

In addition, the company will close the former Forbo corporate and research offices in Morrisville, N.C., and has restructured its field sales and technical teams. These actions will eliminate approximately 40 positions in business management, Customer Service, Finance, Information Technology, Research and Development, and Sales. Selling, general and administrative positions that have not been eliminated will move to other H.B. Fuller locations, and the North Carolina offices will be vacated by February 2013.

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