H.B. Fuller Company announced the opening of its new $10 million manufacturing facility to support the expansion of its business in the Andean Region of South America. The plant is located in Rionegro, approximately 36 kilometers east of Medellin, Colombia.
For 25 years, H.B. Fuller has had a strong and growing presence in the Andean Region's adhesives market, operating from a manufacturing facility in Itagui before moving to its new 20,770-square-meter plant in Rionegro. The new site will provide increased production capacity, a new technical laboratory for hygienic products and better access to the country's second largest airport.
"This facility represents a continued commitment to our customers, shareholders, local community and to our employees, who have worked so hard to bring this investment to life," said Traci Jensen, senior vice president, Americas Region. "It is a sign of the important role this business and geography play in our strategic plan for the region and for H.B. Fuller."
The Rionegro facility will supply hot melt and water-based adhesive technologies for the hygienic, packaging, and corrugate and assembly markets. In addition to production, the facility houses administrative offices, labs, and receiving and dispatching. The new hygienic technical laboratory will help meet the demands of the region's growing nonwoven hygiene market and provide value to H.B. Fuller's principal customer's who have a presence there.
"The region's economy is growing, and we want to take advantage of the opportunities the market has to offer as well as support our customers' long-term success here," Jensen added. "Our capital investment is an acknowledgement of our confidence in the region. It will allow us to bring more value to our relationships and enhance our competitive position."
Rionegro is the most recent example of how H.B. Fuller is investing in its capabilities globally. In the past few years, the company has built world-class manufacturing facilities in Nanjing, China, and Pune, India. In addition, it has made major upgrades to facilities in China and across the Americas and EIMEA regions. In 2013, H.B. Fuller acquired Plexbond Química, expanding the company's presence in Brazil and accelerating its growth in the flexible packaging market. H.B. Fuller incorporated best practices from around the world in planning for the new Rionegro facility, which will enable it to meet and exceed its commitment to growth, safety, quality and innovation.
"We are optimistic about the opportunities this new facility provides for us to participate in the region's growth," said Jensen. Underscoring the importance of H.B. Fuller's core values, she added, "It could not be possible without each of us living our beliefs around the Spirit of Winning, Power of Collaboration and Essence of Courage. It is an exciting next step for us as we continue on our path to be the best adhesives company in the world AND a great place to work."
