H.B. Fuller Company has broken ground on construction of a $12 million manufacturing facility to support the expansion of business into India. The plant will be located near the city of Pune, approximately 100 kilometers south of Mumbai. The company currently has a small but growing presence in the Indian adhesives market, estimated between $300 to $400 million annually. The plant is expected to be operational by August 2011.

“India is one of the largest countries in the world, with one of the fastest growing economies. As such, it represents a huge market for H.B. Fuller and our customers. This expansion reflects our commitment to the market and to our global customers, many of whom have an active presence in India,” said Steve Kenny, H.B. Fuller senior vice president EIMEA. “This investment is another key component of our five-year strategic plan and is the latest in a series of bold moves designed to drive growth at H.B. Fuller while strengthening our competitive presence.”

During the past several years, H.B. Fuller has invested in global expansion through acquisitions in Egypt, Germany and Malaysia which have strengthened the company’s position as a global adhesives manufacturer. In addition, the company has established a regional technology center in Shanghai to serve the Asia Pacific market, and a manufacturing facility in Nanjing, China, focused on reactive technologies, the first of its kind in the region.