Houston, TX November 27, 2002 ChemConnect Inc. this week announced that H. B. Fuller Co., a worldwide manufacturer and marketer of specialty chemicals, would expand its online sourcing and sales initiatives via ChemConnect's Marketplace.
The manufacturer said it selected ChemConnect in a bid to streamline business processes, lower costs, extend to new markets and access market information.
Founded in 1887, H.B. Fuller manufactures and markets specialty chemicals used in thousands of formulations and hundreds of thousands of applications worldwide. The company has direct operations in 43 countries in North America, Latin America, Europe and Asia Pacific. Distributors and licensees increase H.B. Fuller's presence to more than 100 countries. H. B. Fuller's largest worldwide business category is adhesives, sealants, and coatings. These products, in thousands of formulations, are sold to customers in a wide range of industries including automotive, converting, engineered systems, footwear, graphic arts, non-woven/hygienic, packaging, polymer, tobacco, window and woodworking.
"We have made it our mission to be an industry leader in e-business. About half of our North American sales have been converted to our e-stores and more than 70 percent of our purchasing activities happen on line," said Ed Snyder, H.B. Fuller Co. vice president, Global Sourcing. "Because of ChemConnect's position, we see it as a natural extension to our strategy both by helping us identify new sources of supply and new customers around the world and by making existing processes even more efficient."
Designed to speed and optimize online negotiations, ChemConnect said its Marketplace automates key business processes, including online requests for quotes, proposals and information. ChemConnect allow Members to identify new suppliers, communicate and negotiate market prices with buyers and suppliers of direct and indirect materials.
"H. B. Fuller has distinguished itself as a leader in e-business strategy," said John Robinson, ChemConnect CEO. "By adding ChemConnect services to its e-procurement processes, the company is an example of the view, which we share, that successful companies will use a diverse mix of channels to achieve efficiencies and gain competitive advantage."
