H.B. Fuller Co. announced that it has acquired XCHEM International LLC, a manufacturer in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) that produces a wide range of specialty adhesives and coatings for industrial and infrastructure applications in the fast-growing construction markets of the Middle East and Northern Africa.

The acquisition provides H.B. Fuller’s Construction Adhesives (CA) global business unit with its first manufacturing presence outside the United States for its flagship Fosters® brand. This diversifies CA’s portfolio of highly specified applications, expands its market outside of the United States, and shifts CA towards infrastructure-oriented markets, including HVAC, waterproofing, flooring, commercial roofing, and other technologies across the company’s CA and Engineering Adhesives (EA) businesses.

“This strategic investment directly supports our long-term strategy of diversifying and growing H.B. Fuller’s CA business outside the U.S. and capitalizes on strong regional capabilities and expertise to take advantage of fast-growing, high-margin segments across multiple technologies in the emerging region of the Middle East and Northern Africa,” said Boz Malik, senior vice president, H.B. Fuller, CA. “XCHEM International adds complementary products that align with our global portfolio, specifically in the building envelope and infrastructure markets, and expands our business network, technical service, and supply chain in that geography.”

XCHEM International, with customers in more than 25 countries and a team of 90 employees, will operate within H.B. Fuller’s CA global business unit. The company’s head office and main manufacturing facility are in Ras Al Khaimah, one of the seven emirates of the UAE.

To learn more, visit www.hbfuller.com and www.xchem.ae.