H.B. Fuller’s McDougall Discusses TONSAN Acquisition

Through its purchase of TONSAN Adhesive, Inc., the largest independent engineering adhesives company in China, H.B. Fuller is helping manufacturers unlock new design possibilities and gain access to global channels. With established manufacturing relationships in China, expanded expertise beyond industrial adhesives and strengthened supply networks,. The acquisition also introduces H.B. Fuller as a supplier in several markets and applications, providing manufacturers global access to new and expanded resources.

Through the acquisition, H.B. Fuller makes its debut into the solar, photovoltaic (PV) market and continues TONSAN’s legacy of delivering a high-quality, engineering adhesives, sealants and solutions approach, while expanding its global reach. With TONSAN being the largest independent manufacturer of PV adhesives in China and a world leader in silicones for the PV industry, now blended with H.B. Fuller’s global reach, customers have a trusted option with access to a greater set of chemistries to help innovate faster and across broader application sets.

Under the H.B. Fuller brand, TONSAN’s popular silicone frame sealant, 1527, and junction box potting material, 1521, will still be available to customers. In addition, the companies intend to help solar manufacturers exploring a number of advanced technologies to address their toughest challenges using liquid sealants, tapes and adhesives dispensing equipment.


Coatings World recently had the opportunity to interview David McDougall, senior business development manager of H.B. Fuller’s photovoltaic group.

Coatings World:  What are your company’s plans for the future?

McDougall: It’s an exciting time to be at H.B. Fuller. The TONSAN acquisition helped us gain entry into solar and MRO and build on our previous offerings in the electronic and automotive markets. We’re focused on solving customers’ toughest adhesives challenges through collaboration in central development and local manufacturing. In the solar market specifically, we’re working to enable a number of industry trends, including longer-lasting and more durable modules, lighter and thinner materials and simplifying installation.

CW: How does the acquisition of TONSAN strengthen H.B. Fuller’s business?

McDougall: Customers tell us they seek innovation, collaboration and responsiveness from their suppliers.The TONSAN acquisition has strengthened our ability to help manufacturers unlock new design possibilities and gain access to global channels. The global engineering adhesive market is over $12 billion and growing at a high single-digit annual rate. Adhesives solutions in this market space are generally highly engineered and designed to solve difficult problems, perform well in harsh conditions and, in general, meet very demanding specifications for performance. In addition, the adhesive becomes part of the specification for the end product, so after investing time and resources to find a good adhesive solution, customers tend to stay loyal.

Combining TONSAN’s strong platform of engineering adhesives technologies and application knowledge with H.B. Fuller’s commercial expertise and global network has helped create a force in the market. Our combined knowledge and resources can fast-track innovation to give manufacturers the edge they need to maintain a competitive advantage.”

CW: What products/technologies does TONSAN offer for the PV/solar adhesives market?

McDougall: The TONSAN acquisition gives H.B. Fuller the most expansive PV/solar materials offering available today. The acquisition added a robust portfolio of adhesives to complement and enhance H.B. Fuller’s broad materials offering. Specific products include the durable and long-lasting 1527, a popular silicone sealant that was the first to help adhere junction boxes to back sheets. Our 621 tape is known for lowering the cost of installation and eliminating curing time. And 1521 is a potting compound that minimizes costs associated with air-filled junction boxes. Those are really just the tip of the iceberg in terms of our PV/Solar adhesives offering, but that gives a good taste of what technology we have in our arsenal.