US Adhesives history

Even more devastating to the company's long-term prospects was the debilitating stroke Harvey Fuller suffered in 1939.

Thermoplastic glue (Hot Melt Adhesives / glue sticks) may have been invented around 1940 by Procter & Gamble as a solution to water-based adhesives commonly used in packaging at that time failing in high humid climates, causing packages to fail and pop open.

In March 1941 a large Chicago competitor named Paisley Products approached the ailing St Paul firm with an acquisition offer.

The original cyanoacrylates (the chemical name for the glue) were discovered in 1942 in a search for materials to make clear plastic gun sights for the war, and scientists stumbled upon a formulation that stuck to everything that it came in contact with.

Both during and following the war, the company focused on decentralizing operations--bringing the product closer to the customer--by establishing a number of branch plants, beginning with Kansas City in 1943.

In 1949, Andersen was elected to the state senate and became a part-time company president.

By 1950, the company had become the fourth largest adhesives manufacturer in the country.

In 1951, cyanoacrylate was rediscovered by Coover and Doctor Fred Joyner.

The final pillar of modern glue history happened in 1958 when Harry Coover Jr released into public his first version of Super Glue.

Al Vigard assumed control of day-to-day operations in Andersen's absence; he later became president when Andersen extended his political career by receiving the governorship of Minnesota in 1960.

Skip Jewett and Bob Houston founded APPLIED Products in 1971.

Starting out as an industrial distributor, APPLIED expanded as an adhesives supplier in 1988.

Plant expansions around the globe, as well as continuing investment in research and development, typified the company through 1992.

1994: Sales surpass $1 billion.

During 1998 Fuller spent $92.4 million on acquisitions, purchasing the Australian and New Zealand adhesives business of Croda International PLC and Peterson Chemicals Adhesives from Ecolab Inc.

With its newfound focus on cost containment and improved profitability and a more aggressive attitude toward acquisitions, H.B. Fuller was certain to be a much more formidable competitor in 2000 and beyond.