EXHIBIT 99(b)

[H.B. FULLER     H.B. Fuller Company                 Contact: Scott Dvorak
   LOGO]         Corporate Headquarters                       Investor Relations
                                                              651-236-5150
                 P.O 64683
                 St. Paul, Minnesota 55164-0683

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NEWS                  For Immediate Release                   September 24, 2002

           H.B. Fuller Files Shelf Registration Statement with the SEC

ST. PAUL, Minn. - H.B. Fuller Company (NASDAQ: FULL) today announced that it has
filed a universal shelf registration statement with the Securities and Exchange
Commission. The registration statement provides for the sale by the Company of
up to $500 million of a wide variety of securities, including common stock,
preferred stock, debt and warrants.

Currently, the Company has no specific plans to issue any securities under the
registration statement. The Company believes that utilization of a shelf
registration, which is employed by many public companies, is a practical and
efficient way to access the public markets.

The registration statement relating to these securities has been filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission but has not yet become effective. These
securities may not be sold nor may offers to buy be accepted prior to the time
the registration statement becomes effective. This press release shall not
constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy nor shall
there be any sale of these securities in any state in which such offer,
solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification
under the securities laws of any such state.

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H.B. Fuller Company is a worldwide manufacturer and marketer of adhesives,
sealants, coatings, paints and other specialty chemical products, with fiscal
2001 sales of $1.274 billion. Common stock is traded on the NASDAQ exchange
under the symbol FULL. For more information about the Company, visit their
website at: http://www.hbfuller.com.


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Safe Harbor for Forward-Looking Statement

This announcement contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the
Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 regarding H.B. Fuller's shelf
registration statement. These statements are based on current expectations and
are subject to various risks and uncertainties, including but not limited to the
following: availability of acquisitions, demand for capital expenditures,
political and economic conditions; future financial performance, the regulatory
environment; and other risks as indicated from time to time in the Company's
filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. H.B. Fuller expressly
disclaims any obligation or undertaking to publicly release any updates or
revisions to any statements or any change in its expectations.


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