<PAGE>
 
    As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 7, 1997

                                                   Registration No. ____________
================================================================================
                                                                                
                      SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                            Washington, D.C. 20549

                                 ------------

                                   FORM S-8
            REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

                                 ------------

                              H.B. FULLER COMPANY
              (Exact name of issuer as specified in its charter)

          Minnesota                                    41-0268370
(State or other jurisdiction of           (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
incorporation or organization)

                1200 Willow Lake Blvd., St. Paul, MN 55110-5132
         (Address of principal executive offices, including Zip Code)

                              EFTEC Savings Plan
                           (Full title of the plan)

       Richard C. Baker                                 Copy to:
 Vice President, General Counsel
      & Corporate Secretary                     Elizabeth H. Cobb, Esq.
      H.B. Fuller Company                    Mackall, Crounse & Moore, PLC
      1200 Willow Lake Blvd.                       1400 AT&T Tower
      St. Paul, Minnesota 55110-5132              901 Marquette Avenue
      (Name and address of agent for service).  Minneapolis, Minnesota 55402

                                (612) 415-5900
         (Telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)



                        CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
================================================================================
   Title of         Amount         Proposed      Proposed Maxi-    Amount of
  Securities         to be         Maximum       mum Aggregate   Registration
    to be         Registered (1)  Offering Price   Offering          Fee
  Registered                      Per Share (2)     Price (2)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>               <C>             <C>             <C>             <C>
Common Stock,     100,000         $50.375         $5,037,500      $1,527   
$1.00 par value    shares
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>

(1) In addition, pursuant to Rule 416(c) under the Securities Act of 1933, this
    registration statement also covers an indeterminate amount of interest to be
    offered or sold pursuant to the employee benefit plan described herein.

(2) Estimated solely for the purpose of determining the registration fee
    pursuant to Rule 457(c), based upon the average of the high and low prices
    for such Common Stock on April 2, 1997, as reported on NASDAQ.

================================================================================
<PAGE>
 
                                     PART I

              INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE SECTION 10(a) PROSPECTUS


     Documents containing the information specified in this Part I will be sent
or given to eligible employees, as specified by Rule 428(b)(1). Such documents
need not be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission either as part of
this registration statement or as prospectuses or prospectus supplements
pursuant to Rule 424. Such documents and the documents incorporated by reference
in this registration statement pursuant to Item 3 of Part II, taken together,
constitute a prospectus that meets the requirements of Section 10(a) of the
Securities Act of 1933.

     In addition, if a "reoffer prospectus", is to be used in connection with
the resale of "control securities," such "reoffer prospectus" will be prepared
by the registrant in accordance with the requirements of Part I of Form S-3 and
will be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission in a post-effective
amendment to this registration statement on Form S-8.


Item 1.  Plan Information.


Item 2.  Registrant Information Employee Plan Annual Information.



                                    PART II

               INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT


Item 3.  Incorporation of Documents by Reference.

         The following documents are incorporated herein by reference:

     a.  Annual Report on Form 10-K of H.B. Fuller Company ("Company") for the
fiscal year ended November 30, 1996, as filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission pursuant to Sections 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, as amended ("Exchange Act").

     b.  All other reports filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange
Commission since November 30, 1996, pursuant to Sections 13 or 15(d) of the
Exchange Act.

     c.  Description of the Company's Common Stock, contained in the Company's
Registration Statement on Form 8-A filed on July 30, 1996 with the Securities
and Exchange Commission.

     d.  All documents filed by the Company and the plan pursuant to Sections
13(a), 13(c), 14 and 15(d) of the Exchange Act subsequent to the date of this
registration statement and prior to the filing

                                      -2-
<PAGE>
 
of a post-effective amendment which indicates that all securities offered hereby
have been sold or which deregisters all such securities then remaining to be
sold.


Item 4.  Description of Securities.

     The Common Stock, par value $1.00 per share (the "Common Stock"), of the
Company offered pursuant to this registration statement is registered under
Section 12(g) of the Exchange Act. The description of the Company's Common Stock
is incorporated by reference pursuant to Item 3.c. above.


Item 5.  Interests of Named Experts and Counsel.

     Not applicable.


Item 6.  Indemnification of Directors and Officers.

     The Bylaws of the Company provide that officers and directors of the
Company and certain other shall be indemnified substantially to the same extent
permitted by Minnesota law. The Company also maintains a standard policy of
offices' and directors' liability insurance.

     Section 302A.521 of the Minnesota Statutes provides that a Minnesota
business corporation shall indemnify directors, officers, employees and agents
in certain circumstances and under certain conditions. In addition, the terms of
the plan provide for indemnification of ceratin directors, officers and
employees in connection with the administration of the plan.

     Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act
of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers or persons controlling the
Company pursuant to the foregoing provisions, the Company has been informed that
in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is
against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act of 1933 and is
therefore unenforceable.

Item 7.  Exemption from Registration Claimed.

      Not applicable.

                                      -3-
<PAGE>
 
Item 8.  Exhibits.

Exhibit
Number   Description
------   -----------

4.1      EFTEC Savings Plan

5.1      Opinion of Mackall, Crounse & Moore, PLC as to the legality of Common
         Stock of the Company

23.1     Consent of Price Waterhouse LLP

23.2     Consent of Mackall, Crounse & Moore, PLC (included in its opinion
         filed as Exhibit 5.1)

24.1     Powers of Attorney

         The undersigned registrant will submit or has submitted the plan and
         any amendment thereto to the Internal Revenue Service ("IRS") in a
         timely manner and has made or will make all changes required by the IRS
         in order to qualify the plan.

Item 9.  Undertakings.

(a)  Rule 415 Offering.

     The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:

     (1)  To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a
          post-effective amendment to this registration statement:

          (i)   To include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the
                Securities Act of 1933;

          (ii)  To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after
                the effective date of the registration statement (or the most
                recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or
                in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the
                information set forth in the registration statement; and

          (iii) To include any material information with respect to the plan of
                distribution not previously disclosed in the registration
                statement or any material change to such information in the
                registration statement;

          Provided, however, that paragraphs (a)(1)(i) and (a)(1)(ii) do not
          apply if the registration statement is on Form S-3 or Form S-8, and
          the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment
          by those paragraphs is contained in periodic

                                      -4-
<PAGE>
 
          reports filed by the registrant pursuant to Section 13 or Section
          15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that are incorporated by
          reference in the registration statement.

     (2)  That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the
          Securities Act of 1933, each such post-effective amendment shall be
          deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities
          offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time
          shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

     (3)  To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any
          of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the
          termination of the offering.


(b)  Filings Incorporating Subsequent Exchange Act Documents by Reference.

     The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of
     determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each filing of
     the registrant's annual report pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of
     the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (and, where applicable, each filing of
     an employee benefit plan's annual report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the
     Securities Exchange Act of 1934) that is incorporated by reference in the
     registration statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement
     relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such
     securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide
     offering thereof.


(h)  Statement Required in Connection with Filing of Registration Statement on
     Form S-8.

     Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act
     of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of
     the registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the
     registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and
     Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as
     expressed in the Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a
     claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment
     by the registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or
     controlling person of the registrant in the successful defense of any
     action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or
     controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the
     registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been
     settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate
     jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against
     public policy as expressed in the Act and will be governed by the final
     adjudication of such issue.

                                      -5-
<PAGE>
 
                                   SIGNATURES
                                   ----------

The Registrant

     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the Registrant
certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the
requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this Registration
Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly
authorized, in the City of Minneapolis, State of Minnesota on April 2, 1997.

                        H. B. FULLER COMPANY


                        By /s/ Walter Kissling
                           ---------------------
                           Walter Kissling
                           Chief Executive Officer and President





                                      -6-
<PAGE>
 
     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this
Registration Statement has been signed on April 2, 1997, by the following
persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
 
Signature                                         Title
---------                                         -----

<S>                                   <C>
                *                     Chair, Board of Directors
--------------------------------
Anthony L. Andersen

                *                     Director
--------------------------------
Norbert R. Berg

                *                     Director
--------------------------------
Edward L. Bronstien, Jr.

                *                     Director
--------------------------------
Robert J. Carlson

                *                     Director
--------------------------------
Freeman A. Ford

                *                     Director
--------------------------------
Gail D. Fosler

                *                     Director
--------------------------------
Reatha Clark King

                *
--------------------------------      President, Chief Executive
Walter Kissling                       Officer and Director

                *                     Director
--------------------------------
John J. Mauriel, Jr.
</TABLE>

                                          -7-
<PAGE>
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
<S>                                   <C>                                   
                *                     Director
--------------------------------
Lee R. Mitau

                *                     Chief Technology Officer and Director
--------------------------------
Rolf Schubert

                *                     Director
--------------------------------
Lorne C. Webster

/s/ Jorge Walter Bolanos              Senior Vice President,
--------------------------------      Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer
Jorge Walter Bolanos

*By /s/ Richard C. Baker
--------------------------------      Attorney-in-fact
Richard C. Baker
</TABLE>

                                          -8-

<PAGE>
 

Form S-8 Exhibit Index
----------------------
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>


Exhibit
Number     Description                                                               Page
------     -----------                                                               ----
<S>        <C>                                                                       <C>
4.1        EFTEC Savings Plan.......................................................  10

5.1        Opinion of Mackall, Crounse & Moore, PLC as to the legality of 
           Common Stock of the Company..............................................  87

23.1       Consent of Price Waterhouse LLP..........................................  89

23.2       Consent of Mackall, Crounse & Moore, PLC (included in its opinion
           filed as Exhibit 5.1)

24.1       Powers of Attorney.......................................................  90

           The undersigned registrant will submit or has submitted the plan and
           any amendment thereto to the Internal Revenue Service ("IRS") in a
           timely manner and has made or will make all changes required by the
           IRS in order to qualify the plan.
</TABLE>

                                      -9-
[{"type": "S-8", "sequence": "1", "description": "FORM S-8", "secsgml_size_bytes": 16257}]
{"company-data": {"conformed-name": "FULLER H B CO", "cik": "0000039368", "assigned-sic": "2891", "irs-number": "410268370", "state-of-incorporation": "MN", "fiscal-year-end": "1130"}, "filing-values": {"form-type": "S-8", "act": "33", "file-number": "333-24703", "film-number": "97575997"}, "business-address": {"street1": "2400 ENERGY PK DR", "city": "ST PAUL", "state": "MN", "zip": "55108", "phone": "6126453401"}}
As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 7, 1997

                                                   Registration No. ____________
================================================================================
                                                                                
                      SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                            Washington, D.C. 20549

                                 ------------

                                   FORM S-8
            REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

                                 ------------

                              H.B. FULLER COMPANY
              (Exact name of issuer as specified in its charter)

          Minnesota                                    41-0268370
(State or other jurisdiction of           (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
incorporation or organization)

                1200 Willow Lake Blvd., St. Paul, MN 55110-5132
         (Address of principal executive offices, including Zip Code)

                              EFTEC Savings Plan
                           (Full title of the plan)

       Richard C. Baker                                 Copy to:
 Vice President, General Counsel
      & Corporate Secretary                     Elizabeth H. Cobb, Esq.
      H.B. Fuller Company                    Mackall, Crounse & Moore, PLC
      1200 Willow Lake Blvd.                       1400 AT&T Tower
      St. Paul, Minnesota 55110-5132              901 Marquette Avenue
      (Name and address of agent for service).  Minneapolis, Minnesota 55402

                                (612) 415-5900
         (Telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)

                        CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
================================================================================
   Title of         Amount         Proposed      Proposed Maxi-    Amount of
  Securities         to be         Maximum       mum Aggregate   Registration
    to be         Registered (1)  Offering Price   Offering          Fee
  Registered                      Per Share (2)     Price (2)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Common Stock,     100,000         $50.375         $5,037,500      $1,527   
$1.00 par value    shares
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(1) In addition, pursuant to Rule 416(c) under the Securities Act of 1933, this
    registration statement also covers an indeterminate amount of interest to be
    offered or sold pursuant to the employee benefit plan described herein.

(2) Estimated solely for the purpose of determining the registration fee
    pursuant to Rule 457(c), based upon the average of the high and low prices
    for such Common Stock on April 2, 1997, as reported on NASDAQ.

================================================================================
PART I

              INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE SECTION 10(a) PROSPECTUS

     Documents containing the information specified in this Part I will be sent
or given to eligible employees, as specified by Rule 428(b)(1). Such documents
need not be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission either as part of
this registration statement or as prospectuses or prospectus supplements
pursuant to Rule 424. Such documents and the documents incorporated by reference
in this registration statement pursuant to Item 3 of Part II, taken together,
constitute a prospectus that meets the requirements of Section 10(a) of the
Securities Act of 1933.

     In addition, if a "reoffer prospectus", is to be used in connection with
the resale of "control securities," such "reoffer prospectus" will be prepared
by the registrant in accordance with the requirements of Part I of Form S-3 and
will be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission in a post-effective
amendment to this registration statement on Form S-8.

Item 1.  Plan Information.

Item 2.  Registrant Information Employee Plan Annual Information.

                                    PART II

               INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT

Item 3.  Incorporation of Documents by Reference.

         The following documents are incorporated herein by reference:

     a.  Annual Report on Form 10-K of H.B. Fuller Company ("Company") for the
fiscal year ended November 30, 1996, as filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission pursuant to Sections 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, as amended ("Exchange Act").

     b.  All other reports filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange
Commission since November 30, 1996, pursuant to Sections 13 or 15(d) of the
Exchange Act.

     c.  Description of the Company's Common Stock, contained in the Company's
Registration Statement on Form 8-A filed on July 30, 1996 with the Securities
and Exchange Commission.

     d.  All documents filed by the Company and the plan pursuant to Sections
13(a), 13(c), 14 and 15(d) of the Exchange Act subsequent to the date of this
registration statement and prior to the filing

                                      -2-
of a post-effective amendment which indicates that all securities offered hereby
have been sold or which deregisters all such securities then remaining to be
sold.

Item 4.  Description of Securities.

     The Common Stock, par value $1.00 per share (the "Common Stock"), of the
Company offered pursuant to this registration statement is registered under
Section 12(g) of the Exchange Act. The description of the Company's Common Stock
is incorporated by reference pursuant to Item 3.c. above.

Item 5.  Interests of Named Experts and Counsel.

     Not applicable.

Item 6.  Indemnification of Directors and Officers.

     The Bylaws of the Company provide that officers and directors of the
Company and certain other shall be indemnified substantially to the same extent
permitted by Minnesota law. The Company also maintains a standard policy of
offices' and directors' liability insurance.

     Section 302A.521 of the Minnesota Statutes provides that a Minnesota
business corporation shall indemnify directors, officers, employees and agents
in certain circumstances and under certain conditions. In addition, the terms of
the plan provide for indemnification of ceratin directors, officers and
employees in connection with the administration of the plan.

     Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act
of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers or persons controlling the
Company pursuant to the foregoing provisions, the Company has been informed that
in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is
against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act of 1933 and is
therefore unenforceable.

Item 7.  Exemption from Registration Claimed.

      Not applicable.

                                      -3-
Item 8.  Exhibits.

Exhibit
Number   Description
------   -----------

4.1      EFTEC Savings Plan

5.1      Opinion of Mackall, Crounse & Moore, PLC as to the legality of Common
         Stock of the Company

23.1     Consent of Price Waterhouse LLP

23.2     Consent of Mackall, Crounse & Moore, PLC (included in its opinion
         filed as Exhibit 5.1)

24.1     Powers of Attorney

         The undersigned registrant will submit or has submitted the plan and
         any amendment thereto to the Internal Revenue Service ("IRS") in a
         timely manner and has made or will make all changes required by the IRS
         in order to qualify the plan.

Item 9.  Undertakings.

(a)  Rule 415 Offering.

     The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:

     (1)  To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a
          post-effective amendment to this registration statement:

          (i)   To include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the
                Securities Act of 1933;

          (ii)  To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after
                the effective date of the registration statement (or the most
                recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or
                in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the
                information set forth in the registration statement; and

          (iii) To include any material information with respect to the plan of
                distribution not previously disclosed in the registration
                statement or any material change to such information in the
                registration statement;

          Provided, however, that paragraphs (a)(1)(i) and (a)(1)(ii) do not
          apply if the registration statement is on Form S-3 or Form S-8, and
          the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment
          by those paragraphs is contained in periodic

                                      -4-
reports filed by the registrant pursuant to Section 13 or Section
          15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that are incorporated by
          reference in the registration statement.

     (2)  That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the
          Securities Act of 1933, each such post-effective amendment shall be
          deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities
          offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time
          shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

     (3)  To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any
          of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the
          termination of the offering.

(b)  Filings Incorporating Subsequent Exchange Act Documents by Reference.

     The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of
     determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each filing of
     the registrant's annual report pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of
     the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (and, where applicable, each filing of
     an employee benefit plan's annual report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the
     Securities Exchange Act of 1934) that is incorporated by reference in the
     registration statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement
     relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such
     securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide
     offering thereof.

(h)  Statement Required in Connection with Filing of Registration Statement on
     Form S-8.

     Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act
     of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of
     the registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the
     registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and
     Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as
     expressed in the Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a
     claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment
     by the registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or
     controlling person of the registrant in the successful defense of any
     action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or
     controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the
     registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been
     settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate
     jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against
     public policy as expressed in the Act and will be governed by the final
     adjudication of such issue.

                                      -5-
SIGNATURES
                                   ----------

The Registrant

     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the Registrant
certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the
requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this Registration
Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly
authorized, in the City of Minneapolis, State of Minnesota on April 2, 1997.

                        H. B. FULLER COMPANY

                        By /s/ Walter Kissling
                           ---------------------
                           Walter Kissling
                           Chief Executive Officer and President

                                      -6-
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this
Registration Statement has been signed on April 2, 1997, by the following
persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
Signature                                         Title
---------                                         -----
*                     Chair, Board of Directors
--------------------------------
Anthony L. Andersen

                *                     Director
--------------------------------
Norbert R. Berg

                *                     Director
--------------------------------
Edward L. Bronstien, Jr.

                *                     Director
--------------------------------
Robert J. Carlson

                *                     Director
--------------------------------
Freeman A. Ford

                *                     Director
--------------------------------
Gail D. Fosler

                *                     Director
--------------------------------
Reatha Clark King

                *
--------------------------------      President, Chief Executive
Walter Kissling                       Officer and Director

                *                     Director
--------------------------------
John J. Mauriel, Jr.
-7-
*                     Director
--------------------------------
Lee R. Mitau

                *                     Chief Technology Officer and Director
--------------------------------
Rolf Schubert

                *                     Director
--------------------------------
Lorne C. Webster

/s/ Jorge Walter Bolanos              Senior Vice President,
--------------------------------      Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer
Jorge Walter Bolanos

*By /s/ Richard C. Baker
--------------------------------      Attorney-in-fact
Richard C. Baker
-8-
Form S-8 Exhibit Index
----------------------
Exhibit
Number     Description                                                               Page
------     -----------                                                               ----
4.1        EFTEC Savings Plan.......................................................  10

5.1        Opinion of Mackall, Crounse & Moore, PLC as to the legality of 
           Common Stock of the Company..............................................  87

23.1       Consent of Price Waterhouse LLP..........................................  89

23.2       Consent of Mackall, Crounse & Moore, PLC (included in its opinion
           filed as Exhibit 5.1)

24.1       Powers of Attorney.......................................................  90

           The undersigned registrant will submit or has submitted the plan and
           any amendment thereto to the Internal Revenue Service ("IRS") in a
           timely manner and has made or will make all changes required by the
           IRS in order to qualify the plan.
-9-