Crown Honored With Nine 'Best in Metal' Awards

Monday, November 14, 2005

Shaped Aerosol Package Wins Supreme Gold Award

PHILADELPHIA, Nov 14, 2005 /PRNewswire-FirstCall via COMTEX News Network/ -- Crown Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: CCK) (Crown) announced today that many of its affiliated companies have been honored with 'Best in Metal' Awards from the Metal Packaging Manufacturers' Association (MPMA). In total, Crown was recognized with nine different awards, including the Supreme Gold Award, the competition's top honor.

This prize was awarded for an innovative, easy-to-grip shaped aerosol package developed by CROWN Aerosols Europe in cooperation with SICO, a French aerosol specialist. The container was created to launch a reformulated version of SICO's KING tire repair and inflator, which is compatible with all tires found on scooters, motorbikes, cars and 4-wheel drive vehicles. Crown and SICO worked together to design the exterior of the can, which features a graphic resembling tire treads that encircles its entire top and base, clearly communicating the purpose of the product to consumers. In addition, an image of a tire pressure gauge is embossed onto the front of the package, creating a striking asymmetrical shape.

In addition to the Supreme Gold Award, the SICO can also received the Silver Award in the Consumer Appeal Category and the Bronze Award in the Functionality Category. The attractive package was also the overall winner in the Aerosol Category.

CROWN Speciality Packaging also received multiple MPMA awards. Taking the Bronze Award in the New Products/New Market Applications category is a unique promotional package created for Intuix brand ink jet cartridges. The sleek tinplate canister features an easy-open lid and makes a definitive break from existing inkjet packaging trends.

Also recognized from Speciality Packaging was a striking and sophisticated tin designed for the launch of "Origins," a premium chocolate gift set for men, produced by renowned confectioner Thorntons. The overall winner in the Flour & Sugar Confectionery category, the book-shaped package is decorated in gold hues to present a tone of luxury and features an embossed globe to underscore the fact that the gift set contains premium chocolates from all over the world.

Winning the Giftware category were the containers developed by CROWN Speciality Packaging for Twinings' reserve range of Golden Tip teas. Aimed at the discerning tea drinker, the luxurious tins balance soft color with matte and gloss varnishes. CROWN Speciality Packaging also incorporated unique graphics into the design of a striking container for Nicolas Feuillatte champagne. Winning the Promotional category, the distinctive container is constructed from holographic polymer-coated steel, creating strong shelf appeal and reinforcing the company's sophisticated brand image.

CROWN Bevcan Europe & Middle East was the overall winner in the Alcoholic Beverages category for its stylish 50cl aluminum promotional can developed for the 1664 brand from Brasseries Kronenbourg, part of the Scottish & Newcastle Group. Designed by world-renowned contemporary designer Philippe Starck, the package is decorated with a new ink technology developed by Crown, which

creates a "pearl-like" quality when rotated under light. The resulting effect adds a luxury appeal to the already successful Kronenbourg brand.

Awarded annually, the Best in Metal Awards recognize excellence in metal packaging. Entries are judged on their consumer appeal, fitness for purpose, innovation, environmental friendliness, technical expertise and quality of surface graphics.

About Crown Holdings, Inc.

Crown Holdings, Inc., through its affiliated companies, is a leading supplier of packaging products to consumer marketing companies around the world. World headquarters are located in Philadelphia, PA.

For more information, contact: Thomas T. Fischer, Vice President, Investor Relations and Corporate Affairs; Tel: (215) 698-5266; Email: thomas.fischer@crowncork.com.

For investors: Timothy J. Donahue, Senior Vice President - Finance; Tel: (215) 698-5088.

SOURCE Crown Holdings, Inc.