Crown Cork & Seal Develops New Packaging for Arizona Beverages

PHILADELPHIA, Aug. 14 /PRNewswire/ -- Constar Inc., a subsidiary of Crown Cork & Seal Company, Inc. (NYSE: CCK; Paris Bourse) and AriZona Beverages, maker of Arizona Ice Teas, today announced an agreement to develop a dramatic new 42 ounce plastic (PET) bottle in the signature Arizona long neck shape. The long neck PET bottle is an industry first for a hot filled beverage and is available nationally in select Arizona brands.

Constar developed sophisticated proprietary technology in three areas to create the long necked PET bottle. First, the distinctive long neck was developed to work with the hot-fill packing process. Second, a new, double- sided grip feature was designed for easier pouring and third, a unique "push up" feature in the base was created to optimize bottle orientation through the labeling system. Patents are pending on these three new features.

"This combination of innovative technology and project speed enabled Arizona to capitalize on consumer demand for appealing plastic packaging and to maintain its leading position in the multi-serve ready-to-drink tea market," commented Doug Robinson, Vice President - Constar Marketing. "Constar's ability to meet Arizona's technical needs and time demands demonstrates our commitment and capability to apply state-of-the-art technology commercializing high quality, value added packaging for our customers."

As an important enhancement to the innovative new package, Arizona will soon transition from monolayer PET to Constar's patented StarShield(R) system. This multi-layer, oxygen scavenging bottle construction incorporates Constar's patented Oxbar(TM) oxygen scavenger for unsurpassed product protection.

Constar implemented its "Rapid Response" program which accelerates product development in order to meet AriZona's stringent time demand. Rapid Response produced unit samples in two different gram weights in seven days, and following customer approval, completed production molds in seven weeks.

Crown Cork & Seal is the leading supplier of packaging products to consumer marketing companies around the world. World headquarters are located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

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SOURCE Crown Cork & Seal Company, Inc.
Web site: http: //www.crowncork.com
AP PhotoExpress Network: PRN1 PRN Photo Desk, +1-888-776-6555 or +1-212-782-2840
CONTACT: Doug Robinson, Vice President - Marketing of Constar, +1-215-552-3722; or Investors, Timothy J. Donahue, Senior Vice President of Finance of Crown Cork & Seal, +1-215-698-5088
CAPTION: PHTU037 CROWN CORK & SEAL DEVELOPS NEW PACKAGING FOR ARIZONA BEVERAGES Arizona long neck PET. (PRNewsFoto)[JL] PHILADELPHIA, PA USA 08/14/2001