Crown Cork & Seal Produces the 10 Billionth Lightweight, Easy-Open SuperEnd(TM)

Tuesday, October 22, 2002

Press ReleaseSource: Crown Cork & Seal Company, Inc.

Tuesday October 22, 10:01 am ET

PHILADELPHIA, Oct. 22 -- Crown Cork & Seal Company, Inc. (NYSE: CCK) announced that the 10 billionth SuperEnd(TM), an enhanced beverage can end that reduces aluminum use by 10 percent, has been shipped. The lightweight end significantly reduces material costs, saving high-volume beverage producers hundreds of thousands of dollars annually. To date, beverage producers have converted over 70 filling lines in North America and South Africa to SuperEnd(TM), and have significantly reduced their costs.

Crown's 202-diameter SuperEnd(TM) enhances package integrity and improves performance. SuperEnd's(TM) patented design provides increased panel strength, making it 8-10 psi more buckle resistant than standard 202 ends, and ensuring integrity throughout pasteurization, shipping, and handling.

SuperEnd(TM) is easy and cost-effective to implement, without capital investment. SuperEnd(TM) conversions consist of normal seamer wear parts such as chucks, rolls, knockout pads, and cap pushers. Beverage producers benefit from additional marketing advantages such as superior "finger access" to the easy-open pull-tab, improved pourability, and enhanced drinkability.

"The lightweight SuperEnd(TM) is the next global standard in beverage can ends," said John Conway, Chairman of the Board, President, & CEO of Crown Cork & Seal. "Shipment of the 10 billionth SuperEnd(TM) is testimony to the advantages of this innovation. We are excited to have reached this landmark event and proud to help beverage producers substantially reduce material costs."

SuperEnd(TM) will be available in Europe in early 2003, enabling European beverage producers to achieve similar cost reduction benefits.

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

 

Source: Crown Cork & Seal Company, Inc.