Crown Cork & Seal Wins Can-of-the-Year Awards

Tuesday, May 8, 2001

SuperEnd(TM) and Self-Heating Can Bring Home the Gold

PHILADELPHIA, May 8 /PRNewswire/ -- Crown Cork & Seal Company, Inc. (NYSE: CCK; Paris Bourse) today announced that it has won six new industry awards for metal packaging innovations at the CanMaker Summit's Can-of-the- Year Awards. In recognition of its continued technical leadership, the Company received three times more awards than any other can maker.

The Company received gold awards for its patented SuperEnd(TM) beverage can end and for its self-heating can. SuperEnd(TM) is the most significant innovation in beverage can ends in decades because it utilizes 10 percent less metal while improving the quality of the end, through improved seams and increased strength. In addition, SuperEnd(TM) offers consumers significant advantages including easier opening and better pouring ability as well as enhanced appearance. It is already in commercial use by the Company's beer and beverage customers and is expected to become the new global standard.

The Thermotics self-heating can, manufactured and assembled by Crown Cork & Seal, increases the temperature of the can contents by 72 degrees Fahrenheit or 40 degrees Celsius in only three minutes. The container withstands retort and sterilization, and is therefore ideal for many hot foods, including coffee, tea, soups, sauces, and dairy-based products. The container is now in market testing in the UK with Nestle's Nescafe Original coffee.

In addition, the Company received silver awards for its newly designed 16-ounce Michelob shaped can and its Teisseire syrup container. The beverage can is contoured in the classic Michelob teardrop shape using the Company's patented two-piece beverage can shaping technology. It is the first shaped can Anheuser-Busch has introduced to distinguish its premium brand. The Teisseire container takes advantage of the Company's leading three-piece food can shaping technology. Its integrated plastic closure, also designed and produced by Crown Cork & Seal, compliments the stylized shaped of the container, providing exceptional shelf differentiation.

The Company also won bronze awards for its Spiked Silver-Arrow can and for its prototype self-chilling can, the IC Can . Another example of the Company's active-packaging developments, the IC Can will begin market testing this summer.

"We are very honored to receive these prestigious industry awards," said Dan Abramowicz, Executive Vice President of Corporate Technologies, the Company's Research and Development Division. "This recognition further demonstrates our commitment and capability to apply state-of-the-art technology toward developing innovative, appealing, and value-added packaging for our customers."

Crown Cork and Seal is the leading supplier of packaging products to consumer markets around the world. World headquarters is located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

To view the award winning cans, go to https://www.crowncork.com/investors

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SOURCE Crown Cork & Seal Company, Inc.
Web site: https://www.crowncork.com/investors/index_i.html https://www.crowncork.com
CONTACT: Dan Abramowicz, Executive Vice President - Corporate Technologies of Crown Cork & Seal Company, 215-698-5143, or https://www.crowncork.com/investors/index_i.html