Crown Cork & Seal's Ideal(TM) Closure Is Easier to Open

PHILADELPHIA, April 22 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Crown Cork & Seal Company, Inc. (NYSE: CCK) today announced breakthrough closure technology that combines the characteristics of metal and plastic to offer increased barrier performance, accommodate easier opening and support multiple filling processes. The new Ideal(TM) Closure is a unique hybrid of a metal disk, containing the elements that hold the barrier properties, and a plastic rim which supports tamper evidence and easy opening.

The Ideal's robust enhancements guard against oxygen ingress to extend product shelf life. The new closure's metal disk allows high impact brand promotion and its innovative plastic band enables use on plastic and glass containers.

EASY OPENING FOR SENIORS AND CHILDREN

The easy opening Ideal(TM) Closure features an increased surface area for consumers to grip and twist. Opening requires 25 percent less removal torque than standard closures, due to decreased friction between the liner and finish, enabling seniors, children, and arthritis sufferers to open containers with ease.

Its sequential opening process breaks the closure's outside band and then lifts the insert prior to releasing the vacuum. Breaking the band before the vacuum seal provides quick evidence of potential product tampering.

OXYGEN BARRIERS ENHANCED BY MODERN TECHNOLOGY

The Ideal(TM) Closure's patented Deep Channel Insert guards sealing areas from oxygen transmission. The new technology reduces oxygen ingression by over 50 percent. Shelf life is further enhanced with Crown's Oxygen Scavenging Plastisol, a scientific compound inside the channel liner that captures oxygen and disperses it away from the product.

IDEAL FOR MULTIPLE FILLING METHODS

"Packagers that rely on a variety of filling methods can maximize production output with the Ideal(TM) Closure's ability to withstand hot- filling, pasteurization, and retort," says Joseph R. Pierce, President of Crown's Closures Americas division. "The need to purchase a different closure for every application is eliminated."

In addition, the Ideal's cooling properties facilitate faster temperature reduction than standard plastic closures and are identical to metal closures. No investment in additional cooling equipment is required, nor is it necessary to adjust filling line speed.

MAXIMIZE OUTPUT AND DECREASE DOWNTIME

Ideal(TM) Closures support increased productivity with online dud detection capabilities, a time saving insurance policy for ensuring vacuum seal integrity. Quality seals are automatically verified with vacuum seal measurement systems, instead of employing off-line, labor intensive, quality control testing procedures.

"Packagers using both glass and plastic containers can maximize production uptime with the Ideal(TM) Closure," says Pierce. "Switching from glass to plastic does not sacrifice output. Lines may continue running without interruption; fillers and cappers don't have to be changed."

Crown Cork & Seal is a 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
CONTACT: Joseph R. Pierce, President - Closures Americas, +1-215-698-5100, or Investors: Timothy J. Donahue, Senior Vice President, Finance, +1-215-698-5100, both of Crown Cork & Seal