Crown Holdings Virtually Sweeps MPMA Awards

PHILADELPHIA, Oct. 28 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Crown Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: CCK) announced today that many of its affiliated companies (Crown) have been recognized with prestigious Best in Metal Awards from the Metal Packaging Manufacturers Association (MPMA). The awards ceremony was held on Friday, September 19, 2003 at The Roof Gardens, Kensington, London.

Crown's Specialty Packaging affiliate was recognized with multiple awards, including the Supreme Gold Award for a visually striking, embossed collector's tin for Morrison Bowmore Distillers' Islay Single Malt Scotch Whiskey. This tin is the latest addition to the range of Bowmore Legend collectors tins and depicts the Legend of the Sea Dragon, one of the Isle of Islay's greatest tales, conveying the quality, history and mystery of the Bowmore brand. It incorporates groundbreaking design and multi-level embossing to create a powerful marketing tool. This package was also recognized with a Gold Award in the crowded Consumer Appeal category, demonstrating the extent to which marketers are drawing on metal's inherent qualities to enhance brands and differentiate products.

Specialty Packaging was also honored with a Gold Award in the Flour & Sugar Confectionery category and a Bronze Award in the Functionality category for a highly unique round container developed for the launch of Altoids Sours(R) candies. Created to reflect the new candy's bold identity, the package's steel composition conveys a level of sophistication ideally suited for adult consumers. The logo is precision-embossed onto the lid, reminiscent of antique high-end styles. The strong color scheme clearly identifies each flavor -- yellow on silver for Citrus or orange on silver for Tangerine. At 78 mm in external diameter and 25.4 mm overall height, the package fits conveniently inside the consumer's hand. The lid closes securely, ensuring product freshness and moisture resistance. At the same time, it is easy to open with a gentle squeeze of the thumb and forefinger.

Crown's European Beverage affiliate won a Gold Award in the Alcoholic Beverages category for its distinctively shaped Heineken 'Identity' can. The innovative can was created as part of a brand relaunch in the UK and is key to the positioning of a new premium strength 5 percent alcohol by volume beer being brewed in Holland. Produced using Crown's patented blow molding shaping technology, the 33cl aluminum container features a raised profile of the Heineken logo. The 'Identity' can is also available in several other European markets, including France and Greece, to add differentiation in the market and to reinforce Heineken's image as an innovative, premium brand. Crown also developed the award-winning family of Keg Cans™ for Heineken, demonstrating that shaping technology can be used for premium packaging or as a highly effective promotional tool.

A Gold Award was given to Crown's European affiliate in the Functionality category for the new Eole III™ Curved Tab™ innovation, designed to make canned products even easier to open. The Curved Tab™ advancement incorporates innovative ergonomics and easy-open end technology to improve general openability and meet the needs of specific consumer groups, such as senior citizens and the physically impaired. The new tab adds a specially engineered curvature that makes it easier to place a thumb or finger under the tabs of Eole III™ easy open ends. It is also more accommodating for existing special tool aids designed for physically challenged individuals to open the cans. The new curved tabs are composed of 100% steel, and are fully recyclable. They are compatible with existing canning, filling, closing and processing equipment, apart from small modifications to some customized end feeding systems, making implementation simple for manufacturers and packagers.

Also recognized in the Food category was Crown's distinctively shaped Stockmeyer Soups package. The "bulging" cauldron soup can maximizes brand impact and clearly differentiates the product on supermarket shelves. At the same time, the 800 g cans provide superior protection for the soups during distribution.

Crown's Aerosol Europe won the Bronze Award in the New Product or New Market Applications category for its Cuprinol Wood Finish aerosol product line. Designed to preserve wood on garden furniture, sheds and other similar applications, Cuprinol was previously applied by brush or pump-action high- pressure spray applicators. The new aerosol packaging allows for easy, efficient product dispensing.

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.

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, Pennsylvania.

SOURCE Crown Holdings, Inc.