Crown’s Advanced Printing and Lithography Strengthens Brand Identity and Builds Consumer Loyalty

Illinois Lithography Center Applies Visual Enhancement Technologies to Aerosol Cans

Philadelphia, PA – May 28, 2014. CROWN Aerosol Packaging North America, a business unit of Crown Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: CCK) (Crown) (www.crowncork.com), is strengthening its customer’s brands by combining the company’s graphic design expertise with advanced lithographic printing capabilities. Facilities such as Crown’s Midwest Graphics Lithography Center in Aurora, Illinois not only offer consultation on visual development and implementation, together with a wide range of technologies designed to enhance the look and feel of the final package, but also give customers the opportunity to work directly with in-house technicians to optimize graphics and explore options to streamline package development.

Crown first works closely with customers to turn imagery and initial designs into print-ready versions, providing both file preparation and press plate production services. Brands can choose from a broad portfolio of visual enhancement technologies including 6-color and 4-color printing, different base coats with white or metallic finishes, and a selection of UV inks in any color, conventional and gloss and matte varnish finishes.

Crown also works with brands to meet specific color requests or customize existing palettes. In-house ink technicians are available to work with brands to identify and develop new colors to distinguish products on store shelves by mixing inks together to create different shades and color variations. This ability to customize and adjust colors onsite also helps overcome the challenge of matching virtual mock-ups with the final design printed on aerosol packaging. Once a color selection has been made, Crown collaborates with the brand’s graphics team to provide a series of design solutions until both parties are satisfied with the finished product.

“We invite customers to visit our facilities during the first development runs so that they can see for themselves how the final package will look and feel. This leads to a quicker turn-around time, allowing our customers to provide feedback on the spot and our team to make any needed adjustments to the design to make sure it’s perfect,” stated Andy Bolton, President, CROWN Aerosol Packaging North America. “Ultimately, this process gives brands the flexibility they are looking for to control the final printed product, while still being able to take advantage of the added value that Crown’s expertise and experience affords.”

Customers are also able to choose from a wide variety of print offerings that can be customized to meet their specific needs. Utilizing a combination of designs printed on a single plate, for example, is ideal for initiatives that feature several styles of packaging that need to be distributed as a selection to individual retailers. This approach eliminates the need for contract fillers to sort by hand, saving significant amounts of time and labor as well as ensuring that retailers receive a variety of product within a specific order for a particular design.

One such example is the work Crown has done with WD-40, both for a special military collectable series and the company’s packaging series featuring hot-rod designer Chip Foose. For these promotional series, individual retailers received products with a variety of designs, allowing customers the option to select or collect a particular design.

About Crown Holdings, Inc.
Crown Holdings, Inc., through its subsidiaries, is a leading supplier of packaging products to consumer marketing companies around the world. World headquarters are located in Philadelphia, PA. For more information, visit www.crowncork.com.

For more information, contact:

In the United States: Melissa Quintana, Marketing Manager; Tel: +1 (215) 698-5217; Email: melissa.quintana@crowncork.com.

In Europe: Véronique Curulla, Marketing Director Tel: +33 6 86 77 42 48; Email: veronique.curulla@eur.crowncork.com. For editorial inquiries: Thomas T. Fischer, Vice President Investor Relations and Corporate Affairs; Tel: 1 (215) 552-3720; Email:thomas.fischer@crowncork.com.  

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