Risdon-AMS' 'CRAVE' Package Wins FiFi Award for Technological Breakthrough of the Year

PHILADELPHIA, June 18 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Risdon-AMS, an affiliated company of Crown Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: CCK), has won the FiFi award for its innovative packaging system designed for CRAVE(TM) CALVIN KLEIN. The award was presented in the `Technological Breakthrough of the Year' category. Steve Pearlman, Risdon-AMS president, accepted the FiFi, accompanied by Jim Bigham, director of sales and marketing for closures, and design manager, Ralph DeVito. The presentation ceremonies were held June 9, 2003 at Avery Fisher Hall in New York City. Four other packaging companies were nominated in the category.

"This is an exciting experience and a high honor for Risdon-AMS and for our customer, Unilever Cosmetics International," said Pearlman. "We are thrilled to be recognized for our expertise, ingenuity and creativity in developing this truly breakthrough package. I want to thank all my colleagues at Risdon-AMS, who accepted the challenge and made it possible. Ralph DeVito took a simple design sketch from Fabien Baron and turned it into a reality. Jim Bigham oversaw the multifaceted project and made it all happen under a demanding schedule."

In addition to CRAVE, Risdon-AMS was recognized at the ceremonies for its contribution to the `Women's Packaging of the Year' winner, `Vera Wang.' Risdon-AMS supplied the distinctive cap and collar for the upscale fragrance from Unilever. The electroplated collar features a special silver finish (Silver E Plus) created by Risdon-AMS. The striking finish mimics the look and patina of sterling silver, complementing the overall, elegant appearance of the package.

The CRAVE package presented two unique challenges for Risdon-AMS: an entirely new fragrance mechanism had to be produced because of the aesthetic requirement for having a single round hole where the actuator orifice exits the case. Traditionally, designed spray-through packages use an elongated hole that allows the actuator to move up and down in the opening, as the spray is dispensed. This new challenge was overcome by creating a mechanism that combines design simplicity and basic physics with movement that pushes the bottle and pump towards a stationary actuator.

Secondly, the design called for a side-actuated elastomer (TPE), soft- touch "trigger." Risdon-AMS engineered the TPE material to allow the trigger, which is initially molded flat, to conform itself exactly to the round-shaped outer case profile when installed. This innovative, mechanically assembled trigger makes for a seamless transition from case to trigger, ensuring that the smooth contours of the package are undisturbed.

The CRAVE spray packages are produced at Risdon-AMS' Danbury, Conn., and Mozzate, Italy, plants. The Vera Wang cap and collar are produced at the company's Marolles, France, facility.

The annual FiFi Awards are presented by The Fragrance Foundation, New York City, honoring excellence and creative achievement in the fragrance industry.

Risdon-AMS is a global manufacturer of primary packaging components including fragrance and cosmetics caps and closures, eye care products, lipsticks and lip gloss. For more information, please contact Risdon-AMS, 1100 Buckingham Street, Watertown, CT 06795; Tel.: (860) 417-1100; Fax: (860) 417-1101.

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, PA.

SOURCE Crown Holdings, Inc.