10.10.2008

Resealable beverage can wins prestigious prizes

A world's first from Ball receives numerous awards

Ratingen, 10th October 2008 - The resealable beverage can from Ball Packaging Europe, one of the leading beverage can makers in Europe, was given an enthusiastic reception in the industry: The container with the innovative end, the Ball Resealable End (BRE), carried off three awards at the Can of the Year Awards ceremony. In addition, the BRE won the Best in Metal Award 2008 and also has been nominated for the German Packaging Award.

This year's Can of the Year Awards ceremony organised by the trade journal The Canmaker took place on 29th September in Warsaw (Poland).  The company was presented with the Can of the Year Award 2008 for its world's first, the resealable beverage can.  This Ball innovation also secured two further prizes: in the category 'Two-Piece Beverage Cans’ it won the Can of the Year Award in gold, in the category 'Ends, Caps and Closures' the award in silver. Having received three awards in total, Ball Packaging Europe became the winner of the evening.

But that’s not all: at the end of September, the beverage container also received the 'Best in Metal Award 2008' presented by the MPMA (Metal Packaging Manufacturers Association).  Added to that it has been nominated for the German Packaging Award, which will be conferred at the BRAU Beviale trade fair in Nuremberg on 12th November.  At this trade fair, Ball Packaging Europe will also be presenting other innovations apart from the resealable end, such as the Pure Brand End, a completely printed can end.

The resealable beverage can scores with an innovative aluminium end, the Ball Resealable End (BRE).  Integrated in this end is a flat opening mechanism which can be opened with a slight twist and resealed again. This enables the new container to retain its classic shape including all the logistical advantages and still offer the convenience benefit of resealability.  The recyclability of the can is not affected because the amount of plastic in the end is minimal. Coca-Cola in France is already using the can for its energy drink "Burn" which is obtainable from retailers in 500 ml cans.
The Ball Resealable End is the result of close collaboration between Ball Packaging Europe, Coca-Cola and Bound2B B.V., a company based in the Netherlands. Antonio Perra, the director and shareholder of Bound2B B.V., invented the resealable end and jointly further developed it with Ball Packaging Europe ready for marketing.

Ball Packaging Europe
Ball Packaging Europe is one of the leading beverage can makers in Europe with 2,700 employees at 12 production sites in Germany, France, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Poland and Serbia. The company is a subsidiary of Ball Corporation USA, which produces high-quality metal and plastic packaging for the beverage, food and household goods industries. In addition Ball Corporation supplies aerospace technology and other technologies and services, predominantly to the US-American government. Ball Corporation and its subsidiaries worldwide employee more than 15,000 staff and reported turnover of 7.39 billion US dollars in 2007.

Forward-Looking Statements
This release contains "forward-looking" statements concerning future events and financial performance. Words such as “expects,” “anticipates,” “estimates” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Such statements are subject to risks and uncertainties which could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied. The company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Key risks and uncertainties are summarized in filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including Exhibit 99.2 in our Form 10-K, which are available at our Web site and at www.sec.gov. Factors that might affect our packaging segments include fluctuation in product demand and preferences; availability and cost of raw materials, including recent significant increases in resin, steel, aluminum and energy costs, and the ability to pass such increases on to customers; competitive packaging availability, pricing and substitution; changes in climate and weather; crop yields; competitive activity; failure to achieve anticipated productivity improvements or production cost reductions, including our beverage can end project; mandatory deposit or other restrictive packaging laws; changes in major customer or supplier contracts or loss of a major customer or supplier; and changes in foreign exchange rates, tax rates and activities of foreign subsidiaries. Factors that might affect our aerospace segment include: funding, authorization, availability and returns of government and commercial contracts; and delays, extensions and technical uncertainties affecting segment contracts. Factors that might affect the company as a whole include those listed plus: accounting changes; changes in senior management; the current global credit squeeze; successful or unsuccessful acquisitions, joint ventures or divestitures; integration of recently acquired businesses; regulatory action or laws including tax, environmental, health and workplace safety, including in respect of chemicals or substances used in raw materials or in the manufacturing process; governmental investigations; technological developments and innovations; goodwill impairment; antitrust, patent and other litigation; strikes; labor cost changes; rates of return projected and earned on assets of the company's defined benefit retirement plans; pension changes; reduced cash flow; interest rates affecting our debt; and changes to unaudited results due to statutory audits or other effects.

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