BLL Ball Corp

Ball Introduces New Promotional Tabs BROOMFIELD, Colo., June 27 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Ball Corporation (NYSE:BLL) is launching a new advertising medium that allows beverage can tabs and ends to carry customized messaging, bringing added value to the beverage can. The laser-incised tab is a solid, colored tab that provides space for a small "billboard" for brand identity, advertising or promotional messaging. (Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20050627/LAM006) The use of state-of-the-art computer and laser technology provides messaging flexibility, making it possible to engrave letters, numbers, drawings or symbols on the tabs. The laser-engraved tab's technical performance is equal to that of existing tabs. "Laser-incised tabs provide our customers with brand identification at the moment of consumption," says Bob Tettero, director of marketing at Ball. Ball is the largest manufacturer of specialty beverage cans in North America, and the exclusive manufacturer of laser-incised tabs for this market under license from CanDO International Ltd., the holder of the U.S. patent and various foreign patents for this technology. Laser-incised tabs are a new addition to Ball's current specialty can and promotional tab offerings, which already include a large variety of can sizes and colored tab options. "Beverage cans are increasingly used in growing, upscale categories such as energy drinks, wine and wellness beverages, where product differentiation and image are key concerns," says Tettero. "Because they convey unique messaging in a distinctive and polished way, laser-incised tabs are a perfect fit for categories like these." Ball Corporation is a supplier of high-quality metal and plastic packaging products, primarily for the beverage and food industries. The company also owns Ball Aerospace & Technologies Corp., which develops sensors, spacecraft, systems and components for government and commercial markets. The company employs more than 13,200 people and reported 2004 sales of $5.4 billion. CanDO International Limited is a private global corporation capitalizing on unique and untapped applications in product and process innovation. Joseph W. Stasiuk, Managing Director, and CanDO are the owner and exclusive licensor of multinational device and process patents and trademarks, including laser incised tabs for beverage and food can applications worldwide. Forward-Looking Statements The information in this news release contains "forward-looking" statements and other statements concerning future events and financial performance. Words such as "expects," "anticipates," "estimates," and variations of same and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking 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 the company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, especially in Exhibit 99.2 in the most recent Form 10-K. These filings are available at our Web site and at http://www.sec.gov/. Factors that might affect our packaging segments include fluctuation in consumer and customer demand; availability and cost of raw materials, particularly the 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; fruit, vegetable and fishing yields; industry productive capacity and competitive activity; lack of productivity improvement or production cost reductions; the German mandatory deposit or other restrictive packaging laws; changes in major customer or supplier contracts or loss of a major customer or supplier; international business risks, including foreign exchange rates, tax rates and activities of foreign subsidiaries; and the effect of LIFO accounting on earnings. Factors that might affect aerospace segment include: funding, authorization and availability of government contracts and the nature and continuation of those contracts; and technical uncertainty associated with segment contracts. Factors that could affect the company as a whole include those listed plus: acquisitions, joint ventures or divestitures; regulatory action or laws including environmental and workplace safety; governmental investigations; goodwill impairment; antitrust and other litigation; strikes; boycotts; increases in employee benefits and labor costs; rates of return projected and earned on assets of the company's defined benefit retirement plans; reduced cash flow; interest rates affecting our debt; and changes to unaudited results due to statutory audits or management's evaluation of the company's internal control over financial reporting. http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20050627/LAM006 http://photoarchive.ap.org/ DATASOURCE: Ball Corporation CONTACT: Investors, Ann. T. Scott, +1-303-460-3537, , or Media, Jennifer Hoover, +1-303-460-5541, , both of Ball Corporation; or Joseph W. Stasiuk of CanDO International Limited, +1-345-926-2476, Web site: http://www.ball.com/

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