Alcoa Packaging & Graham Packaging Announce Preferred Partnership Agreement to Provide Enhanced Container Solutions

RICHMOND, Va.--Alcoa Packaging, a business of Alcoa Packaging & Consumer and a leading manufacturer of printed flexible packaging and custom thermoforming, announced today the formation of a preferred partnership agreement with Graham Packaging, manufacturer of customized blow molded plastic containers based in York, Pennsylvania. Through the preferred partnership agreement, both firms can provide total container solutions to their customers as the complementary capabilities of Alcoa Packaging's award-winning printed shrink sleeve labels are combined with those of Graham Packaging's blown containers for the branded food and beverage, household, specialty, and automotive markets. Now both firms, with co-promotional sales, marketing and service teams, can move customers from concept to market with containers and flexible packaging solutions that will increase shelf visibility, brand awareness and functionality.

"We are pleased to offer our industry-leading shrink sleeve capabilities with the full product line of one of North America's largest and innovative container manufacturers, Graham Packaging. This partnership agreement creates the opportunity for market growth and new market entry for the benefit of our customers. Now, customers of both Alcoa and Graham can benefit by having one source to turn to for innovative packaging and branding solutions," stated Bimal Kalvani, president, Alcoa Packaging.

"The pairing of our respective companies' capabilities provides consumer goods manufacturers a complete, bundled packaging solution from the design stage to final product supply," remarked Mark Leiden, Vice President Global Marketing, Graham Packaging. "Providing trained sales and service personnel from both firms to support these product lines increases our customers' ease of obtaining uniquely designed, customized containers with high print quality shrink sleeves that will grab the consumers' attention as they shop the crowded retail aisles."

Alcoa Packaging is a proven leader in the printed shrink label industry, providing design services and up to 10 color rotogravure and flexographic printing on a variety of shrink sleeve substrates, superior on-site technical service and management of inventory logistics for multiple account locations with limited turnaround time. Alcoa Packaging continues to be innovative with its shrink sleeve label offerings by continually reviewing new substrates and printing and ink technologies that provide optimum performance.

Graham Packaging utilizes state-of-the-art technology to provide customized packages that are innovative and unique. Graham designers utilize the latest CAD systems and software to develop renderings, drawings, and volumetrically-correct 3-D computer models. Graham also provides complete prototyping support with models, castings, molds, and sample containers from its own R&D laboratories. Graham's technologists choose the latest molding systems available for package production. Graham is also a world leader in customized package manufacturing. Graham prides itself on developing innovative manufacturing arrangements that integrate uniquely with customers' filling operations. This provides Graham's customers with the ultimate in service, quality, and lowest total systems cost.

Details on the preferred partner agreement were not disclosed.