Date:  July 7, 2009

EXAL CORPORATION WINS BUSINESS INNOVATION OF THE YEAR AWARD
Aluminum container manufacturer takes top award at New York City event

(Youngstown, OH) Exal Corporation, the world-leading manufacturer of extruded aluminum packaging, has earned top honors at the 2009 American Business Awards in the category of Business Innovation of the Year.  Exal was presented with a Stevie® Award for companies larger than 100 employees during ceremonies in New York City on June 22, 2009 for it’s evolutionary Coil-To-Can (C2C) aluminum container manufacturing technology.  Exal’s C2C technology was also a finalist in two other categories:  New Product or Service of the Year – Manufacturing, and People’s Choice Product or Service.

C2C is an innovative hybridized technology that marries the manufacturing speed and light weighting of standard (drawn & ironed) beverage can technology with the dynamic shaping technology originally available only with heavier walled extruded aluminum containers.  Because of their lighter weight, containers made via C2C use less fossil fuel throughout the logistics chain, producing fewer transport-related carbon dioxide emissions than heavier packaging formats.  Exal’s C2C process also utilizes post-consumer recycled aluminum as a raw material and  finished C2C containers are 100% recyclable.  It is widely understood that aluminum’s sustainability is dependent on consumer recycling as it requires 5% of the energy to manufacture a given amount of recycled aluminum compared to the creation of a like amount of virgin aluminum.  The post consumer content of C2C bottles varies from 50%-60% dependent on actual consumer recycling rates.  Because the C2C process incorporates high-speed production lines less energy usage per container is required.
 

Exal’s C2C technology was commercialized in 2008 with the production of aluminum bottles for ESKA Still and Sparkling Water marketed by Eaux Vives Water Inc. and Octane 7.0, a vodka/guarana based drink, marketed by Blue Spike Beverage.

“We are extremely pleased to be recognized for our innovative C2C technology investment that offers marketers the ability to build their brands with distinct aluminum container designs in a sustainable and cost effective manner,” commented Exal’s President and CEO Delfin Gibert.  “We see a very bright future for this technology.  With the commitment of the Exal team we are uniquely poised to meet the needs of consumer packaged goods marketers.” 
 
Described by the New York Post as, “the Business World’s own Oscars” the American Business Awards, now in its seventh year, drew 2,600 entries in over 40 categories from companies of all sizes and in virtually every industry.  More than 200 executives across the country participated in the judging process.  Additional information on the awards is available at www.stevieawards.com.

Exal Corporation is the world’s leading manufacturer of extruded aluminum packaging.  Exal also offers innovative coil-based metal packaging container options in North America and Europe and is the leading independent contract manufacturer of aerosol products and liquids in Latin America.  The company’s manufacturing facilities are located in Youngstown, OH, Argentina, Netherlands, France, Switzerland, Poland and Mexico.  Learn more about Exal at www.exal.com.

For more information on Exal's products and services, please contact:

Michael Clark
Sales Director - Beverage Containers
beveragesales@exal.com

Susan Chupak
Sales Director - Aerosol Containers 
aerosolsales@exal.com

Exal Corporation
One Performance Place
Youngstown, OH 44502
Tel:  (330) 744-2267
Fax:  (330) 744-1124
www.exal.com

For further press information, please contact:

Ed Martin       
Exal Corporation
18 Primrose Court
Norwalk, CT 06854
Tel:  (203) 852-1962
Fax:  (203) 852-0546
E-mail:  ed.martin@exal.com