IMDA Recognizes Ball Corporation's Packaging Graphics Excellence at 2013 Conference
Association also names Ball's Hartwell Johnson Decorator of the Year, elects Janelle Harris as president
PR Newswire
BROOMFIELD, Colo.

BROOMFIELD, Colo., June 26, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- The International Metal Decorators Association recognized three Ball Corporation (NYSE: BLL) metal packaging designs in the "Excellence in Quality" awards competition at its annual conference in Bloomingdale, Ill. The association also named Hartwell Johnson, one of Ball's press operators, as Decorator of the Year and elected Janelle Harris, Ball's director of graphic services, as 2013-2015 IMDA president.

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20130626/LA38917)

"Leveraging our know-how and technological expertise to provide a competitive advantage is a key tenet of our Drive for 10 vision," said Jim Peterson, Ball's vice president of marketing and corporate affairs. "Our persistent focus on innovation enables us to provide industry-leading packaging and graphics that help build our customers' brands. The IMDA's recognition of our people and our packaging designs is an honor and a testament to this focus and our investments in technology and innovation over the years."

The IMDA's annual competition is judged by graphic art professionals and recognizes companies worldwide that offer dynamic, high quality metal decorated pieces using various decorating methods. Each entry is judged on printing quality, degree of difficulty, coating finish appearance, registration and required technical expertise. Ball's winning entries included:

  • Best of Category Award, Aerosol Can – Season Pan Coating
  • Award of Excellence, Two-Piece Can – Leinenkugel's Lemon Berry Shandy
  • Technical Achievement Award – Maryland Decorated Tin, Digital Printing

Hartwell Johnson, a press operator from Ball's Williamsburg, Va., plant, received a Decorator of the Year award. This award recognizes individuals who demonstrate a commitment to excellence, a team mentality, and an aptitude in creative thinking and problem solving.

The association also elected Janelle Harris as the first female president in its 79-year history. Harris joined IMDA in 1997 and began serving on the board of directors in 2006. She was secretary/treasurer from 2009 to 2011 and vice president/conference chair from 2011 to 2013. Harris successfully implemented in-house pre-press and plate making operations at Ball, and led the graphics team that developed the company's successful enhanced printing technology, Eyeris™.

About Ball Corporation
Ball Corporation supplies innovative, sustainable packaging solutions for beverage, food and household products customers, as well as aerospace and other technologies and services primarily for the U.S. government. Ball Corporation and its subsidiaries employ 15,000 people worldwide and reported 2012 sales of more than $8.7 billion. For more information, visit www.ball.com, or connect with us on Facebook or Twitter.

Forward-Looking Statements
This release contains "forward-looking" statements concerning future events and financial performance. Words such as "expects," "anticipates," "estimates" and similar expressions 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 in our Form 10-K, which are available on our website and at www.sec.gov. Factors that might affect: a) our packaging segments include fluctuation in product demand; availability and cost of raw materials; competitive packaging, pricing and substitution; changes in climate and weather; crop yields; competitive activity; failure to achieve productivity improvements or cost reductions; mandatory deposit or other restrictive packaging laws; changes in major customer or supplier contracts or loss of a major customer or supplier; political instability and sanctions; and changes in foreign exchange or tax rates; b) our aerospace segment include funding, authorization, availability and returns of government and commercial contracts; and delays, extensions and technical uncertainties affecting segment contracts; c) the company as a whole include those listed plus: changes in senior management; successful or unsuccessful acquisitions and divestitures; regulatory action or laws including tax, environmental, health and workplace safety, including U.S. FDA and other actions affecting products filled in our containers, or chemicals or substances used in raw materials or in the manufacturing process; technological developments and innovations; litigation; strikes; labor cost changes; rates of return on assets of the company's defined benefit retirement plans; pension changes; uncertainties surrounding the U.S. government budget, sequestration and debt limit; reduced cash flow; ability to achieve cost-out initiatives; interest rates affecting our debt.

SOURCE Ball Corporation