Ball to Relocate Lublin, Poland, Beverage Can Manufacturing Line to Belgrade Plant

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Nov 10, 2010, 08:30 ET

BROOMFIELD, Colo., Nov. 10, 2010 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Ball Corporation (NYSE: BLL) today announced the company will relocate a metal beverage can production line originally intended for a plant in Lublin, Poland, to Ball's Belgrade, Serbia, plant. The line will be integrated into the existing Belgrade facility and is expected to begin production by the end of the first quarter of 2011.

"Relocating the production line to an existing manufacturing facility requires minimal capital and provides additional benefits from economies of scale," said Raymond J. Seabrook, executive vice president and chief operating officer, global packaging operations. "This line will enable us to supply the needs of our customers and meet growth rates in regional markets."

The new production line will initially manufacture approximately 750 million aluminum beverage cans a year and can be expanded as demand warrants. It will be the second line in the Belgrade plant, which opened in 2005 and employs approximately 140 people. Ball continues to evaluate options regarding the planned Lublin facility.

Ball Corporation is a supplier of high-quality packaging for beverage, food and household products customers, and of aerospace and other technologies and services, primarily for the U.S. government. Ball Corporation and its subsidiaries employ more than 14,000 people worldwide and reported 2009 sales of more than $7.3 billion including discontinued operations. For the latest Ball news and for other company information, please visit http://www.ball.com.

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 website 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; 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; 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 or tax rates. 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 recession and its effects on liquidity, credit risk, asset values and the economy; 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 climate change, or 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.

SOURCE Ball Corporation