With approximately $3 billion in annual sales, Alcan Packaging is one of the world's largest specialty packaging groups. We rank among the leaders in supplying most consumer packaging markets such as food, pharmaceutical, tobacco and cosmetics/personal care. We are both a materials supplier and a packaging converter with 84 plants in 14 countries. On a materials basis, we use plastic and paper in flexible and rigid packaging for the food, pharmaceutical and cosmetics sector, while we use aluminum in foil, foil products and aerosol cans.

Food Flexibles Europe and Brazil
This sector of Alcan Packaging accounts for 20% of the group's revenues and has 11 plants in seven countries. Principal activities include the printing, coating and laminating of plastic film, aluminum foil and paper into primary packaging material for food manufacturers. Manufacturing processes include rotogravure and flexographic printing, lamination using adhesives, wax or plastic extrusion, and various coating processes to add barrier properties, sealability or gloss.

Food Flexibles and Containers North America
Similar to its European counterpart, this sector of Alcan Packaging accounts for 15% of the group's revenues and has 11 plants in the U.S. and Canada. In addition to flexible packaging, this unit also produces rigid plastic, trays for food catering and labels for containers.

Pharmaceutical, Cosmetics and Personal Care
With 43 facilities in ten countries, the Pharmaceutical and Cosmetics business sector accounts for some 30% of Alcan's packaging revenues. Principal products in 2001 included blister lidding, strip packs, pouches, barrier form packs, flexible tube laminate, plastic containers and closures, molded glass bottles, glass tubing and ampoules, folding cartons and contract packaging services. In addition, slugs and aerosol cans, mostly made out of aluminum, are produced for the personal care market.

Specialty Packaging
This sector, with 12 plants in seven countries, represents approximately 12% of the group's revenues primarily by providing cigarette cartons to the tobacco industry. Specialty Packaging also produces steel cans for the food and pet food industries and decorated containers for other applications. In addition, this sector provides various finishing services to the printing industry, including film laminating, varnishing and foil blocking.

Foil Rolling/Industrial Products
This sector has seven plants in Germany, the U.K. and Switzerland and represents approximately 13% of the group's revenues. Products include plain, coated and laminated foils for flexible packaging converters, food container manufacturers, beverage carton producers and tobacco packagers.

Containers Europe
This sector, with five plants in three countries, represents approximately 10% of the group's revenues. The lightweight aluminum containers, which have excellent barrier properties, are used for food and pet food packaging.