The 2002 annual report highlights Caraustar's achievements in these areas and reflects its positioning for a return to more favorable industrial market conditions. This is reinforced by the results of the company's investment in a variety of new products, processes and expansion strategies.

Focusing on the Customer

As one of the largest and most cost-effective manufacturers and converters of recycled paperboard and packaging products in the U.S., Caraustar maintains a mill system capable of producing a broad range of recycled paperboard grades to meet the specialized needs of a wide variety of customer applications. The company's converting operations participate in most segments of recycled paperboard and packaging converting. This combination of extensive paperboard manufacturing and diverse converting capabilities enhanced Caraustar's performance in the delivery of innovative customer solutions in 2002.

By identifying and meeting customer needs, Caraustar furthered the development of several innovative solutions, which allowed the company to move forward in maximizing its utilization of capabilities. Many of these solutions, which represent new products that are positioned in growth markets, were developed using Fourdrinier paperboard forming technology.

Some of these products include InverFreez®, a recycled alternative for virgin substrates used in frozen and refrigerated food packaging; InverTop®, a recycled, lightweight kraft top sheet used in high-graphic, mini-flute packaging for bulk-packaged products; and recycled, lightweight gypsum facing paper used in the production of gypsum wallboard.