Infinite Possibilities

In 2002, Caraustar's holiday gift can was distributed to approximately
10,000 customers, suppliers and industry analysts. It contained a set
of four star-shaped coasters, a three-dimensional desktop calendar and
a 100-piece jigsaw puzzle. The can also was sealed using a printed lid
and was packaged in a corrugated mailer.

Caraustar designed its "Infinite Possibilities" marketing theme and
produced the holiday gift can and its contents as a promotional vehicle
to demonstrate the versatile capabilities and manufacturing diversity
of 13 of its facilities.

 giftcanB
Conceptual Design, Graphic Design
and Prepress
Cleveland Digital Imaging Services

Composite Can Paperboard
Cincinnati Paperboard

Composite Can Manufacturing
Stevens Point Composite Container Plant

Puzzle Paperboard
Carotell Paperboard  

 Puzzle Manufacturing
Carolina Converting

Calendar Paperboard
Rittman Paperboard

Calendar and Coaster Cutting Dies
Grand Rapids Laser Die

Calendar Printing and Manufacturing
Versailles Carton Plant

Coaster Corrugated Top Sheet
Sprague Paperboard

 Coaster Printing and Manufacturing
Mentor Carton Plant

Coaster UV Coating
Ashland Carton Plant

Corrugated Mailer Printing and Manufacturing
Hunt Valley Container and Carton Plant

Project Contract Packaging and Fulfillment
Palmer Contract Packaging Plant
 
Both InverFreez and InverTop provide the customer with cost-effective alternatives to virgin board and each has allowed Caraustar to enter into and effectively compete in two markets dominated by virgin paperboard.

Savings with Fourdrinier Technology

Premier Boxboard Limited (PBL), Caraustar's joint venture with Inland Paperboard, also utilizes the Fourdrinier process to manufacture a strong, lightweight, three-ply gypsum facing paper for the wallboard industry.

PBL, with a capacity exceeding 280 thousand tons per year, is the largest of four mills in the U.S. capable of producing gypsum facing paper using the Fourdrinier technology. Used in the production of gypsum wallboard paper for residential and commercial construction, PBL's lightweight paper provides wallboard manufacturers with significant savings in energy, freight and improved production efficiency.

PBL's production of lightweight gypsum facing paper is allowing Caraustar to expand its share in the gypsum wallboard paper market. PBL increased its gypsum facing paper production by 44 percent in 2002 and is expected to double its facings production in 2003.
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The Recycled
Paperboard Challenge
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Achieving growth in a commodity market
troubled by an unstable economy

Caraustar's Mill Strategy
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Providing customers with new uses and
applications for recycled paperboard

Opportunity
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Entering virgin substrate markets with
innovative recycled product solutions, such
as InverFreez and InverTop

Results
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Sprague's business grew by 25 percent
in 2002, with InverFreez and InverTop
accounting for two-thirds of this growth
 

Exceeding Customer Expectations

Caraustar creates defensible market niches for many of its packaging products by focusing on consumer use. The complete process of concept to finished package promotes customer confidence that Caraustar can be the single source for packaging solutions, including folding cartons; tubes, cores and composite cans; edge protectors and contract packaging.
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Caraustar Industries, Inc.