Statement re Vitop® tap

Statement re Vitop® tap

Smurfit Kappa Group PLC

31 May, 2018

Smurfit Kappa hits impressive milestone with 4 billionth Vitop^® tap

Smurfit Kappa, global provider of innovative Bag-in-Box^® packaging solutions, has produced its 4 billionth Vitop^® tap.

The Vitop^® tap occupies the No. 1 position in the world for wine taps and has revolutionised the Bag-in-Box^® system. The Vitop^® tap quickly grew in popularity due to its tamper-proof design and high oxygen barrier which provide extended shelf life and product freshness.

Tests on the Vitop^® tap have revealed it to have a leak rate of just 1 in 5 million, a key contributor to its industry-leading position. To reach such high standards, each tap is individually tested under rigorous quality control standards. Ease of use has also contributed to its global appeal as it requires little effort to obtain a regular flow rate and is self-closing.

Didier Pontcharraud, CEO of [Smurfit Kappa] Vitop said: “Vitop^® stands out for its reliability, service and dynamism. There is only one tap that can claim an almost zero leak rate and thanks to our team working with great expertise, skill and passion, we can offer an excellent product, every day and throughout every part of the world.”

The impressive milestone was reached in its state-of-the-art plant in Alessandria, Italy. Since its invention, Vitop^® has successfully branched out to offer a range of complementary products including the Bag-in-Box^® connector, Bag-in-Box^® handles and Hydrotap, Vitop^® Compact.

Smurfit Kappa occupies the leadership position for Bag-in-Box® solutions in Europe.

ENDS

About Smurfit Kappa

Smurfit Kappa, a FTSE 100 company, is one of the leading providers of paper-based packaging solutions in the world, with around 46,000 employees in approximately 370 production sites across 35 countries and with revenue of €8.6 billion in 2017. We are located in 22 countries in Europe, and 13 in the Americas. We are the only large-scale pan-regional player in Latin America.

With our proactive team we relentlessly use our extensive experience and expertise, supported by our scale, to open up opportunities for our customers. We collaborate with forward-thinking customers by sharing superior product knowledge, market understanding and insights in packaging trends to ensure business success in their markets. We have an unrivalled portfolio of paper-packaging solutions, which is constantly updated with our market-leading innovations. This is enhanced through the benefits of our integration, with optimal paper design, logistics, timeliness of service, and our packaging plants sourcing most of their raw materials from our own paper mills.

Our products, which are 100% renewable and produced sustainably, improve the environmental footprint of our customers.

Follow us on Twitter at @smurfitkappa and on LinkedIn at ‘Smurfit Kappa’.

About Smurfit Kappa Bag-in-Box®

Smurfit Kappa Bag-in-Box® provides flexible packaging solutions for liquid and semi-liquid products in the food and industrial sectors, meeting cost constraints and new environmental regulations. With its eight factories throughout the world, Smurfit Kappa Bag-in-Box® is the European leader for Bag-in-Box® solutions and its Vitop® tap is number one worldwide for wine taps.

www.smurfitkappa.com

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