Plant Launches Production of Mini-Booklets For Pharmaceutical and Healthcare Market RICHMOND, Va., June 14 -- International specialty packaging supplier Chesapeake Corporation has completed a multimillion dollar expansion of its Field Boxmore plant in Westport, Ireland, enabling the plant to launch high-volume production of informational mini- booklets targeted for the pharmaceutical and healthcare market. The project to install new cutting, folding and bindery equipment began in October 2001. Because pharmaceutical companies are now required to supply more patient information, often in multiple languages, informational leaflets accompanying healthcare products have become increasingly bulky with reduced type size and awkward multiple folds. To find a solution, Chesapeake teamed with global pharmaceutical companies to develop the mini-booklet. The mini-booklet can present a large amount of detailed patient information neatly in a very small, yet reader-friendly miniature format. "Our mini-booklet product development efforts and subsequent manufacturing expansion in Ireland strengthen our strategic focus on growth-oriented niche markets such as pharmaceutical and healthcare," said Thomas H. Johnson, Chesapeake chairman, president & chief executive officer. "Through innovation and technical leadership, we have developed a value-added solution that meets the needs of our multinational pharmaceutical customers. The mini-booklet adds to our one-stop capability to supply a full range of specialty packaging for that market." Chesapeake's new mini-booklet is perfect bound and available in different sizes. It can be as small as 35mm (1.4 inches) x 50mm (2 inches) x 2.5 mm (0.1 inches) thick. Typically, mini-booklets are the approximate size of a credit card with as many as 150 pages. Only a few companies worldwide are capable of producing this type of product. Chesapeake also produces mini- booklets on a smaller scale at its plant in Bornem, Belgium. The Westport, Ireland plant began operations in 1964 and currently employs approximately 130 people. In addition to mini-booklets, the plant also produces self-adhesive labels and leaflets while offering complete commercial printing services. Chesapeake acquired the Westport plant in May 2000. Today, the operation is part of Field Boxmore, which has 22 operations in seven countries serving the pharmaceutical and healthcare sector.