<PAGE>   1

                                                                  Exhibit (xi)

                                 PROMISSORY NOTE

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
------------------- ---------------------- -------------- ---------------- --------------- ----------- ------------ -------
    Principal             Loan Date   Maturity     Loan No.       Call          Collateral     Account      Officer    Initials
<S>                      <C>          <C>          <C>            <C>              <C>          <C>           <C>       <C>
  $20,000,000.00         09-30-1998   08-31-2000                                UCC                        KBN
------------------- ---------------------- -------------- ---------------- --------------- ----------- ------------ -------
        References in the shaded area are for Lender's use only and do not limit the applicability of this document
                                               to any particular loan or item.
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Borrower:      RVM Industries, Inc.; Ravens, Inc.; Signs and           Lender:     FirstMerit Bank, N.A.
                Blanks, Inc.; Albex Aluminum, Inc.                                      Asset Based Lending
                753 W. Waterloo Rd.                                                     106 S. Main St.
                Akron, OH 44314                                                         Akron, OH 44308
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Principal Amount:    $20,000,000.00            Initial Rate:     8.250%               Date of Note:    September 30, 1998
</TABLE>

PROMISE TO PAY. RVM Industries, Inc.; Ravens, Inc.; Signs and Blanks Inc.; Albex
Aluminum, Inc. ("Borrower") promises to pay to FirstMerit Bank, N.A.
("Lender"), or order, in lawful money of the United States of America, the
principal amount of Twenty Million & 00/100 Dollars ($20,000,000.00) or so much
as may be outstanding, together with interest on the unpaid outstanding
principal balance of each advance. Interest shall be calculated from the date of
each advance until repayment of each advance.

PAYMENT. Borrower will pay this loan in one payment of all outstanding principal
plus all accrued unpaid interest on August 31, 2000. In addition, Borrower will
pay regular monthly payments of accrued unpaid interest beginning October 31,
1998, and all subsequent interest payments are due on the same day of each month
after that. The annual interest rate for this Note is computed on a 365/360
basis; that is, by applying the ratio of the annual interest rate over a year of
360 days, multiplied by the outstanding principal balance, multiplied by the
actual number of days the principal balance is outstanding. Borrower will pay
Lender at Lender's address shown above or at such other place as Lender may
designate in writing. Unless otherwise agreed or required by applicable law,
payments will be applied first to accrued unpaid interest, then to principal,
and any remaining amount to any unpaid collection costs and late charges.

VARIABLE INTEREST RATE. The interest rate on this Note is subject to change from
time to time based on changes in an Index which is Lender's Prime Rate (the
"Index"). This is the rate Lender charges, or would charge, on 90-day unsecured
loans to the most creditworthy corporate customers. This rate may or may not be
the lowest rate available from Lender at any given time. Lender will tell
Borrower the current Index rate upon Borrower's request. Borrower understands
that Lender may make loans based on other rates as well. The Interest rate
change will not occur more often than each day as Prime changes. The Index
currently is 8.50% per annum. The interest rate to be applied to the unpaid
principal balance of this Note will be at a rate of 0.250 percentage points
under the Index, resulting in an initial rate of 8.250% per annum. NOTICE:
Under no circumstances will the interest rate on this Note be more than the
maximum rate allowed by applicable law.

PREPAYMENT: MINIMUM INTEREST CHARGE. In any event, even upon full prepayment of
this Note, Borrower understands that Lender is entitled to a minimum interest
charge of $35.00. Other than Borrower's obligation to pay any minimum Interest
charge, Borrower may pay without penalty all or a portion of the amount owed
earlier than it is due. Early payments will not, unless agreed to by Lender in
writing, relieve Borrower of Borrower's obligation to continue to make payments
of accrued unpaid interest. Rather, they will reduce the principal balance due.

LATE CHARGE. If a payment is 10 days or more late, Borrower will be charged
5.00% of the unpaid portion of the regularly scheduled payment or $35.00,
whichever is greater.

DEFAULT. Borrower will be in default if any of the following happens: (a)
Borrower fails to make any payment when due. (b) Borrower breaks any promise
borrower has made to Lender, or Borrower fails to comply with or to perform when
due any other term, obligation, covenant, or condition contained in this Note or
any agreement related to this Note, or in any other agreement or loan Borrower
has with Lender. (c) Borrower defaults under any loan, extension of credit,
security agreement, purchase or sales agreement, or any other agreement, in
favor of any other creditor or person that may materially affect any of
Borrower's property or Borrower's ability to repay this Note or perform
Borrower's obligations under this Note or any of the Related Documents. (d) Any
representation or statement made or furnished to Lender by Borrower or on
Borrower's behalf is false or misleading in any material respect either now or
at the time made or furnished. (e) Borrower becomes insolvent, a receiver is
appointed for any part of Borrower's property, Borrower makes an assignment for
the benefit of creditors, or any proceeding is commenced either by Borrower or
against Borrower under any bankruptcy or insolvency laws. (f) Any creditor tries
to take any of Borrower's property on or in which Lender has a lien or security
interest. This includes a garnishment of any of Borrower's accounts with Lender.
(g) Any guarantor dies or any of the other events described in this default
section occurs with respect to any guarantor of this Note. (h) A material
adverse change occurs in Borrower's financial condition, or Lender believes the
prospect of payment or performance of the indebtedness is impaired.

If any default, other than a default in payment, is curable and if Borrower has
not been given a notice of a breach of the same provision of this Note within
the preceding twelve (12) months, it may be cured (and no event of default will
have occurred) if Borrower, after receiving written notice from Lender demanding
cure of such default: (a) cured the default within fifteen (15) days; or (b) if
the cure requires more than fifteen (15) days, immediately initiates steps which
Lender deems in Lender's sole discretion to be sufficient to cure the default
and thereafter continues and completes all reasonable and necessary steps
sufficient to produce compliance as soon as reasonably practical.

LENDER'S RIGHTS, Upon default, Lender may declare the entire unpaid principal
balance on this Note and all accrued unpaid interest immediately due, without
notice, and then Borrower will pay that amount. Lender may hire or pay someone
else to help collect this Note if Borrower does not pay. Borrower also will pay
Lender that amount. This includes, subject to any limits under applicable law.
Lender's attorneys' fees and Lender's legal expenses whether or not there is a
lawsuit, including attorneys' fees and legal expenses for bankruptcy proceedings
(including efforts to modify or vacate any automatic stay or injunction),
appeals, and any anticipated post-judgment collection services. If not
prohibited by applicable law, Borrower also will pay any court costs, in
addition to all other sums provided by law. This Note has been delivered to
Lender and accepted by Lender in the State of Ohio. If there is a lawsuit,
Borrower agrees upon Lender's request to submit to the jurisdiction of the
courts of Summit County, the State of Ohio. Lender and Borrower hereby waive the
right to any jury trial in any action, proceeding, or counterclaim brought by
either Lender or Borrower against the other. This Note shall be governed by
and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Ohio.

CONFESSION OF JUDGMENT. Borrower hereby irrevocably authorizes and empowers any
attorney-at-law, including an attorney hired by Lender, to appear in any court
of record and to confess judgment against Borrower for the unpaid amount of this
Note as evidenced by an affidavit signed by an officer of Lender setting forth
the amount then due, plus attorneys' fees as provided in this Note, plus costs
of suit, and to release all errors and waive all rights of appeal. If a copy of
this Note, verified by an affidavit, shall have been filed in the proceeding, it
will not be necessary to file the original as a warrant of attorney. Borrower
waives the right to any stay of execution and the benefit of all exemption laws
now or hereafter in effect. No single exercise of the foregoing warrant and
power to confess judgment will be deemed to exhaust the power, whether or not
any such exercise shall be held by any court to be invalid, voidable, or void;
but the power will continue undiminished and may be exercised from time to time
as Lender may elect until all amounts owing on this Note have been paid in full.
Borrower waives any conflict of interest that an attorney hired by Lender may
have in acting on behalf of Borrower in confessing judgment against Borrower
while such attorney is retained by Lender. Borrower expressly consents to such
attorney acting for Borrower in confessing judgment.

DISHONORED ITEM FEE. Borrower will pay a fee to Lender of $24.00 if Borrower
makes a payment on Borrower's loan and the check or preauthorized charge with
which Borrower pays is later dishonored.



<PAGE>   2
                                 PROMISSORY NOTE
                                   (Continued)


Loan No
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LINE OF CREDIT. This Note evidences a revolving line of credit. Advances under
this Note may be requested orally by Borrower or by an authorized person. Lender
may, but need not, require that all oral requests be confirmed in writing. All
communications, instructions, or directions by telephone or otherwise to Lender
are to be directed to Lender's office shown above. The following party or
parties are authorized to request advances under the line of credit until Lender
receives from Borrower at Lender's address shown above written notice of
revocation of their authority: Jacob Pollock; Richard D. Pollock; John J. Stitz;
The following party or parties are authorized to request advances on the Line of
Credit on behalf of the Company specifically listed next to their names until
Lender receives from Borower, at Lender's address shown above, written notice of
revocation of their authority; Linda DePrato, (All); Kathy Bean, (All); Steve
McDevitt, (All); Carol Cutler, (Signs and Blanks, Inc.); Diane Clark, (Albex
Aluminum, Inc.); and Jayshree Shah, (Ravens, Inc.). Borrower agrees to be liable
for all sums either: (a) advanced in accordance with the instructions of an
authorized person or (b) credited to any of Borrower's accounts with Lender. The
unpaid principal balance owing on this Note at any time may be evidenced by
endorsements on this Note or by Lender's internal records, including daily
computer print-outs. Lender will have no obligation to advance funds under this
Note if: (a) Borrower or any guarantor is in default under the terms of this
Note or any agreement that Borrower or any guarantor has with Lender, including
any agreement made in connection with the signing of this Note; (b) Borrower or
any guarantor ceases doing business or is insolvent; (c) any guarantor seeks,
claims or otherwise attempts to limit, modify or revoke such guarantor's
guarantee of this Note or any other loan with Lender; (d) Borrower has applied
funds provided pursuant to this Note for purposes other than those authorized by
Lender.

FEE PROVISION. Upon receipt of billing from Lender, I agree to pay a loan fee of
$n/a and a document preparation fee of $n/a.


GENERAL PROVISIONS. If any part of this Note cannot be enforced, this fact will
not affect the rest of the Note. In particular, this section means (among other
things) that Borrower does not agree or intend to pay, and Lender does not agree
or intend to contract for, charge, collect, take, reserve or receive
(collectively referred to herein as "charge or collect"), any amount in the
nature of interest or in the nature of a fee for this loan, which would in any
way or event (including demand, prepayment, or acceleration) cause Lender to
charge or collect more for this loan than the maximum Lender would be permitted
to charge or collect by federal law or the law of the State of Ohio (as
applicable). Any such excess interest or unauthorized fee shall, instead of
anything stated to the contrary, be applied first to reduce the principal
balance of this loan, and when the principal has been paid in full, be refunded
to Borrower. Lender may delay or forgo enforcing any of its rights or remedies
under this Note without losing them. Borrower and any other person who signs,
guarantees or endorses this Note, to the extent allowed by law, waive
presentment, demand for payment, protest and notice of dishonor. Upon any change
in the terms of this Note, and unless otherwise expressly stated in writing,
no party who signs this Note, whether as maker, guarantor, accommodation maker
or endorser, shall be released from liability. All such parties agree that
Lender may renew or extend (repeatedly and for any length of time) this loan,
or release any party or guarantor or collateral; or impair, fail to realize
upon or perfect Lender's security interest in the collateral; and take any
other action deemed necessary by Lender without the consent of or notice to
anyone. All such parties also agree that Lender may modify this loan without the
consent of or notice to anyone other than the party with whom the modification
is made.


PRIOR TO SIGNING THIS NOTE, BORROWER READ AND UNDERSTOOD ALL THE PROVISIONS OF
THIS NOTE, INCLUDING THE VARIABLE INTEREST RATE PROVISIONS. BORROWER AGREES TO
THE TERMS OF THE NOTE AND ACKNOWLEDGES RECEIPT OF A COMPLETED COPY OF THE NOTE.

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NOTICE:  FOR THIS NOTICE "YOU" MEANS THE BORROWER AND "HIS" MEANS LENDER.

WARNING - BY SIGNING THIS PAPER YOU GIVE UP YOUR RIGHT TO NOTICE AND COURT
TRIAL. IF YOU DO NOT PAY ON TIME, A COURT JUDGMENT MAY BE TAKEN AGAINST YOU
WITHOUT YOUR PRIOR KNOWLEDGE AND THE POWERS OF A COURT CAN BE USED TO COLLECT
FROM YOU REGARDLESS OF ANY CLAIMS YOU MAY HAVE AGAINST THE CREDITOR WHETHER FOR
RETURNED GOODS, FAULTY GOODS, FAILURE ON HIS PART TO COMPLY WITH THE AGREEMENT
OR ANY OTHER CAUSE.
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BORROWER:

RVM Industries, Inc.; Signs and Blanks, Inc.; Albex Aluminum, Inc.

By: /s/ John J. Stitz
   ------------------------------------------------
     John J. Stitz, Vice President, CFO of RVM Industries, Inc.

By: /s/ John J. Stitz
   ------------------------------------------------
     John J. Stitz, Vice President, CFO of Ravens, Inc.

By: /s/ John J. Stitz
   ------------------------------------------------
     John J. Stitz, Vice President of Signs and Blanks, Inc.

By: /s/ John J. Stitz
   ------------------------------------------------
     John J. Stitz, Vice President of Albex Aluminum, Inc.