EXHIBIT 10.18




                                   EXHIBIT 3.1

                                    TERM NOTE

$25,000,000                                                      July 31, 1998
                                                               Chicago, Illinois

            FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the undersigned hereby promises to pay to the
order of First Source Financial LLP ("Lender") in lawful money of the United
States of America and in immediately available funds at the principal office of
LaSalle National Bank in Chicago, Illinois or such other place as the holder of
this Note may from time to time designate the principal amount of Twenty-Five
Million and 00/100 Dollars ($25,000,000.00).

      The undersigned further promises to pay interest on the unpaid principal
amount of the Term Loan from the date of the Term Loan until the Term Loan is
paid in full, payable at such rate(s) and at such time(s), as provided in the
Secured Credit Agreement hereinafter referred to.

      This Note evidences indebtedness incurred under, and is entitled to the
benefits of, that certain Secured Credit Agreement, dated as of July 31, 1998
(as amended, modified or supplemented from time to time herein called the
"Secured Credit Agreement"), among Gibraltar Packaging Group, Inc., a Delaware
corporation, the undersigned, certain financial institutions (the undersigned
and such financial institutions being referred to herein collectively as the
"Lenders") and First Source Financial LLP, as agent for the Lenders, to which
reference is hereby made for a statement of the terms and provisions under which
this Note and the Term Loan evidenced hereby were made and are to be repaid,
including provisions as to when it may be paid prior to its due date or its due
date accelerated. Capitalized terms used but not otherwise defined herein are
used herein as defined in the Secured Credit Agreement to the extent defined
therein.

      If a payment hereunder becomes due and payable hereunder other than on a
Business Day, the due date thereof shall be extended to the next succeeding
Business Day, and interest shall be payable thereon during such extension at the
applicable rate specified above. Checks, drafts or similar items of payment
received by the Lender shall not constitute payment, but credit therefor shall,
solely for the purpose of computing interest earned by the Lender, be given in
accordance with the Secured Credit Agreement. In no contingency or event
whatsoever shall interest charged hereunder, however such interest may be
characterized or computed, exceed the highest rate permissible under any law
which a court of competent jurisdiction shall, in a final determination, deem
applicable hereto. In the event that such a court determines that the Lender has
received interest hereunder in excess of the highest rate applicable hereto,
such excess shall be applied in accordance with the terms of the Loan Agreement.



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      This Note is secured pursuant to the Collateral Documents, and is entitled
to the benefits thereof and reference is made thereto for a statement of terms
and provisions under which this Note is secured.

      In addition to and not in limitation of the foregoing and the provisions
of the Secured Credit Agreement, the undersigned further agrees, subject only to
any limitation imposed by applicable law, to pay all costs and expenses,
including reasonable attorneys' fees and legal expenses, incurred by the holder
of this Note in endeavoring to collect any amounts payable hereunder which are
not paid when due, whether by acceleration or otherwise.

      Whenever in this Note reference is made to Lender or the undersigned, such
reference shall be deemed to include, as applicable, a reference to their
respective successors and assigns. The provisions of this Note shall be binding
upon and shall inure to the benefit of said successors and assigns; provided the
undersigned shall have no right to delegate any of their duties hereunder.

      The undersigned, and all endorsers and other persons obligated hereon,
hereby waive presentment, demand, protest, notice of demand, notice of protest
and notice of nonpayment and agrees to pay all costs of collection, including
reasonable attorneys' fees and expenses.

      This Note is made under and governed by the laws of the State of Illinois
without regard to conflict of laws principles.

                                          GIBRALTAR PACKAGING GROUP, INC.



                                          By: /s/ John W. Lloyd
                                              ----------------------------------
                                          Name Printed: ________________________
                                          Its:  Secretary
                                                --------------------------------