About Us

The leading provider of metal packaging solutions.

As the largest provider of metal food packaging in the United States, Silgan Containers is trusted by America’s most respected brands. Our reputation is based on a foundation of quality, excellence and unsurpassed technical expertise, enabling us to be a dedicated solutions-based partner to our customers.

The roots of our knowledge.

Silgan Containers officially became a company in 1987, acquiring its first self-make can operation from Carnation Company.  Our expertise in can making can be traced back to 1899 when the Carnation Company began making its evaporated milk cans. This acquisition marked the first of many historical events that led to the company we are today.

THE HISTORY OF SILGAN

1899

Carnation Company (then Pacific Coast Condensed Milk Company) opens its first self-made can operation in Kent, WA.

1901

Union Can Company, Hoopeston, IL, joins American Can Company.

1935

National Can Company established.

1936

Campbell's Soup company begins manufacturing cans.

1941-45

Hormel Spam® canned luncheon meat feeds WWII Allied troops.

1953

Del Monte begins manufacturing cans.

1960

Easy-open food can ends introduced.

1969

Canned Carnation Spreadables® go to the moon on Apollo 11

1970

Carnation’s Can Division

  • Converts to welded side seam technology.
  • Introduces 2-piece steel D&I (draw & ironed) food cans.
1979

American Can begins commercial sales to Green Giant.

1986

American and National Can merge to form American National Can Company.

Carnation’s Can Division begins high-speed aluminum can production.

1987

Silgan Containers Corporation created with the purchase of Carnation's Can Division.

1988

Silgan Containers acquires Ft. Madison Can Company

1993

Del Monte’s metal Container manufacturing division acquired.

Northern Can System’s Menomonie, WI, manufacturing facility acquired.

1995

American National Can Co.’s Food Metal & Specialty Business acquired.

1996

Finger Lakes Packaging Co. acquired.

1997

Kraft’s Tarrant, AL, plate processing facility acquired.

Alcoa’s aluminum closure facility acquired.

1998

Campbell Soup Company’s can manufacturing operations acquired.

1999

Can of the Year® award from The Canmaker magazine for the Hormel Spam® 2-piece aluminum container.

Silgan celebrates 100th birthday of Carnation's Evaporated Milk can.

2000

Chiquita Payette, WA, can making facility acquired.

2003

Pacific Coast Producers container manufacturing facility acquired.

2004

Dot Top earns "Can of the Year" honors from The Canmaker magazine.

2011

Nestlé Purina Pet Care Co. steel can assets for pet food products is acquired.

2014

Acquisition of Van Can assets.