MANUFACTURING

Silgan Buys Division of Canning Firm: The nation’s largest food can manufacturer has purchased a division of American National Can Co., giving Woodland Hills-based Silgan Corp. entry into the meat and fish can and microwaveable container manufacturing markets. Silgan, which had sales of $861 million in 1994, manufactures round metal cans for vegetables, milk and pet food, primarily in the Midwest and California. The Food Metal & Specialty business of ANC, a unit of France’s Pechiney, had net sales of $597 million last year, and produces the odd-shaped cans for meat and fish products. The acquisition became final Tuesday.