Oregon Iron Works
Encyclopedia
Oregon Iron Works, Inc. (OIW) is a United States
-based manufacturer of complex structural components and systems and specialized vehicles, located in the Clackamas
area in the southeastern suburbs of Portland, Oregon
(within the Portland metropolitan area
). Established in 1944, it is involved in a number of different industries, supplying products ranging from high-speed boats for military use to purpose-built girders for roadway bridges. It has production facilities in Clackamas and in Vancouver
, Washington, and currently employs about 400 people.
(tram) manufacturing, after being awarded a contract, in January 2007, by the City of Portland
for the provision of a prototype U.S.-manufactured streetcar for the Portland Streetcar
system. The company had signed a technology transfer agreement with Škoda
, of the Czech Republic
, in February 2006, enabling it to offer to build the already existing Škoda 10 T
design, under license from the Czech manufacturer. Upon being awarded the contract, OIW created a new subsidiary
, United Streetcar
, LLC
, for its streetcar manufacturing activity. The prototype streetcar was completed and delivered in mid-2009, and in August 2009 United Streetcar received a contract from the City of Portland for another six 10T streetcars. The announcement of a second order for production-series vehicles soon followed, from the City of Tucson, Arizona
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
-based manufacturer of complex structural components and systems and specialized vehicles, located in the Clackamas
Clackamas, Oregon
Clackamas was a census-designated place in Clackamas County, Oregon, United States. The population was 5,177 at the 2000 census. It is a suburb of Portland, Oregon.It is the location of Camp Withycombe, a military base...
area in the southeastern suburbs of Portland, Oregon
Portland, Oregon
Portland is a city located in the Pacific Northwest, near the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia rivers in the U.S. state of Oregon. As of the 2010 Census, it had a population of 583,776, making it the 29th most populous city in the United States...
(within the Portland metropolitan area
Portland metropolitan area
The Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA Metropolitan Statistical Area , also known as the Portland metropolitan area or Greater Portland, is an urban area in the U.S. states of Oregon and Washington centered around the city of Portland, Oregon. The U.S...
). Established in 1944, it is involved in a number of different industries, supplying products ranging from high-speed boats for military use to purpose-built girders for roadway bridges. It has production facilities in Clackamas and in Vancouver
Vancouver, Washington
Vancouver is a city on the north bank of the Columbia River in the U.S. state of Washington. Incorporated in 1857, it is the fourth largest city in the state with a 2010 census population of 161,791 as of April 1, 2010...
, Washington, and currently employs about 400 people.
United Streetcar
In 2007, the company entered the field of streetcarTram
A tram is a passenger rail vehicle which runs on tracks along public urban streets and also sometimes on separate rights of way. It may also run between cities and/or towns , and/or partially grade separated even in the cities...
(tram) manufacturing, after being awarded a contract, in January 2007, by the City of Portland
Government of Portland, Oregon
The Government of Portland, Oregon, a city in the U.S. state of Oregon, is based on a city commission government system. Elected officials include a Mayor, a City Council, and a City Auditor. The mayor and commissioners are responsible legislative policy and oversee the various bureaus that...
for the provision of a prototype U.S.-manufactured streetcar for the Portland Streetcar
Portland Streetcar
The Portland Streetcar is a streetcar system in Portland, Oregon, that opened in 2001 and serves areas surrounding downtown Portland. It is currently a single line that is almost long and serves some 12,000 daily riders, but a second line is expected to open in 2012.As with the heavier-duty MAX...
system. The company had signed a technology transfer agreement with Škoda
Škoda Works
Škoda Works was the largest industrial enterprise in Austro-Hungary and later in Czechoslovakia, one of its successor states. It was also one of the largest industrial conglomerates in Europe in the 20th century...
, of the Czech Republic
Czech Republic
The Czech Republic is a landlocked country in Central Europe. The country is bordered by Poland to the northeast, Slovakia to the east, Austria to the south, and Germany to the west and northwest....
, in February 2006, enabling it to offer to build the already existing Škoda 10 T
Škoda 10 T
The Škoda 10 T is a three-carbody-section low-floor bi-directional tram, developed by Škoda.The vehicle is four-axled, and is based on the Škoda 03 T, a uni-directional model operating in a few cities in the Czech Republic...
design, under license from the Czech manufacturer. Upon being awarded the contract, OIW created a new subsidiary
Subsidiary
A subsidiary company, subsidiary, or daughter company is a company that is completely or partly owned and wholly controlled by another company that owns more than half of the subsidiary's stock. The subsidiary can be a company, corporation, or limited liability company. In some cases it is a...
, United Streetcar
United Streetcar
United Streetcar, LLC, is a manufacturer of streetcars, located in the Clackamas area in the southeastern suburbs of Portland, Oregon, United States. It is the only U.S. company building modern streetcars, as distinct from light rail cars or new replicas of historic streetcars. United Streetcar is...
, LLC
Limited liability company
A limited liability company is a flexible form of enterprise that blends elements of partnership and corporate structures. It is a legal form of company that provides limited liability to its owners in the vast majority of United States jurisdictions...
, for its streetcar manufacturing activity. The prototype streetcar was completed and delivered in mid-2009, and in August 2009 United Streetcar received a contract from the City of Portland for another six 10T streetcars. The announcement of a second order for production-series vehicles soon followed, from the City of Tucson, Arizona
Tucson, Arizona
Tucson is a city in and the county seat of Pima County, Arizona, United States. The city is located 118 miles southeast of Phoenix and 60 miles north of the U.S.-Mexico border. The 2010 United States Census puts the city's population at 520,116 with a metropolitan area population at 1,020,200...
.
External links
- Website of OIW subsidiary United Streetcar, LLC
- Oregon hopes to catch energy wave - Portland Tribune
- Oregon Iron Works finds profit in high-tech, green products - The Oregonian