Oregon Iron Works
Oregon Iron Works, Inc. was an American manufacturing company based in Clackamas, Oregon. Established in 1944, it was 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 had production facilities in Clackamas and Vancouver, Washington. In May 2014, the company announced that it was merging with Portland-based Vigor Industrial. Vigor announced that it would be shutting down its complex fabrication operations at the former Oregon Iron works in 2025.
In 2007, the company entered the field of streetcar 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. Washington D.C. also ordered two cars from United in April 2012 and a third in August 2012.