Class Trip to Oregon Iron Works in Clackamas

Trafton B.

May 26, 2010 - 7:54 PM

Today, my classmates and I went on a good old-fashioned field trip to Oregon Iron Works, Inc., a privately owned heavy metal manufacturing corporation in Clackamas, OR. I'd never been to an actual heavy-duty labor yard so I was really excited to go. To be quite honest, I couldn't help but think about one of my favorite movies of all time, Tommy Boy. I had visions of walking through the Callahan Auto Parts warehouse with Chris Farley. Don't worry. I did learn a thing or two while I was there.

The trip was part of Prof. Dan Carol's policy seminar on America's Clean Energy Economy. If you're wondering where you've heard that name, Dan Carol, before then you'd have to think way back to my previous post entitled, Celebrity Look-a-like Professors. Dan was the one that reminded me of Dustin Hoffman from Rainman (and he still does), but I don't mean to digress. The main reason Dan wanted our class to visit the Oregon Iron Works factory is because he strongly believes that OIW is a real-world success story of American innovation in clean energy works, and I'm not one to disagree.

Progressive-minded politicians these days are all about renewable energy - wind, solar, solar thermal, geothermal, biomass, blah, blah, blah. The list goes on for days, yet it all means absolutely nothing if we can't manufacture the parts for these energy generating systems. Right now, America has very little capacity for manufacturing sound-quality wind turbines, solar arrays or high-speed railcars, at least not compared to nations like Germany, Denmark and Japan. They're all kicking our butts, actually. But that's where Oregon Iron Works jumps on the scene.
The biggest project that they're working on right now is the United Streetcar project. United Streetcar, a subsidiary of OIW, was formed in 2005 with a mission to provide "modern, efficient, safe and reliable American-produced streetcars and to be a pioneering force in increasing urban transit options throughout the United States." The United Streetcar, pictured above with "Made in USA" painted on the sides, is made from over 70% American material with fabrication and assembly done right here in Clackamas. Our class was able to see that prototype in the factory's storage facility. Pretty sweet, if you ask me.

What surprised me the most, however, was the sheer diversity of the Oregon Iron Works product line. They make everything! We saw part of the new gate their making for the John Day Dam on the Columbia River. They also make bridge structures, nuclear waste cask liners, submarine sonar domes, unmanned air vehicle (UAV), cascading marine vehicles, tidal energy buoys and, just to round out the resume, ground missile defense systems. How can one factory make that many products!?!

Joycelyn Chavez, Head of Marketing & Business Development, responded to that question saying, "Our diversity came in very handy during the economic recession. We make a lot of different products, and we make very unique, individualized products which is what has kept us in business for so long. When you think about it, we either have thousands of competitors or zero competitors." Sounds like something the Head of Marketing & Business Development would say. I liked it.

We also heard a few words from OIW President and Prof. Carol's main contact, Chandra Brown who had the most interesting fact of the day. She told us that they are in serious need of Skilled Mechanics. "It's a sign of the times," she said, "fewer students are learning these trade skills and, on top of that, the majority of our current mechanics are retiring in the next decade or so." Makes you want to switch your major, huh?

Overall, cool trip. I was very pleased with out hardhat tour of the facilities. Well worth skipping out on my other classes for the day.... oops did I say that? Don't worry, I told both my professors. They were actually more jealous than anything else.

I wasn't able to take photographs on site due to privacy restrictions; all photos are courtesy of Oregon Iron Works. For more information, check out the Oregon Iron Work Inc website and the United Streetcar website.