Columbia Steel Casting Company

Columbia Steel Casting Company

Company type	Private (formerly)
Industry	Steel manufacturing
Founded	1901
Founder	Samuel Maxwell Mears
Defunct	2023
Fate	Acquired and renamed by CMS Cepcor Group
Headquarters	Portland, Oregon , United States
Products	Steel castings, propellers, rudders, dredging equipment components

The Columbia Steel Casting Company, commonly referred to as Columbia Steel, was a steel manufacturing firm headquartered in Portland, Oregon, United States.

History

Originally established in 1901 under the name Columbia Engineering Works with Samuel Maxwell Mears serving as president, the enterprise commenced steel production by 1903. The following year, ownership transferred to W. P. Hammond, who broadened the range of products to include dredging equipment components, drawing on his expertise in gold dredging operations.

In 1905, Columbia Engineering Works presented its offerings at the Lewis and Clark Centennial Exposition. Leadership transitioned to Alexander M. Clark in 1911.

In January 1930, U.S. Steel acquired the company; however, by 1931 Clark along with local Portland investors repurchased it and rebranded it as Columbia Steel Casting Company.

Throughout World War II, Columbia Steel was responsible for manufacturing essential parts such as propellers and rudders for Liberty ships built at Portland shipyards.

Confronted with industry difficulties, the firm announced plans to cease operations in 2022. The following year, CMS Cepcor Group purchased the company and renamed it Columbia Steel Cast Products LLC.

External links

• "Columbia Steel Casting Company" – photographic archive at the Oregon Historical Society
• – numerous references to Columbia Engineering Works