Columbia Steel Casting Co. in north Portland is closing after more than 120 years in business.

Columbia Steel Casting Co. in north Portland is closing after more than 120 years in business.

Columbia Steel Casting Co., a Portland metal casting company that dates back more than a century, told state regulators Wednesday it planned to shut down operations at its north Portland foundry and lay off most of its workforce.

The company said 225 employees, many represented by three different unions, would be laid off beginning in October. The filing indicated the closure would be permanent, though a letter to employees indicated that the company was in talks with “various companies” about buying the foundry and maintaining operations.

CEO Martha Cox told employees that the company had faced fierce competition from overseas competitors, some of them subsidized by their governments. She said state and local environmental regulations had also put the company at a disadvantage to those competitors.

The fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic had exacerbated the company’s issues, Cox said in the letter, with hang-ups in the global supply chain disrupting shipments to a key customer and travel restrictions putting a damper on sales. The company also struggled to hire and retain employees, even, Cox said, after substantial pay raises.

She said in an email that production would cease by the end of the year, and a small number of employees would remain to wind down operations.

Columbia Steel was founded in 1901 and claims to be the first steel foundry in the Northwest. It manufactured industrial parts, specializing in high-wear components that need to be replaced from time to time because of grinding, impact or heat.

The company today operates out of an 87-acre campus at North Bloss Avenue in Portland, just south of the Columbia Slough. The company has been owned and operated for generations by the descendants of Hobart M. Bird, who started as a foundry worker for the company. Cox is his granddaughter.

Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup.

Error! There was an error processing your request.

— Elliot Njus; enjus@oregonian.com; 503-294-5034; @enjus

Your comment has been submitted.

There was a problem reporting this.

This is a win for China, and a loss for those laid off workers, as well as a loss for this country. This is another reason; republicans need to win big in November and in 2024.

Keep it Clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language. PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK. Don't Threaten. Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated. Be Truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone or anything. Be Nice. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism that is degrading to another person. Be Proactive. Use the 'Report' link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts. Share with Us. We'd love to hear eyewitness accounts, the history behind an article.

Get the Daily Headlines, delivered FREE to your inbox

Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup.

Error! There was an error processing your request.

The Bulletin news app is superfast, easy to use and gets you right to the news you want. When it's local Central Oregon news you can’t get anywhere else, our team will make sure you are in the know. Get The Bulletin on iPhone®, iPad®, Android™ or Kindle

We're always interested in hearing about business news in our community. Let us know what's going on!

Sudoku, Crosswords, & Word Search

Explore more of Central Oregon with a subscription to The Bulletin.

Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device.

Find everything you need to know to live your best Central Oregon life. Only $13 if you subscribe today. • Full digital access to all online content • Digital e-edition to your inbox every morning *Add Sunday print for FREE

— Jenny Smithers, Bend SIGN UP FOR OUR FREE NEWSLETTERS

Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup.

Error! There was an error processing your request.

We'll send breaking news and news alerts to you as they happen!

Start your day with our top stories in your inbox

We'll send breaking news and news alerts to you as they happen!

Start your day with our top stories in your inbox

A weekly note from our editor about the inner workings of the newsroom.

Receive weekly entertainment news occurring in Central Oregon

Your account has been registered, and you are now logged in.

Check your email for details.

Invalid password or account does not exist

Submitting this form below will send a message to your email with a link to change your password.

An email message containing instructions on how to reset your password has been sent to the e-mail address listed on your account.

Your purchase was successful, and you are now logged in.

A receipt was sent to your email.