Behind the Boards: A Tour Around Appletree’s Factory
27.10.2025
Ever wondered how our boards are made? From foam blank to the finished ride under your feet. Our new Factory Tour video takes you inside Appletree’s production site in Portugal for the full story.
You’ll see where we came from, how our tech evolved, and every step of the production process that makes our boards lighter, stronger, and built to last.
From Orchard to Innovation
Appletree started small; in the orchard of Jorrit and Wieger Buurma’s parents back in 2006. What began as a backyard experiment soon grew into a full-time obsession: building boards that last longer without losing performance.
Curiosity and trial-and-error became our DNA. By 2014, we introduced our signature vacuum infusion technology. This process makes boards stronger while keeping them light.
At the same time, we built our first CNC machine completely in-house, a step that gave us full control over shaping and allowed us to push design innovation further than ever before.
What began in a caravan has now grown into a state-of-the-art factory in Silveira, Portugal. Powered by solar energy, designed for innovation, and ready for the future of board building.
A Secret Ingredient: 50K Foam
Our proprietary 50K closed-cell foam sits at the core of every Appletree board. A unique material that no other brand offers.
Why it’s special:
- 100% waterproof — dings don’t end your session.
- Heat resistant — no risk of delamination.
- Light and strong — the perfect balance for performance.
Step by Step: The Board Building Process
There’s one catch: 50K foam is nearly impossible to shape with standard tools. Our solution? We built our own CNC machines. That means precision shaping, extreme contours, and complete control over every detail.
We designed our factory with dedicated bays for each stage of production, which allows us to control and perfect every detail.
1. CNC Cutting – Our in-house machines bring precision to shaping 50K foam.
2. Hand Shaping – Craftsmen refine the curves and details.
3. Lamination – Using vacuum infusion tech, resin and fibres are locked under vacuum pressure.
4. Hot Coat – Final layer of epoxy to precisely dial in the shape. This is also where we add the colours and custom touches.
5. Sanding – Smoothed to perfection.
6. Spray Coat – Here we apply the final logos and finishing touches.
7. QC & Packing – Each board is inspected and shipped safely, packed with the same foam it’s made from.
Watch the Full Factory Tour
From a caravan in an orchard to a purpose-built facility in Portugal, Appletree’s journey has always been about curiosity, innovation, and doing things our own way.
Watch the full Factory Tour video now on our YouTube channel, and see for yourself how we build boards that are lighter, stronger, and built to last.