Dinosaur discovery in Portugal: Appletree helps transport giant fossil
10.08.2026
For those who don’t know, the Appletree factory is located in Silveira, Portugal, a region rich in history, ocean swells, and, as it turns out, prehistoric giants.
During our recent 10 year factory anniversary celebrations, we wanted to step away from the shaping bays and connect with our local surroundings. As a team outing, we spent a day with local paleontologists from Torres Vedras, exploring the ancient coastal coastline just five minutes from our factory. They showed us where they discover fossils and explained the painstaking, delicate process of extracting and cleaning bones that have been buried for over 150 million years.
Little did we know that just a few miles away, one of the most significant paleontological breakthroughs in European history was unfolding.
A historic discovery next door
Recently, local excavations uncovered the most complete dinosaur fossil ever found in Portugal. It was a massive, rare herbivore from the Late Jurassic period. However, transporting a fragile fossil of this scale is a massive engineering challenge. The process requires specialized protective foam and strong structural support.
When the excavation team needed assistance with casing materials, we jumped at the chance to support them. Specifically, we provided the high-density foam needed to safely insulate, secure, and transport this historic finding to the laboratory.
Preserving history right in our backyard
We want to give a massive congratulations to the entire team of paleontologists, researchers, and volunteers behind this landmark excavation. We are proud to manufacture in Portugal, proud of our local team, and honored to support the scientists who keep the incredible history of Torres Vedras alive.
As always, this discovery is a great reminder to respect and care for the extraordinary world we inhabit, both on the water and beneath our feet.