Thulecraft was incorporated in 1974 and initially only traded from our property at 6 Commercial Road in Lerwick. As now, we operated as motor and marine dealers and repairers, but also built Glass Fibre Boats from the workshop downstairs.
Our shop at Commercial Road was fully refurbished in 2017 and has a wide range of stock from shackles to motorcycles, outboards to secateurs and ATVs to Bird seed.
We are proud to be the local agents for:
- Honda Motorcycle, ATV, Marine, Lawn and Garden and Industrial
- Yamaha ATV and Marine
- Husqvarna
- Orkney Boats
- Whaly Boats
- Indespension Trailers
We also have a modern workshop at Gremista to compliment our sales with a full stocked stores.
There was a major change in the business in 1986 with the establishment of a small factory producing EPS Boxes adjacent to the Saga Seafoods at the Foot of Browns Road. Thulecraft has been supporting the local Aquaculture Industry through the supply of Expanded Polystyrene (EPS) boxes ever since.
In 1994, with demand for product increasing Thulecraft moved to purpose built premises at Gremista, which were extended in 1999. Whilst Primarily for the export of Shetland Salmon, Thulecraft also provide the boxes required for the export of Shetland Mussels.
From inception the Box plant has produced in excess of 32 Million Boxes.
With the continued investment in the local Aquaculture Industry, Thulecraft are currently planning further investment. We have planning permission approved to extend our premises and increase capacity, to ensure that our customer’s needs are met at all times.
EPS, being lightweight, with superb insulating qualities is perfect for transporting fresh seafood. Our boxes are of a standard size which makes handling, transport and storage straightforward.
We are very proud that in September 2017 our Box Plant became one of the 1st local businesses to attain the ISO 9001:2015 accreditation.
Where Thulecraft is different to other local companies is that it is not owned by individuals, but by the Sandison Trust (SC003358). What this means is that no dividends are taken out of the business. An annual ‘donation’ is made to the Trust out of profits, which goes towards fulfilling the Trusts aims, all remining profits are reinvested into the business.