About Us

Discover our history of innovation and development

Shepherd Group - a well-respected family owned business

Portastor is a division of Portasilo, a sister company of Portakabin and part of the industry-respected Shepherd Group.

The Shepherd Group has a distinguished history spanning over 115 years of quality craftsmanship in the building sector. It is one of the UK's leading, family-owned, private businesses with a turnover of around £700m. Established in 1890, it employs around 3,500 staff based at more than 100 locations in the UK and internationally.

The Group's operations in national and international markets include substantial companies covering Construction and Engineering, Manufacturing and Property Development. Success, during more than a century of business, has been characterised by high professional standards and innovative, multi-disciplinary solutions to market demands.

Equipment housing pioneers

Portastor has a 30-year track record of designing and manufacturing secure equipment housings for a vast array of applications in many industry sectors. Our core steel module has been adapted and developed in endless ways to create everything from tool storage units for building sites to sophisticated switchgear and telecommunications equipment housings.

Here's a brief history of Portastor innovations

1974 - The first Portastor secure storage unit rolls out of the factory. Reports at the time estimated that thefts from building sites were running at £2m per day, so there was a ready demand for this new building innovation.

1975 - Portastor flat pack storage unit launched, for ease of transportation.

1970s - Toolvault store launched. This virtually impregnable steel chest was designed to be bolted to the ground to store tools and equipment on building sites. It was followed soon afterwards by Flamvault for flammable materials, Chemvault for chemicals and hazardous substances and Gasvault for liquid propane bottles.

1979 - Portastor mobile units launched. These secure storage units on wheels were used by, among others, the BBC to house equipment used for filming on location.

1983 - Portastor security units first used as housing for switchgear. Factory fitted units were tested before delivery worldwide, then rapidly commissioned once on site.

1984 - Side-linked Portastor buildings launched and marketed as mini factory units to assist small companies in the early stages of growth.

1980s - In the Portastor vault range, the Burovault is developed for use in schools which needed to store valuable equipment, such as computers. This led to the development of high-security cabinets, which had single or double doors and could be used as a workstation during the day. At night, computers and other equipment could be slid back into the cabinet and securely locked away.

1988 - The Instor secure room was launched, providing strong-room and secure kiosk facilities.

1980s - Portastor safety and security buildings continue to develop with the launch of large Guardian hazardous material stores, Toolvault 2000, Drumstor storage units and the Spilguard - an ingenious plastic device that fitted to a standard pallet to contain spills or leaks from drums.

Mid 1990s - Demand for Portastor units grew rapidly with the boom in mobile telecommunications. Portastor units were ideal for use as network equipment base stations deployed across the country. The Portastor flair for innovation also led to the development of antennae masts, some disguised as trees.

1990s - With the advent of fibre-optic communications, Portatsor equipment housings are used to support the development of many UK and European fibre-optic networks.

1999 - Portacell units developed as relocatable base stations for large events.

2001 - Smartcell units launched, providing off-the-shelf cell sites with integral masts.

2001 - Portastor develops a new lightweight structure using steel-faced rigid foam panels. A state-of-the-art new production line is set up and buildings are manufactured in ever-increasing numbers.

2003 - Portastor LX Plus launched. This stainless steel building provides long-life, low-maintenance performance for use where equipment requires long-term secure housing.

Find out what our customers think…

Take a look at our case studies, to find out how we have fulfilled the diverse requirements of customers in all industry sectors, around the world. You can also visit our manufacturing facilities to see how off-site construction and more than 50 years’ experience can benefit your organisation. We will arrange everything.

Find out more

For more information about any of our products and services, contact us today.

Telephone: +44 (0)845 60 41 443