UPM Launches Spruce LNG Plywood for Expanding Carrier Market

UPM recently introduced WISA-LNG Spruce plywood to meet rising demand for insulation materials used in liquefied natural gas (LNG) carrier construction. The company noted that spruce can now be used in LNG tank systems without compromising safety or performance requirements.

The product was developed and tested with Gaztransport & Technigaz (GTT), a global provider of LNG transport and storage technologies, and complements UPM’s existing birch-based LNG plywood line. Its first use is in vessels built with Mark III membrane technology.

Raija Rautiainen, Product Manager for UPM’s WISA-LNG products, said, “Maintaining an ultra-cold temperature during transport is essential to keep LNG in its liquid state. Both birch and spruce have great insulation properties as well as durability, dimensional stability, and lightweight construction that help ensure safe transportation of LNG.”

Thierry Valot, Group Innovation Vice President at GTT, added, “Material availability is a key for LNG carrier construction. By enabling the use of spruce plywood, GTT provides its customers with greater available capacity and enhanced procurement flexibility.”

UPM said the spruce product uses its WISA BioBond gluing technology, which replaces at least half of the fossil-based phenol in adhesives with lignin. The company has produced plywood for LNG carriers for nearly 60 years and now manufactures LNG plywood at three mills, including its Pellos facility in Mikkeli, Finland.