The next generation of LNG cargo tanks could be kitted out in a new type of spruce‑based plywood purpose‑built to insulate LNG gas carriers, according to UPM — one of the world’s leading plywood manufacturers — which has developed the product in response to surging global demand for LNG transport and the need for greater material availability in shipbuilding.
Wood Central understands that the new material, marketed as WISA‑LNG Spruce, expands UPM’s long‑standing portfolio of plywood solutions used in the construction of LNG cargo tanks.
Rising demand for LNG‑grade plywood has intensified the search for materials capable of meeting the strict technical requirements of cryogenic transport. To address this, UPM developed and tested the spruce variant in collaboration with GTT, the French engineering group that dominates the global LNG containment systems market. The company said the partnership was essential to ensuring the plywood meets the standards required for such a highly regulated industry.
“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,” said Raija Rautiainen, product manager for UPM’s WISA‑LNG products.
The first commercial deployment of the spruce plywood will be in vessels built with GTT’s Mark III membrane technology, one of the most widely used containment systems in the LNG carrier fleet. Rather than replacing existing materials, the new product is designed to complement UPM’s long‑established WISA‑LNG Birch plywood, which has been used in LNG vessels for decades.
Production relies on UPM’s WISA BioBond adhesive technology, which replaces at least half of the fossil‑based phenol in the glue with lignin, a natural polymer found in wood. The company said the shift improves the product’s environmental profile while reducing its overall carbon footprint.
“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,” said Thierry Valot, group innovation vice president at GTT.
UPM has supplied plywood for LNG carriers for nearly 60 years, and the introduction of the spruce variant marks a significant expansion of its production footprint. The panels are manufactured at the company’s Pellos plywood mills in Mikkeli, Finland, bringing LNG‑grade plywood production to three UPM sites and substantially increasing delivery capacity at a time when global shipyards are racing to meet demand for new LNG vessels.
