Making Tupa Possible: UPM Grada™ Plywood:

UPM Grada Plywood uses a new patent pending technology based on special adhesive film to manufacture layered composites — like plywood. This technology allows plywood to be manufactured so that it can be formed after production to make bent wooden structures easily and efficiently. The new technology also enables a remarkably shorter and faster form pressing process compared to the traditional technology based on the gluing of veneers. An added advantage of the new adhesive technology is that the final products will be stronger and more stable.

In terms of forming principles, once the panel product is re-heated the thermoplastic foil softens and melts so that the panel can be formed into different shapes. The melted foil allows the veneers to slide and prevents them from cracking. The formability of the product is equals to the formability of Continuously Pressed Laminate (CPL), which means that the shapes that can be formed are two-dimensional.

The adhesive used in UPM Grada Plywood is free from formaldehyde and other harmful compounds and thus is ideal for children’s products. It can also be safely recycled or used as a carbon neutral source of energy after use.

For more information please visit www.upmgrada.com.

Our sponsor: UPM

Headquartered in Finland, UPM-Kymmene Corporation’s primary business sectors include Paper, Engineered Materials, and Energy and Pulp. The focus of the Tupa project is on the Engineered Materials sector, a sector which stands as the largest supplier of plywood in Europe, and second-largest producer of self-adhesive label materials globally.

As the frontrunner of the new forest industry, UPM leads the integration of bio and forest industries into a new, sustainable and innovation-driven future. UPM reshapes markets through cost leadership, change readiness and leading innovation.

For more information please visit www.upm.com.