Laminated Veneer Lumber (LVL) is a high-strength wood product used primarily in structural construction applications. It is comparable in strength to concrete or steel. Stora Enso's new LVL production line at the Varkaus Mill in Finland is one of the most modern in the world.
Premium logs are rotary peeled into 3mm thick veneers and bonded together under heat and pressure. Every sheet of veneer is individually measured in terms of density, moisture content and modulus of elasticity to optimise the product strength and performance. Sheets are then re-glued into a continuous billet.
LVL by Stora Enso can be used in a wide range of structural applications, from posts and beams, roof trusses and prefabricated building elements to wind power installations and other complex engineered structures. There is also huge potential for large-scale construction solutions that combine LVL and CLT (Cross-Laminated Timber) – Stora Enso is the only company in the wood industry that offers both CLT and LVL.
Customer benefit
From a customer perspective, LVL is a cost-effective and lightweight material that has a high load-bearing capacity. Furthermore, it has a homogeneous and stable quality and does not warp or twist during its lifespan. LVL also has low logistical costs due to its lightweight nature, and is easy to work with on construction sites.
Societal benefit
LVL is a renewable and carbon-neutral alternative to structural concrete and steel, which can have large environmental footprints. The advantages of LVL will become increasingly important as population growth and urbanisation further increase the demand on resources to construct housing and buildings, and as part of the solution to combat climate change.
