LVL timber , LVL timber, glued veneer lumber (from English Laminated Veneer Lumber - “lumber from veneered veneer”) - a structural material made by gluing several layers of peeled softwood veneer ( pine , spruce , larch ) with a thickness of about 3 mm It is one of the types of glued wooden structures . The wood fibers of adjacent layers are arranged in parallel, which distinguishes LVL from plywood . Available in the form of bars (beams) and plates of a wide size range. It is easily processed both during the production process and at the construction site.
Application
Due to its homogeneous structure, the LVL beam has high strength under horizontal load. By virtue of which the main application of LVL timber is the supporting elements of the frame. Based on experience in North America, the most popular is the use of LVL as ridge beams , rafter legs , floor beams. Also, due to the fact that the beam length is not technologically limited, LVL is used to create large spans (24-36 m) and volumes. It is used for constructions in aggressive environments (agricultural buildings, warehouses of chemically active elements), and in rooms with high humidity (pools), since it has greater stability than solid wood. LVL beams and slabs can also be used in power formwork systems.
The main consumers of LVL are the USA, Europe, Russia. Enterprises of the construction complex, woodworking industries, companies producing doors, windows, moldings.
Production
LVL was developed in 1935 in the laboratory of the US Federal Forestry. Mass commercial production of LVL materials was started in the USA in the 60s of the XX century by TrustJoist Corporation (now I-Level, a division of Weierhauser ).
In Western Europe, the production of Kerto LVL has been conducted since 1973 by the Finnish company Metsa Wood (Finnforest), which is part of the Metsä Group timber industry concern . Kerto's production volume is about 220 thousand cubic meters per year.
In Russia, the production of Ultralam LVL was launched in April 2009 at the Taleon Terra plant in Torzhok . The volume of Ultralam production is about 150 thousand cubic meters per year. Ultralam is manufactured using continuous microwave pre-press technology. The second LVL production plant in Russia “LVL Yugra” is located in the city of Nyagan .