All UPM Plywood’s WISA products undergo strict testing during product development and manufacturing. Around 80 different tests are conducted, some of which are tailored to simulate transportation industry conditions. These tests ensure the product’s wear resistance and structural strength.
Laboratory testing includes, for example, a wheel load test simulating forklift use and a rolling test with a 300 kg load and a steel wheel. Before physical testing, UPM’s extensive test data can be used for computer simulations. The test results provide accurate and comparable data, for example, when evaluating the durability of trailer flooring. Performance can be further analyzed through field testing.
“The laboratory conditions are standardized, but field testing provides valuable information about actual use. It is important to test products together with customers in real end-use conditions, both during development and when they are already in production – so that we can continue developing our plywood products,” says UPM’s Product Manager Harri Nieminen.