Lightweight construction is a must-win battle in maritime, since each additional kilogram on a vessel increases its fuel consumption and, ultimately, its carbon footprint. This is why Saint-Gobain Marine is committed to making industry-leading products that combine lightness and great performance.
For example, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) has set targets to reduce carbon intensity by 40% in 2030 and 50% in 2050 (compared to 2008) and Saint-Gobain Marine aligns its products with these goals.
Saint-Gobain Marine is a single point of contact for shipbuilders, naval architects, shipyards and fitters, meeting the needs of all markets, ranging from cruise ships and container ships to offshore. The company deploys a solution-oriented approach that serves customers’ interests and abides with the most stringent requirements.
Championing low carbon
Exemplary products, suchas ISOVERU SeaProtect® insulation, which is 50% lighter than traditional stone wool, have emerged as a result of company’s ambitious R&D. Key Account Manager Jesse Aalto from Saint-Gobain Marine, Finland, points out that in addition to lightness and low carbon footprint, also other issues drive the marine market now: namely, themes such as durability, fire safety and noise reduction.
“The feedback from our customers is that sustainability ranks very high on the agenda and we are proud to have the Group’s most low carbon glass wool plant right here in Forssa, Finland.”
Forssa’s Isover plant is powered exclusively by decarbonized energy, thanks to the installation of three pressurized biogas tanks. Biogas now accounts for 50% of the energy used by the site, with the remaining 50% supplied by hydroelectric power. The new equipment prevents the emission of 1,500 tonnes of CO₂ per year.
Similar success story is in the works in Kirkkonummi, Finland, with the manufacture of Gyproc Marine Glasroc gypsum board. “We are now sending the first samples to a German lab for tests to perfect the product,” reveals Aalto.
New products gaining momentum
Talking about current products, Aalto highlights the solid performance of ISOVER Sea Comfort Floor Slab which is used mainly for sound insulation in the floating floor solutions. The product – made of rigid glass wool board – can be used also for thermal insulation.
“Sea Comfort Floor Slab really had a big breakthrough last year, with qualities such as lightness and material strength making it a great choice for marine applications.”
Another new product is ISOVER Sea Comfort Roll 16 G220 which provides thermal insulation for decks and bulkheads. “The product is a soft glass wool mat, faced with a white glass fabric laminate and packed in rolls,” explains Aalto. Material has very high compressibility and can be compressed to 1/4 of its nominal volume.
“The insulation roll will be installed to the deck or bulkhead with welding pins. The joints will be sealed with ISOVER G120 tape,” adds Aalto.
According to Aalto, no matter what the installation method is, the installation crews have taken a liking to the company’s products.
“The installation needs to be straight-forward, simple and fast to perform. We’ve been pretty successful in this.”
Take care of the value chain
With ground-breaking insulation products such as these, Saint-Gobain is looking into the future with confidence. Still, Aalto points out that geopolitical turmoil has challenged operative models and supply chains and Saint-Gobain is working hard to safeguard its operations from instability.
“The customer values the ability to deliver as promised and we are taking every precaution to make sure that we keep doing just that.”
Saint-Gobain is also involved in the NEcOLEAP research and development project which brings together companies, universities, and research institutions to co-develop innovative and sustainable technological solutions for marine industry. With Meyer Turku spearheading the project, the R&D focuses on four key areas: the ship itself, shipbuilding, smart technologies, and future drivers.
“Being part of NEcOLEAP, we’ve been able to test new products and gain fresh insights,” says Aalto.
“Driving innovation via collaboration makes sense to us and we’re glad to be on board.”
More information: www.isover-technical-insulation.com
