Are you looking for a site-safe access solution, but you’re not entirely sure which product best suits your project requirements? Learn about the most common access mating products.
Let’s Clear Up the Confusion
There are many site access products you can use to create a safe and robust makeshift road or ground protection platform for your heavy machinery and crew. Across all industries, access products are used to safely navigate the rugged Canadian terrain and overcome the challenges posed by unstable regions.
Since all access products technically provide ground protection on uneven terrain, customers often make the mistake of thinking that they’re all the same. However, there are significant differences in sizing, usage, material and pricing of access products. Below are the three most common access products you might come across:
Access Mats
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- Sizes:
- 8’ Wide x 14’
- Material:
- Hemlock and/or Balsam Fir
- Sustainably Sourced Long Leaf Southern Yellow Pine
- Usage:
- Temporary access to navigate unstable terrain
- Temporary right-of-ways
- Temporary staging yards
- Portable platform used to support equipment
- Sizes:
Rig Mats
-
- Sizing:
- 8’’ Wide x 14’’, 16’’, or 18’’
- Material:
- Douglas Fir ( 3 or 4 rail steel beams and wooden inserts )
- Usage:
- Temporary stationary platforms to support large and heavy equipment
- Temporary foundations for large surface area applications
- Temporary heavy-duty ground protection for large working areas
- Sizing:
Crane Mats
-
- Sizing:
- 4’ Wide x 20’ Long x 12’ Thick
- Material:
- Douglas Fir
- Usage:
- Temporary ground protection for heavy crane equipment
- Protecting the environment in industrial projects
- Temporary access to help heavy equipment navigate unstable terrain
- Sizing:
CLT Mats: Lightweight Solution
As someone who’s been in the industry for years and managed numerous projects, you’re probably familiar with Douglas Fir traditional bolted mats. For the longest time, everyone relied on Douglas Fir traditional bolted mats to support their heavy machinery and crew in unstable terrain; however, with the introduction of Cross Laminated Timber (CLT) mats, project managers have shifted to a more cost-effective and lightweight solution.
Unlike traditional bolted mats, CLT mats are manufactured using sustainably sourced Long Leaf Southern Yellow Pine wood that is 33% stronger than Douglas Fir and other wood compositions. Instead of using bolts to fasten the wooden planks together, our CLT mats are bonded together using an environmentally safe adhesive that allows for even distribution of loads across the surface area, rather than fixating the weight only on the bolts. The strength and flexibility of our CLT mats make them 3-5 times stronger than traditional single wood or composite mats and offer maximum durability.
CLT Mats: Cost-Effective Solution
Our CLT mats are not only engineered to offer industries a lightweight and durable matting solution but they’re also designed to cut down unnecessary costs! With a lighter CLT mat, you can fit more mats on loaders and shuttle trucks, increasing your savings by up to 40% in installation and removal costs. We can also fit more CLT mats per load and save up to 60% on transportation costs. GFI’s innovative manufacturing process and sustainably sourced materials are designed to outperform traditional mats and offer you a lightweight and cost-effective solution!
Access Products and More at GFI Solutions!
As Canada’s leading distributor of access mat solutions, GFI Solutions is proud to offer a wide range of access mat products and solutions for all your matting needs! Our extensive inventory of access mats, rig mats, crane mats, swamp mats and more are available for rent and purchase, suitable for every budget!
Contact our 24/7 support and service team at +1 (833) 434-6287 or fill out our online form with details of your matting needs, and one of our matting experts will reach out to you as soon as possible!