Mar 30, 2022 | Access Mats, News
GFI Solutions offers various matting products for ground protection and construction mats for customers in the oil & gas industry. We provide you with excellent quality access matting solutions for a safer and more stable worksite in all conditions.
Worksites in the oil & gas industry require heavy-duty resources that not only allow for safe transportation of machinery but can also withstand bulky machinery and heavy loads. Below is a list of matting solutions you will find imperative for your next project.
Battle The Weather
Canadian worksites are exposed to the climate and landscape harsh weather conditions that more often than not, cause a project to halt. Canada experienced an extreme winter in 2021, where the temperature would drop to -30 one day and then rise suddenly to -5 the next. This weather fluctuation caused unstable ground conditions with rugged terrain and uneven surfaces for any worksite. The use of access mats is essential during such circumstances as they alleviate the difficulty of walking through snow, mud and ice. There are several different access mats available to accommodate every aspect of your project.
TerraLam Access Mats
To create a makeshift road for easy transportation of equipment, machinery and crew, you will need to consider Cross Laminated Timber access mats. CLT mats use adhesive to bond the wood together, unlike standard bolted access mats. The adhesion allows for even weight distribution throughout the board, rather than focusing on specific areas, which causes early damage and irreparable breakage.
CLT Rig and Crane Mats
Our inventory includes several options for safe and cost-effective rig and crane mats. Made from Southern Yellow Pine Wood Fibre, our rig/crane mats are 30% stronger than standard bolted mats made from Douglas Fir. This makes our mats ideal for a safe and robust foundation for heavy-duty machinery such as rigs and cranes. The adhesion used in our CLT rig/crane access mats allows our mats to be 40% lighter than the competition, enabling us to transport 72 mats per load, saving you up to 60% in transportation costs.
Terracross™ Bridges
To avoid the possibility of your machinery getting stuck in muddy, uneven terrain or accidentally falling into a nearby ditch, we advise you to build temporary access bridges. Your worksite needs to be hazardous free, and installing a temporary access bridge guarantees just that. The lightweight, portable design is engineered with a steel beam structure that can withstand weights up to 100 tons. We can quickly deliver and install the bridges on-site, helping you stay on track with your project.
Access Matting Solutions All In One Place
Contact us to purchase or rent one of our many matting solutions today.
Mar 30, 2022 | Access Mats, News
Matting solutions in Canada, especially in Alberta, must be able to not only withstand heavy machinery such as rigs and cranes but also endure the fluctuating weather conditions that Albertans endure during all seasons. GFI Solutions have engineered unique Cross Laminated Timber (CLT) mats that are reliable, safe and able to provide you with optimal performance throughout the year. Read on to learn more about CLT rig mats in Alberta.
Excellent Quality
Made from Southern Yellow Pine wood fibre, CLT rig mats are 30% stronger than traditional bolted rig mats, which use Douglas fir instead. This robust material is light in weight yet able to withstand the heaviest loads with no problems at all. Unlike the traditional mats, where the load is only transferred at the location of the mechanical fasteners, our CLT rig mats use adhesive to bind the wooden planks together to allow for more flexibility throughout the board. The adhered mats transfer the weight evenly throughout every square foot, lowering the risk of damage or breakage. All of our TerraLam® CLT mats are engineered to follow all safety measures and regulations and are reviewed annually to ensure optimal performance.
Budget-Friendly Solution
Since the Southern Yellow Pine is significantly lighter in weight, you can save up to 60% on transport costs. CLT mats are two-thirds the weight of traditional bolted mats, which makes us able to fit 72 mats per load. More mats per load allow for fast and cost-effective delivery. GFI Solutions ensures reliable and safe mats. Whether you are looking for rig mats for sale or rent, GFI solutions guarantee top-notch quality at an affordable price.
All-Around Solutions
GFI Solutions offers matting expertise and all-around customer service that will ensure the smooth flow of your project. Our services include:
- Turn-Key Services
- Inventory Management
- Manufacturing
- Delivery and Installation
- Mat Washing
- Planning & Consultation
Our experts are available 24/7 for service and support all around Canada; we’re only one phone call away.
Ready To Learn More?
At GFI Solutions we understand how important reliable rig mats are to your job site. That’s why we’re proud to offer several products from Sterling Solutions. With clients throughout Canada, we’re here to support your project with access mats you can rely on. Contact us to learn more about our CLT rig mats and how they can make your work site safer and more productive today!
Mar 10, 2022 | News, TerraCross Bridges
Need access solutions that make it easy to handle the challenges presented by ditches, streams, gaps, and the many other difficult landscape features found on remote job sites? GFI Solutions is here to help! As one of Canada’s leading sources of site safe access mats and other site access solutions, GFI Solutions is proud to partner with businesses in the Oil & Gas, petrochemical, infrastructure, power, and related heavy industries to make sure you have everything you need to succeed. We are proud to be your exclusive source for Sterling Solutions’ line of TerraCross™ products and to offer 24/7, 365 service all across the country.
Below, we’ll talk about the benefits of using temporary access bridges, as well as partnering with GFI. Read on to learn more!
Why Use Access Bridges
It’s no surprise that Canada’s landscape can make it difficult to navigate your job site, and with the safety of your crew and equipment on the line, it’s important to have a vetted option in place to help you overcome the many issues that frequent remote locations. While access mats are fantastic for creating makeshift roads, access bridges are a much better option for major gaps like ditches, creeks, sinkholes, or gullies that cannot be fixed by a flat laid option. Access bridges are designed to allow your fleet to go over troublesome land, save time with fast installation, increase the overall safety of the entire site, all while providing you with superior ROI.
If you’re debating what kind of access bridge would be right for your job site, consider factors like:
- Project duration and how long you’ll need a bridge in place
- Load capacity needs
- Specific geographical concerns as well as any climate/environmental factors that need to be included.
- Whether you want a moveable option or a more permanent fixture.
It’s important to note that, while both portable and permanent options are available, portable access bridges are generally sufficient for most applications overall thanks to their flexibility.
TerraCross™ Access Bridges
GFI is proud to bring you exclusive access to Sterling Solutions’ line of TerraCross™ bridges. TerraCross™ bridges are designed to enable lifting and construction with a 200-class excavator or similar equipment and to allow for faster navigation while also preventing contamination on site. Specs are as follows:
TERRACROSS 40:
- Weight Limit: 100 tons
- Maximum Spanning Distance: 35′
- Total Length: 40′
- Matting: TerraLam® 500 bearing mats and TerraLam® 700 decking
TERRACROSS 56:
- Weight Limit: 65 tons
- Maximum Spanning Distance: 50′
- Total Length: 56′
- Matting: TerraLam® 500 bearing mats and TerraLam® 700 decking
TerraCross™ bridges are able to be rapidly assembled on-site, meaning you’ll face minimal downtime and be able to get back to work sooner than later.
Access Bridge Solutions You Can Depend On At GFI
GFI’s inventory features the top products from Sterling Solutions, including their range of TerraCross products. Engineered to be lighter, stronger, and more durable than competitors, TerraCross products are trusted by those in the oil & gas, petrochemical, construction, forestry, and mining industries. Learn more about our available inventory and services by contacting our team today.
Mar 10, 2022 | Access Mats, News
It’s time to switch your existing access mats for TerraLam® Cross Laminated Timber (CLT) mats. Rather than spending exuberant amounts on traditional bolted mats, you can now spend much less with CLT without sacrificing durability or performance. With GFI Solutions, you can now buy or rent site-safe access mats without worrying about increasing your budget. We offer two sizes, TerraLam® CLT 300 and TerraLam® CLT 500, with the option of tailoring each solution to your specific needs. Read on to learn more about the top-notch quality you can expect when choosing TerraLam® access mats.
Durable and Safe
It is crucial to guarantee high-quality access mats with all your projects, especially if you are using heavy equipment and machinery. CLT access mats offer you excellent quality, that is both reliable and customizable for any project. Unlike standard access mats, CLT mats are engineered using Southern Yellow Pine wood fibre instead of regular douglas fir, ensuring a mat that is 30% stronger.
Not only are CLT mats more robust and more reliable than standard mats, but they are also made with more durable material that lasts longer than regular mats. Instead of using bolts to hold the wood together, CLT access mats use an advanced adhesive that securely bonds the wood. The adhesive allows you to reuse the mats with minimal to no damage since bolts aren’t used to cause any splintering or gaps between individual planks.
Light and Flexible
Using adhesive to bond the wooden planks together instead of bolts allow the transportation of 72 mats per load, saving you up to 60% in transportation costs. Southern Yellow Pine wood weighs less than the standard access mats and allows the CLT mats more flexibility than standard access mats.
The adhesive used to bind together the wooden planks allows each mat to distribute weight evenly across the platform. You can now easily reuse the access mats in more than one project as they last longer and do not deform with heavy machinery, nor will they be damaged if mishandled or dropped.
With our CLT access mats, you don’t have to worry about extreme weather conditions either. We have thoroughly tested our mats in extreme heat and cold conditions to ensure durability. We guarantee 0 deformities or breakage with our access mats when used in extreme conditions.
Time To Switch To GFI Solutions
GFI Solutions is ready to present you with the CLT access mats that are longer-lasting, safer, faster AND lighter than standard mats; what more are you looking for? Contact us today and choose the CLT300 or CLT 500 for your upcoming project.
Feb 25, 2022 | Access Mats, News
Is your team searching for temporary access solutions to get through your upcoming jobs? Whether you’re looking for an in-between option or the chance to test-drive access matting before committing to a permanent purchase, renting CLT access mats is a great way to keep your project on track, adhere to environmental sustainability standards, and keep your crew safe. With spring just around the corner, GFI Solutions is here to make sure you have the resources you need to overcome the challenges presented by rain, snow, sleet, and the many other difficulties that come with Canada’s infamous weather patterns. Our team is proud to be one of Canada’s top suppliers of site-safe CLT access mats including options for renting and buying. Below, we’ll take about the benefits of CLT access mats, as well as partnering with GFI Solutions. Read on to learn more!
Why Trust CLT Access Mats?
It’s no secret that remote job sites can present countless challenges for your crew to deal with all year round. From changing weather patterns that lead to less than ideal ground conditions, uneven terrain, ditches, and everything in between, knowing that you have a reliable foundation that allows you to proceed with your operations safely is vital. Access matting can serve multiple purposes on-site, including acting as temporary roadways, support for heavy equipment like cranes and rigs, and much more. As a newer addition to the market that greatly outperforms traditional bolted matting with a life cycle that’s 3-5 times as long and significantly lower shipping costs thanks to their lightweight profile, CLT access mats have become the industry standard for difficult job sites.
GFI Solutions is proud to offer a wide range of high-end CLT access mats, including 300, 500, and even 700 level mats for heavy-duty applications.
Rent VS Buy
In the long term, purchasing mats will generally be the best way to make the most ROI on your investment, but at GFI we understand that the upfront cost may not always be possible depending on your circumstances. If you’re between, or even in the middle of a job, and suddenly find yourself needing to acquire new mats ASAP, renting can be a great option that allows you to cover the ground for the time being and test out a potential long term solution at the same time. If you’re debating between renting and buying, we recommend considering the following:
Duration of Use
As we mentioned above, there are plenty of times where you may find yourself unexpectedly needing mats for a very short period that would make purchasing an unrealistic spend. For example, if you only need mats to facilitate the installation or removal of site assets, or to help your fleet move to a new location, renting may be a better fit overall, whereas if you plan to use mats extensively through this project, as well as subsequent work, you may wish to consider buying instead.
GFI Solutions offers flexible rental terms for your convenience and is happy to accommodate your rental schedule.
Flexibility
Renting affords undeniable flexibility, especially when it comes to preserving your budget. Even if you’re wanting to purchase sooner than later, it may not be feasible to drop a large sum upfront. In this case, renting presents a smaller upfront cost that also offers the potential for a 100% write-off. If you need a little more time to balance the books and get everything in the right order, rentals serve as a fantastic option for a wide variety of industries including oil & gas, construction, infrastructures and more.
Choosing the Right Partner
Renting mats can be a hassle if you don’t choose the right partner, and GFI is here to make sure that you avoid the pitfalls of subpar mats and site access services. We’re proud to work alongside businesses all across Canada to provide trustworthy solutions that include delivery, installation, tracking and secure storage, mat washing and everything in between. Our goal is to make sure that you have everything you need when it matters most, without having to overspend or waste time waiting.
Access Mat Rentals At GFI Solutions
GFI Solutions is proud to be Western Canada’s leading provider of matting solutions, including a wide variety of site-safe access mat solutions. With a dedication to providing exceptional customer service 24/7, our team is here to support clients across the region with all of their matting needs. Learn more by contacting GFI today!
