May 5, 2021 | Access Mats, News
If your construction, oil & gas, petroleum, rigging, or related heavy industrial site is in need of safe site access solutions that can stand up to the demands of machinery and constant transport, GFI is here to help. As one of Canada’s leading distributors of site-safe CLT access mats, as well as a premier provider of services including delivery and installation, mat washing and more, you can count on our team to have you covered for all your site access needs. Learn more about the benefits of using CLT access mats, as well as partnering with GFI below!
Built Tough, No Compromising
It’s no secret that the heavy industrial sector faces unique challenges when it comes to accommodating the unique needs of their job sites. From handling oversized and heavyweight equipment to transport loads that can weigh far more, the need for matting solutions that make it easy to stay on target is paramount. While traditional bolted mats were once the go-to fix, today’s industry leaders increasingly choose to use Cross-laminated timber (CLT) mats, which offer unbeatable performance, as well as a lightweight profile that allows for faster and cheaper shipping. With mats that are capable of performing under the same demands as standard rig and crane mats and significant savings to be found, it’s no wonder that CLT mats have become the preferred choice when it comes to heavy-duty applications!
CLT Mats: Taking A Closer Look
If you’re one of the many businesses that have been standing by bolted mats for decades but find yourself looking for a more efficient option, you may or may not be familiar with the basics of CLT matting. Unlike bolted mats, Cross-Laminated Timber mats are constructed using alternating perpendicular layers of wood that are then bonded (laminated) with a special environmentally friendly adhesive that leads to optimal strength and safety. The secret to the unbeatable performance of CLT mats comes down to this construction method, which allows the mats to flex under pressure rather than focusing all of the weight on bolted points, which frequently leads to sudden failures.
Additional benefits of using CLT mats include:
- High impact resistance and durability.
- Increased life span (3-5 times that of traditional mats).
- The glue lamination and wax seal on all 4 edges of site-safe CLT mats makes them less vulnerable to moisture and rot.
- Able to withstand the Canadian climate, all year-round.
- Lower shipping costs due to the lightweight nature of the mats (up to 60% more load capacity), and more.
Site Safe CLT Access Mats at GFI Solutions
GFI is proud to be a full-scale solutions provider for the site access industry. Our team offers customers access to 24/7 rental and sales service, as well as mat washing, installation, turnkey services, and more. Learn more about our products including rig and crane mats by contacting our team today!
Apr 27, 2021 | Access Mats, News
Looking to extend the life of your access mats and extend your ROI by preventing sudden breakages as well as damage to your equipment? Made for superior performance and longevity, Cross Laminated Timber mats remove many of the worries and headaches of traditional timber mats and give you a longer life cycle (3-5x the length) before replacement is needed.
As a full turn-key service provider with an extensive inventory of CLT mats readily available Canada-wide, GFI is proud to partner with clients in the oil & gas, mining, petroleum, construction and related heavy industries to care for their mats. To help you care for your CLT mats, GFI has compiled a quick list of tips to extend the life of your access solutions. Read on to learn more.
Fit Matters
As the old adage goes, fitting a square into a circle is bound to end poorly. One of the major ways to make sure you get the most out of your CLT mats today, as well as in the many years to come, is to ensure you have the best fit for your specific needs right from the start. CLT mats come in a wide variety of lengths and weights, with the ability to customize as needed. Knowing what kind of mat you need. For heavy-duty applications involving machinery or rigging, using crane mats is key for optimal performance, and helps to eliminate the risk of excessive strain causing premature failure.
Installation
As with all aspects of your job site, preparation is key for success. Take the time to ensure your mats are laid and installed properly (GFI can assist with this). Doing so will help to prevent costly accidents and keep everyone safe in the long run while also extending the lifespan of your mats. Partnering with GFI gives you access to our installation team, who will happily deliver right to your site and offer same-day setup Canada Wide. This means there’s no need to worry about installation and helps to expedite the process so you can get back to work asap.
Fleet Travel and Tracks
No matter how tough your mats are, failing to exercise caution while crossing and implementing lower speeds for haulers will contribute to increased wear and tear. Make sure your crew knows to proceed slowly, and do your best to limit exposure to corked tracks as they can be particularly rough on mats.
Clean and Sanitize
Mat washing is already given due to environmental standards, but staying on top of regular cleaning and care will go a long way towards giving you increased ROI in the long run. Take the time to cleanse after each job; your mats and your crews will thank you. GFI Solutions offers site washing remotely as well as at our yards across Canada for your convenience.
CLT Mats: Unbeatable Performance, Extra Long Lifecycle
CLT matting is lighter (up to 40%), stronger, and lasts longer (3 to 5 times longer) than its bolted counterparts, making it the first choice among many of the top names in the heavy industrial sectors. CLT mats are created using a unique process that involves bonding alternating perpendicular layers of wood together with a special adhesive, which allows for increased flexibility and even weight distribution. Additional advantages of CLT mats include:
- High impact resistance
- Suitable for use in extreme conditions include heat and cold
- Solid matting top reduces tripping hazards, as well as the tired damage to vehicles
- Reduced shipping costs due to the lightweight nature of the mats, and plenty more.
CLT Mats at GFI Solutions
As Western Canada’s leading source for access mat solutions, GFI is proud to carry the best products available on the market. We are a distributor of a wide range of site-safe access mats, including heavy-duty rig and crane models, access mats, access bridges, and more. To better suit all your site access needs, GFI offers full-scale turnkey support including sales, rentals, delivery and installation, mat washing and more. Find out more about CLT mats by contacting our team today!
Apr 27, 2021 | News, TerraCross Bridges
Is your team facing challenges overcoming difficult topography at a new job site? Dealing with costly delays because of sudden rain or snowmelt that’s left part of your site with a massive gap that can’t be crossed? From creeks to ditches, rivers, sink ponds, and everything in between, temporary access bridges provide a safe way to navigate from point A to B, allow your operation to stay on time and on budget. As Canada’s exclusive source for Sterling Solutions’ line of TerraCross™ products, we’re proud to offer site-safe access solutions that help you conquer the landscape with ease. Read on to learn more about the benefits of access bridges, including TerraCross™ below.
Bridging the Gap
It’s no secret that Canada’s terrain can make it difficult to get where you need to go on remote job sites; having safe transport solutions not only grants peace of mind but also ensure your project is in compliance with environmental standards and efficiency. While access mats are fantastic for creating makeshift roads, access bridges are able to step in when a flat option simply isn’t enough. Gaps like ditches, sinkholes, creeks and uneven foundations require the additional support offered by bridges, which are often used in tandem with access mats. When deciding what access bridge is best suited to your needs, considering the following:
- How long will you need to use it?
- What do you need the load capacity to be?
- Are there any specific geographical features you need to accommodate? (Ditches, significant slopes, etc)
While both portable and permanent options are available, portable access bridges are generally sufficient for most applications and serve as a cost-effective solution that can then be removed with minimal effects on the landscape overall. This makes them ideal for project managers that may only require brief access to certain areas, and who prefer a versatile asset that can be used in multiple locations.
TerraCross™ Access Bridges
Exclusive to GFI Solutions in Canada, Sterling Solutions’ line of TerraCross™ bridges are perfect for crossing unstable terrain while also minimizing environmental damages. TerraCross™ is designed to enable lifting and construction with a 200-class excavator or similar equipment and enables faster, safer passage 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 Solutions You Can Depend On At GFI
GFI Solutions is proud to be a leading provider of dependable worksite access solutions Canada-wide. Our 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.
Apr 20, 2021 | Access Mats, News
Are you in the process of sourcing site access materials that makes it easy to reach and navigate your remote job site? Access mats are the ideal solution for sites that face challenges from uneven terrain, the Canadian climate, and many other topographical issues. Designed to serve as a reliable temporary road, as well as a stable platform for heavy equipment, access mats make it easy to operate with confidence, protect the environment, and avoid costly delays.
GFI is proud to be one of Canada’s leading suppliers of site-safe CLT access and swap mats and features a diverse inventory of mats, bridges, alongside multiple services; including delivery, installation, inventory management and more. One of the most common questions and points of confusion our team answers deals with the difference between standard access mats and swamp mats. Below, we’ll take a closer look at these terms to help you find the best CLT mats for your needs. Read on to learn more!
Terminology: What You Need to Know
Did you know that there’s technically no such thing as a swamp mat? Do you know the difference between an access mat and a rig mat? If you’re confused, you’re not alone. The matting industry tends to use all three terms interchangeably, which can lead to orderers mixing up what they actually need. To make sure you’re getting exactly what’s needed for your project, you’ll want to pay close attention to the official designations below:
Access Mats
Access mats are the most prevalent and widely used site access mat, and the term generally refers to any standard matting designed for multi-use purposes. Depending on where you are in the world, access mats may also be called a “swamp mat”, though, as we mentioned above, there is technically no such dedicated map for swamps. Swamp mats are simply a regional term used by those in the south where warm, swampy terrain, requires matting to cross.
Rig/Crane Mats
Rig and crane mats are the heavy-duty counterparts to access mats and can be used both to assist with transport needs, as well as serving as a stable platform for heavy machinery such as cranes and rigs. To handle the increased loads they usually experience, these kinds of mats typically have a steel frame that reinforces the mat in order to prevent sudden breakages. As a result of these steel frames, rig mats tend to cost more, which is why it’s important for those placing orders to know whether they need standard mats, or specifically rig mats to meet the demands of their job site.
CLT Mats: The New Way Forward
Looking for a more cost-effective, durable alternative to bolted matting? Cross Laminated Timber (CLT) mats are designed to offer superior performance, as well as:
- High impact resistance and durability.
- 3-5 times the lifespan of bolted mats.
- Solid matting tops that reduce tripping hazards, as well as tire damage to vehicles.
- Lower shipping costs due to the lightweight nature of the mats (25% more CLT mats can be shipped compared to bolted products per load), and more.
GFI Solutions is proud to be Canada’s source for CLT safe site access solutions, including a vast inventory of access mats, rig mats, access bridges and more. With superior performance and ROI just a phone call away, there’s never been a better time to invest in site access solutions.
Looking For Access Mats? GFI Solutions Is Here To Help
GFI’s team of experts is available for 24/7 support including sales and rentals all throughout Canada. Contact us now to learn more!
Apr 20, 2021 | Access Mats, News
Does your worksite have the tools it needs to stay safe, efficient, and protect the environment? When it comes to overcoming the Canadian landscape and keeping production on track, access mats are your number one resource for success. Designed to provide a safe, dependable foundation for transport as well as the operation of heavy machinery, CLT access mats are your top choice when it comes to building a safe path forward. Below, we’ll highlight some of the benefits of working with access mats, especially where environmental remediation is concerned. Read on to learn more.
No More Costly Delays
The Canadian landscape is unforgiving on fleets, making it difficult to reach your job site without damaging your fleet and/or equipment. Uneven terrain and constantly changing conditions make site access solutions invaluable when it comes to protecting your assets and guarding production. Rain, snow, sleet, ice, mud and everything in between lead to costly delays and damage; access matting provides a stable path that prevents risky mishaps, allows trucks and machinery to proceed safely to and from your site without the major disruption of building a permanent road.
Preserve The Ground Beneath and Surrounding Your Site
When using access mats as temporary roadways, you provide a crucial layer of protection for the surrounding terrain as well as local ecosystems by minimizing the damage and disruption caused to the area. Access mats shield the ground from physical damage caused by heavy treads and equipment, as well as from exposure to harmful chemicals or compounds that may be used in your operations. This ensures that your site is always in line with remediation and environmental standards, and the further use of additional tools like access bridges to cross rivers, creeks, ditches, and more, allow you to operate efficiently without needing to permanently alter the landscape. Two main environmental benefits to using access mats include:
Prevent Cross-Contamination
Cross-contamination is one of the major environmental concerns for site operators and can lead to costly fines if you choose to operate without the proper precautions. Site-safe CLT access mats help to reduce this risk by acting as a solid barrier, and washing your mats between jobs goes an extra step farther in protecting different ecosystems from harm.
Reduced Recovery Time
Remediation efforts are a key necessity to project approvals these days and using site access solutions makes it much easier to achieve and uphold your standards throughout the duration, as well as upon completion of your project. Since access mats serve as a temporary measure, they can easily be removed and transported to the next site after being washed down all with reduced damage to the environment itself.
Site Safe CLT Access Mats at GFI
As Western Canada’s leading source for access mat solutions, GFI proudly carries a vast inventory of site-safe CLT matting available in a wide range of sizes and weights, with custom builds available upon request. Designed to improve on the foundation laid by traditional matting, Cross Laminated Timber mats are lighter, stronger, and built to last much longer (3-5x the life cycle of average bolted mats).
With 24/7 sales and rental support, along with a wide variety of other services, GFI Solutions is here to help your team find the best access matting products available. Contact us today to learn more about our environmentally sustainable products from Sterling Solutions.
