Jan 29, 2021 | Access Mats, News
If your job site is experiencing difficulty or delays as a result of impassable terrain, GFI Solutions is here to help! The Canadian landscape is notoriously tough on operations, and without the proper access materials on your side, your transport fleet, equipment and crew can face significant safety risks that lead to costly mishaps. Site access solutions like access mats are the perfect way to conquer the terrain and keep both your resources and your people safe. Designed to serve as makeshift roads and platforms for heavy machinery, access mats offer a wide range of benefits. Below, we’ll explore five reasons to use site access solutions on your job site.
Ease of Access
The number one reason access solutions are used is to circumvent the navigation challenges presented by difficult terrain, especially where uneven ground, slopes, creeks, and other geographical features may cause issues. Access mats make it easy for your fleet to safely and efficiently go to and from the job site regardless of ground condition.
Ground Protection
With environment protection and remediation becoming an increasing concern and point of contention, access plays a vital role in helping to protect the earth and helping to avoid fines, cross-contamination, and costly mishaps.
Built to Last
When searching for access solutions, longevity is key to getting the best ROI. Replacing mat after mat from project to project is costly, and simply isn’t a sustainable practice for your budget. The durability and longevity of TerraLam® CLT mats allows you to consistently use them from job to job saving you time and money.
Easy to Install
TerraLam® CLT Access mats are easy to install and can be set into place quickly, allow you to get back to work than ever before. Temporary worksite access roads can help to prevent costly delays and headaches and make it easy for your crew to get where they need to go.
Versatile
TerraLam® Access matting is incredibly versatile in its application and can be used as a makeshift road for your fleet, as a safety platform for cranes and other heavy equipment, and much more.
Leading Access Mat Solutions at GFI
As Western Canada’s leading source for access mat solutions, GFI is proud to be a distributor of Sterling Solutions‘ range of TerraLam® products, including their 300 and 500 model access mats, access bridges, and more. Designed with the utmost of quality in mind, TerraLam® solutions embody the many benefits of CLT mats, right down to the superior performance and longevity. Learn more by contacting our team today.
Jan 29, 2021 | Access Mats, News
Do you know the difference between swamp, access, and rig mats? Despite being some of the most in-demand, and certainly the most used terms in the site access solutions industry, you may be surprised to learn that there’s often confusion when it comes to ordering mats for job sites. This confusion stems from the fact that, despite each term referring to a distinct product, they are often used interchangeably; while this may be fine in a day to day conversation, it becomes problematic when placing orders because it can lead to improper quotations and customer confusion.
To help dispel some of the misconceptions and misunderstandings related to access matting products, GFI has compiled a brief overview that covers the difference between each product and how you can ensure you get the fit right for your specific application. Read on to learn more!.
What’s in a Name?
As we mentioned above, the largest source of the confusion where site access products are concerned comes down to terms being used interchangeably without the proper discretion. This is partially because, at present, the industry does not have any regulations as far as the usage of terminology when promoting products. Over time, this has led to rig, access, and swamp maps being used freely when talking about access matting as a whole. The use of each of these terms is somewhat fair as they do all act as a type of access matting, but the reality is, each specific mat category has a distinct design that influences how they perform their intended purpose. Knowing the difference between a rig and a standard access mat, for example, is a huge safety concern on sites where suitable access solutions for heavy-duty equipment like cranes and machinery is necessary, and making the wrong selection not only puts your resources at risk; it could also endanger your crews.
When ordering matting products, you’ll want to be aware of the key distinctions between the following categories:
Access Mats
While access mats can collectively refer to site access solutions as a whole, on a more direct level, a standard access mat is 8′ x 14′ and is bolted together with 3 layers of 2’x 8′ lumber. A standard access mat can be used as a temporary access road, as well as for equipment support and a wide variety of other site access solutions. The traditional standby for access mats used to be bolted products, but in more recent years CLT designs have risen to prominence due to their increased strength and durability. A TerraLam® CLT access mat can be manufactured not only in 3 layers but also in 5 and 7 layers when a stronger access mat is required.
Swamp Mats
Within Canada, the term swamp mat is typically used to refer to access mats above, but in more humid climates where swamp and marsh are prominent such as the southeastern United States, swamp mats may reference matting that is particularly well suited to the specific needs of this kind of terrain.
Rig Mats
Rig mats are best suited for heavy-duty applications such as jobs that require extensive use of cranes and other kinds of heavy machinery. In order to handle the stress caused by such equipment, rig mats are designed with steel frames that allow them to distribute extreme weights safely without fracturing or failing entirely. GFI Solutions now offers a true CLT rig mat that does not have a steel frame. It can be manufactured to any custom size needed and can be manufactured in 5 ply, 7 ply, 9 ply, 11 ply or even 13 ply. This type of TerraLam® CLT rig mat is 50% lighter and can handle the same weights as traditional steel frame rig mats.
How to Choose
Every job is unique, and each job site presents a distinct range of challenges for site access solutions to overcome. From incorporating the versatility of standard CLT access mats to depending on the heavy lifting capabilities of rig mats GFI Solutions is here to help you fit the best fit for your specific needs. As one of Canada’s leading suppliers of CLT access mats and the nation’s exclusive source for Sterling Solutions’ TerraLam® products. With 24/7 sales and service support, you can count on us to have your back. Contact us now to learn more!
Dec 11, 2020 | Access Mats, News
Need access mats that can stand up to the toughest of challenges? If you’re tired of dealing with heavy bolted mats that cost an arm and a leg to ship and need to be replaced consistently after demanding jobs, it’s time to make a change. For crane and rig matting solutions you can count on, GFI Solutions is proud to be Canada’s exclusive provider of Sterling Solutions’ range of TerraLam® CLT access mats for both rentals and sales. Learn more about the benefits of CLT crane mats below!
The Revolution Has Begun
If you’re ready to make the shift away from traditional bolted mats, you’re not alone. While it’s no secret that timber mats have been a trusted staple across the industry, bolted matting has left a few performance points lacking. Because bolted mats are made from a mixture of hard and softwoods that are not held to any specified standards, their durability can often be inconsistent and lead to sudden fractures when facing the strain of cranes or heavy machinery. Add in the fact that timber mats take multiple truckloads to transport and require a complicated installation process to get up and running, and it’s not a surprise that many project managers are eager to find a more simplified and reliable solution. Enter CLT mats.
As an innovative new solution available on the market, Cross Laminated Timber (CLT) mats are made with the intention to address each of the above issues, while offering superior and long-lasting performance, as well as a significantly lighter weight profile (up to 40% less than bolted mats). With the ability to ship up to 60% more mats per haul and a life cycle that lasts 3-5 times longer even under heavy demand, CLT crane mats have become the go-to for industry leaders in the oil & gas, petrochemical, and power sectors.
How They Work
The key to the superior performance of CLT mats comes down to their composition. Unlike traditional bolted mats which are created using a mix of wood fibres and steel bolts to create fixed points, cross-laminated timber mats are made from southern yellow pine and bond alternating perpendicular layers of wood together with an environmentally safe adhesive that helps keep the mat strong, as well as protected from outside factors like moisture and contaminants. This process of binding planks together creates a far more flexible mat that is able to disperse the weight of heavy loads evenly across the entire surface, reducing your chance of sudden breakages and allowing for exceptional performance in the longterm. Additional benefits of CLT mats include:
- Life cycle that is 3-5 the length of traditional mats
- Easy installation
- Can haul more mats per transport load
- High impact resistance, and more.
Heavy Duty Crane Mat Solutions At GFI
GFI Solutions carries TerraLam®’s 500 series access mats, which feature 2 lengths; 4 feet (TerraLam 504) and 8 feet (TerraLam 508), both of which are lighter and stronger than comparative timber mats. The innovative cross-grain technology allows them to outperform competitors all while saving you money on hauling and installations costs. Learn about our available products and services including sales and rentals, mat washing, installation, and more by contacting GFI today.
Dec 11, 2020 | Access Mats, News
Struggling to create a safe and stable roadway for your crew on a swampy or damp access site? Facing the many challenges associated with fluctuating temperatures and changing terrain? CLT access mats are the perfect way to protect your equipment, facilitate easy transport to and from your site, and save on shipping. GFI Solutions is proud to be Canada’s exclusive source for TerraLam® products manufactured by one of the most trusted names in the site access industry, Sterling Solutions. Learn more about the benefits of CLT swamp/access mats below!
Why Use Access Mats
There’s no shortage of reasons to use access matting (commonly referred to as swamp mats), but for many site operators the ultimate decision-makers come down to safety and efficiency. Access mats help keep your equipment and crew in motion, without the fear of sudden disaster striking midway through a project, while also protecting the surrounding environment. Key benefits to using swamp mats include:
- Creates a solid, secure base for both workers and equipment
- Keep everything and everyone clean and dry all year round
- Protects equipment from mud and other environmental damage
- Improve traction for transport
- Remove easily, allowing you to leave without a trace
- Lightweight, making them much less expensive to ship and transport (up to 25% lighter than traditional oak mats!)
Simply put, CLT access mats are essential to any job site looking to overcome tricky terrain without losing time or eating through your operations budget.
Why Choose CLT Mats
If you’re unfamiliar with Cross Laminated Timber (CLT) mats, you’re missing out on one of the most important additions to the site access industry. Designed to improve on the performance of traditional bolted mats, CLT mats are up to 40% lighter than their oak counterparts and outlast other models with a lifecycle that is 3-5 times length!
Cross-Laminated Timber mats are by binding alternating perpendicular layers of wood with an environmentally safe adhesive instead of the traditional bolted method. This new approach to construction allows the mats to flex and evenly distribute weight throughout the entire mat with each load, which leads to superior durability and performance, even under the most demanding of circumstances. Simply put, when you need mats that can last under pressure, you need CLT solutions!
GFI Solutions: Canada’s Source For Site Access Solutions
As Canada’s trusted provider of site access solutions, the team at GFI understands just how important cost-effective matting services are to your daily operations. That’s why we’re proud to offer 24/7 support for sales and rentals, as well as advanced site management services including inventory management, mat washing, expedited delivery installation and more. Whether you’re looking to test out the durability of CLT mats before buying or are looking to invest in your next matting purchase, we’re here to help. Contact our team today to learn more.
Nov 23, 2020 | Access Mats, News
Cooler weather is just around the corner, are your site access solutions prepared?
It’s no secret that Canada is home to some of the world’s most beautiful landscapes and terrains, as well as some harsh and unpredictable weather shifts all year round. As summer gives way to winter and eventually to the freeze/melt cycles of spring, having the right access solutions in place can help protect your team and equipment, while also making sure you stay on track with timing.
As a rising star in the matting industry, Cross Laminated Timber (CLT) mats have become the go-to solution by the biggest players in the construction, oil & gas, renewable energy, petrochemical, mining, power and related heavy industries. In addition to a lighter profile that makes it easy to haul up to 25% more per shipment, as well as a life cycle that can last up to 3-5 times longer, CLT mats offer exceptional strength under even the toughest of conditions. Learn more about the benefits of using CLT mats for temporary site access solutions below!
What is Cross Laminated Timber?
Cross-Laminated Timber mats, better known as “CLT mats” differ from traditional bolted mats largely due to their unique design/manufacturing process. Where traditional mats, as the name suggests, are made by bolting mixed planks together, CLT mats are created by bonding alternating perpendicular layers of wood (southern yellow pine in the case of TerraLam® matting) with a special adhesive. This process allows the mat to flex under pressure and evenly distribute weight through the entire surface area to reduce the chance of breakages, even under heavy loads. CLT mats are preferred industry-wide due to their ability to:
Flex Under Pressure
Despite being 40% lighter than most bolted mats, CLT mats offer superior strength, with certain models even being capable of assisting with heavy machinery like cranes, and more.
Take a beating
Need mats that won’t give out in tough conditions? No problem! TerraLam® access mats have been tested successfully in temperatures as low as -70°F and as high as 150°F and the solid top of the mats makes it easy to clear mud, snow, or ice.
Fulfill Sustainability Requirements
TerraLam® mats are made with an adhesive that becomes chemically inactive once it leaves Sterling’s facility, meaning that it presents no potential to harm the environment and the mat itself will help protect the ground from unnecessary disturbance.
Comes in Multiple Sizes
TerraLam® Mats are available in 3 or 5-ply construction, with multiple sizes available.
Canada’s Exclusive Source For TerraLam®
As Canada’s leading source for access mat solutions, GFI is proud to be the sole Canadian distributor of Sterling Solutions‘ range of TerraLam® products, including their 300 and 500 model access mats, access bridges, and more. Learn more about TerraLam® mats by contacting our team today.
