Nov 23, 2020 | News, TerraCross Bridges
If your remote worksite is in need of access solutions that allow your crew to safely transport goods to and from your location with ease, portable access bridges are an ideal selection. Easy to install and remove, temporary access bridges are a reliable way to deal with the many challenges presented by uneven terrain and changing weather all year round. In addition to helping you navigate muddy grounds, creeks, rivers, and more, access bridges help to mitigate damage caused to the surrounding environment, ensuring your operation adheres to sustainability standards. Learn more about the benefits and applications of temporary access bridges, as well as TerraCross™ products, below.
Safe and Efficient Crossing
As those in the oil & gas, power, renewable, and construction sectors are well aware, Canada’s landscape can pose significant challenges to your daily logistics. In combination with access mats, access bridges play a vital role in creating viable transport pathways that are safe and dependable. While mats are sufficient for balance out uneven ground surfaces and overcoming challenges like mud or unstable soil, access bridges are essential for dealing with areas where gaps caused by creek, rivers or major dips in topography are involved. Depending on the duration and purpose of your site, either permanent or temporary solutions can be used. Additional deciding factors include:
- Ground-type
- Weight capacity needs
- Area-specific environmental factors
Portable bridges such as Sterling’s game-changing TerraCross™ Access Bridge (more on that below) are perfect for a variety of applications and are well suited for projects that require access to specific areas for shorter phases rather than a permanent fix. Benefits of installing temporary access bridges include:
- Increased safety
- Higher productivity due to fewer delays
- Reduced transportation costs, and more.
TerraCross™ Access Bridges: Your Leading Choice
Easy to deploy and lightweight, Sterling Solutions’ TerraCross™ bridge is ideal for crossing water, ditches, circumventing environmental hazards, and more. Built with superior performance in mind, TerraCross™ is designed to facilitate lifting and construction with a 200-class excavator or similar equipment and enables faster, safer passage while also preventing contamination on site. The TerraCross™ is able to be shipped on a single truck for optimal convenience and can be set up rapidly to help save you time and money. As Canada’s exclusive source for Sterling’s site products, GFI is proud to carry TerraCross™bridges and more in our inventory.
Access Solutions With GFI
At GFI we understand how vital reliable access to your job site is for our customers. That’s what we’re proud to offer leading products including access mats and portable bridges, along with unbeatable customer services. With clients spanning multiple industries Canada wide, we’re here to support your project with products you can depend on. Learn more by contacting our team today.
Nov 12, 2020 | Access Mats, News
Are you in need of site access solutions in the Edmonton Capital region as well as throughout the rest of Canada? Tired of battling the Canadian landscaping and waiting for expensive POs from competitors? GFI is here to help!
Whether you need access to heavy-duty problem solvers like rig and crane mats or standard mats to help pave the way for transporters, GFI Solutions has you covered. As one of Canada’s top source for access mat rentals and sales throughout Alberta hot spots like Edmonton, Red Deer, Calgary, and more, our team is proud to be Canada’s only source for Sterling Solution’s range of TerraLam® access mats. With a product line that features the latest innovations in CLT matting, TerraLam® solutions are able to stand up to even the heaviest of tasks demanded by rigs and cranes. Learn more about TerraLam® mats, as well as GFI’s rental solutions, below.
It’s Time to Work With The Best
As a relatively new, but increasingly preferred option in the site matting field, Cross Laminated Timber (CLT) mats have quickly taken the market by storm and risen in prominence over traditional bolted mats. Weighing up to 40% less than standard bolted mats and offering a life cycle that is 3-5 times longer, CLT mats are an undeniably strong asset for any job site and stand to save investors in both the short and long run. With the heavier duty models capable of tackling traditional jobs held by old school rig and crane mats while still maintaining a lighter profile that allows for more mats to be shipped per load (up to 25% more, in fact), CLT mats have become the solution of choice for heavy industry leaders within Edmonton and across the nation.
Designed For Success
A large part of what allows CLT access and rig mats to be so successful is their unique design and manufacturing process. Cross Laminated Timber mats are created by bonding alternating perpendicular layers of wood with an environmentally safe adhesive, which allows them to evenly distribute weight throughout the entire mat, leading to superior durability and performance, even for the heaviest of loads.
TerraLam® CLT Access Mats are among the best in the world and are made with Southern Yellow Pine Wood Fibre, which is 30% harder than Douglas Fir. This makes them ideal for standing up to the toughest of jobs, even over long periods of time.
Rig Mats and More at GFI
With decades of combined experience in the industry backing our team, GFI Solutions is proud to support our customers with all of their site access needs. From 24/7 rental and sales support to inventory management, mat washing, expedited delivery installation and more, GFI Solutions is here to ensure that your project has everything you need to continue on schedule. Contact our team today to learn more.
Nov 12, 2020 | Access Mats, News
At GFI Solutions, we know just how vital access to reliable matting solutions and services are. Canada’s oil & gas, drilling, power transmission, renewable energy, mining, and related sectors are hard at work year-round, with long hours and sudden changes making 24/7 service essential. Our team is proud to serve clients all over the country, offering nonstop support for mat sales, rental, delivery, installation and more. As Canada’s exclusive source for TerraLam® CLT access mats, you can trust our team to have your back, no matter when you call. Learn more about the benefits of TerraLam® mats and partnering with GFI below!
TerraLam® Mats: Today’s Leading CLT Solution
When it comes to finding the right access mats for the job, it’s no secret that the best option is the perfect fit of competitive prices matched with superior performance. TerraLam® CLT access mats are made with the highest quality materials and design, giving you peace of mind and an unbeatable ROI. TerraLam® mats are engineered to be stronger and more durable than traditional bolted mats, and serve as a safer alternative that drastically reduces damage, replacement, and transportation costs.
Why Choose CLT Matting?
If you’re used to traditional bolted mats but are contemplating finally making the switch, there are plenty of perks to be found with CLT mats, including a lighter weight profile that allows you to ship up to 25% more per load, a lifecycle that lasts 3-5 times longer than bolted mats, and dependable performance even in tough situations. In addition to superior durability where loads are concerned, the adhesive used to bond planks together also protects the mat from rot and decay, meaning your lifecycle is much longer and maximizing your investment.
Meet GFI Solutions
At GFI Solutions, our number one priority is, and always will be, our customers. We believe in providing exceptional service alongside unbeatable products to give you the support you need when it matters most. From round the clock shipping to rapid installs, mat washing, inventory management services and more, we’re here to cover your site access needs, every step of the way. providing customers with exceptional products when it matters the most.
For more information on our leading access mat products and services throughout Canada, contact GFI today.
Nov 5, 2020 | Access Mats, News
With environmental efforts becoming more and more of a priority and responsibility on job sites, the importance of using resources that minimize your footprint and help protect the land is greater than ever. Site access solutions such as mats and bridges play a significant role in reducing the damage caused by transporting goods, using heavy machinery, and more. At GFI Solutions, we’re proud to offer full-scale site access solutions, including mat rentals and sales, access mat washing, delivery and installation and more. Below we’ll take a quick look at how access matting can help you do your part to stay on the right side of environmental guidelines, while also benefitting your workflow. Read on to learn more!
Why Sustainability Matters
As mentioned above, there is an increasing demand for companies, especially those in the oil & gas, petrochemical, construction, and energy sectors, to ensure their job sites and practices uphold environmentally-oriented standards. Access mats are just one way to ensure you are in compliance while offering a wide variety of other benefits at the same time. Access mats help to ensure environmental and safety standard compliance by:
Minimizing Ground Disturbance
One of the most challenging aspects of any job is protecting the natural landscape while accomplishing the task at hand. Doing so requires careful planning, especially where site access and transportation issues are concerned. By serving as a makeshift road or foundation for heavy trucks, drills, excavators, cranes, and more, access mats help to reduce the damage done to the ground in the first place, which makes post job recovery much easier on the landscape.
Prevent Soil and Weed Contamination
If you’ve got trucks hauling materials throughout different areas of your site or coming in from remote regions, there’s a solid chance their tracks may introduce foreign fauna to the terrain. Access mats act as a shield against this and help to protect the local plant life from contamination.
Circumvent Weather and Challenging Landscapes
It’s no secret that both the Canadian landscape and climate can be unpredictable and difficult to overcome. Site access solutions allow you to conquer both with ease, while also reducing the damage that can be caused by mud, snow, rain, and more.
Prevent Chemical Cross-Contamination
As with organic cross-contamination, chemicals used during your operations can pose a significant risk to the environment. Access mats help prevent them from reaching the ground, and thorough mat cleaning between jobs will prevent future risks as well. Partnering with an experienced team like GFI’s makes it easy to clean mats efficiently, allowing you to get to the next job faster than ever before.
About GFI Solutions
As one of Canada’s leading sources for access mat solutions, GFI is proud to carry the best products available on the market. We are Canada’s exclusive distributor of Sterling Solutions‘ range of TerraLam® CLT 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. For all of your site access needs including rentals, sales, mat washing and more, contact our team today!
Nov 5, 2020 | Access Mats, News
In need of new sites access mats that are built to perform? Whether you’re in the oil & gas, petrochemical, or energy sector, there’s no doubt your job sites can benefit from reliable access solutions that allow you to conquer the Canadian wilderness and keep your project on track. Access mats, also known industry-wide as “swamp mats” are an invaluable resource that makes it easy to create makeshift roadways in less than ideal solutions to facilitate the safe transportation of materials to and from site. At GFI, we’re proud to be one of Canada’s top suppliers of CLT access/swamp mats, as well as your exclusive source for Sterling Solutions’ TerraLam® products. Our team is here to answer your many inquiries about all things access matting, including what the difference between access, swamp and rig mats are. Below we’ll talk a little bit about the main differences to be aware when choosing the right CLT product for your application. Read on to learn more!
Let’s Talk Phrasing
If you’re confused as to what the difference between access, rig, and swamp mats is, you’re not alone. In fact, one of the biggest sources of confusion amongst customers, and even professionals, is ensuring that everyone is on the same page when talking about a product. Because the matting industry tends to use all three terms interchangeably, it can be understandably difficult to figure out which is which, and more importantly, which one you need! To save you time and a few headaches, the following is a brief rundown of each category as defined by manufacturers:
Access Mats AKA Swamp Mats (commonly called Swamp Mats)
Access mats are the most widely used site access product and depending on the region you’re in, may be also referred to as a “swap mat”. Standard access mats are ideal for creating temporary roads and on-site infrastructure to facilitate the safe transportation of goods and equipment and can handle a wide range of weights.
Rig Mats
Rig mats specifically refer to any access mat designed to handle heavier loads, such as those found when handling a crane or rig. Rig mats usually feature 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, meaning that you’ll want to ensure you know exactly what you need prior to ordering to avoid sticker shock.
Why Choose CLT Mats Over Bolted Models
Created to be an innovative alternative to bolted mats, Cross Laminated Timber (CLT) mats have a wide range of benefits to consider. Such benefits include:
- High impact resistance and durability.
- 3-5 times the lifespan of bolted mats.
- Able to withstand the Canadian climate, all year round.
- Solid matting top reduces tripping hazards, as well as the tired 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 only supplier of Sterling Solutions’ range of TerraLam® products, including both the 300 and 500 models mats, access bridges and more. Built from the highest quality Yellow Southern Pine wood fibres, which are up to 30% stronger than Douglas fir trees, TerraLam® CLT mats are bonded together with an environmentally friendly adhesive and distribute weight through the entire mat for superior performance. This translates to increased savings, better performance and a killer ROI that just can’t be beat.
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!
