Jul 31, 2020 | Access Mats, News
Are you protecting your access mats as much as possible to extend their lifecycle and maximize your investment? Does your project have a built-in plan to adhere to environmental standards and reduce the risk of cross-contamination or transference between jobs? If you’re not taking advantage of the many benefits of having a dedicated access mat washing solution in place, you’re not just missing out, you may be putting your site and your crew at risk. GFI Solutions is proud to be one of Canada’s leading providers of full-scale access solutions, including dedicated washing and cleaning services for mats. Below, we’ll discuss just a few of the many reasons you need to stay on top of mat washing, as well as our available services Canada-wide. Read on to learn more!
Why Washing Matters
Canada’s topography can be unforgiving at the best of times, quickly caking mud, dirt and grime all over temporary access solutions. Left uncleaned, mats become at risk for premature failures, contamination issues if moved to another site before being properly sterilized, and, ultimately a poor return on your initial investment. By ensuring that you either have a remote option available or designated yard to have your mats cleaned at upon the completion of each project, you help to keep the environment, your crew, and your equipment safe both in the short and long term.
Contamination Doesn’t Need To Be A Risk
If your job site involves the transport or use of chemicals, fuel, or other materials that could cause harm to the surrounding environment or lead to a potential reaction down the line, mat washing is a must. Having a portable unit on site makes it easy to accomplish this with minimal disruption allowing you to proceed forward with confidence for the next phase or the next job. Removing the risk of decontamination also adheres to existing remediation standards on both the Provincial and Federal levels.
Safety Is Paramount
As we mentioned above, mat washing helps keep the entire job site and respective crew safe. Built-up mud can cause a wide array of issues spanning from complicating the hauling process to risking slips and falls for team members. Keeping your mats clear helps to avoid such issues, ensuring everyone has a safe, secure site to navigate.
Extend Your Life Cycle
Finally, as we mentioned above, cleaning your mats will help to avoid premature wear and tear, which increases your ROI job after job. Whether done directly on-site or in one of GFI’s many yards across Canada, mat washing serves to protect your mats both today and in the future, helping you to maximize your investment with every job.
Mat Washing and More at GFI
GFI Solutions is proud to provide comprehensive site access solutions throughout the Western Canada region, as well as nationwide. Our team of experts offers our 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 TerraLam® CLT mats by contacting our team today!
Jul 14, 2020 | Access Mats, News
Safety on the job site is one of the most prevalent concerns on any major project, but it becomes especially vital in heavy industries like the power and pipeline sectors where the use of machinery like cranes and the constant transport of significant loads are necessary. Without the proper resources in place, productivity can suffer and your crew, as well as equipment, can be put at risk. CLT Rig mats are a valuable asset that helps protect your worksite and equipment, as well as the environment surrounding your site. Learn more about the benefits of using TerraLam® CLT rig mats below.
Cross Laminated Timber: A Newer, Better Way
While traditional timber and bolted mats were once viewed as the standard for heavy-duty applications, more recent developments have been able to address many of the common issues found in bolted crane mats. One of the main factors that can lead to a short life cycle and less predictable performance, is the fact that timber mats are often made out of a mixture of both hard and softwood, with no specific standard in place to moderate the outcome. Cross Laminated Timber access mats, on the other hand are made of high-grade southern yellow pine fibres that is up to 30% harder than the Douglas Fir wood used for bolted mats. This makes CLT mats well suited for heavy-duty jobs and tough conditions.
Taking a Look Behind The Scenes
The source for the incredible strength and durability of CLT mats is the innovative process that goes into manufacturing. Cross Laminated Timber mats are created by bonding alternating perpendicular layers of wood with an environmentally safe adhesive to create each unit. This process allows the mat to evenly distribute weight throughout the entire surface of the unit as opposed to only the bolted points. This means that heavy loads are less likely to result in sudden breakages, and the mats can be repaired with ease should the need ever arise.
TerraLam® 500 Series Access Mats
As one of the most versatile and dependable solutions on today’s market, TerraLam® mats outperform competitors with ease. Manufactured by Sterling Solutions and distributed by GFI throughout Canada, TerraLam’s 5-layer 500 mats use CLT technology to tackle heavy loads from hauling, rigs, cranes, and more. Able to withstand tough climates and worksite conditions, these matting workhorses just don’t quit. From providing you with a reliable path for transporting good to and from your location to acting as a dependable foundation for vital equipment, CLT crane mats help keep every aspect of your project moving smoothly.
CLT Crane Mats At GFI
GFI is your leading source for access site solutions across Canada. Our inventory features the top products from both the TerraLam® matting line, as well as TerraCross bridges and more. With 24/7 service available for sales, rental, delivery, installation, mat washing and more, we’re proud to be your one-stop provider for all things access related. Contact our team today to learn more!
Jul 14, 2020 | Access Mats, News
Wondering what all the buzz is about when it comes to CLT mats as a viable solution for worksite access assistance? As an increasingly preferred alternative to traditional timber mats, cross-laminated timber mats offer superior performance as well as significant savings for project managers throughout Canada. Designed to handle even the toughest of jobs, CLT mats are depended on by professionals in the oil & gas, pipeline, and power industries to create dependable roads in rough conditions, promote safety on the job site, and minimize the damage done to the surrounding environment.
GFI Solutions is Western Canada’s leading source for access mat sales and rental, stocking the highest quality products from Sterling Solutions, including their line of TerraLam® access mats and bridges. Our team of experts partner with industrial businesses across the nation to provide exceptional services and resources, no matter the size and scale of your job. Below are some of the most frequently asked questions regarding TerraLam® access mats.
What Are CLT Mats?
Cross Laminated Timber (CLT) mats are an engineered wood product that is created via bonding alternating perpendicular layers of wood with a special adhesive to create the finished product as opposed to the previously common bolted structure. Because of their construction, CLT mats are incredibly durable in addition to being light-weight and environmentally conscious.
Why Are TerraLam® Mats An Engineered Product?
Engineered products out-perform bolted and traditional timber mats, which are typically made up of a variety a mixed hard and softwood, with little attention being paid to lumber grade. This, in turn, results in inconsistency across mats, whereas engineered mats are reliable and uniform, with every product perform to the highest standards.
Are CLT Mat Resistant To De-lamination/Water Damage/Rot?
TerraLam® CLT mats are constructed with southern yellow pine #2 grade kiln-dried lumber, using a moisture-activated polyurethane adhesive. The wood’s existing water helps cure the adhesive, creating an exceptional bond that is resistant to cracking and peeling, as well as de-lamination. In addition, the seal used on the mats makes them water-resistant and far less likely to rot.
What Kind of Conditions Can TerraLam® Mats Handle?
TerraLam® mats have been tested successfully in temperatures as low as -70°F and as high as 150°F. While all wooden mats can be slippery in wet, muddy, and icy conditions, the solid top of TerraLam mats makes removing precipitation, mud, and dirt easy.
What Makes CLT Mats So Strong?
CLT mat strength can be attributed to the mat’s ability to flex and transfer weight through the entire unit, rather than just the location of the mechanical fasteners.
Can TerraLam® Mats Be Repaired?
Yes. Since TerraLam mats are a solid block of wood, necessary repairs can be done at less expense than with bolted mats. Repairs to bolted mats often require removing rusted or bent bolts and fragmented boards. Damaged TerraLam mats are safer on the job site than a damaged bolted mat, as a damaged CLT mat does not expose crews to puncture risks or equipment damage.
What Sizes Are Available?
TerraLam mats® are available in 3-, 5-, or 7-ply construction as follows:
- TerraLam® 300 – 8’ wide x 14’ or 16’ long
- TerraLam® 504 – 4’ wide x 16’ or 18’ long
- TerraLam® 508 – 8’ wide x 16’ or 18’ long
- TerraLam® 700 – 8’ wide x 16’ or 18’ long
Ready To Learn More?
Contact GFI Solutions today to learn more about TerraLam CLT mats, as well as our comprehensive range of related services! With 24/7 assistance available, we’re always here to help.
Jun 29, 2020 | Access Mats, News
Tired of the cost of procuring traditional bolted mats for your remote worksites as well as dealing with the risk of sudden breakages due to heavy loads? It’s time for a change! While timber mats once were the main player when it came to site access solutions, today’s market features several new and improved options, including the latest frontrunner: Cross Laminated Timber (CLT) mats. Designed to be significantly lighter and to perform better than their predecessors, CLT mats have quickly made a name for themselves as the preferred choice amongst industry leaders, particularly amongst those in the power and pipeline sectors in North America. Learn more about why you should consider making the switch to CLT mats for your next project below.
Why It’s Time For An Update
There’s no denying that, for many years, bolted mats played a key role in helping solve the many site access challenges faced by projects located in remote regions of the Canadian landscape. As technology has progressed, however, advanced methods like those used in the creation of cross-laminated timber have been able to step in and address the areas where traditional mats have been lacking. One of the chief improvements can be found directly in the composition of the mats themselves; while standard timber mats are produced using a mixture of hard and softwoods that can often result in unpredictable results, CLT mats produced by leaders like Sterling Solutions are crafted from high quality southern yellow pine that helps to prevent breaks at stress points and, combined with the design of the mat overall, handle heavy loads with ease.
Due to their unique composition, CLT mats are up to 40% lighter than traditional counterparts, and as a result, allow for the hauling of up to 25% more mats per load. This saves you time, money, and allows you to get up to speed fast!
Go Beneath The Surface
With a process originally discovered in the 1990s, today’s CLT mats are the product of a unique design and build that lends itself to long-lasting performance. 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 by bonding alternating perpendicular layers of wood together with an environmentally safe adhesive to help keep the mat strong, as well as protected from outside factors like moisture. The end result is a mat that is flexible and resistant to heavy loads, no matter your application. Core 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
CLT Access Mat Solutions At GFI
As Western Canada’s leading source for access mat solutions, GFI is proud to partner with Sterling Solutions‘ as a distributor for their range of TerraLam® products, including the 300 and 500 series access mats, access bridges, and more. Learn more by contacting our team today.
