May 13, 2020 | Access Mats, News
Does your job site pose significant challenges when it comes to facilitating the transport of goods and equipment? Western Canada’s landscape can be harsh and unforgiving for trucks and machinery to navigate, often leading to costly delays and dangerous situations. Often sought out as a valuable solution, access mats serve as a makeshift road in the tough condition, allowing you to keep your project on track and your work crew safe. As an innovative and increasingly relied upon option, CLT mats have become the go-to choice for those in the construction, oil and gas, infrastructure, mining and related heavy industries. Learn more about the benefits of CLT mats below!
What Are CLT Mats?
Cross Laminated Timber mats are created via the process of bonding alternating perpendicular layers of wood with a special adhesive to create the finished product as opposed to the previously common bolted structure. TerraLam® CLT access mats allow even distribution of weight throughout the entire mat, leading to less chance of breakage, even under the heaviest of loads. Attributes of CLT mats include:
Strength and Flexibility
Despite being 40% lighter than bolted mats, CLT mats offer exceptional strength, with select models being able to assist with heavy machinery like cranes, and more. The unique composition of CLT mats allows them to flex under pressure, equally distributing loads in such a way that helps to prevent breakage and keep your operation running smoothly.
Stands Up To Tough Conditions
TerraLam® access mats have been tested successfully in temperatures as low as -70°F and as high as 150°F. While all wooden mats may be slippery in wet, muddy, and icy conditions, the solid top of TerraLam® mats makes clearing mud, snow, or ice much easier. Once TerraLam mats are travelled on, they become well-seasoned, which provides relief in challenging conditions down the line.
Multiple Sizes
When it comes to access mats, one size doesn’t fit all. TerraLam® Mats are available in 3 or 5-ply construction, with multiple sizes available.
Environmentally Friendly
If sustainability and adopting an eco-responsible approach are of high importance to your operation, CLT mats are a solid choice. TerraLam® mats, in particular, are made with an adhesive that becomes chemical inactive once it leaves Sterling’s facility, meaning that it presents no potential to harm the environment.
Durable
Finally, one of the standout features of CLT mats is their superior durability compared to other solutions. TerraLam® CLT mats are constructed with rapid-growth southern yellow pine #2-grade kiln-dried lumber, along with a moisture-activated polyurethane adhesive. Multiple laboratories, including the USDA Forest Products Laboratory, San Diego State University, and Henkel Adhesives, have validated the strength and durability of TerraLam® products.
Find CLT Mats At GFI Today
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.
May 13, 2020 | Access Mats, News
Need an access mat solution that can handle the demands of heavy-duty equipment like cranes and more? While there are plenty of options on the market, few mats can truly stand up to the wear and tear caused by industrial machinery over time. Rig mats are highly in demand due to their ability to cope with the strain caused by increased weight as well as constant use. Sterling Solutions’ range of TerraLam® CLT access mats offers a cost-effective option that out performs most traditional products. Below, we’ll explore some of the general applications of rig mats, as well as the benefits of CLT access mats as offered by GFI. Read on to learn more!
What Are The Uses Of Rig Mats?
Before we dive into the applications of rig mats, it’s important to take a moment to address one of the most common points of confusion in the matting industry. If you find yourself struggling to distinguish between the differences in access mats, rig mats, and swamp mats, you’re far from alone. As these terms are often used interchangeably, there are frequent misconceptions about the specific applications for each. Below is a quick breakdown of each category:
Access Mats refers to matting solutions that can be used as makeshift roads in and out of a job site. Versatile in nature, these mats can handle a wide range of weights and typically come in either the traditional bolted format, or the increasingly popular CLT design. Access mats are frequently called swamp mats, which tends to be popular in certain regions over others.
Rig Mats are another form of access mats, but their main function is to assist with extremely heavy loads and applications such as cranes, equipment, etc. Rig mats typically have steel frames that allow them to handle such loads safely, and usually cost significantly more than their access mat counterparts.
Knowing the difference between these two categories can help protect your job site and equipment, saving you time and money in the long run.
Why Trust CLT Rig Mats?
Cross Laminated Timber (CLT) mats are created via the process of bonding alternating perpendicular layers of wood with a special adhesive to create the finished product. Compared to traditional bolted mats, CLT mats such as those produced by TerraLam® allow even distribution of weight throughout the entire mat, leading to less chance of breakage, even under the heaviest of loads.
Heavy Equipment Mat Rentals at GFI
As Western Canada’s leading source for access mat solutions, GFI is proud to be a distributor for 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 about TerraLam® products by contacting our team today.
May 8, 2020 | Access Mats, News
Is your job site in need of access solutions to facilitate the safe and effective transport of goods and materials? Whether you’re facing the challenge reaching a remote location or need to compensate for changing terrain as the seasons shift, access mats are a crucial part of maintaining the workflow of your project with minimal disruptions and delays. GFI is proud to be Western Canada’s leading source of innovative access matting products. Our inventory features TerraLam®’s line of access mats solutions for sale and rentals across the nation. Below we’ll explore a few of the benefits of renting mats. Read on to learn more.
What Are The Benefits Of Using Access Mats
Tired of costly delays and issues tying up your project? Western Canada’s climate and terrain can be unforgiving on transport vehicles and machinery, leading to dangerous conditions and the potential for major mishaps. Acting as a makeshift road that you can depend on, access mats help overcome the challenges presented by the landscape, making it easy to stay on track and minimize risks around the site. With many different compositions and weight limits available from companies like GFI, finding a custom solution that fits the need of your project can be simple and allow you to get (back) to work in no time!
Rent Or Buy? What Options Works Best?
As any site manager will know, managing your expenses along every stage of a job is vital to success. While there are several factors that can influence whether or not buying or renting is best for your specific needs, there are multiple reasons companies may choose to rent over purchasing. These reasons include:
Accommodating A Short Term Need
If your project is near completion, or you will only need matting for a brief period to facilitate the installation/removal of key components, renting can help reduce costs as well as product waste by giving you the option to return the mats when you’re through. Many companies are flexible with their rental terms and can accommodate your schedule without a hassle.
Dealing With Sudden Weather Changes
Canadian Weather can be hard to predict, often leading to leading to unforeseen issues caused by excess precipitation that leads to mud and other topography shifts. Mat rentals can serve as a quick and easy way to overcome such challenges without putting your fleet at risk.
Try Before You Buy
One of the predominant reasons companies choose to rent mats as opposed to purchasing outright is the ability to test the quality of mats for future projects. Renting presents a smaller upfront cost and offers the potential for a 100% write off, whereas purchases require a larger investment. Whether you need a little extra time to garner the capital for a large scale purchase or are looking to avoid a long-term commitment, rentals serve as a fantastic option for a wide variety of industries including oil & gas, construction, infrastructures and more.
Access Mat Rentals At GFI Solutions
GFI Solutions is proud to be Western Canada’s leading provider of matting solutions, including TerraLam®’s range of comprehensive 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!
May 8, 2020 | Access Mats, News
With the spring season just around the corner across Canada, job sites across the nation are facing increased difficulty when it comes to accessing remote locations. Access matting provides a safe, reliable way to circumvent the challenges posed by mud, slush, and other conditions caused by the changing seasons and avoid costly delays. GFI is proud to be a leading supplier of TerraLam® Cross Laminated Timber mats, which have become the trusted standard by project managers in the construction, oil & gas, renewable energy, petrochemical, mining, power and related industries. Learn the benefits of using access mats, as well as TerraLam®’s innovative solutions, below.
Conquer The Canadian Landscape With Access Mats
It’s no secret that the Canadian landscape can be unforgiving when it comes to keeping major projects on track. Rugged terrain combined with rapidly fluctuating temperatures can lead to less than ideal circumstances for trucks and heavy equipment to navigate. Access mats serve a valuable asset that allows you to safely transport goods and materials from your job site with minimal disruptions as well as mitigating safety hazards caused by mud, ice, sleet, and other issues. With multiple compositions and weight capabilities, TerraLam®’s line of Cross Laminated Timber matting solutions offers superior performance, standing up to the demand of heavy loads and constant use and giving you the reliable path you need when it matters most.
Discover TerraLam® Matting Solutions
At GFI Solutions we’re proud to offer our clients access to the top matting solutions available on the market. That’s why our team is proud to partner with Sterling to offer their range of TerraLam® products. Engineered to be 40% lighter than traditional bolted mats, TerraLam® CLT access mats give you the benefits of exceptional durability as well as long term dependability and performance. The lightweight composition of the mat greatly increases your hauling capacity, allowing for the transport of up to double the normal amount allowed by bolted mats, which saves time and money. The unique composition of CLT mats (more on that below) allow for such enhanced performance that GFI is proud to stand behind their quality.
What Makes CLT Mats Different
The main advantages of CLT mats over traditional bolted mats are the result of the unique process that goes into construction. TerraLam® mats are crafted using the CLT method, which binds planks together using environmentally safe, structural adhesive instead of bolts. While bolted mats are only able to transfer the burden of a load at the location of the mechanical fasteners, adhered TerraLam® access mats distribute the weight evenly throughout the entire mat, giving it increased durability and flexibility to prevent breaking. This leads to increased performance and longevity, giving you an exceptional return on investment. When you need solutions that you can depend on from job to job, CLT mats are a clear contender for both performance and cost.
Want More Information?
Learn more about TerraLam® Matting solutions by contacting GFI today.
Feb 11, 2020 | Access Mats, News
If you think the three terms above refer to the same product, you’re not alone. Even the most experienced professionals often have trouble when it comes to defining what the difference between these mats are, often resulting in wrong product orders, frustration, and costly delays. If you’re considering a large scale order and aren’t sure exactly what you need to accomplish your objectives, GFI is here to help. Below is a brief overview of the difference between swamp, rig, and access mats to help avoid confusion.
Wheres Does The Confusion Come From?
A large part of the confusion that stems from the various matting names comes down the to the fact that the matting industry tends to lack specific regulation where specific terminology is concerned. Over time, rig/access/swamp mats have been referred to interchangeably, typically when referring to the category of “access mats” as a whole. While swamp, rig, and access mats all do play a role in the main function of ensuring job sites and activities are accessible to operators, the ability to clearly distinguish between products is key to success and safety.
Access Mats (Often referred to as Swamp Mats): refers to matting solutions that can be used as makeshift roads in and out of a job site. Versatile in nature, this mats can handle a wide range of weights and typically come in either the traditional bolted format, or the increasingly popular CLT design. Access mats are frequently called “swamp mats”, which is a regional derivative of the main term.
Rig Mats: can also be considered a form of access mat, but are predominately relied upon for extremely heavy loads or applications such as cranes, equipment, etc. Rig mats typically have steel frames that allow them to handle such loads safely, and usually cost significantly more than their access mat counterparts.
Which One Do I Need?
If you’re unsure of which product is best suited for your specific applications, GFI is happy to assist you when it comes to selecting the perfect fit. We are available for 24/7 support all throughout Canada including Western Canada hotspots like Grande Prairie. With a leading inventory featuring superior products such as Sterling Solutions’ range of TerraLam® products, our team will help you find the ideal solution for your job site. Contact us now to learn more!
