Sep 20, 2022 | Access Mats, News
As experts in safe access solutions, GFI Solutions has extensive experience working with companies that require stable foundations for their equipment and crews in remote locations. Your worksite comes with various unique needs and challenges that can make efficiency and safety an issue. Access mats from GFI can assist you in guaranteeing that your worksite is safe for your workers, equipment, and the environment. As Canada’s exclusive retailer for Sterling Solutions Cross Laminated Timber (CLT) mats, we are excited to provide you with innovative and economical options for safe access solutions. Below we’ll discuss some benefits of switching from traditional bolted access mats to CLT mats. Continue reading to learn more!
Why Switch to CLT Access Mats?
Cross Laminated Timber (CLT) access mats are an asset to any project site, especially for areas where heavy machinery and equipment are used. CLT access mats are manufactured to improve upon some of the best features of traditional bolted mats. CLT mats are made using alternating perpendicular pinewood layers bonded with a unique eco-friendly adhesive. The special adhesive allows the access mats to flex under pressure and distribute weight evenly across the entire mat. That results in an access mat with a 3-5 times longer lifespan than traditional bolted mats. Making the switch to CLT access mats can enhance your worksite with additional benefits such as the following:
- Ability to withstand extreme environmental conditions
- Repels moisture, rot, and decay
- Environmental safe
- Interlocking capabilities
- Gap-less, solid mat top reduces tripping hazards and more!
GFI Solutions’ offering of TerraLam CLT mats has many benefits for various industries here in Alberta. So if you’re working in the oil and gas, or the renewable energy sector, CLT mats can assist you in ensuring your site is safe and accessible.
Stay on Budget
CLT mats are constructed from Southern Yellow Pine which is significantly lighter in weight. CLT mats are two-thirds the weight of traditional bolted mats, which means you can save up to 60% on transportation costs. Per load, you’re able to fit up to 72 CLT mats. More mats per load mean delivery is fast and cost-effective. At GFI Solutions, our team will ensure your project has reliable and safe access mats. We offer 24/7 support, so our team can still assist if your project is working in a remote location! So whether you’re looking for access mats or bridges to rent or buy, GFI Solutions is here to help.
GFI Solutions Your Best Option for Access Matting
Since its incorporation in 2017, GFI Solutions has been Canada’s premier source for reliable and durable access solutions. Our team is excited to partner with you and be your primary contact for any questions or concerns you may have regarding access solutions. We want to ensure that your experience with us benefits your project. That’s why our team of experts is available to help you get the job done on time and within budget. At GFI Solutions, we work hard to bring you the best and safest access solutions for your project. Are you interested in our range of access mats? Contact us today to learn more about our access solutions!
Sep 12, 2022 | Access Mats, News
If your project requires heavy machinery, you should also make sure that you utilize a crane mat. Crane mats are engineered to keep your work site as safe and accessible as possible. Without crane matting, accessing your site and efficiently working on your project can be compromised, not to mention the potential for environmental damages can increase. At GFI Solutions, we offer both CLT and traditional bolted crane mat options. That way, you can finish your project on time and without other access-related issues; below, we’ll discuss CLT mats and the benefits of using crane mats on your project. Continue reading to learn more!
CLT Mats: Engineered for Success
TerraLam’s Cross Laminated Timber (CLT) crane mats are engineered to outperform traditional bolted mats. They offer customers increased durability and performance as they can flex under pressure without damage. CLT mats have a lifespan 3-5 times longer than bolted mats as they evenly distribute the weight of your equipment across the entire mat. In addition, the uniquely formulated adhesive in CLT mats also acts as a protective barrier against decay and rot while remaining environmentally friendly. At GFI Solutions, we’re proud to offer our customers CLT and traditional bolted matting options. The following will discuss the benefits of using both types of crane mats on your project.
Sturdy and Safe Surface
When working in our challenging Canadian environments, your equipment and workers will likely be forced to deal with uneven, soft, muddy terrain. If you try to use a crane without the adequate support it requires, your equipment is at risk of falling over, getting stuck, or being damaged. Nevertheless, crane mats from GFI Solutions can ensure your equipment is safe and secure.
Work More Efficiently
Attempting to use a crane on ground that’s soft or uneven can be a recipe for disaster. To navigate challenging environments, you’ll have to maneuver your equipment carefully. Even with the most careful driver behind the wheel, there are still many risks. Not to mention, working so cautiously can slow your project’s progress. Crane mats can assist your team in working more efficiently over challenging terrain by providing a durable foundation to work off of.
Prevent Your Equipment from Getting Stuck
In addition to providing a stable base, a crane mat prevents your equipment and workers from getting stuck in the mud. Depending on the terrain, your crane can quickly sink into the ground, especially after significant rainfalls or in swampy environments. Getting large and heavy equipment stuck in the mud can bring your project to a complete halt and potentially cause damage to expensive and vital components. A crane mat can provide a stable surface for heavy cranes and workers, and they’re easy to remove from a worksite once your project is completed.
Lightweight Crane Mats from GFI
At GFI Solutions, our team understands the challenges your project may face. Lightweight crane mats are an accessible, reliable, and cost-effective solution GFI proudly offers. In addition to access solutions, we also provide 24/7 service for rentals and sales, turnkey services, inventory management, and more! Are you interested in learning more about our crane mats? Contact GFI Solutions today!
Sep 12, 2022 | Access Mats, News
Environmental sustainability and remediation are becoming critical focal points for project grants and construction governance. One of the forestry industry’s significant challenges is mitigating the damage caused by equipment moving through a remote job site. Without a makeshift roadway already in place, you’ll need to consider a safe site access solution. At GFI Solutions, we have a range of access solutions to fit every job site. Our TerraLam CLT access mats are quickly becoming the standard for the forestry industry as they feature several benefits aside from safe site access. With environmental stewardship in mind, CLT mats are your project’s economical and environmentally conscious choice. Continue reading to learn more about how CLT mats benefit the forestry industry.
The CLT Difference
If you’re only familiar with bolted mats but are looking for an alternative that provides your worksite with a range of advantages, consider Cross Laminated Timber (CLT) mats. CLT mats are manufactured by bonding layers of wood with a specially formulated adhesive. Compared to traditional bolted mats, CLT mats provide better weight distribution across the entire mat. This means that CLT mats won’t break even under the heaviest loads. The unique construction of CLT mats does more than stand up to heavy equipment; they’re also more flexible and lightweight.
We are Canada’s premier distributor of TerraLam® CLT access mats here at GFI. We offer a 500 level model that is steel reinforced to handle heavy machinery and a more standard 300 level for general applications. So regardless of your weight requirements, we are sure to have the access matting solutions you need.
Environmentally Conscious
The forestry industry is increasingly concerned with environmental consciousness, remediation, and sustainability. Heavy-duty hauling in remote areas can affect and damage local terrain, so implementing safeguards to protect the environment is crucial. Access mats serve as a protective barrier and a temporary roadway for trucks, equipment, and workers. By using site-safe access mats during your forestry operations, you significantly reduce the chance of causing damage and contamination problems to the native ecosystem in the area. The mats can easily be removed from the site when your project is completed. They leave minimal damage in their wake, allowing the landscape to return to normal quickly.
At GFI Solutions, our CLT mats are manufactured with sustainability in mind. The wood from our CLT mats is sourced from plantation-grown Southern Yellow Pine, which takes only 20 years to mature for harvest. The adhesive that binds the wood planks together is also environmentally friendly, so our CLT mats are sure to meet the stringent environmental standards of the forestry industry.
Partner with GFI Solutions
As Canada’s leading provider of site access solutions, GFI understands the importance of cost-effective matting services to your daily operations. We’re proud to offer 24/7 support for sales and rentals and advanced site management services, including inventory management, mat washing, expedited delivery installation, and more! If you’re looking to try out the durability of our TerraLam CLT mats, contact us today.
Aug 30, 2022 | Access Mats, News
Is your project in need of temporary access solutions? If so, then rig mat rentals from GFI Solutions are here to help! At GFI, our team is focused on providing safe, innovative and secure access matting solutions to ensure that your project gets done on time. Our range of TerraLam CLT rig mats will withstand the numerous challenges your project’s remote worksite throws at them. With exceptional customer service, GFI is sure to be able to meet all of your access needs. Below we’ll discuss more about our CLT rig mats and why you should rent with GFI Solutions. Keep reading to learn more!
What Are CLT Mats?
CLT mats or Cross Laminated Timber mats are manufactured from high-quality Southern Yellow Pine. Instead of bolts, these mats use an environmentally safe adhesive to secure wood planks together into three or five-ply configurations. Since CLT mats are made from Pine and adhesive rather than Oak or Douglas Fir and bolts, they have a lifecycle that’s 3-5 times longer than other mats. That means you’ll have to purchase or rent fewer rig mats in the long term as they are more durable than traditional bolted mats. The secret behind CLT mats’ ability to withstand wear and tear? Well, CLT mats evenly distribute weight throughout the entire surface of the mat and can flex under pressure. In addition, CLT mats have a unique adhesive that acts as a protective barrier against rot and decay. So if you’re looking for long-lasting, high-quality rig mats, TerraLam CLT mats from GFI Solutions are the best choice!
Rent with GFI Solutions
Remote job sites come with many challenges for your crew and equipment. Our Canadian wilderness can make completing your project on time complicated, from difficult weather conditions and muddy ground to environmentally protected terrain, creeks, and more. Having a reliable and stable foundation for your equipment and workers means you can better proceed with your project’s operations. CLT rig mats from GFI Solutions can assist you in making your worksite safe and accessible. Rig mats can provide your team with temporary roadways that supply a stable base for your heavy equipment. That means you can rest assured knowing that your vital equipment and crew won’t be delaying your project completion by getting stuck in the mud.
At GFI Solutions, you have the option to rent or purchase CLT rig mats. Renting rig mats can be an excellent opportunity to test out TerraLam’s CLT mats before buying them. We offer rental solutions throughout Canada, so we can get our CLT mats out to your site regardless of where your project is located!
Your Rig Mat Experts
As Western Canada’s leading supplier of access solutions, GFI is proud to offer high-quality rig mats, TerraCross Bridges, bolted access mats and more! Our team understands the unique challenges your project can face in our Canadian wilderness; that’s why we offer 24/7 support. Rig mat rentals can be a great access solution to complete your current project without dealing with additional issues like storage or transportation of the mats. Contact our team at GFI Solutions today to learn more about our rental options or to learn more about our range of TerraLam access solutions!
Aug 30, 2022 | Access Mats, News
Looking for portable access mats that are used to support heavy machinery during construction or oil drilling operations? Look no further! GFI Solutions’ drilling mats are manufactured to provide you with matting solutions that are safe, durable and affordable. Whether you need to build a portable road over unstable terrain or create a passage to a pipeline, GFI’s access solutions will help you pave the way. Read on to learn more about our matting solutions!
Protect The Land, The Machinery and The Crew
Operations on biochemical and petrochemical worksites can cause severe damage to the environment as chemical spillage can destroy habitats, kill wildlife or even contaminate vital resources in the food chain. Using drilling mats on the worksite protects the land from any toxic materials.
Drilling mats also help protect your machinery and workers, no matter the circumstances. Whether the terrain is wet, muddy or simply unstable, on-land drilling mats will help protect your equipment and support heavy machinery. Companies in the mining industry also prefer the use of drilling mats as they provide a safe and solid terrain for easier storage of equipment and materials.
Canadian weather can also negatively affect your crew. Wetlands or ice surfaces create an unsafe work environment where your workers are prone to accidents due to uneven and dangerous grounds. Drilling mats ensure your workers’ safety, regardless of the weather conditions.
Durable And Robust
Unlike regular access mats, drilling mats have a steel frame that increases their strength, enabling them to withstand heavy machinery like:
- Drilling Rigs
- Oil Rigs
- Pumps
- Compressors
- Storage Tanks
- And more!
Cost-Effective
At GFI Solutions, we understand that projects can require a large number of mats to cover the area of a worksite, which is why we offer our partners our cost-effective Cross Laminated Timber (CLT) access mats. Our CLT mats are built using Southern Yellow Pine wood, which is 30% harder than most common wood fibre and is two-thirds the weight of traditional bolted mats. Shipping CLT access mats can save you up to 60% in transportation costs and up to 40% on installation and removal costs. With our CLT mats, you will no longer have to worry about cutting down on the number of access mats needed to fully cover the worksite.
Partner With GFI Solutions Today
Our matting solutions are designed to offer our partners top-notch quality at an affordable price. Partner with GFI Solutions and request a quote for your upcoming project.
Aug 17, 2022 | Access Mats, News
Are you in the market for new access matting solutions, but you’re tired of plowing through your budget on costly mats that barely last through your project? TerraLam Cross Laminated Timber (CLT) mats are here to take the pressure off your shoulders and budget. As the latest innovation in site access, TerraLam CLT mats have quickly made themselves an industry favourite due to their heavy-duty performance and lengthy lifespan. TerraLam mats provide more than affordability and endurance; they’re also leading the way in environmental consciousness. At GFI Solutions, we are proud to provide our clients with a range of sustainable access solutions for their pocketbooks and the environment. Learn more about some of the environmental benefits of TerraLam access mats below!
Mats Provide Environmental Protection
TerraLam Cross Laminated Timber (CLT) mats are manufactured in such a way that makes them significantly more environmentally friendly than traditional bolted mats. Some of the benefits of CLT mats are as follows:
- CLT mats are made from sustainably sourced Southern Yellow Pine.
- Hugh impact resistance and durability make CLT mats have a 3-5 times longer lifespan than bolted mats.
- The adhesive that’s used to bond the mats together is eco-friendly.
- They’re fast and simple to install or remove.
- Due to the lightweight nature of CLT mats, shipping costs are significantly reduced
- Weather-resistant, and more.
Alongside being manufactured environmentally sustainable, CLT mats can also help prevent organic and chemical cross-contamination. Oils, fluids, and other chemicals that are a part of your operation can have permanent and damaging effects on the land around your project site. Access mats act as a barrier between your equipment and the ground below, significantly reducing the risk of cross-contamination. As long as your mats are thoroughly cleaned regularly and before moving to a new site, they’ll protect your crew, equipment, and the ecosystem.
CLT mats are significantly easier and more affordable to clean as they don’t use bolts that can carry significant amounts of buildup. At GFI, we are proud to offer a range of site access services, including mat washing. We have four mat washers that operate simultaneously to ensure over 2,000 mats a day are fully bleached and sanitized before moving on to their next job.
Recycling CLT Mats
With the extended lifespan of TerraLam CLT access mats, you won’t have to worry about recycling your broken-down mats for some time. However, even the most robust mat will need to be replaced or safely disposed of over time. Luckily CLT mats are more accessible and more environmentally friendly to dispose of than traditional bolted mats. Since CLT mats don’t have any bolts once they’re removed from service, they can be recycled in various ways. Some popular options include livestock bedding, mulching, or becoming a biofuel component.
Site Access Solutions at GFI
GFI Solutions is Western Canada’s leading provider of access mats, and we are proud to be a distributor of Sterling Solutions’ range of TerraLam products. TerraLam access products are designed with quality in mind, so contact our team today if you’re interested in renting or purchasing reliable swamp mats or access bridges.
