Aug 4, 2022 | Access Mats, News
Access mats are portable platforms typically used to support equipment and workers in various industries, including resource-based extraction and construction. Traditional bolted access mats come with multiple benefits that project managers can utilize to ensure their worksites are safe, environmentally conscious, and accessible for workers and heavy equipment. As an Alberta-based company, GFI Solutions is proud to offer a range of access matting solutions, including traditional bolted mats and Cross Laminated Timber (CLT) mats. With decades of experience under our belts, GFI’s team of experts can assist you in deciding on the type of access mats your project requires for a job well done. Below we’ll discuss three benefits of traditional bolted access mats. Continue reading to learn more!
1. Protects the Environment
Access mats are more than a temporary roadway; they also provide vital protection to the environment your project is working in. Access mats offer a layer of defence against damage and disruption from your project’s heavy equipment and workers. They do this by shielding the ground below from physical and chemical contamination. These preventative measures better allow your site to comply with environmental and remediation regulations. Since access mats are a temporary measure, when your project is completed, remediation is more accessible. This means you save time and money when using access mats on your project.
2. Protects Your Workers and Equipment
In addition to protecting the ecosystem your project is working in, access mats offer a stable foundation for your workers and heavy machinery. Inclement weather like heavy rain, sleet, and snow can make navigating isolated worksites a dangerous challenge. This is especially true for heavy equipment that can quickly sink into the mud and get stuck. Fortunately, access mats provide a foundation for your equipment to work on, preventing it from becoming entrenched in the ground below or tipping over. Access mats also provide your workers with a secure path for navigating your project site as they can prevent tripping and slipping hazards. When appropriately used, access mats from GFI Solutions can increase your project’s overall safety, giving you and your workers peace of mind.
3. Versatile Applications
Access mats are incredibly versatile and are utilized across numerous industries. Whether your project is working in the oil and gas sector, refinery, renewable resource, construction or some other industry, access mats will provide stability and safety. So if your project is looking for a safe way to navigate challenging terrain, GFI Solutions has the access matting you need. At GFI, we have a range of access matting solutions available, including rig and crane mats, CLT mats, access bridges, mat rentals and more!
Find the Access Matting You Need at GFI Solutions
At GFI Solutions, our team is ready to help you with all of your access needs. As one of Canada’s premier suppliers of access solutions, including CLT access mats, we are excited to work with you to ensure your project is safe and accessible. GFI is your trusted source for access solutions with 24/7 customer support, inventory management, turnkey services, and more. If you’re interested in knowing more about our offering of access mats, CLT mats, rental options, and more, contact our team today! GFI Solutions looks forward to partnering with you.
Jul 28, 2022 | Access Mats, News
Is your project facing significant delays due to ditches, creeks, rivers, or other environmental complications that make moving equipment and people difficult? At GFI Solutions, we have the answers to your site access problems. As Canada’s exclusive supplier of TerraCross bridges, we are sure to bridge the gap between your project getting completed on time and that creek blocking the path forward. TerraCross safe access bridges are an excellent option for rugged terrain as they’re engineered to work in any environment it’s placed in. For many worksites, TerraCross bridges have become a reliable staple. Continue reading to learn more about using access bridges on your project.
How Access Bridges Help
Our Canadian landscape makes job site navigation challenging, and remote work sites present many issues you have to overcome. As a project manager, managing your crew’s safety and equipment is key to keeping the job moving along. While access mats are great for creating temporary roadways, access bridges are better suited for significant gaps like creeks, ditches, gullies or other land issues that an access mat can’t resolve. Access bridges save you time and money by providing your fleet with a safe option for traversing over rugged terrain. When considering access bridges for your job site, consider the following:
- Length of the project
- Load capacity requirements
- Specific geographical and environmental concerns
- Preference for moveable or more permanent fixture
We have both portable and permanent options available; however, the mobile option is typically sufficient for work sites due to their overall flexibility. At GFI, we offer Sterling Solutions’ line of TerraCross access bridges and TerraLam access mats. So regardless of your project’s needs, we are sure to have the safe site access solutions you need to get the job done.
TerraCross Access Bridges
Sterling Solutions’ TerraCross bridges are lightweight, portable, and designed to simplify accessing your site. TerraCross bridges can be lifted easily with a mid-size excavator so your project can safely cross water, ditches, and a wide range of environmental hazards. The steel beam substructure of these temporary bridges makes them more durable. These safe site access bridges can also be integrated with GFI’s offering of TerraLam mats, so building quick access to your worksite is convenient and affordable. There are two options for site access bridges from GFI Solutions, the TerraCross 40 and TerraCross 56.
Access Bridge Solutions at GFI
GFI Solutions headquarters are located in Whitecourt, Alberta, but we are the leading distributor of safe access solutions throughout Western Canada and nationwide. We have a team of industry experts ready to offer excellent customer service 24/7. So if you have any questions regarding the TerraCross access bridge or TerraLam CLT mats, contact us today, and we are sure to find suitable access solutions for you.
Jul 28, 2022 | Access Mats, News
Financing a project in the oil and gas, power, construction, renewable energy or even the drilling industry is costly. As a project manager, you will often find that your budget is spent extensively on high-quality, expensive access mats or on replacing inexpensive access mats that offer lower quality. Unfortunately, sacrificing the quality of your mats for better cost can dangerously damage heavy equipment and create a hazardous work environment.
This dilemma often leaves project managers wondering whether they should buy more affordable mats but sacrifice the quality? Or purchase higher-quality mats at a price above your matting budget? What if we told you that you could have top-notch access mats at an affordable price?
GFI Solutions is proud to present you with industry-leading worksite access solutions, including the sale and rental of access mats. GFI Solutions is your source for high-quality and affordable matting solutions with an extensive inventory of access mats, rig mats, and temporary access bridges. Read on to learn more about our used and new access mats suitable for all heavy machinery.
Affordable Access Mats For Heavy Equipment
When partnering with GFI, you partner with Canada’s sole source for TerraLam products manufactured by Sterling Solutions. Cross Laminated Timber (CLT) access mats have dramatically improved the standards set by traditional bolted mats at a better price. Manufactured from Southern Yellow Pine wood, CLT mats are 40% lighter than traditional mats, saving up to 60% in transportation costs and 40% on installation and removal. Whether you decide to buy or rent GFI’s access mats, you will definitely cut down on your matting costs.
Don’t Buy, Rent!
Renting used heavy equipment mats will not only help you cut your matting expenses in half, but it will also save you the hassle of washing, transporting, installing and storing your mats. As per Canada’s matting standards, used access mats must be cleaned upon the completion of each project to help keep the environment, the crew and the equipment safe. Cross-contamination is a very high risk when reusing access mats, which is why washing and bleaching the mats are crucial in every worksite. Rather than managing the cleaning process yourself and risk compromising your project due to cross-contamination, renting used access mats manages the cleaning process from A-Z, ensuring that all rented mats are ready for use.
When renting used mats from GFI Solutions, our team can transport, install and remove the mats from your worksite and eliminate the search for a storage space to store mats for the next project. We can seamlessly take that responsibility off your hands.
Don’t Settle For Less.
Renting used heavy equipment mats offer you access mats at a lower price without sacrificing quality. GFI Solutions’ used access mats help ensure a safe worksite for workers, equipment and the environment. Contact us today to learn more about our TerraLam mats!
Jul 28, 2022 | Access Mats, News
Oil rig mats or access mats are crucial for many heavy-duty industries, especially in the oil and gas sector. If you’re on the search for oil rig matting that protects your equipment and workers from unstable soil, dirt, rocky surfaces, bogs or even swamps and is within your budget, then GFI Solutions’ oil rig mats are the ideal solution for your project.
GFI solutions are proud to offer clients across Western Canada access to leading oil rig mats that are durable and dependable for your heavy-duty jobs. Learn more about our oil rig mats on job sites below!
Traditional Bolted Mats Vs. Cross Laminated Timber (CLT)
Stronger
Traditional bolted mats are often incorrectly perceived to be more robust than CLT mats; however, CLT mats are actually 30% stronger than traditional bolted mats. Many project managers are unaware that CLT mats are manufactured from Southern Yellow Pine Wood Fibre instead of Douglas Fir, which is found in traditional bolted mats. Southern Yellow Pine Wood is not only stronger than Douglas Fir, but it is also more sustainable to grow and harvest.
Safer
For those looking to protect the environment and minimize the disturbance to the land during their project, CLT oil rig mats are a valuable asset. Traditional rig mats are essentially used to reduce the damage caused to the earth by trucks and machinery and reduce your footprint to stay within the recommended guidelines, but CLT rig mats are more environmentally friendly. Unlike Douglas Fir fibre, Southern Yellow Pine wood is harvested with sustainable forest practices and ecologically friendly adhesive to bond the planks together.
Longer Lifespan
The glue lamination used in CLT mats also increases the longevity of our oil rig mats. The adhesion bonds the planks together and are then sealed with wax on all four edges to repel moisture and rot. Unlike traditional bolted mats, CLT mats leave very little space between the wooden planks for water or fluids to seep through.
More Secure
Bonding the mats together instead of bolting them allows our CLT mats to have a solid top, which significantly reduces hazards throughout the worksite. The solid top ensures that your workers can easily walk around without tripping over the gaps and ensures that your vehicles won’t be damaged due to a loose bolt.
Partner With The Best
GFI Solutions is proud to offer our partners exceptional customer service in addition to our extensive matting inventory. The following matting solutions are designed to keep your project on schedule and maintain the safety of your crew and workers:
- Inventory Management
- Manufacturing
- Mat Washing
- Delivery & Installation
- Turn-Key Services
- Planning and Consultation
GFI Solutions for All Your Matting Needs
Request a quote today for your upcoming projects and ask about our mat rental program!
Jul 21, 2022 | Access Mats, News
Projects in the drilling, oil and gas and refinery industries require more caution to protect the environment and reduce the damage caused by the equipment and the process. Site access solutions make safe transportation of fluids possible on your worksite as it ensures little to no damage to the landscape.
GFI Solutions is proud to introduce safe-site access mats that protect both your equipment and the landscape during your project. Read on to learn more about the benefits our mats have to offer you.
Prevent Contamination
Transporting fluids on a worksite can cause significant damage to the landscape. Heavy construction equipment as well can sometimes damage the environment due to its weight. Tire tracks, rust and chemicals from the worksite are left behind as you drive the equipment, contaminating the soft ground. The heavy equipment carrying heavier loads alters the landscape’s natural appearance as unstable soil can sink into the ground. Installing access mats at your worksite will help support the weight of your equipment, creating a wooden shield between the chemicals used and the ground protecting the environment from possible damage.
Prevent Delays
Uneven terrain can cause your equipment to sink when the soil is pitted, wet or muddy. Access mats prevent you from having to go through the long process of digging or pulling out your heavy equipment. You can rest assured that your equipment and crew have a safe road/bridge to cross over without risking lengthy delays with access mats.
Prevent Damage
Access mats not only prevent damage to the landscape it also prevents damage to your equipment. The tires on heavy equipment require solid, smooth grounds that can withstand the heavyweight in order to avoid fast wear and tear or tripping hazards. Access mats provide your equipment and crew with the rigid foundation needed to support the weight and protect the tires from any possible damage.
Why GFI Solutions?
GFI Solutions is Canada’s exclusive source for Sterling Solutions’ range of TerraLam products. Our CLT products include:
We also provide a variety of sizes of bolted access mats for rent and sale. As a manufacturer, our team of experts can provide you with customized matting solutions for your upcoming project. GFI Solutions is your all-in-one matting expertise as we provide several services such as inventory management, delivery & installation, mat washing and more!
Contact our team today to learn more about the perfect matting solution for your needs and request a quote for your upcoming project.
Jul 21, 2022 | Access Mats, News
With summer just around the corner, much of Canada faces rainfall and irregular weather patterns, making it difficult for trucks and machinery to reach remote job sites. Temporary access solutions like bridges and mats are an essential resource that allows you to overcome the obstacles presented by the changing weather while also protecting the environment from harm during your project.
While purchasing mats was the preferred option of choice, renting access mats has become the go-to solution by project managers in some of the biggest companies in construction, oil & gas, petrochemical, mining, power and renewable energy industries. GFI Solutions is proud to be Canada’s leading supplier of temporary access solutions, including access mats, rig mats and access bridges for rent and sale. Learn more about our temporary access solutions below!
Access Mats
When purchasing access mats to build makeshift roads in and out of a job site, clients tend to underestimate the amount of time and effort that is required to transport, install, remove and clean the mats. Renting temporary access mats will save you time and money since you won’t have to worry about professionally cleaning the mats or finding space to store your mats for the next project. GFI Solutions offers several matting services, including:
- Mat Washing
- Turn-Key Services
- Inventory Management
- Delivery and Installation
- Manufacturing
- Planning and Consultation
Rig Mats
Projects with heavy equipment such as dump trucks, loaders, excavators, drilling rigs, or similar heavy machinery require more robust access mats that can withstand extremely heavy loads or applications. Rig mats are primarily used to support heavier machinery and have steel frames to withstand heavy loads safely. Renting temporary rig mats will usually cost significantly less than buying brand new ones and offer you the same reliable quality.
Temporary Access Bridges
In order to safely cross muddy paths, waterways or swamps, project managers are required to install temporary access bridges to maintain the safety of the equipment, the crew and the environment. Temporary bridges are easy to install and remove, and some can even be delivered to the job site on a single truck. Depending on the equipment you have and the weight of the loads, TerraCross bridges can handle up to 100 tons of weight. The specs include:
TERRACROSS 40:
- Maximum Weight Limit: 100 tons
- Spanning Distance: 35′
- Total Length: 40′
- Matting: TerraLam® 500 bearing mats and TerraLam® 700 decking
TERRACROSS 56:
- Maximum Weight Limit: 65 tons
- Spanning Distance: 50′
- Total Length: 56′
- Matting: TerraLam® 500 bearing mats and TerraLam® 700 decking
Temporary Access Solutions Throughout Western Canada
Looking for temporary access solutions for an upcoming project? Request a quote today!
