Jun 24, 2022 | Access Mats, News
Edmontonians have been experiencing drastic changes in the weather for a while, resulting in muddy terrain, soft soil and an uneven landscape. Accordingly, outdoor construction sites have become almost impossible to work on without the use of crane/rig mats to ensure a safe worksite. Due to the extreme changes in the weather, most matting solutions are, unfortunately, quickly damaged, delaying your project and increasing your budget.
GFI Solutions have engineered safe and budget-friendly matting solutions and offer exceptional customer services to meet all your matting needs. Read on to learn more about our unique matting solutions and services.
Dependable Foundation
Heavy industrial sectors face challenges that require sturdy and long-lasting matting solutions. GFI Solutions is proud to introduce bolted and Cross Laminated Timber (CLT) rig mats that provide a safe foundation for heavyweight equipment during weather fluctuations. Our CLT rig mats have proven to be our customer’s to-go-to choice that provides a dependable and robust foundation for their matting needs.
Engineered using Southern Yellow Pine, our CLT mats are 30% harder than the competition, allowing our mats to provide a sturdier foundation for your heavy machinery. Southern Yellow Pine is also sustainable from growth to cutting, conversion to lumber and even disposal; it takes significantly less time to harvest than other hardwood options.
Additionally, our CLT rig mats are constructed using an environmentally safe adhesive that is biodegradable and provides a smooth surface for safer transportation. The adhesive is also used to provide a moisture barrier to protect the rig mat from extreme weather changes and prevent possible rot and decay.
Robust Foundation
The reliability and strength of our mats come from the adhesion process (Cross Laminated Timber). Adhered CLT mats allow for more flexibility within the mat, distributing the weight of heavy equipment equally throughout the mat. This process not only provides a robust foundation but also increases the longevity of the rig mats. GFI’s rig mats are guaranteed to last long no matter the project.
Fast Shipping
Our CLT mats are lighter in weight as the wooden planks are adhered together instead of using bolts. This allows GFI to fit more mats on shuttle trucks, approximately 72 mats per load, saving you up to 60% in transportation costs and up to 40% on installation and removal. You can count on CLT mats to provide you with the strength and durability you need while staying within the budget you have.
Request A Quote Today!
Contact our team of experts to learn more about bolted and CLT mats in Edmonton.
Jun 24, 2022 | Access Mats, News
Heavy industries require robust, durable products that can withstand extreme weight as well as extreme conditions. The oil & gas, mining, construction and forestry industries are equipped with heavy machinery to transport heavy loads regularly, increasing their demand for long-lasting, sturdy access mats. GFI Solutions are proud to be Canada’s number 1 supplier for Sterling’s TerraLam access mats, which provides safe transportation for your equipment and a secure worksite for your crew.
TerraLam Cross-Laminated Timber (CLT) access mats provide a reliable solution for all your matting problems at a cost-effective budget. Read on to learn more about the high performance of our CLT access mats.
Buy More; Save More!
The TerraLam CLT access mats use an environmentally safe adhesive to bond the wood together instead of bolts, creating robust, lightweight mats. We can fit up to 72 CLT mats per load as they are two-thirds the weight of traditional bolted mats. When you purchase or rent CLT mats, you can save up to 50% on freight costs as you can fit more with every truckload! Buy more CLT mats and save more on transportation costs.
Maximum Durability
Engineered using Southern Yellow Pine fibre, our CLT mats are 30% harder than Douglas Fir used in most traditional bolted mats. Our mats are also 5X stiffer than bolted mats as they are manufactured using wax sealer and glue lamination, which play a significant role in their strength.
Safer Choice
The main concern in any worksite is the safety of the crew and the equipment. The CLT access mats are a safe choice for your crew as they have a rough solid surface that prevents puncture injuries and tripping hazards. The smooth surface also eliminates the risk of vehicle damage and traffic hazards, ensuring safe transport of your machinery.
CLT mats are not only safe for your worksite, but they are also safe for the environment. They’re built with renewable Southern Yellow Pine, which not only increases the longevity of our access mats but is also a sustainable, farm-raised wood that regenerates in 25-30 years, decades faster than the standard options.
Variety of Matting Solutions
Our CLT access mats are available in 3- or 5- ply construction with various widths and lengths best suited for your needs. GFI Solutions also offers custom-build CLT mats if needed. Our inventory includes:
- TerraLam 300 CLT
- TerraLam 500 CLT
- TerraLam 700 CLT
TerraLam CLT mats are engineered to create a portable road to support heavy-duty trucks and tracked machinery. They can also be used as bridge decking or mobile crane mats for cumbersome equipment.
Learn about our available products and services, including sales and rentals, by contacting GFI today.
Jun 16, 2022 | Access Mats, News
Our Canadian terrain faces some unique challenges associated with the ever-changing climate throughout the year. The freeze-thaw cycle and extreme temperatures can leave your work site’s foundation riddled with mud, ice, snow, and uneven ground, making transportation difficult. If you’re a project manager looking to stay on track and budget, site-safe access mats offer safety and affordability with minimal disruption.
At GFI Solutions, we are Canada’s leading provider of access mats, including Sterling Solutions’ line of TerraLam® CLT mats. When it comes to the heavy-duty needs of our drilling sector customers, we know there’s no room for error or subpar mats. Keep reading to learn more about CLT mats!
TerraLam® CLT Matting an Industry Leader
Engineered to be up to 40% lighter than standard bolted mats, GFI’s TerraLam® CLT mats are a step towards incredible quality. Cross Laminated Timber (CLT) provides significant improvements over traditional bolted mats. They’re manufactured through a process that involves adhering perpendicular layers of wood together to create a solid structure that has a 3-5 times longer lifespan. Even under heavy pressure, our TerraLam® mats provide exceptional access solutions that make them well suited for a range of applications and job sites.
TerraLam® has two options in their safety access mats the 500-series and the 300-series. The 500-series lineup is ideal for supporting heavy-duty trucks and tracked equipment like those expected of rig and crane mats. Meanwhile, the 300-series are best suited for general ground protection, access roads, and drilling/equipment staging platforms. At GFI Solutions, our offering of TerraLam® access mats is sure to be the drilling mats you can count on.
CLT Mats V.S. Bolted Mats
While bolted mats or timber mats are the traditional choices for access solutions, that doesn’t mean they’re the best option available in the market. One of the main factors that make bolted mats less suited for most industries is that they’re made from hard and softwood. With no specific standard to control the quality, timber mats have a short lifespan. In comparison, CLT mats are made from high-grade Southern Yellow Pine, which makes CLT mats better suited for heavy-duty jobs and challenging conditions. At GFI, our CLT mats also offer the following advantages:
- High impact resistance and durability.
- 3-5 times the lifespan of bolted mats.
- Glue lamination and wax sealed on all four edges of the mat results in a mat less prone to moisture and rot.
- Resistance to our Canadian climate.
- Solid top, which reduces tripping hazards.
- Decreased shipping costs due to the lightweight nature of the mats (more CLT mats can be shipped in comparison to bolted mats), and more!
GFI Solutions Your Source for Access Solutions
From heavy-duty applications like drilling and rig work to custom roadways for your unique project, GFI Solutions is here to help you build the transportation solutions you need. We are proud to be Alberta’s top choice for safe access solutions; that’s why GFI offers a range of services, including 24/7 rental and sales support, expedited delivery, installation, and more. If you’re looking to try out the durability of our TerraLam® CLT mats before buying or need to replace a failing mat as soon as possible, GFI is here to help. Contact our team today to learn more!
May 26, 2022 | Access Mats, News
Is your project or worksite in need of high-quality, safe site access solutions? While traditional bolted mats may be your first choice, Cross Laminated Timber (CLT) mats are sure to be your new favourite option. At GFI Solutions, we are proud to be the leading distributor of Sterling Solutions’ CLT mats. These mats offer a range of advantages compared to traditional bolted mats. From affordability to durability and more CLT mats are the new industry leaders for safe site access solutions. Keep reading to learn how CLT mats outperform traditional bolted mats.
What Are CLT Mats?
Cross Laminated Timber (CLT) mats are a new contender in the safe site access market. These innovative crane mats do the same job as traditional bolted mats; however, the similarities end there. CLT mats are made using wood from plantation-grown Southern Yellow Pine and an adhesive that bonds the wood planks together; there’s no need for bolts. Through this unique manufacturing process, CLT mats have a longer life cycle with a range of other advantages, but more on that later. GFI Solution’s TerraLam CLT mats are available in two standard sizes, the 300-series and the 500-series.
Advantages of CLT Mats
Compared to traditional timber bolted mats, CLT mats offer a variety of advantages for your worksite. For starters, CLT access mats are 40% lighter than bolted mats, that weight reduction allows for the transportation of up to 25% more mats per load. That means you save money on delivery costs, but when it’s time for your project to kickoff, you won’t be left waiting for all of your access mats to arrive.
TerraLam mats are also able to withstand a range of temperatures, from as low as -55℃ (-70℉) to as high as 65℃ (150℉). This makes these ground protection mats perfect for our fluctuating Canadian climate. While wood tends to get slippery in wet, muddy, and icy weather, the sturdy top of TerraLam mats is rough, which helps to eliminate the risk of tripping hazards and ensure they can continue performing even in inclement weather.
Are you looking for crane mats that can be interconnected? Our TerraLam mats can be fitted with special “fingers” that work similarly to traditional bolted access mats. At GFI Solutions, we want to find the site access solutions that best fit your needs. So if you’re looking for a safer, more affordable, and longer-lasting site access mat, our TerraLam mats are sure to satisfy.
Site Access Solutions at GFI
GFI Solutions offers a range of matting services beyond sales and rentals; some of our other services include delivery and installation, inventory management, mat washing and more. In addition to a robust stock of highly in-demand mats, we offer 24/7 customer support; that way, our team at GFI can connect you to the site access solutions you need. For all of your temporary pathways, crane mats, and general access mat needs, GFI is here to help. Contact our team to learn more!
May 26, 2022 | Access Mats, News
Cranes and rig work is one of the most challenging applications for rig mats. The immense weight of this machinery can cause traditional rig mats to crack under pressure. Luckily there’s a solution for this problem! At GFI Solutions, we have the access mats you need to ensure that your project operates smoothly and safely. As Alberta’s premier supplier of CLT crane mats, GFI Solutions is proud to offer high-quality access mats. We know our team of experts can assist you in determining which Terrlam mats would be best suited for your application. Read more to learn more about our line of crane mats.
How CLT Mats Work
Cross Laminated Timber (CLT) mats are made by bonding alternating perpendicular layers of wood with an environmentally safe adhesive. Mat strength lies in its ability to transfer weight to the surface below through the mat. Adhered CLT mats distribute the load weight more evenly than bolted mats, even when confronted with heavy loads. This, in turn, allows CLT mats to be more durable than the competition.
Since GFI’s CLT mats are engineered with quality in mind, they’re guaranteed to last and withstand the wear and tear of your project’s job site. At GFI, we have confidence in our TerraLam mats; that’s why we won’t charge you for any damage or replacement costs. But if damage does occur, repairs are no sweat! Our TerraLam mats are easy and inexpensive to repair. Compared to traditional access mats, which often require removing rusted or bent bolts, our mats are solid wood and don’t contain any bolts that could need replacing.
Benefits of CLT Mats
Switching from bolted mats to GFI’s CLT crane mats comes with many perks. CLT mats are lighter and safer than traditional bolted mats. Our TerraLam mats have a textured solid top surface which helps to eliminate tripping hazards. Since they’re made using adhesive rather than bolts, our mats also are free from puncture injuries or vehicle damage as there are no bolts to protrude from damaged mats. Our CLT mats are also environmentally conscious as all the wood used in manufacturing them is made from plantation-grown southern yellow pine. GFI’s CLT mats are lighter, long-lasting, safer, and sustainable.
At GFI, our commitment to you extends further than simply offering a great product. We also are happy to provide 24/7 rental and sales support, inventory management, expedited delivery, mat washing and more!
Access Mats at GFI
At GFI, we pride ourselves on making long-term relationships with you, our customer. That’s why a GFI expert will work with you to find the best solution for your project—interested in making the switch from traditional mats to GFI Solution’s CLT crane mats? Contact us today, and one of our knowledgeable team members will be happy to assist you.
May 19, 2022 | Access Mats, News
Today there are plenty of environmental standards and practices your project must comply with to move forward with the work at hand. Unfortunately, traditional access mats come with various issues that can make them problematic to work with. After learning about some of the common problems of conventional matting options, GFI Solutions has a better solution: the TerraLam 300 3-ply and TerraLam 500 5-ply Cross Laminated Timber (CLT) access mats. CLT mats are engineered to be stronger and more durable than traditional bolted ones, but they do more than outperform bolted mats. CLT mats also provide significant environmental advantages for your project. Continue reading to learn more about how CLT access mats can make your worksite more environmentally conscious.
Protects the Ground Below
Access mats provide more than just a temporary roadway to your project site; they also provide a crucial layer of protection to the surrounding terrain and ecosystems. They minimize the damage and disruption caused to the area by heavy equipment by shielding the ground from physical and chemical damage. This preventative system allows your site to comply with remediation and environmental standards. Access mats also will enable you to have better movement across bodies of water like creeks, rivers, marshlands, ditches and more without permanently changing the landscape of where you’re working.
At GFI Solutions, we care about the future; that’s why all of our TerraLam mats are built using sustainable forest practices. The wood used in our mats is plantation-grown Southern Yellow Pine. What does that mean for sustainability? Well, Southern Yellow Pine is grown to harvestable maturity within 20 years. Compared to other traditional access mats that use oak wood, oak takes about 100 years to mature for harvest. Also, the adhesive used to bond the pine together is chemically inactive before leaving the manufacturing facility. Therefore CLT mats present no harm to the environment.
Prevents Cross-Contamination
Another significant environmental concern for site operators is cross-contamination. If cross-contamination isn’t managed adequately within the regulated standards, your project could face some substantial fines. GFI Solution’s CLT access mats can help reduce this risk as they act as a barrier between your equipment and the ground. Also, the adhesive used in our CLT mats prevents invasive species from embedding themselves, unlike traditional mats. Additionally, properly cleaning your mats in between jobs further reduces the chance of cross-contamination and further protects the environments where you’re working. Luckily at GFI, we offer mat washing and a range of other services to keep your project safe and on schedule.
Recovery Time is Reduced
Environmental remediation is a significant part of any project nowadays. Using site access solutions can make the recovery process that much easier. They serve as a temporary measure to reduce your project’s environmental impact on the area you’re working. Site access mats can easily be installed or removed from site to site. As long as they’re clean before moving to a new location, you’ll be reducing your environmental impact one mat at a time.
CLT Mats at GFI Solutions
At GFI Solutions, we aim to respect our world’s soil, water, air, and natural habitat; that’s why we conduct our business in an environmentally responsible manner. Our TerraLam mats are one way your project can put the environment first. Contact our team to learn more about the other great benefits of TerraLam access mats.
