May 11, 2022 | Access Mats, News
Crane and rig mats are in high demand, especially in the oil field, pipeline or power industry. Worksites in such industries use heavy-duty equipment, which requires access mats that are safe, reliable and cost-effective. Standard bolted mats were the number one choice for heavy machinery for many years. Some even believe that traditional timber mats are the safest and strongest choice; however, Cross Laminated Timber access mats are proven to be a more robust, safer and budget-friendly alternative to traditional timber mats.
GFI Solutions is your exclusive source for site access products and services for TerraLam® CLT access mats. We are proud to be Canada’s leading provider of access mats, crane/rig mats and Terracross™ Bridges. Learn more about TerraLam® crane mats below!
What Makes CLT Crane Mats Different?
Bolted timber mats are the standard choice of any worksite; however, CLT access mats are better. Cross Laminated Timber access mats are made using adhesive to bond wood together rather than bolts. This process eliminates gaps between the planks and offers you a safer worksite environment. Bolts create splinters, fall off and sometimes damage the equipment used. Having a smoother top for your access mats eliminates all the problems above and prevents worksite tripping hazards caused by the gapping between the wooden planks.
Bolted timber mats are known to be heavier than CLT access mats, giving the impression that blocks of wood can handle more weight than Cross Laminated Timber. However, the heavier the plank does not necessarily mean the better the performance. CLT access mats are made using Southern Yellow Pine fibre which is 30% harder than Douglas fibre used in traditional bolted mats. Furthermore, the adhesion used in CLT access mats allows for weights to be distributed evenly through every square foot of the mat, rather than focusing the load on a few wooden planks causing quicker damage and breakage.
Finally, every TerraLam® CLT mat is engineered and tested in all weather conditions to ensure the durability of the access mats. Whether your project is in the cold, harsh winters or during the sweltering season of summer, our CLT mats performance will remain consistent throughout.
GFI Solutions for Every Project
At GFI Solutions, we engineer, deliver and install access mat products throughout Canada. We aim to ensure smooth and safe production in any worksite, which is why we also offer the following solutions:
- Turnkey services
- Inventory management
- Manufacturing
- 24/7 Service for Sales and Rentals
- Mat washing
- Planning & consultation, and more.
Partner With Us Today
We offer various products and solutions for all projects and worksites. For more information on leading crane access mat installation for your project, contact our team of experts today.
May 2, 2022 | Access Mats, News
The most common concerns with work sites are the safety of the crew, equipment and environment. At GFI Solutions, we understand that this balance is more often than not unavailable which is why we have created the optimum solution for you. GFI Solutions is proud to offer clients across Canada high-performance access mat solutions that are safe for the environment, safe for your workers and provide a safe foundation for your heavy equipment.
We have engineered access mats suitable to withstand equipment used in construction, oil & gas, drilling and refinery industries. Learn more about our access mats for sale designed to provide durability, last longer and cause no harm to the environment
Safe For The Environment
TerraLam® access mats are engineered through a novel process called Cross Laminated Timber (CLT), which is the use of an environmentally safe adhesive to bond the wooden planks together, instead of using metal bolts. CLT access mats are also designed using wood used in plantation-grown Southern Yellow Pine, which is harvestable at 20 years, in comparison to oak, which is harvestable after 100 years. It is important to us that all of our products are built with consideration of our current environmental issues and provide solutions for sustainable forest practices. Ensure your next project does not harm the environment by choosing CLT access mats.
Safe Foundation
The adhesion in our CLT access mats is not only safe for the environment but also provides a safe foundation for your heavy equipment. Using adhesion instead of bolts eliminates gaps between the wooden planks, reducing the strain on singular wooden planks by evenly distributing the weight of each load. We also ensure that our CLT access mats are durable in extreme weather conditions to guarantee overall safety on the job site as we understand the dangers and possible accidents associated with the use of machinery in extreme weather on any work site.
Safe For The Crew
Our CLT access mats are also designed to provide a safe and smooth worksite for your crew. We have eliminated any gaps between wooden planks in our access mats to eliminate the possibility of accidents. The smooth surface ensures that your crew will not trip, get stuck or involuntarily damage the wooden planks as a result of an uneven surface. Install our CLT access mats today to provide a safer job site for your workers and avoid costly accidents in the future.
A Safer Solution For You
Request a quote today to ensure a safe worksite for your crew, your machinery and the environment. We proudly offer mat rentals and sales throughout Western Canada and 24-hour service and support. Contact our team today and ask about access mats for sale!
May 2, 2022 | Access Mats, News
Are you in need of heavy-duty access solutions that can stand up to the toughest jobs, keep your equipment and crew safe, and stay strong job after job? CLT access mats are here to help. As one of Canada’s top suppliers of site safe access mats, including heavy-duty 5 and 700 level rig/crane mats, GFI Solutions is proud to offer clients across the country easy access to quality solutions you can count on when it matters most. Whether you’re in the oil & gas, petrochemical, utility, mining, or construction industry, rig mats are a staple for every job site and can save you time and money. Below, we’ll discuss the benefits of rig matting, as well as partnering with GFI for your site access needs. Read on to learn more!
What are Rig Mats?
Despite being incredibly versatile and able to stand up to the majority of the demands of your job site, there are limitations to even the strongest of Cross Laminated Timber (CLT) mats. As the next level in support, cross-laminated rig mats maximize the potential of the unique design that gives CLT matting its leading edge. In addition to better performance, laminated mats weigh up to 40% less than traditional mats, allowing you to ship up to 60% more units per load, saving time and money. With a life cycle that lasts 3-5 times longer than oak mats, and unbeatable flexibility that reduces your risk of sudden failures on the job, CLT mats are your go to resource for heavy lifting.
New Design, Superior Performance
CLT rig mats have been created to improve the existing performance of oak mats while addressing the shortcomings that can often lead to frustration. Cross-laminated timber rig mats are made by glueing planks together in an alternating pattern using an environmentally safe adhesive that allows for increased flexibility that prevents excess strain on the mats and allows them to handle heavier loads without failing. Crafted from Southern Yellow Pine, CLT mats are ready to tackle the heaviest loads with minimal risk for sudden breakages and other headaches that may leave you stranded. Additional benefits to using CLT rig mats include:
- High impact resistance (great for heavy equipment transport)
- Suitable for use in extreme conditions; including heat and cold. (ideal for Canadian winters)
- Solid matting top reduces tripping hazards, as well as tire damage to vehicles
- Able to handle heavy-duty applications
- Cheaper to ship due to the lightweight nature of the mats (60% more CLT mats can be shipped per load compared to bolted products), and more.
CLT Rig Mats and More at GFI Solutions
GFI is proud to carry industry-leading CLT products within our inventory, including 300, 500 and even 700 model access mats, access bridges, and more. Designed with the utmost quality and performance in mind, CLT mats are built to take on the toughest of jobs without flinching. Our team of experts offer 24/7 support for all your site access needs. Contact us today to learn more!
Apr 25, 2022 | Access Mats, News
High performance and budget-friendly are the two vital factors rarely met when purchasing drilling rig mats for your project. You will mostly find yourself in a constant struggle between choosing a product of excellent quality at an extremely high price or sacrificing quality for a more affordable option.
For the past five years, GFI Solutions experts have been dedicated to addressing the problems associated with finding cost-effective and high-quality rig mats. We have since introduced the TerraLam® 300 3 ply and TerraLam® 500 5 ply Cross Laminated Timber (CLT) access mats. Not only are the mats more durable and stronger than traditional bolted mats, but they also are safer, reduce damage and have lower replacement and transportation costs. GFI Solutions offers you the highest quality of access mats at a budget you can afford; read on to learn the benefits of partnering with GFI solutions.
All Year Round Service
Partnering with GFI Solutions gives you access to 24/7 service 365 days a year. Our team of experts is available to ensure support and smooth operations with any forthcoming project. We will provide you with the tools needed to rectify any mishaps, delays or damage during your project. You no longer have to worry about the quality of your equipment since all our products abide by constructional and environmental guidelines, which are tested thoroughly through several conditions to guarantee excellent performance all year round. GFI Solutions is ready to ship the necessary mats you need wherever you are in Canada.
Safe Site Access Mats
GFI Solutions access mats are dependable for all your upcoming heavy-duty access projects. Unlike traditional bolted mats, our CLT access mats are designed to strengthen the bonding between the wooden planks by using environmentally friendly adhesive. The adhesion reduces the gaps between the wooden planks, which allows for more flexibility and durability than standard bolted mats. The design of our CLT mats is engineered to distribute weight evenly through the entire mat leading to exceptional performance in the most demanding conditions.
Affordable High-Quality Access Mats
GFI Solutions guarantees high-quality access mats since TerraLam® CLT access mats are made with Southern Yellow Pine Wood Fibre, rather than using Douglas Fir (which is used in standard access mats). The use of Southern Yellow Pine Wood Fibre is 30% harder than Douglas Fir, enabling our mats to withstand heavy-duty applications, especially the ones used in the drilling industry. We understand the importance of cranes and rigs having a solid, reliable foundation, so we have engineered CLT mats to ensure safe site access mats that you can depend on to support your equipment, no matter the weight.
Partner With The Best Today
It is time to upgrade your worksite with access mats you can depend on. GFI Solutions guarantees reliable, high-performance access mats. Request a quote today!
Apr 25, 2022 | Access Mats, News
Winter is on the way out, and with the snow finally starting to melt, it’s time to make sure that you have everything you need for the upcoming construction and development season. Whether you’re in the construction, oil & gas, mining, forestry, petrochemical, or related heavy industrial sectors, you already know just how important it is to have the right tools for the job in place before breaking ground. At GFI Solutions, we’re proud to be one of Canada’s top choices for site access solutions, including a wide range of heavy-duty site-safe CLT access mats. Designed to tackle the toughest jobs on-site while saving you time, money, and avoiding plenty of headaches along the way, CLT rig and crane mats offer plenty of benefits to every job site, and GFI is here to ensure you have the products you need when it matters most. Learn more about the benefits of CLT crane mats and partnering with GFI below!
Leave the Past Behind
There’s been a large pain point in the safe access industry for decades, but until fairly recently, there hadn’t been a vetted solution for the frustration caused by traditional bolted matting. Despite being the go-to solution in the past, bolted mats have a reputation for sudden failures and heavy shipping fees, neither of which are ideal for procurement managers. Cross Laminated Timber (CLT) access mats have stepped up to fill the void and performance demands left by bolted mats and give you plenty of benefits to enjoy on the job site including weighing 40% less than oak mats, a life cycle that lasts 3-5 times longer, and 500 and 700 series that can easily outperform traditional crane and rig matting. Best of all, the lower weight of CLT mats means you’ll save significantly when shipping your mats, with each load being capable of carrying up to 60% more than standard bolted mats.
How it Works
CLT crane and access mats are set apart from competitors thanks to their unique manufacturing process. While bolted mats are created by bolting materials together (hence the name), Cross Laminated Timber (CLT) mats are created by bonding alternating perpendicular layers of wood with an environmentally safe adhesive. Bonding the planks together allows them to flex and focus weight on ALL aspects of the mat, rather than straining on bolt points and risking sudden failures. The flexibility of the mats allows for superior durability and performance, even under heavy loads, project after project. Our 500 series is a 5 ply CLT mat, available in multiple sizes, and for extra heavy lifting, we’re pleased to offer a 700 series for the toughest jobs you face.
Crane Mats at GFI
With decades of industry experience on our side, the team at GFI knows how important it is to have the right solutions available with minimal wait times or ordering hassle. Our commitment to you extends well beyond offering superior products to exceptional round-the-clock service. From 24/7 rental and sales support to inventory management, mat washing, expedited delivery installation, and more, GFI Solutions is here to ensure that your project has everything you need to continue on schedule. Contact our team today to learn more.
Apr 18, 2022 | Access Mats, News
Installing access mats that can withstand heavy weights as well as extreme weather conditions is every contractor’s dream. Finding the right balance between quality and affordability is another challenge contractors face, especially if the only option is to ship heavy bolted mats that blow up your budget.
Cross Laminated Timber (CLT) access mat is the solution for every contractor’s problem. Not only are the access mats significantly more robust than standard bolted mats, but CLT mats are also shipped up to 50% more in a single load due to their lightweight structure. Read on to learn all you need to know about CLT access mats and the multiple benefits you can expect.
What is CLT?
The process of bonding wooden layers together using a unique adhesive to create an access mat is Cross Laminated Timber. Standard access mats bolt wooden planks together instead of adhesive, resulting in splints, damage and quick wear and tear. The adhesion used in CLT access mats allows for an even distribution of weight throughout the entire mat, resulting in less chance of damage and longer longevity. USDA Forest Products Laboratory, San Diego State University and Henkel Adhesives have all tested the strength of our CLT access mats and validated their durability. The durability of the CLT access mats allows GFI solutions to sell and rent out as many mats as you need, as you can easily reuse them for several projects.
Why Should You Switch To CLT Access Mats?
CLT access mats are an asset to any worksite, especially under the heaviest of loads such as cranes and rigs. Switching to CLT access mats enhances your worksite as they offer the following benefits:
- Withstand extreme conditions, including heat and cold
- Repel moisture and rot as all four edges are laminated using glue and wax
- Gap-less, solid matting top reduces tripping accidents
- Longer lifespan than bolted mats
- Safe for the environment
- Lightweight mats reduce shipping costs since more CLT mats can be shipped than bolted products and more!
Where can I Buy/Rent CLT Access Mats?
GFI Solutions is proud to be a distributor for Sterling Solutions, offering a wide range of TerraLam® products, including TerraLam® 300 CLT and TerraLam® 500 CLT access mats, access bridges and more. We guarantee the strength and durability of our mats; you will never be required to pay for damaged or replaced mats. GFI is ready to provide you with CLT crane access mats engineered to suit your project’s specifications whether you are looking to rent or purchase them.
When Will I Need to Switch to CLT Access Mats?
The sooner you switch to CLT access mats, the quicker you can guarantee a safe job site. GFI Solutions looks for long-term partnerships with our customers, helping you maintain all the safety measures necessary for your access mating needs. Once you request a quote, an expert from GFI Solutions will review your project and suggest the best access matting solution for your business. We also provide you with support 24/7 through our qualified team members.
