Apr 20, 2021 | Access Mats, News
Are you in the process of sourcing site access materials that makes it easy to reach and navigate your remote job site? Access mats are the ideal solution for sites that face challenges from uneven terrain, the Canadian climate, and many other topographical issues. Designed to serve as a reliable temporary road, as well as a stable platform for heavy equipment, access mats make it easy to operate with confidence, protect the environment, and avoid costly delays.
GFI is proud to be one of Canada’s leading suppliers of site-safe CLT access and swap mats and features a diverse inventory of mats, bridges, alongside multiple services; including delivery, installation, inventory management and more. One of the most common questions and points of confusion our team answers deals with the difference between standard access mats and swamp mats. Below, we’ll take a closer look at these terms to help you find the best CLT mats for your needs. Read on to learn more!
Terminology: What You Need to Know
Did you know that there’s technically no such thing as a swamp mat? Do you know the difference between an access mat and a rig mat? If you’re confused, you’re not alone. The matting industry tends to use all three terms interchangeably, which can lead to orderers mixing up what they actually need. To make sure you’re getting exactly what’s needed for your project, you’ll want to pay close attention to the official designations below:
Access Mats
Access mats are the most prevalent and widely used site access mat, and the term generally refers to any standard matting designed for multi-use purposes. Depending on where you are in the world, access mats may also be called a “swamp mat”, though, as we mentioned above, there is technically no such dedicated map for swamps. Swamp mats are simply a regional term used by those in the south where warm, swampy terrain, requires matting to cross.
Rig/Crane Mats
Rig and crane mats are the heavy-duty counterparts to access mats and can be used both to assist with transport needs, as well as serving as a stable platform for heavy machinery such as cranes and rigs. To handle the increased loads they usually experience, these kinds of mats typically have a steel frame that reinforces the mat in order to prevent sudden breakages. As a result of these steel frames, rig mats tend to cost more, which is why it’s important for those placing orders to know whether they need standard mats, or specifically rig mats to meet the demands of their job site.
CLT Mats: The New Way Forward
Looking for a more cost-effective, durable alternative to bolted matting? Cross Laminated Timber (CLT) mats are designed to offer superior performance, as well as:
- High impact resistance and durability.
- 3-5 times the lifespan of bolted mats.
- Solid matting tops that reduce tripping hazards, as well as tire damage to vehicles.
- Lower shipping costs due to the lightweight nature of the mats (25% more CLT mats can be shipped compared to bolted products per load), and more.
GFI Solutions is proud to be Canada’s source for CLT safe site access solutions, including a vast inventory of access mats, rig mats, access bridges and more. With superior performance and ROI just a phone call away, there’s never been a better time to invest in site access solutions.
Looking For Access Mats? GFI Solutions Is Here To Help
GFI’s team of experts is available for 24/7 support including sales and rentals all throughout Canada. Contact us now to learn more!
Apr 20, 2021 | Access Mats, News
Does your worksite have the tools it needs to stay safe, efficient, and protect the environment? When it comes to overcoming the Canadian landscape and keeping production on track, access mats are your number one resource for success. Designed to provide a safe, dependable foundation for transport as well as the operation of heavy machinery, CLT access mats are your top choice when it comes to building a safe path forward. Below, we’ll highlight some of the benefits of working with access mats, especially where environmental remediation is concerned. Read on to learn more.
No More Costly Delays
The Canadian landscape is unforgiving on fleets, making it difficult to reach your job site without damaging your fleet and/or equipment. Uneven terrain and constantly changing conditions make site access solutions invaluable when it comes to protecting your assets and guarding production. Rain, snow, sleet, ice, mud and everything in between lead to costly delays and damage; access matting provides a stable path that prevents risky mishaps, allows trucks and machinery to proceed safely to and from your site without the major disruption of building a permanent road.
Preserve The Ground Beneath and Surrounding Your Site
When using access mats as temporary roadways, you provide a crucial layer of protection for the surrounding terrain as well as local ecosystems by minimizing the damage and disruption caused to the area. Access mats shield the ground from physical damage caused by heavy treads and equipment, as well as from exposure to harmful chemicals or compounds that may be used in your operations. This ensures that your site is always in line with remediation and environmental standards, and the further use of additional tools like access bridges to cross rivers, creeks, ditches, and more, allow you to operate efficiently without needing to permanently alter the landscape. Two main environmental benefits to using access mats include:
Prevent Cross-Contamination
Cross-contamination is one of the major environmental concerns for site operators and can lead to costly fines if you choose to operate without the proper precautions. Site-safe CLT access mats help to reduce this risk by acting as a solid barrier, and washing your mats between jobs goes an extra step farther in protecting different ecosystems from harm.
Reduced Recovery Time
Remediation efforts are a key necessity to project approvals these days and using site access solutions makes it much easier to achieve and uphold your standards throughout the duration, as well as upon completion of your project. Since access mats serve as a temporary measure, they can easily be removed and transported to the next site after being washed down all with reduced damage to the environment itself.
Site Safe CLT Access Mats at GFI
As Western Canada’s leading source for access mat solutions, GFI proudly carries a vast inventory of site-safe CLT matting available in a wide range of sizes and weights, with custom builds available upon request. Designed to improve on the foundation laid by traditional matting, Cross Laminated Timber mats are lighter, stronger, and built to last much longer (3-5x the life cycle of average bolted mats).
With 24/7 sales and rental support, along with a wide variety of other services, GFI Solutions is here to help your team find the best access matting products available. Contact us today to learn more about our environmentally sustainable products from Sterling Solutions.
Apr 7, 2021 | Access Mats, News
Quality, performance, consistency: welcome to the benefits of choosing TerraLam® CLT mats. As Canada’s leading supplier of site access solutions, including swamp mats, access bridges and an extensive range of support services, you can count on GFI Solutions to have your back no matter the application. We are proud to be the nation’s exclusive source of Sterling Solutions’ TerraLam® CLT Access Mat products and with 24/7 shipping and delivery, we make it easy to get access to the solutions you need when it matters the most.
Swamp Mats and More at GFI
If your remote job site is in need of access solutions to facilitate the safe transport of materials in and out of your location as well as to support your machinery on uneven terrain, TerraLam® access mats are here to help. Designed using the revolutionary CLT approach (more on that below), TerraLam® mats can help you save up to 40% on labour and equipment, and up to 60% on shipping costs. For swamp mats, rig mats, and everything site access related, GFI Solutions is your first choice provider, Canada-wide!
Let’s Talk Facts: Swamp Vs Access Mats
If you’re located in Canada and searching for access mats, you might find yourself somewhat confused to see the term “swamp mats” used interchangeably to refer to them. This use of terminology is actually one of the largest sources of confusion in the industry and ultimately the facts are this: technically there is no such thing as a swamp mat, and it is just another term for standard-issue access mats. The use of terms tends to vary regionally, particularly down south where there are marsh and swamplands that require access solutions as opposed to the issues faced here in Northern Canada.
Note that while swamp mats may mean the same thing as access mats, they do NOT mean the same thing as rig or crane mats, and knowing the difference will help you get the best results for your job site. For heavy-duty solutions typically serviced by rig mats, TerraLam®’s 500 series mats are built to perform, and 300 level mats provide exceptional service for a wide variety of other applications.
TERRALAM® ACCESS MATS AT GFI
As a newer solution on the market, TerraLam® CLT mats are now widely and in demand and have become preferred over their bolted counterparts. Unlike traditional bolted mats, TerraLam® CLT mats are constructed by alternating perpendicular layers of wood and bonding them together with a special adhesive for unmatched strength and performance. This method of construction means that TerraLam® CLT mats are able to flex with each load to distribute weight evenly, resulting in increased strength and longevity. Additional benefits of TerraLam® CLT mats include:
- High impact resistance and durability.
- 3-5 times the lifespan of bolted mats.
- Glue lamination and wax sealed on all 4 edges of the mat to make it less vulnerable to moisture and rot.
- Able to withstand the Canadian climate, all year-round.
- Solid matting top reduces tripping hazards, as well as the tired damage to vehicles.
- Lower shipping costs due to the lightweight nature of the mats (up to 60% more load capacity), and more.
TerraLam® CLT Access Mats at GFI
GFI Solutions distributes site access products across Canada and is proud to be the exclusive Canadian dealer for Sterling Solutions. Our team of experts offers our customers access to 24/7 rental and sales service, as well as mat washing, installation, turnkey services, and more. Learn more about our products, including TerraLam® CLT mats by contacting our team today!
Apr 7, 2021 | Access Mats, News
It’s time to trade in tough terrain and headaches for site access solutions you can count on. When your job site demands heavy-duty matting to keep up with the wear and tear of machinery and transportation fleets, you need products you can count on to perform under pressure, no matter the application. GFI Solutions is proud to offer industry-leading products, including exclusive access to Sterling Solutions’ range of TerraLam® access mats. Constructed using game-changing CLT methods, TerraLam®’s mats are built to taking a beating without cracking under pressure. When the going gets tough, GFI is your first choice for dependable site access products. From the oil & gas industry in Calgary to mining and more Canada wide, we have you covered!
Meet TerraLam®
For years, heavy industry job sites have struggled to find adequate site access solutions. Between the difficulties caused by managing extremely heavy loads and the natural challenges of the Canadian climate and terrain, finding mats that stay tough when it matters the most can often feel like quite the tall order. While traditional bolted mats have served their purpose, they are prone to sudden breakages, and can often cost more with the need for constant replacement. CLT rig mats are designed to address such concerns and alleviate headaches by making sure you’ll always have a stable foundation to transport materials, as well as support heavy equipment. TerraLam®’s 500 series uses innovative CLT construction to create a product that stays strong under pressure and performs flawlessly time and time again.
WHAT ARE CLT MATS?
The evolution of site access solutions is here! Unlike their bolted counterparts TerraLam® Cross Laminated Timber (CLT) mats are constructed using alternating perpendicular layers of wood that are then bonded with a special environmentally friendly adhesive for optimal strength and safety. The adhesive allows mats to flex with each load and distribute weight evenly as opposed to exclusively at bolt points, resulting in increased strength and longevity.
Key benefits of using TerraLam® CLT mats include:
- High impact resistance and durability.
- Increased life span (3-5 times that of traditional mats).
- Glue lamination and wax sealed on all 4 edges of the mat to make it less vulnerable to moisture and rot.
- Able to withstand the Canadian climate, all year-round.
- Solid matting top reduces tripping hazards, as well as the tired damage to vehicles.
- Lower shipping costs due to the lightweight nature of the mats (up to 60% more load capacity), and more.
TerraLam® CLT Access Mats at GFI
GFI is proud to be a full-scale solutions provider for the site access industry across Canada spanning key locations from Calgary all the way to the Maritimes. Our team offers customers access to 24/7 rental and sales service, as well as mat washing, installation, turnkey services, and more. Learn more about our products, including TerraLam® rig mats by contacting our team today!
Mar 29, 2021 | Access Mats, News
If you’ve read our previous piece on five of the most common misconceptions about CLT mats, you’ve likely begun to realize that there are more than a few reasons they’ve become such a relied-upon resource industry-wide. Whether you’re renting or buying, CLT access mats pack a punch and can easily compete with traditional heavy timber mats while affording you plenty of savings in the process.
Thanks to their unique composition (read more on that here) TerraLam® CLT access mats offer a lifecycle that’s 3-5x longer than traditional mats and stands up to even the toughest of demands. GFI Solutions is proud to be the exclusive Canadian distributor of one of the markets’ top products, TerraLam® mats by Sterling Solutions. Read on to learn 5 more misconceptions about TerraLam® CLT mats and the facts to keep in mind.
1. Different Sizes = Big Headaches
Because TerraLam® CLT mats are typically somewhat smaller than their oak counterparts, some may worry that they will be difficult to lay down or interconnect. Fortunately, TerraLam® mats can be fitted with interconnecting fingers that work in the same manner as traditional bolted access mats.
2. Hard to Repair
Another point of confusion where TerraLam® CLT mats are concerned is a misconception that can be attributed to their unique composition. While some may think that the mats being a solid block of wood makes them hard to repair, the opposite is true. In fact, necessary repairs can be done easily and at less expense than with bolted access mats. Repairs to bolted mats often require removing rusted or bent bolts and fragmented boards. Because TerraLam® CLT mats do not have any of these additional risks, they’re much safer on the job site than a damaged bolted mat.
3. Rough On the Environment
There are no two ways around it; this one just isn’t true. TerraLam® CLT mats are made in such a fashion that makes them environmentally friendly thanks to two main points:
- TerraLam® CLT mats are made with Southern Yellow Pine, which in addition to being 30% harder than Douglas fir, grows back much faster, reducing your impact on the environment.
- The adhesive used to bond mats together is eco-friendly, meaning it will not harm your job site.
4. Hard to Recycle
Eventually, even the toughest of mats will need to be replaced. While some may argue that CLT mats are difficult to recycle once they come to the end of their active lifespan, this isn’t true. It is easier and more environmentally friendly to dispose of TerraLam® CLT mats than traditional bolted mats since there are no bolts to worry about, and once they’re removed from use they can be reused in a variety of ways, including being ground for mulch, used for livestock bedding, or even becoming a component of bio-fuel.
5. It’s Better to Trust Something Standard
While it can be intimidating to switch to a new type of product, the fear of innovation should never be allowed to slow your business now. The facts show that TerraLam® CLT access mats offer vastly superior performance, save you time and money, and go above and beyond to protect the environment.
It’s time to supercharge your next project with site access you can count on. Contact GFI Solutions to learn more about the benefits of TerraLam® CLT mats today!
Mar 29, 2021 | Access Mats, News
As one of the newest and most in-demand products on the site access solutions market, TerraLam® Cross Laminated Timber (CLT) access mats have attracted quite a bit of attention and gained a large following that features some of the biggest names in heavy industry. TerraLam® CLT mats differ significantly in composition from their bolted counterparts and are bonded together with an environmentally friendly adhesive that allows them to flex and evenly distribute the stress of each load. This flexibility leads to unbeatable performance under pressure, and with a longer lifecycle (3-5x longer than traditional mats), a lighter profile (40% less) that allows you to save on shipping and plenty of other benefits, it’s a no brainer to see why TerraLam® CLT mats have become so popular.
Below, we’ll dispel five common misconceptions regarding TerraLam® CLT access mats. Read on to learn more!
1. Flexibility Isn’t The Same As Strength
While this may be true in many cases, the simple fact of the matter here is that a large part of the strength and durability of TerraLam® CLT access mats is due to their flexibility. Why? Think of it this way: imagine a city bridge without its trusses. Over time, no matter how strong the base material of the bridge deck, it would eventually suffer shock and wear and tear from heavy loads and fail. Contrastingly, trusses allow the bridge to have even support all the way across, giving it the longevity it needs. Similarly, the flexibility of TerraLam® CLT mats means that they have support all throughout the mat, and with products like Sterling Solutions’ line of TerraLam® mats being crafted with high quality southern yellow pine, you can count on them to stand the test of time!
2. They Won’t Hold Up Under Tough Weather Conditions
Canadians, there’s no need to fear! It’s no secret that our climate can be tough on mats, but thankfully, TerraLam® CLT Access Mats have you covered. With a high-quality finish and seal that’s as LifeProof as it is waterproof, you can count on products likes TerraLam® to stand up to whatever weather comes your way. In fact, TerraLam mats have been tested successfully in temperatures as low as -70°F and as high as 150°F!
Did you know? GFI Solutions is Canada’s exclusive source for TerraLam® CLT by Sterling Solutions
3. Slippery When Wet
We all know that slippery mats can cause endless problems for crews and equipment alike. Thankfully to alleviate such issues, the solid top of TerraLam® mats makes removing mud, snow, or ice much easier. Once TerraLam mats are travelled on, they become well-seasoned, mitigating slickness in challenging conditions.
4. Tough to Clean
Another misconception is that TerraLam® mats are tough to clean. Luckily, this couldn’t be further from the truth. Simply put, TerraLam® CLT mats are easily cleaned, and GFI Solutions even offers post job cleaning options for your convenience!
5. Difficult to Place
TerraLam® CLT mats are exceptionally easy to install, and with multiple sizes available, both in terms of physical dimensions and weight capacity, you’ll have no issues finding the perfect custom fit for your job site.
Check-in soon for part 2 of our TerraLam® CLT myths for 5 more misconceptions about cross-laminated matting. In the meantime, learn more about the multiple benefits of TerraLam® CLT access mats by contacting GFI Solutions for all your matting needs today!
