Dec 11, 2020 | Access Mats, News
Need access mats that can stand up to the toughest of challenges? If you’re tired of dealing with heavy bolted mats that cost an arm and a leg to ship and need to be replaced consistently after demanding jobs, it’s time to make a change. For crane and rig matting solutions you can count on, GFI Solutions is proud to be Canada’s exclusive provider of Sterling Solutions’ range of TerraLam® CLT access mats for both rentals and sales. Learn more about the benefits of CLT crane mats below!
The Revolution Has Begun
If you’re ready to make the shift away from traditional bolted mats, you’re not alone. While it’s no secret that timber mats have been a trusted staple across the industry, bolted matting has left a few performance points lacking. Because bolted mats are made from a mixture of hard and softwoods that are not held to any specified standards, their durability can often be inconsistent and lead to sudden fractures when facing the strain of cranes or heavy machinery. Add in the fact that timber mats take multiple truckloads to transport and require a complicated installation process to get up and running, and it’s not a surprise that many project managers are eager to find a more simplified and reliable solution. Enter CLT mats.
As an innovative new solution available on the market, Cross Laminated Timber (CLT) mats are made with the intention to address each of the above issues, while offering superior and long-lasting performance, as well as a significantly lighter weight profile (up to 40% less than bolted mats). With the ability to ship up to 60% more mats per haul and a life cycle that lasts 3-5 times longer even under heavy demand, CLT crane mats have become the go-to for industry leaders in the oil & gas, petrochemical, and power sectors.
How They Work
The key to the superior performance of CLT mats comes down to their composition. Unlike traditional bolted mats which are created using a mix of wood fibres and steel bolts to create fixed points, cross-laminated timber mats are made from southern yellow pine and bond alternating perpendicular layers of wood together with an environmentally safe adhesive that helps keep the mat strong, as well as protected from outside factors like moisture and contaminants. This process of binding planks together creates a far more flexible mat that is able to disperse the weight of heavy loads evenly across the entire surface, reducing your chance of sudden breakages and allowing for exceptional performance in the longterm. Additional benefits of CLT mats include:
- Life cycle that is 3-5 the length of traditional mats
- Easy installation
- Can haul more mats per transport load
- High impact resistance, and more.
Heavy Duty Crane Mat Solutions At GFI
GFI Solutions carries TerraLam®’s 500 series access mats, which feature 2 lengths; 4 feet (TerraLam 504) and 8 feet (TerraLam 508), both of which are lighter and stronger than comparative timber mats. The innovative cross-grain technology allows them to outperform competitors all while saving you money on hauling and installations costs. Learn about our available products and services including sales and rentals, mat washing, installation, and more by contacting GFI today.
Dec 11, 2020 | Access Mats, News
Struggling to create a safe and stable roadway for your crew on a swampy or damp access site? Facing the many challenges associated with fluctuating temperatures and changing terrain? CLT access mats are the perfect way to protect your equipment, facilitate easy transport to and from your site, and save on shipping. GFI Solutions is proud to be Canada’s exclusive source for TerraLam® products manufactured by one of the most trusted names in the site access industry, Sterling Solutions. Learn more about the benefits of CLT swamp/access mats below!
Why Use Access Mats
There’s no shortage of reasons to use access matting (commonly referred to as swamp mats), but for many site operators the ultimate decision-makers come down to safety and efficiency. Access mats help keep your equipment and crew in motion, without the fear of sudden disaster striking midway through a project, while also protecting the surrounding environment. Key benefits to using swamp mats include:
- Creates a solid, secure base for both workers and equipment
- Keep everything and everyone clean and dry all year round
- Protects equipment from mud and other environmental damage
- Improve traction for transport
- Remove easily, allowing you to leave without a trace
- Lightweight, making them much less expensive to ship and transport (up to 25% lighter than traditional oak mats!)
Simply put, CLT access mats are essential to any job site looking to overcome tricky terrain without losing time or eating through your operations budget.
Why Choose CLT Mats
If you’re unfamiliar with Cross Laminated Timber (CLT) mats, you’re missing out on one of the most important additions to the site access industry. Designed to improve on the performance of traditional bolted mats, CLT mats are up to 40% lighter than their oak counterparts and outlast other models with a lifecycle that is 3-5 times length!
Cross-Laminated Timber mats are by binding alternating perpendicular layers of wood with an environmentally safe adhesive instead of the traditional bolted method. This new approach to construction allows the mats to flex and evenly distribute weight throughout the entire mat with each load, which leads to superior durability and performance, even under the most demanding of circumstances. Simply put, when you need mats that can last under pressure, you need CLT solutions!
GFI Solutions: Canada’s Source For Site Access Solutions
As Canada’s trusted provider of site access solutions, the team at GFI understands just how important cost-effective matting services are to your daily operations. That’s why we’re proud to offer 24/7 support for sales and rentals, as well as advanced site management services including inventory management, mat washing, expedited delivery installation and more. Whether you’re looking to test out the durability of CLT mats before buying or are looking to invest in your next matting purchase, we’re here to help. Contact our team today to learn more.
Nov 23, 2020 | Access Mats, News
Cooler weather is just around the corner, are your site access solutions prepared?
It’s no secret that Canada is home to some of the world’s most beautiful landscapes and terrains, as well as some harsh and unpredictable weather shifts all year round. As summer gives way to winter and eventually to the freeze/melt cycles of spring, having the right access solutions in place can help protect your team and equipment, while also making sure you stay on track with timing.
As a rising star in the matting industry, Cross Laminated Timber (CLT) mats have become the go-to solution by the biggest players in the construction, oil & gas, renewable energy, petrochemical, mining, power and related heavy industries. In addition to a lighter profile that makes it easy to haul up to 25% more per shipment, as well as a life cycle that can last up to 3-5 times longer, CLT mats offer exceptional strength under even the toughest of conditions. Learn more about the benefits of using CLT mats for temporary site access solutions below!
What is Cross Laminated Timber?
Cross-Laminated Timber mats, better known as “CLT mats” differ from traditional bolted mats largely due to their unique design/manufacturing process. Where traditional mats, as the name suggests, are made by bolting mixed planks together, CLT mats are created by bonding alternating perpendicular layers of wood (southern yellow pine in the case of TerraLam® matting) with a special adhesive. This process allows the mat to flex under pressure and evenly distribute weight through the entire surface area to reduce the chance of breakages, even under heavy loads. CLT mats are preferred industry-wide due to their ability to:
Flex Under Pressure
Despite being 40% lighter than most bolted mats, CLT mats offer superior strength, with certain models even being capable of assisting with heavy machinery like cranes, and more.
Take a beating
Need mats that won’t give out in tough conditions? No problem! TerraLam® access mats have been tested successfully in temperatures as low as -70°F and as high as 150°F and the solid top of the mats makes it easy to clear mud, snow, or ice.
Fulfill Sustainability Requirements
TerraLam® mats are made with an adhesive that becomes chemically inactive once it leaves Sterling’s facility, meaning that it presents no potential to harm the environment and the mat itself will help protect the ground from unnecessary disturbance.
Comes in Multiple Sizes
TerraLam® Mats are available in 3 or 5-ply construction, with multiple sizes available.
Canada’s Exclusive Source For TerraLam®
As Canada’s leading source for access mat solutions, GFI is proud to be the sole Canadian distributor of Sterling Solutions‘ range of TerraLam® products, including their 300 and 500 model access mats, access bridges, and more. Learn more about TerraLam® mats by contacting our team today.
Nov 12, 2020 | Access Mats, News
Are you in need of site access solutions in the Edmonton Capital region as well as throughout the rest of Canada? Tired of battling the Canadian landscaping and waiting for expensive POs from competitors? GFI is here to help!
Whether you need access to heavy-duty problem solvers like rig and crane mats or standard mats to help pave the way for transporters, GFI Solutions has you covered. As one of Canada’s top source for access mat rentals and sales throughout Alberta hot spots like Edmonton, Red Deer, Calgary, and more, our team is proud to be Canada’s only source for Sterling Solution’s range of TerraLam® access mats. With a product line that features the latest innovations in CLT matting, TerraLam® solutions are able to stand up to even the heaviest of tasks demanded by rigs and cranes. Learn more about TerraLam® mats, as well as GFI’s rental solutions, below.
It’s Time to Work With The Best
As a relatively new, but increasingly preferred option in the site matting field, Cross Laminated Timber (CLT) mats have quickly taken the market by storm and risen in prominence over traditional bolted mats. Weighing up to 40% less than standard bolted mats and offering a life cycle that is 3-5 times longer, CLT mats are an undeniably strong asset for any job site and stand to save investors in both the short and long run. With the heavier duty models capable of tackling traditional jobs held by old school rig and crane mats while still maintaining a lighter profile that allows for more mats to be shipped per load (up to 25% more, in fact), CLT mats have become the solution of choice for heavy industry leaders within Edmonton and across the nation.
Designed For Success
A large part of what allows CLT access and rig mats to be so successful is their unique design and manufacturing process. Cross Laminated Timber mats are created by bonding alternating perpendicular layers of wood with an environmentally safe adhesive, which allows them to evenly distribute weight throughout the entire mat, leading to superior durability and performance, even for the heaviest of loads.
TerraLam® CLT Access Mats are among the best in the world and are made with Southern Yellow Pine Wood Fibre, which is 30% harder than Douglas Fir. This makes them ideal for standing up to the toughest of jobs, even over long periods of time.
Rig Mats and More at GFI
With decades of combined experience in the industry backing our team, GFI Solutions is proud to support our customers with all of their site access needs. 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.
Nov 12, 2020 | Access Mats, News
At GFI Solutions, we know just how vital access to reliable matting solutions and services are. Canada’s oil & gas, drilling, power transmission, renewable energy, mining, and related sectors are hard at work year-round, with long hours and sudden changes making 24/7 service essential. Our team is proud to serve clients all over the country, offering nonstop support for mat sales, rental, delivery, installation and more. As Canada’s exclusive source for TerraLam® CLT access mats, you can trust our team to have your back, no matter when you call. Learn more about the benefits of TerraLam® mats and partnering with GFI below!
TerraLam® Mats: Today’s Leading CLT Solution
When it comes to finding the right access mats for the job, it’s no secret that the best option is the perfect fit of competitive prices matched with superior performance. TerraLam® CLT access mats are made with the highest quality materials and design, giving you peace of mind and an unbeatable ROI. TerraLam® mats are engineered to be stronger and more durable than traditional bolted mats, and serve as a safer alternative that drastically reduces damage, replacement, and transportation costs.
Why Choose CLT Matting?
If you’re used to traditional bolted mats but are contemplating finally making the switch, there are plenty of perks to be found with CLT mats, including a lighter weight profile that allows you to ship up to 25% more per load, a lifecycle that lasts 3-5 times longer than bolted mats, and dependable performance even in tough situations. In addition to superior durability where loads are concerned, the adhesive used to bond planks together also protects the mat from rot and decay, meaning your lifecycle is much longer and maximizing your investment.
Meet GFI Solutions
At GFI Solutions, our number one priority is, and always will be, our customers. We believe in providing exceptional service alongside unbeatable products to give you the support you need when it matters most. From round the clock shipping to rapid installs, mat washing, inventory management services and more, we’re here to cover your site access needs, every step of the way. providing customers with exceptional products when it matters the most.
For more information on our leading access mat products and services throughout Canada, contact GFI today.
Nov 5, 2020 | Access Mats, News
With environmental efforts becoming more and more of a priority and responsibility on job sites, the importance of using resources that minimize your footprint and help protect the land is greater than ever. Site access solutions such as mats and bridges play a significant role in reducing the damage caused by transporting goods, using heavy machinery, and more. At GFI Solutions, we’re proud to offer full-scale site access solutions, including mat rentals and sales, access mat washing, delivery and installation and more. Below we’ll take a quick look at how access matting can help you do your part to stay on the right side of environmental guidelines, while also benefitting your workflow. Read on to learn more!
Why Sustainability Matters
As mentioned above, there is an increasing demand for companies, especially those in the oil & gas, petrochemical, construction, and energy sectors, to ensure their job sites and practices uphold environmentally-oriented standards. Access mats are just one way to ensure you are in compliance while offering a wide variety of other benefits at the same time. Access mats help to ensure environmental and safety standard compliance by:
Minimizing Ground Disturbance
One of the most challenging aspects of any job is protecting the natural landscape while accomplishing the task at hand. Doing so requires careful planning, especially where site access and transportation issues are concerned. By serving as a makeshift road or foundation for heavy trucks, drills, excavators, cranes, and more, access mats help to reduce the damage done to the ground in the first place, which makes post job recovery much easier on the landscape.
Prevent Soil and Weed Contamination
If you’ve got trucks hauling materials throughout different areas of your site or coming in from remote regions, there’s a solid chance their tracks may introduce foreign fauna to the terrain. Access mats act as a shield against this and help to protect the local plant life from contamination.
Circumvent Weather and Challenging Landscapes
It’s no secret that both the Canadian landscape and climate can be unpredictable and difficult to overcome. Site access solutions allow you to conquer both with ease, while also reducing the damage that can be caused by mud, snow, rain, and more.
Prevent Chemical Cross-Contamination
As with organic cross-contamination, chemicals used during your operations can pose a significant risk to the environment. Access mats help prevent them from reaching the ground, and thorough mat cleaning between jobs will prevent future risks as well. Partnering with an experienced team like GFI’s makes it easy to clean mats efficiently, allowing you to get to the next job faster than ever before.
About GFI Solutions
As one of Canada’s leading sources for access mat solutions, GFI is proud to carry the best products available on the market. We are Canada’s exclusive distributor of Sterling Solutions‘ range of TerraLam® CLT products, including their 300 and 500 model access mats, access bridges, and more. Designed with the utmost of quality in mind, TerraLam® solutions embody the many benefits of CLT mats, right down to the superior performance and longevity. For all of your site access needs including rentals, sales, mat washing and more, contact our team today!
