Jun 22, 2020 | Access Mats, News
Are you in need of access solutions that can stand up to the demands of heavy-duty loads and even act as a solid foundation for heavy machinery like cranes and more? Whether you’re in the oil and gas, pipeline, construction, or mining industries, access mats play a critical role in helping to maintain the progress of your project, while also upholding safety and environmental standards. Located in Whitecourt, Alberta, GFI Solutions is a leading supplier of top access matting solutions across Canada. Our inventory features top products from Sterling Solutions, including their range of TerraLam® Cross Laminated Timber (CLT) access mats.
TerraLam®’s 500 series mat is a heavy-duty solution that offers superior performance compared to most traditional bolted mats, boasting a lightweight profile that holds up under even the toughest of applications. Learn more about TerraLam® products, including the 500 series, below.
A Path You Can Count On
Rough terrain and fluctuating weather patterns combined with remote locations cause constant headaches for project managers year-round, especially once the spring thaw begins to hit full swing. Access mats are your go-to resource for overcoming difficulties caused by mud, shifting topography, and other such difficulties. From creating a viable, unchanging road that your fleet can depend on no matter the circumstances to protecting heavy equipment and the surrounding landscape, access mats offer multiple benefits where workplace safety and efficiency are concerned.
Industry Leading Innovation
TerraLam®’s line of matting solutions offers customers multiple benefits compared to other traditional bolted competitors. Engineered to be significantly lighter than other models (up to 40%), as well as significantly stronger, TerraLam®’s CLT based design results in mats that perform under pressure, job after job.
TerraLam® 500 Series Mats
Stronger, stiffer, and less than 50% of the weight of comparable hardwood crane or rig mats, TerraLam’s 5-layer 500 mats are game changers where heavy-duty access mats are concerned. Created using the unique Cross Laminated Timber (CLT) technique, TerraLam’s alternating perpendicular layers of wood are bonded with a special adhesive for unmatched strength and safety in a lightweight solution. A major factor that sets this CLT process apart from traditional methods is that it allows the mat to flex under weight loads, equally distributing the demand through the entire unit rather than specific bolting points. This allows for superior performance and reduces the chance for sudden breakages.
TerraLam® CLT mats also mitigate the risk of knots by adhesive bonding 100% of the board surface to another board, eliminating any weak points and resulting in a more durable and weight resistance option than traditional matting options, as well as a longer life cycle for each mat. Crafted from southern yellow pine, TerraLam® access mats offer superior value for the price and can be delivered quickly with GFI Solutions on-demand 24/7 service.
Need Access Mats Fast?
Contact GFI Solutions to learn more about TerraLam® Access Mats today. We offer round the clock sales and rental support in addition to mat washing, consulting, installation services, and more.
Jun 15, 2020 | Access Mats, News
Is your worksite in need of solutions when it comes to access and transportation? Home to major developments for the oil & gas, petrochemical, and energy sectors, Western Canada features several notable projects, many with remote sites that can be difficult to access due to rugged terrain and rapidly shifting weather patterns. Access mats, frequently referred to as swamp mats pave the way for safe transportation of materials to and from your site, allowing things to proceed on pace and on budget. Learn more about the benefits of access mats, including the differences between access, swamp and rig mats, below!
Conquering Confusion
One of the biggest sources of confusion in the matting industry is the difference between three main types of products: access, rig, and swamp mats. While each of these have a different meaning to manufacturers, consumers tend you use the terms interchangeably when referring to the same general product. In order to get the best results from your mats, and to avoid costly confusion by ordering the wrong items, it’s important to know the specifics of each model per industry standards. The following is a brief explanation of each category as defined by manufacturers:
Access Mats (commonly called Swamp Mats): refer to standard matting solutions that are often used to create temporary roads and on-site infrastructure to facilitate the safe transportation of goods and equipment. Sometimes called swamp mats (typically regionally specific), these mats can handle a wide range of weights and are available either in traditional bolted forms, as well as the increasingly in demand CLT designs.
Rig Mats: While technically another form of access mats, rig mats are designed to handle much heavier loads than standard models. This makes them ideal for handling heavy machinery and equipment like cranes. Rig mats usually feature 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, meaning that you’ll want to ensure you know exactly what you need prior to ordering to avoid sticker shock.
Why Choose CLT Mats Over Bolted Models
As an innovative alternative to traditional bolted mats, Cross Laminated Timber (CLT) mats have a wide range of benefits to offer your job site. Such benefits 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 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 (more CLT mats can be shipped compared to bolted products), and more.
GFI Solutions is a proud distributor of Sterling Solutions’ range of TerraLam® products, including both their 300 and 500 model access mats, access bridges and more. Built from the highest quality Yellow Southern Pine wood fibres, which are up to 30% stronger than Douglas fir trees, TerraLam® CLT mats are bonded together with an environmentally friendly adhesive and distribute weight through the entire mat for superior performance.
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!
Jun 8, 2020 | Access Mats, News
When it comes to finding the best access solutions for your project, the ideal option offers a combination of performance and cost-effectiveness. With tight deadlines looming, knowing that you can trust your mats to perform as needed no matter the challenges at hand is invaluable. High-quality access and rig mats stand up to the pressure of heavy loads, helping you keep your job site safe, efficient, and on track. GFI Solutions is Western Canada’s leading supplier of CLT access matting solutions, including Sterling Solutions’ extensive range of TerraLam® products. Crafted from high-quality Southern Yellow Pine fibres, these mats offer exceptional durability and strength, as well as unbeatable return on investment. Learn more about the benefits of CLT rig mats below.
Innovation At Its Finest
As a relatively new addition to the field of access mats, Cross Laminated Timber (CLT) mats have quickly made a name for themselves as an indispensable resource for those in the oil & gas, construction, chemical, infrastructure, and related industries. Weighing up to 40% less than traditional bolted mats, CLT mats allow for the transport of 25% more units per load, saving you valuable time and money per load. With a life cycle that is typically 3-5 times longer than bolted mats and a superior strength profile, CLT mats can withstand heavy-duty applications, with certain models able to serve as rig and crane mats.
What Makes CLT Mats Different
The secret to the success of cross-laminated timber lies in its unique design. CLT mats are created through the process of bonding alternating perpendicular layers of wood with an environmentally safe adhesive to as opposed to the traditional methods favoured by bolted mats. The end result of this process is a product that is flexible and durable, with its strength coming from the fact that weight is evenly distributed through the entire mat leading to unbeatable performance in even the toughest of conditions.
TerraLam® CLT Access Mats are among the best available and are made with Southern Yellow Pine Wood Fibre, which is 30% harder than Douglas Fir. This makes TerraLam® mats ideal for heavy-duty applications, including acting as a foundation for cranes, and more.
Unparalleled Performance
In addition to their unique structure, CLT mats offer a wide variety of benefits, including:
- High impact resistance
- Glue lamination and wax sealed on all 4 edges makes it easier to repel moisture and rot.
- Suitable for use in extreme conditions, include heat and cold.
- Solid matting top reduces tripping hazards, as well as the tire damage to vehicles
- Able to handle heavy-duty applications
- Cheaper to ship due to the lightweight nature of the mats (more CLT mats can be shipped compared to bolted products), and more.
CLT Rig Mats and More at GFI Solutions
GFI is proud to carry TerraLam® products within our inventory, 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. Our team of experts offer 24/7 support for all your site access needs. Contact us today to learn more!
Jun 8, 2020 | Access Mats, News
When it comes to managing the progress of your projects, there’s no shortage of elements that can cause unfortunate delays and headaches. For remote worksites in particular, difficult terrain can serve as a major hurdle for crews to overcome, especially when factoring in the responsibility to uphold sustainability measures. Western Canada’s landscape is notoriously unforgiving, and with unpredictable weather all year round, failure to procure the right assets can leave your team stranded, as well as pose a risk to your equipment and the area itself.
Built to overcome even the harshest of terrains, CLT access mats are a vital tool for any worksite, giving your hauling crew a reliable path forward while also ensuring you abide by environmental stewardship standards. Below, we’ll explore a few of the ways access mats can help keep your job site environmentally friendly, while also alleviating many of the common issues faced by operators.
A Path You Can Count On
As we mentioned above, one of the most significant challenges faced by projector managers in remote regions is facilitating the safe and dependable transport of materials to and from the site. Uneven terrain, as well as well as weather aggravated conditions such as mud, ice, slush, and other inconvenience can cause major delays when it comes to hauling without the proper solution in place. Access mats create a more stable path for trucks and machinery to navigate, reducing slowdowns, as well as the wear and tear on your equipment without the need to create a permanent road.
Preserve The Ground Beneath and Surrounding Your Site
As access mats act in place of more permanent measures like creating a roadway, they also help to shield the surrounding area from aggressive disturbances throughout the course of your project. Access bridges can be used in addition to mats to help cross ditches, creek beds, and other hazards that may pose difficulty to your crew, all without the need to significantly alter the landscape itself.
Avoid Cross-Contamination
Cross-contamination is a significant concern for any major job site, the risks for which, can be greatly reduced with the appropriate use of matting. As an additional barrier between any chemicals for foreign contaminants and the ground, access mats act as a valuable line of defence that can help keep the local eco-system thriving.
Did you know? GFI Solutions offers thorough mat washing services to help further reduce any safety hazards posed by cross-contamination.
Minimize Recovery Time
Finally, having a plan in place not only expedites your project while it is in action but helps the area itself return to normal much faster upon your completion and removal. Since access mats serve as a temporary measure, they can easily be removed and transported to the next job after being washed down all with reduced damage to the environment itself.
TerraLam® CLT Access Mats: Your Environmentally Sustainable Solution
As Western Canada’s leading source for access mat solutions, GFI is proud to feature Sterling Solutions’ range of TerraLam® CLT Access Mats. TerraLam® mats are crafted with the environment in mind and provide exceptional results under the toughest of conditions. Made from the highest quality Yellow Southern Pine wood fibres, which can be grown much faster than Douglas fir trees, TerraLam® CLT mats are bonded together with an environmentally friendly adhesive and distribute weight through the entire mat for superior strength, no matter the application.
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.
May 27, 2020 | Access Mats, News
In need of fast access to access matting solutions you can count on? Whether you need access to heavy-duty problem solvers like rig and crane mats or need standard mats to help pave the way across unforgiving terrain, GFI Solutions is here to help. As Western Canada’s top source for access mat rentals and sales throughout regional hot spots like Calgary, Red Deer, Edmonton, and more, our team is proud to be an authorized distributor of 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. Learn more about TerraLam® mats, as well as GFI’s rental solutions, below.
Introducing CLT Mats: A New Solution To Common Problems
As a relatively new, but increasingly preferred option in the matting field, Cross Laminated Timber (CLT) mats have established themselves a strong competitor to traditional bolted options. Weighing up to 40% less than standard bolted mats and offering a life cycle that is 3-5 times the length, CLT mats give investors superior value regardless of whether you choose to rent or buy. With the heavier duty models capable of tackling traditional jobs held by rig and crane mats while still offering a lighter profile that allows for more mats to be shipped per load (up to 25% more), all while granting twice the strength of other options, it’s no surprised that CLT mats are becoming the go-to standard for heavy industry job sites.
How It Works
Cross Laminated Timber mats are created by bonding alternating perpendicular layers of wood with an environmentally safe adhesive to as opposed to the traditional bolted methods. Part of what makes CLT mats stand apart from competitors is their ability to evenly distribute weight throughout the entire mat, which leads to superior durability and performance, even for the heaviest of loads.
TerraLam® CLT Access Mats are among the best available 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 over long periods of time.
GFI: There When It Matters Most
With decades of combined experience in the industry under our belts, GFI Solutions understands just how important it is to have access to reliable, cost-effective solutions when it matters most. Our commitment to our customers 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. Whether you’re looking to test out the durability of CLT mats before buying or need to replace failing mats, we’re here to help. Contact our team today to learn more.
May 27, 2020 | Access Mats, News, TerraCross Bridges
Are you in need of heavy-duty rig mats to maintain safety and productivity on your job site? As a staple for those in the oil & gas, petrochemical, construction, and infrastructure industries, the right mats can help to mitigate the challenges of uneven terrain as well as reduce major safety hazards associated with heavy equipment and machinery. As an increasingly popular alternative to traditional bolted mats, masonry, and concrete, Cross Laminated Timber (CLT) rig mats are one of the most effective solutions available on the market. Crafted using an innovative, industry-leading technique, CLT mats offer superior strength and durability as well as increased transport loads and more. Learn more about the benefits of heavy-duty CLT mats, as well as the solutions offered by GFI below.
What Are CLT Mats?
Cross Laminated Timber is the result of bonding alternating perpendicular layers of wood with an environmentally safe structural adhesive to create the finished product as opposed to the traditional bolted structure. Where bolted mats are only capable of transferring the load across the location of the mechanical fasteners, CLT mats are designed to allow for the even distribution of weight across the entirety of the mat, allowing for superior durability and performance.
TerraLam® CLT Access Mats as offered by GFI solutions are crafted from Southern Yellow Pine Wood Fibre, which is 30% harder than Douglas Fir, the most common wood fibre used in the construction of bolted mats. This makes them ideal for standing up to even the toughest of jobs without the fear of sudden breakages.
What Are The Benefits?
CLT access and rig mats offer multiple benefits to your job site, regardless of whether you choose to rent or own. In addition to the basic function of creating a reliable path and a stable foundation for heavy equipment, direct benefits of choosing CLT mats include:
- Lighter weight (up to 50%) compared to conventional rig mats, allowing for a single transport load to carry up to 25% more mats per trip.
- Versatile in application and able to withstand the demands of fluctuating climates
- High impact resistance
- A lifespan that lasts 3-5 times longer than bolted mats.
- Glue lamination and wax sealed on all 4 edges makes it easier to repel moisture and rot.
- Solid matting top reduces tripping hazards, as well as the tired damage to vehicles, and more.
TerraLam® CLT Access and Rig Mats
When it comes to finding the best CLT mats on the market, there’s no doubt that Sterling Solutions’ line of TerraLam® products lead the pack. Crafted using the finest quality Southern Yellow Pine planks, each mat is meticulously tested to ensure optimal performance and longevity, allowing you to keep your project on time, and on budget, with ease.
GFI Solutions is proud to be an authorized distributor of TerraLam® products, including access and rig mats, TerraCross® bridges, and more. With 24/7 access to our leading inventory, qualified team members and more. GFI is Western Canada’s foremost choice when it comes to heavy-duty rig mat solutions and everything in between. Contact us today to learn more.
