Jun 29, 2020 | Access Mats, News
Tired of the cost of procuring traditional bolted mats for your remote worksites as well as dealing with the risk of sudden breakages due to heavy loads? It’s time for a change! While timber mats once were the main player when it came to site access solutions, today’s market features several new and improved options, including the latest frontrunner: Cross Laminated Timber (CLT) mats. Designed to be significantly lighter and to perform better than their predecessors, CLT mats have quickly made a name for themselves as the preferred choice amongst industry leaders, particularly amongst those in the power and pipeline sectors in North America. Learn more about why you should consider making the switch to CLT mats for your next project below.
Why It’s Time For An Update
There’s no denying that, for many years, bolted mats played a key role in helping solve the many site access challenges faced by projects located in remote regions of the Canadian landscape. As technology has progressed, however, advanced methods like those used in the creation of cross-laminated timber have been able to step in and address the areas where traditional mats have been lacking. One of the chief improvements can be found directly in the composition of the mats themselves; while standard timber mats are produced using a mixture of hard and softwoods that can often result in unpredictable results, CLT mats produced by leaders like Sterling Solutions are crafted from high quality southern yellow pine that helps to prevent breaks at stress points and, combined with the design of the mat overall, handle heavy loads with ease.
Due to their unique composition, CLT mats are up to 40% lighter than traditional counterparts, and as a result, allow for the hauling of up to 25% more mats per load. This saves you time, money, and allows you to get up to speed fast!
Go Beneath The Surface
With a process originally discovered in the 1990s, today’s CLT mats are the product of a unique design and build that lends itself to long-lasting performance. 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 by bonding alternating perpendicular layers of wood together with an environmentally safe adhesive to help keep the mat strong, as well as protected from outside factors like moisture. The end result is a mat that is flexible and resistant to heavy loads, no matter your application. Core 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
CLT Access Mat Solutions At GFI
As Western Canada’s leading source for access mat solutions, GFI is proud to partner with Sterling Solutions‘ as a distributor for their range of TerraLam® products, including the 300 and 500 series access mats, access bridges, and more. Learn more by contacting our team today.
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.
