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.