Performance Under Pressure: Crane Mats At GFI

Performance Under Pressure: Crane Mats At GFI

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.

Crane Mats at GFI

Crane Mats at GFI

Aug 31, 2020 | Access Mats

Tired of traditional bolted timber crane mats not quite meeting your expectations on the job site? Hoping to save time and money on shipping without sacrificing quality or performance? CLT crane mats are the ideal solutions for heavy-duty projects found in the oil & gas, petroleum, construction, energy and related sectors. GFI Solutions is Canada’s leading source for site access solutions, including CLT crane and rig mats. Learn more about the benefits of CLT mats, as well as the TerraLam® 500 model below.

It’s Time For A Change

It’s no secret that the power and pipeline industries have long relied on bolted matting as their source for site access solutions. While these kinds of mats do play a role in helping to make remote locations more accessible, the common assumption that they are the strongest option available is incorrect. In actuality, bolted mats are created from a mixture of hard and softwoods with no specific standards in place to help moderate quality. In addition, due to their heavier and larger size, they often take more trucks to transport and stress fractures are common at the bolted points with exposure to pressure. Add in a complicated installation process that can take a considerable amount of time, and it becomes clear that bolted mats are cumbersome and costly to deal with over time.

A Better Way Forward

Cross Laminated Timber (CLT) mats take the benefits of timber mats and expand upon them for superior performance and durability. Unlike bolted mats, CLT mats are created by using an environmentally safe adhesive to bond together alternating perpendicular layers of wood for unmatched strength and safety. Engineered to flex under the strain of the weight of heavy loads, CLT mats are 40% lighter than traditional oak mats and allow you to ship up to 25% more mats with every load, saving you time and money. With multiple models available, each designed to have a life cycle that’s 3-5 times longer than traditional matting, CLT mats are a worthwhile investment for any job.

Meet The TerraLam® 508

Weighing the same as a 4-foot timber mat, but offering superior strength and durability, TerraLam 508® matting is suited for use as both a crane or rig mat. Easy installation will save you time and money, and the lighter weight of the mat means you can save up to 50% on freight. Built to embody all of the benefits of CLT mats, TerraLam® mats are among the best in the industry and are trusted by professionals in a wide range of heavy-duty sectors.

GFI: Your Partner in Site Access Solutions

At GFI Solutions, our first priority is supporting our customers. We offer 24/7 service for rentals and sales to keep you moving. In addition to mat sales and rentals, our solutions include:

  • Turnkey services
  • Inventory management
  • Manufacturing
  • Delivery& Installation
  • Mat washing
  • Planning & consultation, and more.

For more information on leading access mat products throughout Canada, contact GFI today.

CLT Crane Mats: A New Path To Success

CLT Crane Mats: A New Path To Success

Jun 29, 2020 | Access Mats, News

In need of heavy-duty access mat solutions? Whether you’re in the oilfield, pipeline, or power industry, crane and rig mats are a highly valuable resource that can help mitigate accessibility challenges, as well as increase worksite safety and environmental sustainability. For decades, traditional timber mats have been the primary choice by default, but with newer innovations now available on the market, companies stand to benefit from the many advantages CLT benefits offer, including superior performance, increased savings, and more. Learn more about the reasons you should consider making the switch from timber to CLT crane mats below.

Why It’s Time For a Change

While it’s fair to say that timber matting has served its intended purpose over the past few decades, there is a common misconception that timber solutions are the strongest available. In actuality, however, bolted timber mats are made from a mixture of hard and soft woods that are not held to any specified standards. This means they cannot always be counted on to be as durable, and the required bolts can cause breaks at stress points when subjected to heavy pressure by cranes or other heavy machinery. Add in the fact that timber mats take multiple truckloads to transport and require complicated installation to get started, and it becomes apparent that timber mats are not always the most preferable option for the job.

As an innovative new solution, CLT mats address each of these issues, offering superior and long-lasting performance, as well as a significantly lighter weight profile (up to 40% less than bolted mats) that allows for up to 25% more mats to be shipped per load. Designed to perform under even the toughest of circumstances, CLT mats are versatile, long-lasting, and suitable for use in a wide range of industries including oil & gas, petrochemical, power, and more.

What Makes CLT Mats Different?

The secret to success where CLT mats are concerned comes down to their unique build and 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. Able to flex under the pressure of extreme loads like cranes, CLT mats evenly disperse weight throughout the entire mat as opposed to specific bolt points, 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 is proud to carry TerraLam®’s 500 series 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.