May 11, 2022 | Access Mats, News
Access mats (also known as swamp mats) are laid on the ground of construction worksites to make difficult terrains such as rocky slopes, swamps and unstable soil a safer worksite for heavy equipment and construction workers. The mats are installed side-by-side (or sometimes overlapping) to create a mobile road-like foundation to allow for easy transportation across uneven ground. Access mats not only protect the crew and the worksite, but they also protect the landscape from rutting, contaminants or chemicals left behind by rigs and cranes.
GFI Solutions is proud to present you with Sterling Solutions’ Cross Laminated Timber access mats/swamp mats for your worksites. CLT mats are made from Southern Yellow Pine wood which keeps the access mats dry, safe and robust throughout your project. Learn more about why our worksite swamp mats are below!
Inventory Management
GFI Solutions offers you several services that enhance your project’s flow. An important service that our customers heavily rely on is our inventory management system. This allows us to manage available stock for your ongoing projects and guarantee the optimum level of access mats available for future needs.
Manufacture, Deliver & Install
Not only do we manufacture access mats in-house, but we also provide delivery and installation services. Our CLT mats are available in 3- or 5-ply construction but can also be manufactured to your specifications. Since our TerraLam mats are engineered to be lightweight, we can fit 72 mats per load on the delivery truck, saving you up to 60% in transportation costs. Our team of experts is ready to deliver and install your mats as per your need.
Mat Washing
Access mats require regular cleaning to reduce the risk of contamination, damage or even breakage. Installing mobile roads and moving access mats around the worksite can cause irreparable damage, especially if your worksite involves the use of fuel or chemicals. Unwashed access mats can harm the environment or even cause potential reactions in the future. GFI’s mat washing services keep your worksite clean and safe as well as provide a longer life cycle for your access mats.
Planning & Consultation
Building a mobile road using access mats requires meticulous planning. Our experts are available to consult with you on your upcoming projects and plan out the optimal place for your custom-built road.
GFI Solutions
GFI Solutions is proud to offer the options of CLT and bolted access mats for sale and rent. In addition to a robust stock of in-demand mats, we offer 24/7 support, granting you access to site access solutions whenever you need! To learn more about GFI’s matting solutions, contact our team today!
Apr 11, 2022 | Access Mats, News
GFI Solutions is one of Canada’s leading suppliers of safe-site matting solutions, including swamp mats, access mats and bridges. We help deliver and install your choice of access mats as well as offer service and support 24 hours a day throughout Canada.
When you’re starting a project, you might face the dilemma of whether you need to order swamp mats or access mats; we can help clear up the confusion. For starters, the term “swamp mats” is technically only used in southern regions where worksites witness warm, swampy grounds which require matting to cross. In practice, there are no differences between swamp mats and access mats; the terms are both used interchangeably depending on where you are in the world. With that said, there are different uses for access mats which you should be aware of before sending out your order. We’ll take a closer look at the different types of mats below and help you choose the best option for your project!
Access Mats
The type of matting suitable for your project will depend on where you plan to use it. If you’re looking to build a temporary road that is reliable and budget-friendly, then you should be looking to install Cross Laminated Timber (CLT) access mats. You can either choose the TerraLam® 300 CLT or the TerraLam® 500 CLT, depending on the requirements of the worksite.
TerraLam® 300 CLT Specifications:
- 3-ply cross-laminated timber
- Southern Yellow Pine
- Weight: – 1,350 lbs.
TerraLam® 500 CLT Specifications:
- 5-ply cross-laminated timber
- All layers are made from Southern Yellow Pine
- Weight: – 2,667 lbs.
Rig/Crane Mats
Rig and Crane access mats assist with transportation requirements and provide a stable foundation for heavy equipment used, such as rigs and cranes. These types of mats have a steel frame to be able to handle the increased loads of heavy machinery and prevent future breakages.
The cost of rig/crane access mats is usually more expensive than regular CLT access mats, which is why you need to be sure what type of access mats you require before placing your orders. If you’re not sure which option would be best suited for your project, contact our team of experts for more information.
Benefits of CLT Access Mats
CLT access mats are more substantial, more durable and safer than bolted matting. CLT access mats are designed to offer better performance at a lower cost as well as:
- 3-5 times the lifespan of bolted mats
- Lower shipping costs
- Solid matting tops that reduce worksite hazards
- Every mat delivered will perform to your specifications
With GFI Solutions’ access mats, you will no longer worry about damage or replacement costs. We ensure that our customers never have to pay for damaged mats or if they need to replace them. Ever!
Want To Spend Less On Access Mats?
Contact GFI Solutions to learn more about TerraLam® Products today.
Apr 11, 2022 | Access Mats, News
Canada’s exclusive distributor of Sterling Solutions’ range of TerraLam CLT products, GFI Solutions, provides safe and innovative matting solutions to meet all of your matting needs. As we entered the matting market in early 2017, our team of expert engineers was faced with challenges associated with current matting options. Our primary focus when introducing Cross Laminated Timber access mats was providing a more robust matting solution that overcomes hazards from standard access mats.
Our TerraLam 500 CLT mat and TerraLam 300 CLT mat are engineered to be more durable and stronger than traditional access mats. They reduce damage and transportation costs and provide a safer worksite for machines and workers! Read on to learn more about solutions for common matting challenges.
Low Transportation Costs
Cross Laminated Timber access mats are lighter in weight, allowing you to fit more access mats per load. Our TerraLam mats are two-thirds the weight of traditional bolted mats, which enables the transportation of 72 mats per load, saving you up to 60% of transportation costs. If you’re currently trying to stay within budget, CLT access mats will definitely help you cut down on costs.
Lighter but Stronger
A common misconception is that the lighter the access mat, the more fragile it is. CLT access mats are lightweight; however, heavy machinery like rigs and cranes can seamlessly drive over without causing any damage or breakage. The following CLT rig mats are available at GFI solutions for your next project:
TerraLam® 300 CLT Specifications:
- 3-ply cross-laminated timber
- Southern Yellow Pine
- Weight: – 1,350 lbs.
TerraLam® 500 CLT Specifications:
- 5-ply cross-laminated timber
- All layers are made from Southern Yellow Pine
- Weight: – 2,667 lbs.
CLT access mats are engineered to allow rig mats more flexibility to evenly distribute the weight across the board, making them robust and durable.
Safer Worksite
Bolted mats can cause hazards in worksites due to gapping between wooden planks or damage caused by loose/damaged bolts. The gaps in bolted mats aren’t noticeable; however, they often cause injuries to workers due to constant tripping hazards. Loose and uneven bolts in mats are also dangerous for your crew as well as the machines as puncture injuries, or vehicle damage can be caused by bolts protruding out of damaged mats.
On the other hand, CLT rig mats guarantee a gap-less and bolt-free mat, safe for machines and crew members. The mats are bound together using a strong adhesive to ensure a smooth surface throughout the board. GFI Solutions is proud to offer you safe products for machines and your crew.
Ready For More Information?
Contact our team to learn more about TerraLam Matting solutions today! Feel free to call us anytime as we offer support 24 hours, every day.
Apr 11, 2022 | Access Mats, News
Oil and gas is one of Alberta’s largest industries and is continuously growing, especially in Edmonton. If you’re in Edmonton and starting a project for the oil and gas industry, you will be on the lookout for durable and cost-effective rig mats. You’ll also keep an eye out for rig mats that can withstand Edmonton’s unpredictable weather with waves of extreme cold and heat.
Our experts at GFI Solutions have created rig access mats that are safe, durable and endure Edmonton’s unforeseeable weather conditions. We are proud to be Edmonton’s source for site-safe access rig mats that guarantee the safety of your equipment and your crew in any worksite. Keep reading to learn more about partnering with GFI Solutions for your next oil and gas project.
Cost-Effective Solution
GFI’s Cross Laminated Timber (CLT) access mats are a cost-effective solution for all contractors. The cost-saving starts from the moment the CLT access mats are manufactured to when they are delivered to your worksite. For starters, CLT access mats are made from Southern Yellow Pine, making our mats significantly lighter and easier to transport. This will allow you to save up to 50% on transport since more CLT access mats can fit during transportation than standard mats. You can also save up to 40% on labour and equipment as our CLT access mats are lighter in weight than traditional bolted access mats. GFI Solutions enables you to ship more mats per load, saving you both time and money on delivery.
Stronger Solution
It is a common misconception that CLT access mats are less robust than bolted access mats; however, that is not the case. CLT access mats use adhesive to bond the wood together instead of bolts, which allows for higher durability as the weight is spread across the entire board evenly. The adhesion also rids you from worrying about replacing your bolted mats from damage caused by wood splinters, gaps and uneven weight distribution.
Some might think that using fibre instead of blocks of wood decreases the durability of access mats; however, Southern Yellow Pine Wood fibre is 30% stronger than Douglas fir used in standard bolted mats. Our CLT access mats are created to guarantee long-lasting durability in all job sites under any conditions. You can either buy or rent CLT 300 and CLT 500 mats that come in various standardizations:
3- or 5-ply Construction
- 300 CLT – 8’ wide x 4’ thru 16’ long
- 500 CLT – 4’ wide x 4’ thru 18’ long
- 500 CLT – 8’ wide x 4’ thru 18’ long
Ready to Learn More?
GFI Solutions is looking forward to partnering with you on your upcoming project. Contact us to learn more about our site-safe rig mats in Edmonton.
Mar 10, 2022 | Access Mats, News
It’s time to switch your existing access mats for TerraLam® Cross Laminated Timber (CLT) mats. Rather than spending exuberant amounts on traditional bolted mats, you can now spend much less with CLT without sacrificing durability or performance. With GFI Solutions, you can now buy or rent site-safe access mats without worrying about increasing your budget. We offer two sizes, TerraLam® CLT 300 and TerraLam® CLT 500, with the option of tailoring each solution to your specific needs. Read on to learn more about the top-notch quality you can expect when choosing TerraLam® access mats.
Durable and Safe
It is crucial to guarantee high-quality access mats with all your projects, especially if you are using heavy equipment and machinery. CLT access mats offer you excellent quality, that is both reliable and customizable for any project. Unlike standard access mats, CLT mats are engineered using Southern Yellow Pine wood fibre instead of regular douglas fir, ensuring a mat that is 30% stronger.
Not only are CLT mats more robust and more reliable than standard mats, but they are also made with more durable material that lasts longer than regular mats. Instead of using bolts to hold the wood together, CLT access mats use an advanced adhesive that securely bonds the wood. The adhesive allows you to reuse the mats with minimal to no damage since bolts aren’t used to cause any splintering or gaps between individual planks.
Light and Flexible
Using adhesive to bond the wooden planks together instead of bolts allow the transportation of 72 mats per load, saving you up to 60% in transportation costs. Southern Yellow Pine wood weighs less than the standard access mats and allows the CLT mats more flexibility than standard access mats.
The adhesive used to bind together the wooden planks allows each mat to distribute weight evenly across the platform. You can now easily reuse the access mats in more than one project as they last longer and do not deform with heavy machinery, nor will they be damaged if mishandled or dropped.
With our CLT access mats, you don’t have to worry about extreme weather conditions either. We have thoroughly tested our mats in extreme heat and cold conditions to ensure durability. We guarantee 0 deformities or breakage with our access mats when used in extreme conditions.
Time To Switch To GFI Solutions
GFI Solutions is ready to present you with the CLT access mats that are longer-lasting, safer, faster AND lighter than standard mats; what more are you looking for? Contact us today and choose the CLT300 or CLT 500 for your upcoming project.
