Jan 11, 2023 | Access Mats, News, TerraCross Bridges
Contractors and project managers looking for access mats often refer to them as swamp mats. While swamp mats and access mats share similarities, they are quite different. Ordering the wrong mats for your project can result in frustration and delays, so before putting in your next order of site access mats, read the following blog to learn more about the different types of matting solutions you might need.
Access Mats
Starting with the most common type of matting option available, access mats. If you’re looking for a matting solution that can be used as temporary roads that help equipment move in and out of a job site, then you should be looking for access mats. They are manufactured in many sizes and can handle various weights. Generally, access mats come in either Cross-Laminated Timber (CLT) design or the traditional bolted format.
Swamp Mats
While access mats are often referred to as “swamp mats,” they do serve different purposes. Swamp mats are usually installed to support heavy equipment operating on soft ground. In warmer climates where rain and moisture are very common, the ground starts to become very soft and requires swamp mats to stabilize the ground.
Rig Mats
For those looking for site mats to support oil rigs and large-scale equipment such as construction equipment, then you should be looking for rig mats. Projects that require camps, drilling rigs, tanks and helipads would often opt for rig mats as they are engineered to withstand the weight of heavy machinery and provide the support needed.
Crane Mats
Crane mats are similar to rig mats but are designed with a steel frame that can withstand more weight and provide more support to heavy equipment than rig mats. GFI Solutions proudly offers the TerraLam®’s 500 series mats that feature the TerraLam 504 and TerraLam 508. Both crane mats are lighter and stronger than comparative mats and increase your saving!
Access Bridges
Access bridges are very common in the oil & gas, construction, petrochemical and forestry industries. Remote job sites can make it very difficult for heavy machinery to cross the terrain or even to transport material safely. Access bridges become very beneficial in remote work sites where access mats cannot provide the reliability needed. If your worksite is in an area where there are rivers, creeks or any major gaps in the terrain, access bridges can help you bridge the gap.
Get your Durable Site Access Solutions from GFI
Whether you’re looking to rent or purchase your next order of site access solutions, GFI is available 24/7 to help you with all your access matting needs. We also offer mat washing, installation, delivery, planning and consulting services to ensure that all your access matting needs are met. Contact us today!
Dec 28, 2022 | News, TerraCross Bridges
Unreliable weather can cause great challenges for any worksite, especially with the rapidly changing weather conditions. Canadian terrain is known to be unpredictable as the temperature fluctuates, causing uneven terrain in most remote locations. If you’re facing transportation challenges to and from worksites due to rough terrain, then you’ll probably benefit significantly from GFI’s TerrCross temporary access bridge. Read on to learn more about the benefits of temporary access bridges below!
Do You Need an Access Bridge?
Remote projects usually need all types of site access solutions, including access, rig and crane mats, and temporary access bridges. For instance, those in the petrochemical, oil & gas, construction, mining and forestry industries are constantly faced with logistical problems due to unpredictable terrain. While rig and crane mats can help create temporary roads over rugged terrain, access bridges are essential when it comes to navigating through creeks, major gaps and rivers. Access bridges can either be temporary or permanent, depending on the worksite and the following factors:
- Ground type
- Area-specific environmental factors
- Duration of use
- Weight capacity needed
Instead of spending hundreds of dollars on building a bridge that only requires access to a specific area for a short period of time, you can easily buy or rent portable and temporary bridge solutions. Access bridges can withstand the weight of a wide range of applications and are efficiently delivered and installed. If you’re facing major gaps, rivers or creeks at your worksite, you should consider installing TerraCross™ Access Bridges.
Why TerraCross™ Access Bridges
Unlike conventional bolted access bridges, the TerraCross™ access bridge is easy to install and lightweight. The unique design of the TerraCross™ bridge facilitates lifting and construction with the heaviest of equipment, including a 200-class excavator and similar applications. The lightweight and portable design of the TerraCross™ access bridge is engineered to lift heavy machines and transport material and can be quickly delivered to the worksite. For your optimal convenience, the TerraCross access bridge can be shipped to your worksite on a single truck to help you stay in scope and increase savings. At GFI Solutions, we offer our customers the following TerraCross™ access bridges:
TERRACROSS 40:
- Weight Limit: 100 tons
- Maximum Spanning Distance: 35′
- Total Length: 40′
- Matting: TerraLam® 500 bearing mats and TerraLam® 700 decking
TERRACROSS 56:
- Weight Limit: 65 tons
- Maximum Spanning Distance: 50′
- Total Length: 56′
- Matting: TerraLam® 500 bearing mats and TerraLam® 700 decking
Find The Right TerraCross™ Access Bridge For You At GFI Solutions
Working in a remote job site has many challenges, which is why at GFI solutions, we are available for all your access needs 24/7. Our team is always available to provide you with a variety of access products and services throughout Western Canada. Contact us today, and let us support your next project with the perfect site access solutions.
Mar 10, 2022 | News, TerraCross Bridges
Need access solutions that make it easy to handle the challenges presented by ditches, streams, gaps, and the many other difficult landscape features found on remote job sites? GFI Solutions is here to help! As one of Canada’s leading sources of site safe access mats and other site access solutions, GFI Solutions is proud to partner with businesses in the Oil & Gas, petrochemical, infrastructure, power, and related heavy industries to make sure you have everything you need to succeed. We are proud to be your exclusive source for Sterling Solutions’ line of TerraCross™ products and to offer 24/7, 365 service all across the country.
Below, we’ll talk about the benefits of using temporary access bridges, as well as partnering with GFI. Read on to learn more!
Why Use Access Bridges
It’s no surprise that Canada’s landscape can make it difficult to navigate your job site, and with the safety of your crew and equipment on the line, it’s important to have a vetted option in place to help you overcome the many issues that frequent remote locations. While access mats are fantastic for creating makeshift roads, access bridges are a much better option for major gaps like ditches, creeks, sinkholes, or gullies that cannot be fixed by a flat laid option. Access bridges are designed to allow your fleet to go over troublesome land, save time with fast installation, increase the overall safety of the entire site, all while providing you with superior ROI.
If you’re debating what kind of access bridge would be right for your job site, consider factors like:
- Project duration and how long you’ll need a bridge in place
- Load capacity needs
- Specific geographical concerns as well as any climate/environmental factors that need to be included.
- Whether you want a moveable option or a more permanent fixture.
It’s important to note that, while both portable and permanent options are available, portable access bridges are generally sufficient for most applications overall thanks to their flexibility.
TerraCross™ Access Bridges
GFI is proud to bring you exclusive access to Sterling Solutions’ line of TerraCross™ bridges. TerraCross™ bridges are designed to enable lifting and construction with a 200-class excavator or similar equipment and to allow for faster navigation while also preventing contamination on site. Specs are as follows:
TERRACROSS 40:
- Weight Limit: 100 tons
- Maximum Spanning Distance: 35′
- Total Length: 40′
- Matting: TerraLam® 500 bearing mats and TerraLam® 700 decking
TERRACROSS 56:
- Weight Limit: 65 tons
- Maximum Spanning Distance: 50′
- Total Length: 56′
- Matting: TerraLam® 500 bearing mats and TerraLam® 700 decking
TerraCross™ bridges are able to be rapidly assembled on-site, meaning you’ll face minimal downtime and be able to get back to work sooner than later.
Access Bridge Solutions You Can Depend On At GFI
GFI’s inventory features the top products from Sterling Solutions, including their range of TerraCross products. Engineered to be lighter, stronger, and more durable than competitors, TerraCross products are trusted by those in the oil & gas, petrochemical, construction, forestry, and mining industries. Learn more about our available inventory and services by contacting our team today.
