Crane mats are the unsung foundational heroes of construction sites. They keep equipment working, prevent costly delays and ensure that projects are completed on time and within budget.
Without a stable base, heavy machinery can become unbalanced and sink into soft ground. This poses a serious safety risk for workers on the site.
1. Safer Working Conditions
Crane mats provide a stable platform for heavy machinery to operate on, which helps prevent surface damage. This can be especially crucial when working on sensitive surfaces like paved roads or delicate landscaping. Properly laying down crane mats before starting a project can prevent serious damage to the ground. It’s a small step that significantly improves the overall efficiency of construction work. If these areas are damaged, it could cost a fortune to repair or replace them – and could even put the safety of workers at risk.
Quality crane mats are also designed to distribute the weight of the equipment evenly, which minimizes the impact on the ground. This can prevent soil erosion, which can lead to sediment runoff and harm surrounding ecosystems. It can also reduce the risk of cranes tipping over, which can cause catastrophic damage and injuries.
By reducing the amount of time required for construction work, crane mats increase efficiency and help projects meet deadlines. This can save on labour costs, as well as fuel and equipment maintenance. Additionally, crane mats can be used for multiple projects if they are in good condition, further saving on material costs.
Finally, crane mats are a great tool for habitat restoration projects. By creating temporary access roads and platforms for heavy equipment, they can reduce disruption to the wetland environment and promote natural regrowth.
In addition, crane mats are often made from recycled materials, such as timber, aluminium, HDPE, rubber or fibreglass, which cuts down on the need for new raw materials. Additionally, they can be easily washed and refurbished for use again, cutting down on waste. This contributes to more environmentally responsible building and development practices, and aligns with the growing demand for eco-friendly buildings and construction. With less downtime and increased efficiency, crane mats can also help construction companies stay on schedule and within budget, allowing them to take on more projects in the future.
2. Lower Maintenance and Repair Costs
When crane mats are used to support heavy equipment, they distribute the weight of machinery across a wider area. This protects the ground underneath and mitigates the risk of sinkage or collapse, which can damage equipment and cause expensive downtime and delays. It also helps prevent tripping hazards that can lead to accidents and injuries.
Additionally, crane mats allow equipment to operate more efficiently by creating a stable base that reduces vibration and enables precise movements and positioning. This allows construction teams to work faster and more accurately, saving time and money.
Another benefit of using crane mats is that they can be reused again and again. This reduces the amount of waste generated by the construction process and aligns with environmentally conscious building practices. Furthermore, using crane mats can help lower maintenance costs by reducing the need for supplementary ground preparation procedures such as grading and compacting.
Crane mats are typically made of timber and laminated together to offer a durable solution that can withstand a variety of working conditions and environmental challenges. They are available in a variety of sizes and shapes, including liftable and non-liftable options. They can be used individually or in groups to suit various site requirements, and they are easy to transport.
It’s important to select a reputable supplier of crane mats, as different types of matting have varying load-bearing capacities. For example, TerraLam 700 mats provide superior load distribution over wet areas with a gap-free surface that simplifies cleaning and maintenance by reducing soil compaction and ground disturbance. This is especially helpful in wet areas like marshes, swamps, and wetland regions, where a smooth, gap-free matting system is essential to minimize the risk of environmental degradation, jobsite accidents, and costly delays.
3. Increased Efficiency
Crane mats help increase site efficiency by providing a stable working platform for heavy machinery. This eliminates the need to build or repair a crane base, which can be expensive and time-consuming. Additionally, a crane mat can be reused multiple times, cutting down on waste and the need for new raw materials.
Quality crane mats distribute the immense pressure exerted by machinery on unstable or uneven terrain. This ensures that the equipment stays in a safe position and reduces the risk of accidents, which can cost a company money in lost productivity and potential legal costs.
Using crane mats also helps preserve the natural state of the ground, preventing damage to soil, vegetation, and wildlife habitats. Crane mats protect delicate areas and prevent the transfer of bacteria, fungus, or other contaminants from one area to another. This is an important factor to consider for projects in environmentally sensitive areas, such as pipeline or transmission & distribution projects.
Aside from protecting the environment, crane mats also protect equipment by insulating it against moisture and other environmental elements. Without a crane mat, machinery might get mired in mud or bog, which can disrupt workflows and cause unforeseen problems. When a crane mat is in place, however, the equipment can function smoothly and efficiently, allowing teams to work at their scheduled pace.
Crane mats can also be used to create level pathways and workspaces on construction sites. They are often deployed in situations like road improvement, construction of bridges, marine and lake projects, piling, and supporting structures. They are also useful for renewable energy construction, as they can support the weight of a variety of different materials and machines.
4. Reduced Waste
Crane mats are made from a wide range of materials, each designed to meet different project needs and environmental requirements. Experts specializing in crane mats can help customers choose the right ones for their operations, taking into account the size and weight of equipment, as well as ground conditions and the type of work being done on site. This enables them to optimise the use of the mats and minimise waste.
When cranes and other heavy machinery operate over natural terrain without the benefit of mats, they can cause lasting damage to soil, vegetation, and wildlife habitats. This can lead to erosion, habitat disruption, and contamination by tyre tracks. However, crane mats create a temporary working platform that shields the ground underneath from direct contact with construction machinery. They also protect paved roads, landscaping, and other sensitive areas from being damaged by the weight of machinery.
On construction sites where the ground is unsteady, crane mats provide a stable base for machines that allows them to work more efficiently and accurately. In the absence of these mats, uneven or unstable working surfaces can result in equipment instability, leading to costly damages and downtime for projects. By providing a solid base, crane mats prevent the risk of equipment tipping over, which can damage or swallow machinery and endangering the safety of personnel.
Additionally, crane mats allow vehicles to travel over wet or swampy areas without getting stuck or cutting off access routes for workers. This reduces the need for supplementary ground preparation procedures, such as grading and compacting, which can be expensive and resource-intensive. This also helps preserve the integrity of the surrounding landscape and avoids churning up land that can later be difficult to return to its original state.
5. Environmentally Friendly
When working on wet or muddy ground, it can be easy for a crane to get stuck. If this happens, it can take a lot of time and effort to free the machine. Using crane mats can prevent this from happening by providing a solid foundation for the machinery to work on. This helps to save on time and labor, while protecting the surrounding environment.
Quality crane mats are designed to distribute the weight of heavy equipment evenly. This minimizes the risk of machinery getting mired in wet or muddy areas, preventing safety issues and construction delays. It also protects the underlying soil from damage, reducing ecological disturbances.
In an era where sustainability is becoming more of a priority, businesses are seeking innovative ways to reduce their environmental footprint. Crane mats, originally designed for stability during crane operations, have emerged as a powerful tool for ecological conservation and sustainable development efforts.
By minimizing the impact of heavy machinery on natural terrain, crane mats can help preserve biodiversity and support efforts to restore native habitats. In addition, they can minimize mud splash and sedimentation, and reduce the generation of excess dust during operation.
In addition, crane mats can serve as a temporary bridge over wet or marshy areas, allowing heavy equipment to operate without damaging the surrounding land. They can also be used to cover areas where chemicals and other harmful substances may leak out of the machinery, preventing them from seeping into the soil and potentially harming the environment. Choosing the right crane mat size and type for each site is essential. When placing the mats, it is important to make sure that there are no gaps between them to avoid safety hazards and potential damage.